Chiefs can become one of the NFL's first teams to clinch a playoff berth, but they'll need some help

The Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) can become one of the NFL's first teams to clinch a playoff spot, but they'll need some help in Week 13. Just thirteen weeks into the 2024 NFL season, three NFL teams have a chance to clinch playoff berths: The Chiefs, The Buffalo Bills, and the Detroit Lions. The first part of […]

Charles Goldman NFL Managing Editor
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Jan 29, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) raises the Lamar Hunt Trophy with tight end Travis Kelce (87) after the AFC championship NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl with a 23-20 win over the Bengals.
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The Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) can become one of the NFL's first teams to clinch a playoff spot, but they'll need some help in Week 13.

Just thirteen weeks into the 2024 NFL season, three NFL teams have a chance to clinch playoff berths: The Chiefs, The Buffalo Bills, and the Detroit Lions. The first part of the equation for Kansas City is beating or tying the Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) during their upcoming tilt on Black Friday. If they lose, the conversation is moot. 

Here's each of the possible clinching scenarios for Kansas City in Week 13:

KC win + MIA loss or tie

The Miami Dolphins (5-6) are set to face the Green Bay Packers (8-3) on Thanksgiving. The Dolphins are fresh off a game where they embarrassed the New England Patriots. The Packers are also coming off a dominant win over the San Francisco 49ers. 


KC win + DEN loss

The Denver Broncos (7-5) face the Cleveland Browns (3-8) on "Monday Night Football" this week. This scenario feels a bit unlikely, even with the Browns getting an improbable win over the Pittsburgh Steelers recently. It'll take a behemoth performance from Jameis Winston & Co. to slow down Broncos QB Bo Nix and Sean Payton, who are really rolling right now. 


KC win + LAC loss + DEN tie

Any scenario that includes a tie is highly improbable. There hasn't been a tie game in the NFL since December 2022. That said, a Los Angeles Chargers (7-5) loss wouldn't be the craziest thing as they face an Atlanta Falcons (6-5) team coming off a bye week and an embarrassing Week 11 loss just prior.


KC tie + MIA loss

You can probably consider this outcome the least likely scenario of the bunch. You have to go back to Nov. of 1989 (Chiefs-Browns) to find the last game that Kansas City ended in a tie.