Mahomes and the Chiefs with one last shot at keeping their NFL playoff hopes alive
The Chiefs are on the brink of missing the postseason, and Kansas City needs its quarterback more than ever as the season reaches a critical point.
The playoff picture is really taking shape, and the AFC is as tense as it gets. The three-time conference champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, are dangerously close to elimination — a collapse that would effectively end their run as the conference’s dominant dynasty.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs enter Sunday facing what may be their final chance to stay alive. The back-to-back Super Bowl LVII and LVIII champions have one last card to play if they want to keep their postseason hopes intact.
Mahomes and Kansas City meet the Los Angeles Chargers, a 9–4 team led by Justin Herbert, who will be looking to finish off a Chiefs squad that has struggled far more this season than anyone expected.
If the Chiefs lose on Sunday, the consequences could be disastrous. A defeat combined with wins by the Bills, Jaguars and Texans would knock them out. The same would happen with any of these combinations: Bills–Jaguars–Colts or Bills–Texans–Colts, so long as Kansas City loses to the Chargers.
Mahomes faces his last chance to avoid a first-ever elimination
Kansas City’s quarterback will try to carry the offense Sunday to avoid something he has never experienced. Since becoming the Chiefs’ starting quarterback, Mahomes has reached the playoffs every single year — seven straight appearances. That streak could end this weekend if Kansas City doesn’t beat the Chargers.
AFC playoff standings
1- Broncos (11-2)
2- Patriots (11-2)
3- Jaguars (9-4)
4- Steelers (7-6)
5- Chargers (9-4)
6- Bills (9-4)
7- Texans (8-5)
On the outside looking in (if the season ended today):
8- Colts (8-5)
9- Ravens (6-7)
10- Chiefs (6-7)
11- Dolphins (6-7)
12- Bengals (4-9)
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