The Other AFC Contenders and Race for the 1 seed

[Bruins29]

Why would anyone want KC to win anything? They already have a 2 game lead on us. If they win and then beat us they could have a 3 game lead plus the TB.

Jax only has a 1 game lead plus TB right now.

 

[Soliel]

Why would anyone want KC to win anything? They already have a 2 game lead on us. If they win and then beat us they could have a 3 game lead plus the TB.

Jax only has a 1 game lead plus TB right now.

Yeah. I’m not rooting for kc either

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Kansas City now in the driver’s seat for the 1 seed. Let’s hope that changes on Sunday.

Top AFC teams through week 5 are:

1. KC
2. Cincinnati
3. NE
4. Tennessee/Jax

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

KC wins Sunday and they will probably get the #1..I know I know..early..but can't let them go 6-0 and drop to 3-3

Either way KC is the team to beat in the AFC although their D is just as bad as ours

 

[SHOWTIME15]

As of today, Kansas City is in the driver’s seat for the 1 seed.

1. KC
2. NE
3. Pittsburgh
4. Houston

Baltimore and Jacksonville are starting to fade lol. It’s a two-way race for the 1 seed at this point.

 

[Sicilian]

As of today, Kansas City is in the driver’s seat for the 1 seed.

1. KC
2. NE
3. Pittsburgh
4. Houston

Baltimore and Jacksonville are starting to fade lol. It’s a two-way race for the 1 seed at this point.

Having the tie breaker is looking huge for the Pats right now. As it is, I only see three games on KC's schedule where they could lose (discounting the Any Given Sunday cliche): vs. LA, vs. Bal, and @Sea (only because of where that game is). Great chance they go 13-3 at least.

 

[PatsDeb]

KC still looks really good. I am not sure anyone else is in the race right now with us and them. We really need them to lose two more games so that we don't have to play in Arrowhead in January (and we need to win out). Not sure who can beat them for us, though. San Diego maybe? Maybe Denver in their 2nd game?

 

[luuked]

KC still looks really good. I am not sure anyone else is in the race right now with us and them. We really need them to lose two more games so that we don't have to play in Arrowhead in January (and we need to win out). Not sure who can beat them for us, though. San Diego maybe? Maybe Denver in their 2nd game?

If we win out they just need to lose one as we have the tiebreaker thanks to that win a week ago.

 

[PatsDeb]

If we win out they just need to lose one as we have the tiebreaker thanks to that win a week ago.

You're right; I was thinking backwards. Tough for us to win out, however, particularly with injuries to key players piling up. Get well soon Gronk, Michel and even Eric Rowe. What happened to him yesterday, anyway? Looks like they were trying to ease him back in, but he re-injured himself.

 

[luuked]

You're right; I was thinking backwards. Tough for us to win out, however, particularly with injuries to key players piling up. Get well soon Gronk, Michel and even Eric Rowe. What happened to him yesterday, anyway? Looks like they were trying to ease him back in, but he re-injured himself.

We should go into the BYE 8-2. If we don't then all this speculation about seeding is anyway pointless.

Once we get there we maybe get Michel back, have Gordon in better shape and Gronk hopefully recovered from the ankle injury and back injury. Also Dawson will be practicing and Burkhead might be as well. And then crunch time really starts..

 

[RichardHead]

Obviously the #1 seed is preferred, but as long as they get #2 and the bye that comes with it I'll be happy. All you have to do is look at KC's (and Andy Reid's) history and you can definitely see them being one and done, losing at home in the first round to an underdog. At #2 Patriots would still have a shot to host the AFCCG.

 

[Haterproof]

KC still looks really good. I am not sure anyone else is in the race right now with us and them. We really need them to lose two more games so that we don't have to play in Arrowhead in January (and we need to win out). Not sure who can beat them for us, though. San Diego maybe? Maybe Denver in their 2nd game?

If KC loses any game of their next few games the battle for the AFC West crown should get very interesting!

 

[maineman209]

As of today, Kansas City is in the driver’s seat for the 1 seed.

1. KC
2. NE
3. Pittsburgh
4. Houston

Baltimore and Jacksonville are starting to fade lol. It’s a two-way race for the 1 seed at this point.

You left out the Chargers. They're currently tied with the Pats for the #2 AFC spot at 5-2, 4-1 in the conference.

