Chiefs playoff picture: Updated chances for Kansas City to make 2025 NFL postseason in Week 12

The Kansas City Chiefs have been synonymous with playoff success in recent memory. The franchise has won the AFC West every year since 2016.

Through the first 11 weeks of the 2025 season, though, Kansas City is sitting in mediocrity. The Chiefs have a 5-5 record heading into their Week 12 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Before the season, analysts likely would have said this was an easy game for Kansas City and may have even called it a trap game for the franchise. In reality, the Colts have an 8-2 record and are one of the Chiefs' toughest opponents left on paper.

Kansas City is in a spot it hasn't been in for the last decade. The Chiefs are in the back half of the season and have a legitimate shot at missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Here is more on whether the Chiefs can make the 2025-26 postseason.

MORE WEEK 12 NFL:

• NFL power rankings for Week 12
• NFL Week 12 picks, predictions
• NFL Week 12 picks against the spread

Chiefs playoff picture

Kansas City not only finds itself not leading the division, but if the playoffs started today, it would not be in the playoff field. The Chiefs have an uphill battle to get back into the playoff picture, but it isn't out of the question. 

Kansas City trails the division-leading Denver Broncos by four games and has to face them for the second time this season in Week 17 on Christmas Day. The Chiefs lost to the Broncos in the first meeting of the season, but that game was held in Denver. Kansas City also trails the Los Angeles Chargers by two games. While the Chiefs' streak of winning the AFC West is in serious jeopardy, the franchise knows it needs to be more focused on earning one of the three Wild Card spots to sneak into the playoff field. 

Here is how the AFC playoff picture looks heading into Sunday of Week 12, after the Houston Texans beat the Buffalo Bills on "Thursday Night Football." The first four seeds are the division leaders. 

MORE: How have the Chiefs done in one-score games in 2025?

Chiefs remaining schedule

Kansas City has a tough remaining schedule. The Chiefs face the AFC South-leading Colts in Week 12. It looked like Kansas City may have an easier game in Week 14, at least on paper, but the Texans then beat the Bills, who beat the Chiefs in Week 9. Kansas City then plays the Chargers, who beat them in Week 1, the currently last-place Titans and then the Broncos, who beat them in Week 11. 

While the Raiders haven't looked good all season, the final game for the Chiefs is on the road in Las Vegas, and if the Raiders are playing for nothing other than their jobs and maybe bonuses, that could be a surprisingly challenging final game. 

Here is a look at the Chiefs' remaining schedule.