AFC Playoff picture 2016 through Week 14 Thursday: Kansas City shakes up postseason standings

The AFC Playoff picture was shaken up last night with the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Oakland Raiders and vaulting themselves into the AFC West lead. Suddenly, the Chiefs are in the second position in the postseason tournament, while the Raiders fall into the fifth spot - and making it that much harder for a team outside the playoff picture - say, for example, the 7-5 Miami Dolphins - to jump into the Wildcard positions.

The Raiders, with the loss, are now 10-3, or 2.5 games ahead of Miami’s record heading into the Weekend. A loss by the Chiefs would have made them 9-4, which would have been an easier record for Miami to reach.

Of course, the Dolphins are really chasing the Denver Broncos, who are 8-4 on the season and in the sixth seed position in the Playoffs. This week, the Broncos visit the Tennessee Titans while the Dolphins host the Arizona Cardinals. Miami cannot reclaim the sixth spot they held prior to Week 13, but a Week 14 win and a Denver loss would at least bring Miami back into a tie for the spot with three games remaining.

Here is the current playoff picture, with the Chiefs and Raiders having completed their Thursday night game:

AFC Playoff Picture (through Week 14 Thursday Night Football):

1. New England Patriots (10-2) - AFC East leader

2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) - AFC West leader

3. Baltimore Ravens (7-5) - AFC North leader

4. Houston Texans (6-6) - AFC South leader

5. Oakland Raiders (10-3) - Wildcard 1

6. Denver Broncos (8-4) - Wildcard 2