The Kansas City Chiefs are on the verge of clinching a spot in the 2022 NFL playoff picture. If one scenario plays out in Week 14, the reigning AFC West champions will win another division title.
The scenario for the Chiefs to clinch the AFC West title in Week 14 is simple. A Kansas City victory coupled with a Los Angeles Chargers loss would give the Chiefs the division championship and no worse than the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture.
The Chiefs visit the Denver Broncos Sunday afternoon. The Chargers are scheduled to host the Miami Dolphins Sunday night.
If the Chiefs win and the Chargers lose, Kansas City will hold a four-game lead over Los Angeles with four games to play. The Chiefs won both of their meetings with the Chargers, giving Kansas City the tiebreaker in the division.
The latest betting odds suggest that Kansas City has a strong chance to win the AFC West in Week 14. The Chiefs are nine-point favorites against the Broncos. The Chargers are three-point underdogs against the Dolphins.
Denver is on a four-game losing streak with the league’s worst scoring offense. Kansas City averages more points per game than anyone else. Patrick Mahomes is 9-0 in his career against the Broncos. Denver is on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention.
Both the Chiefs and Chargers are coming off losses. In a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game, Cincinnati defeated Kansas City 27-24. The loss dropped the Chiefs to 9-3 and snapped their five-game winning streak. The Chargers were beaten by the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20, suffering their third loss in four games and falling to 6-6.
The Raiders are in third place and a game behind the Chargers. The Broncos are two games behind the Raiders for last place in the division.
The Buffalo Bills and Chiefs are tied for the AFC’s best record. Buffalo defeated Kansas City earlier this season, giving the Bills the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed. The Baltimore Ravens are the No. 3 seed and a game behind the Chiefs in the standings.
The Chiefs have won six straight division titles, giving them the longest active streak in the league. The Chargers last won the AFC West in 2009.
The Minnesota Vikings can also clinch a division title in Week 14. All eight divisions are undecided before this weekend’s games.
Getty Images | Patrick Smith
