I think there's a real chance this year the Chiefs don't win the AFC West.
They are now 5-4 while the Broncos are 7-2. Now yes, if KC wins both head to heads against Denver, they probably will win the division while having the tiebreaker and if they mostly take care of business. But I predict they'll split those games, and in that scenario KC is still two games behind DEN while DEN has a mostly manageable schedule to finish.
The irony is, there's a chance being the 2 or 3 seed in the AFC this year means the reward of playing... Kansas City in the wild card round
I think KC will split with DEN. Denver has found ways to impress and comeback this season. It also won't surprise me if Denver sweeps KC. Don't know what spell Sean Payton has with Bo Nix but it's working.
That said, Buffalo seems to be getting it together. Perhaps the Chiefs are looking more mortal than they've ever been. Think the Pats have a chance to stop Mahomes in the playoffs? If the Pats and Denver do win the division, then both teams very likely pull KC and BUF in the wild-card round. Then there's also the Chargers. Would be an interesting AFC postseason
Not this year lol. Maybe next year though when they all get more experience including Maye and they add to the defense in the offseason.
I still think playoff experience is gonna be big for guys like Allen, Mahomes, Lamar, etc. Maye and a decent amount of the team doesn't have that. I'd still be very happy if the Pats just made the playoffs and played a game. And honestly if it works out there they'd draw a team like the Steelers or Jaguars or someone like that in the wild card round, I'd absolutely give them a shot to win it.
The good news is, the Pats KNOW they have a QB, and with Maye out there they will absolutely have a chance to win any Sunday even against Mahomes, Allen, etc. (not that they'd be favored but they'd have a chance). You definitely couldn't say that about any of their recent QBs (Mac, Newton, Zappe, Brissett)
