The Chiefs are going to have a chance to beat the streak. For the first time since 2010, Kansas City will be in the postseason, and this team has a chance to win the franchise’s first playoff game since 1993.
2013 NFL playoff picture: Chiefs clinch a playoff spot with win over Raiders
Kansas City can start to get excited about playoff football.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Week 15
Highlights from Sunday Essential reading A 56-31 win over the Raiders clinched at least a wild-card spot for the Chiefs, and while the AFC West crown is a bit of a long shot, Kansas City should be locked into the No. 5 seed.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints, who let the No. 1 seed in the NFC slip away in Week 13, made the NFC South division race even more interesting with a loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 15. After beating the Carolina Panthers in Week 14, the Saints had control of the NFC South. With a win over Rams in Week 15, the Saints would have clinched a spot in the postseason. Instead, the Saints will be fighting for their postseason lives in the final two weeks after getting beat handily by St. Louis.
New Orleans still has a big game looming against the Panthers to help determine who will walk away with the South division crown.
Here’s the rest of the playoff picture after the late games.
(X) - clinched playoff berth (Y) - clinched division
AFC playoff standings
No. 1 - (X) Denver 11-3
No. 2 - New England 10-4
No. 3 - Cincinnati 9-4
No. 4 - (Y) Indianapolis 9-5
No. 5 - (X) Kansas City 11-3
No. 6 - Miami 8-6
In the hunt: Baltimore (7-6), San Diego (7-7), New York Jets (6-8), Pittsburgh (5-8)
The Chiefs clinched one of the AFC Wild Card spots by beating the Oakland Raiders. The AFC West division race is still Denver's to lose, but Kansas City will have a chance to win a playoff game for the first time since 1993. Meanwhile, the Patriots blew a chance to take over the No. 1 seed in the AFC by losing to the Dolphins in Miami. The Broncos still sit atop the AFC standings and will have the top seed if they win out. Miami will eagerly await the results of Baltimore's game on Monday night to see if it will take control of the final wild-card spot in the AFC.
NFC playoff standings
No. 1 - (X) Seattle 12-2
No. 2 - New Orleans 10-4
No. 3 - Philadelphia 8-6
No. 4 - Chicago 8-6
No. 5 - Carolina 10-4
No. 6 - San Francisco 10-4
In the hunt: Arizona (9-5), Detroit (7-6), Dallas (7-7), Green Bay (7-6-1)
The Panthers needed to win and needed the 49ers, Cardinals, and Cowboys or Eagles to lose in order to clinch a playoff spot. While Carolina didn't clinch on Sunday, it now has a shot at the division crown with New Orleans losing. The Cowboys blew a big lead against the Packers on Sunday and it cost them the chance to take over first place in the NFC East. The Bears are in first place of the NFC North after a win but will wait on the results of Detroit's game against Baltimore on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Packers are still alive after an improbable comeback victory.
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