With the Pittsburgh Steelers falling short, how will this effect the Kansas City Chiefs playoff picture?
Well 1972 Dolphins, pop the bubbly. Your record is safe for another season.
A late interception from Ben Roethlisberger tipped at the line of scrimmage cemented the victory for the Washington Football Team. All Alex Smith had to do was play it cool, chew down the clock and watch Washington pick up their fifth win with a 23-17 final at Heinz Field.
The 2020 NFL season will be one to remember for the nameless Football Team. A player thought to lose his leg returns as the team’s starter. A head coach battles cancers and rings the victory bell, cementing a new start for all.
And in only 2020 weird fashion could the last undefeated team lose to a sub .500 team that’s hoping to make the playoffs.
More than that, the Pittsburgh Steelers now is 11-1 instead of a perfect 12-0. They join the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who despite scoring a season-low in points, managed to defeat the Denver Broncos.
Things just became interesting in the postseason picture now all across the AFC. However, the race for first place will be one fans will keep close eyes on moving into the closing weeks of the holiday season.
Will this lead to the Chiefs hosting the playoffs?
With four games left for both teams, it’ll be interesting to see how things play out. For the Steelers, Week 13 seemed to the trap as the surging Buffalo Bills would play host to the black and yellow. After that, Pittsburgh still has bouts with potential playoff foes in Indianapolis and Cleveland to close out the year.
As for Kansas City, a trip to South Beach could secure a playoff spot for the Miami Dolphins with a win over the defending Super Bowl Champs. Now with a 4-1 record, Tua Tagovailoa still is finding ways to win without committing a turnover. After that, a hopeful Drew Brees-led Saints will be able to secure the No.1 seed in the NFC before matchups against the Falcons and Chargers in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively.
Ultimately, one loss is the only acceptable answer for both these teams fighting for the top seed. On paper, this should play more in the Chiefs’ favor due to an easier finish. However, one can’t sleep on Miami with their defense that’s revitalized the organization.
As for the Steelers, a red hot Cleveland Browns will be looking to avenge their 38-7 loss in Week 6.
Conference record remains the tiebreaker separating these teams for now. As long as the Steelers win out, and remain undefeated in the AFC, they’ll get that coveted bye. But should they slip up, the Chiefs will be waiting.