The 2022-2023 AFC Playoff Picture

Laddie Morse

It’s all over and done with, the NFL 2022-2023 Regular Season that is. Now that all the games have been played, the important thing to notice is: the Kansas City Chiefs are the number one seed in the AFC. Since were mostly interested in the AFC, let jsut take a look at those seeding and pairings and games.

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With the Seedings decided, let’s take a look at the pairings, beginning with next weekend’s games:

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Wild Card Weekend

Once those Wild Card games have been decided, the the AFC team with the worst record (the lowest seed) will play the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. So, to work out the possibilities:

If the Bills and the Chiefs end up playing for the AFC Championship, it will eb played at a neutral site.

If the Bills, Bengals and Jags all win, the Jags would come to K.C. to play the Chiefs in two weeks for the chance to go the the AFC Championship game, which would be played at a neutral site, if the Chiefs win, and either the Bill or the Bengals win.

If the Chargers win their first round Wild Card game against the Jags, they would come to Arrowhead the next weekend.

If the Bengals had not beaten the Ravens in Week 18, they’d have to have a coin toss to decide home field advantage and where they’d play their Wild Card Game. Now, the game will be played at Bengals’ Paycor Stadium.

If the Ravens win, and the Bills and the Jags win their Wildcard games, it would still be the Jags who visit the Chiefs in Arrowhead the next weekend.

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BTW, the NFL has not yet announced where the neutral site of the AFC Championship game would be held.

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If both the 9-and-8 Dolphins and Jags win their Wild Card games, the Chief would then face the Dolphins, because they are the lower seed.

It looks like the Chiefs are most likely to face the Chargers, the Jags or the Dolphins in their first Playoff game at Arrowhead in two weeks. While the Chiefs face the lowest remaining seed, the Bills face the next to lowest seed, and then the Bengals face the next to lowest seed… in the same weekend the Chiefs face off for the first time.

Here’s a NFL Playoff Bracket I re-worked, but it does well is, it shows the path the Chiefs will take to the Lombardi.

Note: most of the brackets available are made

by Betting Sites so if you use the links, beware.

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From an article by CBS Sports called, “NFL Playoff Picture” comes these AFC Tiebreakers:

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If you’re wondering why one team made it into the playoffs, and another team did not, these explanations above are the Tiebreakers, or, the reasons.

Let me know if we got something wrong here. The Playoffs are a complex set of rules, especially with the changes made by the owners this year. I’m just glad the Chiefs are a Number One seed and get next weekend to sooth any sores they may have.

Here are some other articles on this subject if you’e interested:

“Dolphins claim seventh seed in AFC”

“Green Bay and Detroit battle for final playoff spot in NFC”

“AFC playoff seeding, Wild Card Round matchups set”

“NFL playoff schedule: Dates, times, TV channels for every 2023 postseason game”

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Come on Chiefs… just three more wins and it’s Parade Time!

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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