The Chiefs’ loss adds intrigue to the AFC field

On By Littum

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Each week during the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture — starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward the rest of the week (to Monday’s and Thursday’s games) or Saturday, if it is relevant).

What just happened? What does that mean? What are the relevant factors (and perhaps tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? Everything will be explained and analyzed until the time the postseason field is finalized on Sunday night, January 5th.

Here’s where things stand, with Week 11 of the 2024 season almost complete:

AFC playoff picture

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1), AFC West leaders: Their first loss of the year could be a significant one, as the Bills now only need to make up one more game of the reigning Super Bowl champions to take over first place. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, vs. Raiders vs. Chargers, at Browns, vs. Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2), AFC East leaders: They’ve won six straight since knocking off KC, and a fifth straight division title is all but a foregone conclusion. And with the potentially decisive head-to-head tiebreaker in hand, the Bills could soon steer the road to Super Bowl 59 through western New York. Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. 49ers, at Rams, at Lions, vs. Patriots vs. Jets, at Patriots

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2), AFC North leaders: Their defeat of the Ravens gives them breathing room at the top of the division and makes them a viable threat to secure home court advantage as well. Remaining schedule: at Browns, at Bengals, vs. Browns, at Eagles, at Ravens, vs. Chiefs vs. Bengals

4. Houston Texas (6-4), AFC South leaders: They have a few issues to work through, mainly injury related ones. But they should still cruising to a second straight division championship. Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Titans, at Jaguars, BYE, vs. Dolphins, at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans

5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), wild card no. 1: Their defense has been pretty tough. Their schedule has been anything but — though that began to change Sunday night. Still, the Bolts are starting to build a nice cushion between themselves and the clubs chasing them – and even moved ahead of next week’s opponent, Baltimore. Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Falcons, at Chiefs, vs. Buccaneers, vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4), wild card no. 2: As good as they are, losses to the wrong teams could very well mean no home playoff games this season. Remaining schedule: at Chargers, vs. Eagles, BYE, at Giants, vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns

7. Denver Broncos (6-5), wild card no. 3: They didn’t take their hooves off the gas Sunday against Atlanta and can’t do so in a bigger sense as they try to hang on to this spot. Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Browns, BYE, vs. Colts, at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (5-6), in the chase: They get a key shot at the Broncos down the road. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Patriots, BYE, at Broncos, vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Miami Dolphins (4-6), in the hunt: They are building steam and jumped Cincy with Sunday’s win. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Packers, vs. Jets, at Texans, vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets

10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7), in the hunt: Crushing losses the past two weeks may be too much to overcome. Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. Steelers, at Cowboys, at Titans, vs. Browns vs. Broncos, at Steelers

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NFC playoff picture

1. Detroit Lions (9-1), NFC North leaders: After Sunday’s 52-6 walkover against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Lions’ biggest concern may be peaking too early. Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Bears vs. Packers vs. Bills, at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings

2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2), NFC East leaders: Philly pulled away from Washington on Thursday night to bolster its team in first place in the division — and could need that padding later in the process. But the Iggles are now officially a clear and present danger to Detroit as well. Remaining schedule: at Rams, at Ravens, vs. Panthers vs. Steelers, at Commanders, vs. Cowboys vs. Giants

3. Arizona Cardinals (6-4), NFC West leaders: A bye week snapped their four-game hitting streak. But Atlanta’s loss also moved Arizona up a spot in terms of seeding. The Cards’ 2-0 record in divisional games serves them well; their 3-3 mark in NFC play won’t help them in the tiebreaker department with Atlanta (6-2). Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Vikings, vs. Seahawks vs. Patriots, at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5), NFC South leaders: A season sweep of the Bucs actually gives Atlanta a three-game lead in the division. The Falcons have no such edge on the suddenly surging Saints. Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. Chargers, at Vikings, at Raiders, vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers

5. Minnesota Vikings (8-2), wild card no. 1: They have won three in a row, all against AFC South competition, to maintain that spot – while remaining one game back of Detroit in the NFC North. Remaining schedule: at Bears, vs. Cardinals, vs. Falcons vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions

6. Green Bay Packers (7-3), wild card no. 2: They were lucky to escape Chicago with a win … which means they also remain relevant in the NFC North despite how dominant Detroit looks. Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Seahawks, vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington’s commanders (7-4), wild card no. 3: Thursday night’s loss to Philly hurts, costs Washington seeding for now, but should also be a learning experience. And the Commanders appear to have an easier lineup than Philly to contend with the rest of the way, one that can keep them in contention for the NFC East throne. Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys vs. Titans, BYE, at Saints, vs. Eagles vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Los Angeles Rams (5-5), in the chase: Wins over the 49ers and Seahawks give them a slim edge among the conference’s current .500 lot. Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, at Saints, vs. Bills, at 49ers, at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

9. Seattle Seahawks (5-5), in the chase: They’re just 1-2 in the division, but that’s better than the Niners, who Seattle just split its season series with. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, at Jets, at Cardinals, vs. Packers vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams

10. San Francisco 49ers (5-5), in the chase: They fell to 1-3 in NFC West games, which dropped them down the conference table and could make it really difficult to win the division if it continues to stay packed. Remaining schedule: at Packers, at Bills, vs. Bears vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6), in the hunt: They actually made up a bit of ground on their week off. Now, if they can get key players like WR Mike Evans back, the opportunity is there to have a strong finishing kick. Remaining schedule: at Giants, at Panthers, vs. Raiders, at Chargers, at Cowboys, vs. Panthers vs. Saints

12. Chicago Bears (4-6), in the hunt: A four-game skid suggests they may not be in the hunt for much longer – especially given what they face. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Lions, at 49ers, at Vikings, vs. Lions, vs. Seahawks, at Packers

13. New Orleans Saints (4-7), in the hunt: They are 2-0 under interim HC Darren Rizzi. And given the way the NFC South compresses… Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. Rams, at Giants, vs. Commanders, at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers

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