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Chiefs' Playoff Path Narrows as 6-6 Kansas City Enters Texans Test with Odds on the Line

Analysts say a win against Houston would lift playoff odds from roughly one-third to about two-thirds.

Overview

  • Kansas City sits 6-6 and 10th in the AFC race, with Pittsburgh and Houston ahead and Buffalo holding the seventh seed and a tiebreaker over the Chiefs.
  • The late-game edge has flipped, with the Chiefs 1-6 in one-score contests after going 11-0 in the regular season last year.
  • The Athletic’s simulator projects a 98 percent chance to make the postseason if Kansas City wins out, with 4-1 still keeping a 10-7 path in play.
  • Sunday’s matchup with Houston carries outsized weight, as a loss drops playoff odds to about 11 percent while the Texans boast the league’s top-ranked defense.
  • Andy Reid and Travis Kelce urged focus and small fixes, while injuries to tackles Josh Simmons and Jawaan Taylor and guard Trey Smith complicate protection for Patrick Mahomes.