TL;DR
- Kansas City Chiefs lost to Dallas Cowboys, dropping their record to 6-6.
- The Chiefs are currently 10th in AFC playoff standings, outside of playoff contention.
- Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers hold tiebreaker advantages over Kansas City.
- Kansas City needs to win remaining games to secure a playoff spot.
Facing Week 12, the Kansas City Chiefs found themselves in a precarious position. Their game against the Indianapolis Colts was crucial; a defeat would have dropped the Chiefs below a.500 record, jeopardizing their playoff chances. Ultimately, they secured an overtime victory.
Carrying that momentum, the Chiefs traveled for a Thanksgiving matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Kansas City entered the week with a 6-5 record, ranking 10th in the AFC playoff standings. Given that only seven teams from each conference qualify for the postseason, Kansas City required a victory to remain competitive for a Wild Card position, especially after securing the AFC West title and an automatic playoff berth for the past nine consecutive years.
Dallas secured a 31-28 victory at home, running out the clock after the two-minute warning. The Chiefs' record now stands at 6-6 for the season, marking the latest point in a season they've been at.500 since 2012.
Here is more on the Chiefs' chance to make the 2025 postseason after a loss in Week 13.
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Chiefs playoff picture
Following their defeat against the Cowboys, the Chiefs' record now stands at 6-5. Their position in the playoff standings remains unchanged. Heading into Week 14, Kansas City occupies the 10th position in the AFC, with no opportunity to advance due to the outcomes of other conference games. Despite potential losses for the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers in their upcoming contests, both teams would still hold the tiebreaker edge over the Chiefs based on their performance in conference games.
| 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 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 7-4 |
| 7 | Buffalo Bills | 7-4 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-5 |
| 9 | Houston Texans | 6-5 |
| 10 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-6 |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | 4-7 |
| 12 | Cincinnati Bengals | 3-8 |
| 13 | Cleveland Browns | 3-8 |
| 14 | Las Vegas Raiders | 2-9 |
| 15 | New York Jets | 2-9 |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | 1-10 |
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Chiefs remaining schedule
On paper, Kansas City faces a compelling remaining schedule. The Chiefs will play host to the Texans in Week 14. Houston, having defeated the Bills in Week 12, is currently positioned above Kansas City in the playoff standings.
With four games left, the Chiefs face what appear to be two challenging matchups and two potential pitfalls. Kansas City has two difficult divisional contests ahead, but fortunately, both will be played on their home turf. These victories are crucial for The Chiefs, not just for playoff positioning but also for securing tiebreakers that could prove advantageous. Additionally, Kansas City will play against the Tennessee Titans and the Las Vegas Raiders. Both of these squads are anticipated to play with pride and no pressure, meaning the Chiefs must be wary of falling into a trap game scenario.
If Kansas City secures victories in all its remaining games, its playoff prospects are strong. While a single defeat won't end the Chiefs' season, any additional losses will necessitate greater reliance on other teams' outcomes across the league.
| Week | Opponent |
| 14 | vs. Texans |
| 15 | vs. Chargers |
| 16 | at Titans |
| 17 | vs. Broncos |
| 18 | at Raiders |
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