Heading into Week 13, there had been zero playoff berths clinched up to now within the NFL this 12 months, however that modified on Friday.
Thanks to their wild 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) grew to become the primary crew to clinch a playoff spot in 2024. Going into Week 13, the Chiefs had a number of situations the place they might clinch a playoff berth with the best one being a easy two-step course of:
The Dolphins misplaced to the Packers on Thanksgiving night time, setting the stage for Kansas City to develop into the primary crew to punch its ticket.
With the win over Las Vegas, the Chiefs pulled off one thing that no NFL crew has performed in 26 years: They grew to become the primary crew to clinch a non-divisional title playoff berth with not less than 5 weeks left to play within the season, which is one thing that just about by no means occurs this early. According to NFL playoff guru Joe Ferreria, earlier than the Chiefs’ win on Friday, the final time a crew clinched a non-divisional title playoff berth this early got here all the best way again in 1998 when each the Broncos and Falcons clinched a playoff berth in Week 12 (The season was solely 17 weeks lengthy in 1998, in order that was additionally with 5 weeks left within the season).
With the loss, the Raiders grew to become the primary AFC crew and second NFL crew total to be eradicated the from playoff rivalry (The Giants had been the primary).
As for the Chiefs, they’ll clearly nonetheless clinch the division title at a later level, however for now, they’ve solely clinched a playoff spot, however not the general division.
That being mentioned, there might be one division up for grabs this weekend. The Bills will clinch the AFC East with a win over the 49ers on Sunday night time. If that occurs, the Bills will develop into the primary crew for the reason that 2009 Colts to clinch a division title with not less than 5 weeks remaining within the season.
The Lions may clinch a playoff spot this weekend, however their situations are barely extra sophisticated. We lined all of these, plus three different situations the place the Chiefs might get in, and you’ll be able to take a look at every a kind of right here
