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The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the AFC West after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17 on Sunday Night Football.
Matthew Wright doinked in a walk-off field goal to help the Chiefs improve to 12-1 this season.
Here’s a look at the latest playoff matchups and NFL standings after the result.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (bye)
7. Denver Broncos at 2. Buffalo Bills
6. Los Angeles Chargers at 3. Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Baltimore Ravens at 4. Houston Texans
7. Washington Commanders at 2. Philadelphia Eagles
6. Green Bay Packers at 3. Seattle Seahawks
5. Minnesota Vikings at 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1; clinched AFC West)
2. Buffalo Bills (10-3; lead AFC East)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3; lead AFC North)
4. Houston Texans (8-5; lead AFC South)
5. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
11. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10)
14. Tennessee Titans (3-10)
15. New England Patriots (3-10)
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
1. Detroit Lions (12-1; lead NFC North; clinched playoff berth)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2; lead NFC East; clinched playoff berth)
3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5; lead NFC West)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6; lead NFC South)
5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (9-4)
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
8. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)
10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-7)
13. New Orleans Saints (4-8)
15. Carolina Panthers (3-10)
16. New York Giants (2-11)
The Chiefs have now won nine straight AFC West titles, only two short of the 2009-2019 New England Patriots for the most consecutive division crowns.
Kansas City is also in pursuit of the first-ever three-peat in the Super Bowl era (1966-present). The 1929-1931 Green Bay Packers are the only NFL team to ever win three straight championships.
It’s been a tremendous run for Kansas City under the leadership of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Every season brings its usual series of challenges, but this year has seen the team weather significant, long-term offensive player ailments.
Wide receiver Rashee Rice is out for the year since Week 4 with an LCL injury. Running back Isiah Pacheco missed nine games with a broken fibula. Wide receiver Hollywood Brown suffered a dislocated clavicle in the preseason and hasn’t played all year.
When training camp broke, Pacheco was expected to be RB1, with Rice and Brown leading the way at wideout alongside Xavier Worthy.
Kansas City was forced to scramble, signing old friend and free agent Kareem Hunt midseason and added wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins via trade from the Tennessee Titans.
Somehow, the Chiefs haven’t missed a beat. They’ve lived on the edge all season by playing one-score games that go down to the final minute (or second), but Kansas City keeps finding ways to win.
It remains to be seen whether Kansas City can keep living on the edge, but the Chiefs have a history of coming through in the clutch in January and February.
The fact that Kansas City sports a top-10 scoring offense and defense and a strong kicking game also helps matters as the well-rounded Chiefs take on the Lombardi Trophy contenders.
The road to the title won’t be easy, but Kansas City has an edge having traveled it before.