Heading into their Week 9 game, the Kansas City Chiefs weren't in an urgent need to win, with most seeing this game as one the Buffalo Bills needed more than their rivals, but the fallout would suggest otherwise.
At 5-4, it isn't panic stations for Andy Reid's team yet, but there is something that will make him shift nervously in his seat -- the Chiefs are currently out of the playoffs if they began today.
With the 28-21 loss, the Chiefs, who are not third in the division and on the outside looking in on the postseason, things aren't all rosy.
And in his latest power rankings for CBS Sports, Pete Prisco has the Chiefs tumbling eight spots, all the way down to No. 10.
"Losing to the Bills on the road isn't awful, but think about this: If the playoffs started today, they wouldn't be a part of them," Prisco wrote. "Weird."
More: Patrick Mahomes big 'loser' from Chiefs loss to Bills
Can Chiefs miss the playoffs?
Anyone who is thinking they can are right, but thinking that they actually will? Yeah, tap the brakes on that.
Right now, things don't look as settled as they usually do with Kansas City normally first in the division and a lock for homefield advantage in the postseason. However, neither of those two things are within reach, at least in the short term.
Two tough games against the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts after the bye will tell us a lot about the trajectory of the Chiefs in the second half of the season, and one would think that if they have any intention of claiming yet another AFC West title, beating Denver in Denver is a must.
Will the Chiefs miss the playoffs? I can't see it happening.
Then again, not many saw Kansas City being in its current predicament either.
More Chiefs news:
- Patrick Mahomes has incredible response to potential Bills playoff matchup
- 'No more chances' for Chiefs after Bills loss
- Chiefs face 'uphill battle' after crushing Bills loss
- Is Travis Kelce injured? Chiefs TE a no-show in first half vs. Bills