There was a moment during the last play of Sunday Night Football, an entertaining 27-26 overtime victory for the Broncos over the Commanders, when the Kansas City Chiefs were rooting for the Commanders harder than they had for any team in years. The season-lost Commanders failed on a two-point conversion attempt to win the game, leaving the Broncos at 10-2 and leaders of the AFC.
A Denver loss would have significantly boosted the Chiefs’ dwindling playoff chances, which plummeted after their loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Now, while the Chiefs still largely control their own destiny, they will almost certainly need a combination of results from other teams in Week 18 to keep their active playoff appearance streak (10), the second-longest in NFL history, alive.
Banged-Up Chiefs Face White-Hot Texans in Must Win Game
The Chiefs’ next game, like all those remaining on their schedule, will feel like a playoff game because it is against the Houston Texans, who are two spots ahead of them in the AFC Wild Card race. The Texans are currently on a four-game winning streak, recently got their star quarterback C.J. Stroud back, and their defense is one of the best in the NFL, if not the best.
This puts even more pressure on Patrick Mahomes, especially since his offensive line is severely banged up. Left tackle Josh Simmons left their last game with a broken wrist, right tackle Jawaan Taylor didn’t finish the game due to an elbow injury, and Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith didn’t even play because of an ankle injury.
A win is an absolute must for both teams, but perhaps even more so for the Chiefs. Losing would drop their AFC record to a concerning 3-5, and all nine teams ahead of them currently hold a better conference record, which is a critical tie-breaker in the standings.
Chargers Injury Opens a Window of Opportunity
Following this Sunday Night game against Houston, the Chiefs will play the Los Angeles Chargers, though it is unclear whether the Chargers will have their quarterback Justin Herbert, who suffered a fractured left hand requiring surgery. If the Chargers lose their next two games (they play the Eagles this week, a tough opponent) and the Chiefs win both, Kansas City could jump back into the Wild Card spots, especially if the Steelers lose to the Ravens this week.
From that point, the Chiefs would fully control their destiny, with their only remaining difficult game being the Christmas Day home rematch against the Broncos. Their other two games are against the struggling Titans and a season-closer against the Raiders. So, while the Chiefs’ chances may be low, we have seen Patrick Mahomes pull off the seemingly impossible time and time again. He now faces his toughest challenge yet but must first prepare for a massive game against the Texans.
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