Can Chiefs make the playoffs? ESPN outlays tough path for Patrick Mahomes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Kansas City Chiefs' season is well and truly on life support after the Thanksgiving loss to the Dallas Cowboys that drops Andy Reid's team to 6-6.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlready with a tough assignment to make the playoffs before the loss, now, many are singing Dallas' praises for knocking the AFC champs out of the race.
But hold your horses, folks.
The Chiefs aren't dead...yet.
ESPN offered a question, stating Is there any margin for error for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid down the stretch, and Chiefs ESPN reporter Nate Taylor offered a path that sees Kansas City qualify for the postseason.
"No," Taylor wrote. "Here's the mission, should the Chiefs choose to accept it: Win the final five games of the regular season. That is likely what's required for them to reach the postseason, perhaps as the seventh and final seed. All five games will be against AFC opponents, too, so every game from this point is essentially a play-in game for coach Andy Reid and Mahomes."
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Will Chiefs make the playoffs?
Until that stake is driven through their heart, I'm not going to count out the Chiefs from making a run, despite Reid's team looking like they can't right now.
Of their five games left, the Chiefs play the Houston Texans, who just beat the Indianapolis Colts, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Denver Broncos, so those three are tough.
With the Buffalo Bills, Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars all winning, the Chiefs are well behind, currently in 10th position behind the Pittsburgh Steelers at 6-6.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWinning out seems like the only way the Chiefs can punch their ticket to the playoffs, but it also requires others to stumble as well.
There's a chance, albeit a fleeting one, but perhaps that's all this Chiefs team needs.
More Chiefs news:
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Chiefs playoff picture: Updated chances for Kansas City to make 2025 NFL postseason in Week 13
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Patrick Mahomes shares harsh reality regarding Chiefs' playoff hopes
