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1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
12. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
14. Tennessee Titans (3-11)
15. New England Patriots (3-11)
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
The Kansas City Chiefs are still safely atop the AFC standings following Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns, but they are facing a new concern.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Patrick Mahomes is “considered to be week-to-week” with an ankle injury he suffered in that victory. Considering Kansas City faces three teams in playoff position in the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos to finish the season, that No. 1 seed isn’t a guarantee.
That is especially true given the way Josh Allen is playing.
He accounted for four touchdowns as his Buffalo Bills went on the road and defeated the Lions 48-42 after he scored six touchdowns in the previous loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Buffalo finishes with three straight games against the eliminated New York Jets and New England Patriots, so it would be surprising if it didn’t win out.
The Bills also have the tiebreaker thanks to their head-to-head win over Kansas City in Week 11, so the No. 1 seed and the first-round bye that comes with it is still within reach if the Chiefs slip up with Mahomes dealing with his injury.
Mahomes and Allen aren’t the only elite quarterbacks to monitor down the stretch, as Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have won two in a row and are suddenly two back of the Los Angeles Chargers for the final wild-card spot after the AFC West team lost two in a row.
Cincinnati will have to win out to have a chance, though, as the Chargers have the tiebreaker thanks to their head-to-head win over the Bengals in Week 11.
But there is still a chance as long as Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase continue to torch opposing defenses.