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Chiefs Can Clinch No. 1 Seed Sunday, May Have Meaningless Game vs. Steelers
The Kansas City Chiefs can clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC on Sunday, which would make their Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday meaningless for the visitors.
The Chiefs will clinch the top spot in the AFC on Sunday if the Buffalo Bills lose or tie in their game against the New England Patriots. That game will be played at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday and will be shown in Pittsburgh on KDKA-TV.
If the Chiefs clinch with a Buffalo loss, they could very well rest some of their injured stars against the Steelers on Wednesday. Starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes played through a high ankle sprain in the Kansas City win over the Houston Texans on Saturday.
All-Pro Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones suffered a calf injury during that game, and he could also be rested if Wednesday’s contest against the Steelers becomes irrelevant.
Regardless of what it means for the visiting Chiefs, the game will have plenty of meaning for the Steelers. If the Bills lose, the Steelers will still be alive for the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Otherwise, they’ll still be in play for the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh seeds.
Because of their loss on Saturday, Steelers will not be able to clinch the AFC North on Wednesday, even with a win and a loss by the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens also cannot clinch the division this week.
STEELERS IN AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. Kansas City Chiefs 14-1
2. Buffalo Bills 11-3
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-5
4. Houston Texans 9-6
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5. Baltimore Ravens 10-5
6. Los Angeles Chargers 9-6
7. Denver Broncos 9-6
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8. Indianapolis Colts 7-8
9. Cincinnati Bengals 7-8
10. Miami Dolphins 6-8
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11. New York Jets 4-11
12. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-11
13. New England Patriots 3-11
14. Cleveland Browns 3-12
15. Tennessee Titans 3-12
16. Las Vegas Raiders 2-12
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