The Steelers are 4th at 3-2-1, followed closely by the pack at 4-3: HOU, CIN, BAL, MIA ... all still only one game behind the Pats and Chargers.

The Chargers lost at home to the Chiefs in wk-1, so they're behind on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Their only other loss was to the Rams in wk-3. They're on their BYE this weekend, before going on the road against the Seahawks. But then they face the Raiders, Broncos and Cards, so getting to 8-3 by the end of November seems a distinct possibility.

However, in December, the Chargers face PIT and Cincy before their re-match against the Chiefs (at Arrowhead), then finish with the Ravens and Broncos. So, a December fade is certainly possible, though they seem likely to remain in contention for a WC berth right to the end.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

You left out the Chargers. They're currently tied with the Pats for the #2 AFC spot at 5-2, 4-1 in the conference.

The Steelers are 4th at 3-2-1, followed closely by the pack at 4-3: HOU, CIN, BAL, MIA ... all still only one game behind the Pats and Chargers.

The Chargers lost at home to the Chiefs in wk-1, so they're behind on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Their only other loss was to the Rams in wk-3. They're on their BYE this weekend, before going on the road against the Seahawks. But then they face the Raiders, Broncos and Cards, so getting to 8-3 by the end of November seems a distinct possibility.

However, in December, the Chargers face PIT and Cincy before their re-match against the Chiefs (at Arrowhead), then finish with the Ravens and Broncos. So, a December fade is certainly possible, though they seem likely to remain in contention for a WC berth right to the end.

Good point. I didn’t list anyone who is not a division leader. Chargers may be good recordwise, but they are not in competition with NE for the 1 seed unless they win the division against KC.

 

[maineman209]

If KC loses any game of their next few games the battle for the AFC West crown should get very interesting!

Seems somewhat unlikely, though, until they face the Rams (at Arrowhead).

Broncos (home)
Browns (AWAY)
Cards (home)
RAMS (home) - might be their 2nd, and last, loss
-- BYE --
Raiders (AWAY)
Ravens (home)
Chargers (home)
Seahawks (AWAY)
Raiders (home)

The Chiefs finishing at 15-1 is not out of the question.

 

[maineman209]

Good point. I didn’t list anyone who is not a division leader. Chargers may be good recordwise, but they are not in competition with NE for the 1 seed unless they win the division against KC.

True. Seems unlikely that the Chargers will win the division, even if they finish 13-3 somehow.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Seems somewhat unlikely, though, until they face the Rams (at Arrowhead).

Broncos (home)
Browns (AWAY)
Cards (home)
RAMS (home) - might be their 2nd, and last, loss
-- BYE --
Raiders (AWAY)
Ravens (home)
Chargers (home)
Seahawks (AWAY)
Raiders (home)

The Chiefs finishing at 15-1 is not out of the question.

Agree. Its very possible.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Agree. Its very possible.

That loss to Detroit sucks

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Im still waiting for November before worrying about a chiefs/andy reid team. But yea so far they haven’t slowed down and maholmes looks legit.

Im still picking us for 1 seed right now, the offense is killing it and Edelman/Gordon are still finding their rhythm.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Seems somewhat unlikely, though, until they face the Rams (at Arrowhead).

Broncos (home)
Browns (AWAY)
Cards (home)
RAMS (home) - might be their 2nd, and last, loss
-- BYE --
Raiders (AWAY)
Ravens (home)
Chargers (home)
Seahawks (AWAY)
Raiders (home)

The Chiefs finishing at 15-1 is not out of the question.

Naaahhh...we go through this every year. In fact, people were starting to project Jacksonville's schedule after week 2/3 and conclude they may finish 14-2 or 13-3.

I don't expect the Chiefs to get better and believe they've reached their peak; whether they can sustain that is a matter of speculation. Andy Reid is not known for his late season improvements, and last year's defense essentially fell apart and somehow got even worse despite already being one of the worst defenses in the league.

As the weather gets colder and the war of attrition takes its toll, I don't really see how KC is built to stay dominant. They are completely reliant on a speedy offense with huge chunk yardage plays. They may be the last team standing in the AFC, but I think it's really, really unlikely this team goes 15-1 or 14-2. Their defense alone will likely lose them at least one game, even if their offense plays decently. If the offense has a down week, this team is very vulnerable. The Patriots have almost mirror issues, except that they have a proven track record of improving defensively as the season goes into stretch time.