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 was sitting in mediocrity. The Chiefs had 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 had an 8-2 record and were one of the Chiefs' toughest opponents left on paper.
It took the game going into overtime, but when the dust settled, the Chiefs hit a walk-off field goal to move one-game above.500.
Here is more on whether the Chiefs can make the 2025-26 postseason.
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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 two 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 one game. 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 after Kansas City's latest result, a 23-20 OT win over the Colts. The first four seeds are the division leaders.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | New England Patriots | 10-2 |
| 2 | Denver Broncos | 9-2 |
| 3 | Indianapolis Colts | 8-3 |
| 4 | Baltimore Ravens | 6-5 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Chargers | 7-4 |
| 6 | Buffalo Bills | 7-4 |
| 7 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6-4 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-5 |
| 9 | Houston Texans | 6-5 |
| 10 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-5 |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | 4-7 |
| 12 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-8 |
| 13 | Las Vegas Raiders | 2-8 |
| 14 | Cleveland Browns | 2-8 |
| 15 | New York Jets | 2-9 |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | 1-10 |
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 Cowboys in Week 13, a matchup that could prove challenging after Quinnen Williams' arrival. Kansas City has another difficult duel with a Texas-based side in Week 14, jousting with the Texans. 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.
| Week | Opponent |
| 13 | at Cowboys |
| 14 | vs. Texans |
| 15 | vs. Chargers |
| 16 | at Titans |
| 17 | vs. Broncos |
| 18 | at Raiders |
MORE NFL WEEK 12:
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- How Steelers' loss, Ravens' win flips leaderboard in AFC North
- Lions, Bears, Packers all picks up wins to maintain pace in NFC North
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba breaks Seahawks' single-season receiving record in just 11 games
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