NFL Week 12 overreactions: Chiefs stay alive, Cowboys shock Eagles
USA TODAY Sports’ Prince Grimes ‘overreacts’ to some of the best games from Sunday’s Week 12 slate.
Everyone wants a seat at the table.
It’s not always easy during the holidays, especially when family and friends gather in celebration. Inevitably, some are going to be relegated to the couch and others might snag a spot at the folding table that gets put alongside the regular dining room set.
That is the reality of the situation, considering there are never enough chairs for everyone involved.
The Kansas City Chiefs have long held one of those coveted spots. Seated at the head, the Chiefs’ reign over the NFL has lasted for the better part of a decade.
Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid watch on, as the kids and distant relatives get stuck with the undesirable locations – far away from the turkey and mashed potatoes.
Yet this year is different with a changing of the guard taking place. The new kids on the block are coming for the Chiefs’ throne and have no interest in bowing down to it.
As we exit Thanksgiving, Kansas City is on the outside looking in as it relates to the NFL playoff picture. If this picture were posted to social media, no one would know the Chiefs were there – a reality that is far from normal for a team that’s normally front and center.
Here’s a look at the Chiefs playoff chances, remaining schedule and overall AFC playoff picture:
The Chiefs have an estimated 39% chance to make the playoffs following their loss to the Cowboys, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Kansas City entered Thursday with a 46% chance of making the postseason while their odds would have improved to 65% for a win.
The Chiefs are currently third in the AFC West and in possession of the 10th seed in the AFC, meaning they have plenty of work to do going forward. Catching the Denver Broncos in the division is a longshot at best, meaning Kansas City likely is looking at a wild card-or bust season in 2025.
To make matters worse, Kansas City has already lost to the three teams currently in possession of a wild-card spot – the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs don’t have much margin for error, meaning they’ll need to start stacking wins down the stretch – something that was never a problem in the past.
The Chiefs will face the NFL’s 11th-easiest schedule the remainder of the season, per Tankathon. They have three matchups remaining against teams with winning records and three divisional opponents.
The Chiefs will remain in the place in the AFC West after their Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys:
- Denver Broncos (9-2)
- Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
- New England Patriots (10-2; AFC East leaders)
- Denver Broncos (9-2; AFC West leaders)
- Indianapolis Colts (9-3; AFC South leaders)
- Baltimore Ravens (6-5; AFC North leaders)
- Los Angeles Chargers (7-4; wild card No. 1)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4; wild card No. 2)
- Buffalo Bills (7-4; wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5); Houston Texans (6-5); Kansas City Chiefs (6-6); Miami Dolphins (4-7); Cincinnati Bengals (3-8); Cleveland Browns (3-8); Las Vegas Raiders (2-9); New York Jets (2-9); Tennessee Titans (1-10)
