Normally, fans of other AFC teams are conditioned to root against the Kansas City Chiefs.
That's what makes the Sunday Night Football matchup between the 6-6 Chiefs and the 7-5 Houston Texans a particularly confusing one for fans of teams like the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
There's a very real case to be made to root for the Chiefs to beat the Texans.
The case to want the Chiefs to lose is simpler. That's the best chance that Kansas City misses the postseason altogether.
But if the Texans win, they've got a better chance of keeping the Bills, Ravens or Steelers out of the postseason entirely.
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It's a bit of a catch-22.
But the first priority should be a given team itself making it to the playoffs. A Texans win increases the chances of two of the three wild card teams coming from the AFC South, where the 8-4 Colts and 8-4 Jaguars play on Sunday.
A Chiefs win leaves them and the Texans both at 7-6, which is more overcome-able for the other teams in the AFC playoff picture.
The other thing to consider: If this is all about wild card spots, even if the Chiefs get in, they likely wouldn't line up against a team like the Bills until a few rounds into the playoffs if they both keep winning, anyway.
That's something to be worried about when it comes.
First, teams have to get into the dance. They can worry about who else is there when they arrive.
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