The NFL playoffs are set, and the Kansas City Chiefs will get a much-needed week’s worth of rest.
The Chiefs did their job in Week 18 by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders, earning the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The wild-card round will take place January 14-16, and the Chiefs will play the lowest remaining seed in the AFC on January 21 or 22.
Here’s a look at who the Chiefs could play based on the outcome of the three AFC wild-card round matchups:
| (7) MIA at (2) BUF | (6) BAL at (3) CIN | (5) LAC at (4) JAX | Chiefs play… | Probability* |
| Dolphins | Ravens | Chargers | Dolphins | 1.89% |
| Dolphins | Ravens | Jaguars | Dolphins | 1.49% |
| Dolphins | Bengals | Chargers | Dolphins | 5.39% |
| Dolphins | Bengals | Jaguars | Dolphins | 4.23% |
| Bills | Ravens | Chargers | Ravens | 12.67% |
| Bills | Ravens | Jaguars | Ravens | 9.95% |
| Bills | Bengals | Chargers | Chargers | 36.05% |
| Bills | Bengals | Jaguars | Jaguars | 28.33% |
Since the Chiefs will play the lowest remaining seed, it’s not possible for them to face the Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills in the divisional round — those two could only play the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
But before we look too far ahead, let’s preview the upcoming matchups.
*Implied probabilities based on Tipico NFL odds at time of publish.