NFL playoff scenarios: Chiefs, Saints clinch spots
By Cody Rivera
With wins in Week 14, the Chiefs and Saints have guaranteed themselves a spot in the NFL playoffs.
Initially, it didn’t look like the Kansas City Chiefs or New Orleans Saints would find much reason to celebrate in Week 14. For at least a portion of each of their games, both teams looked beaten.
But they turned it around before the end, pulling out victories and officially clinching spots in the playoffs. They still have a long way to go, but for now their fans can celebrate the fact that they are guaranteed at least one game in January.
The Chiefs clinched their playoff berth with a home win over the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium. It wasn’t an easy feat, however, as Lamar Jackson and the Ravens gave the Chiefs all they could handle — the first time that’s happened in Kansas City this season.
Baltimore took a 24-17 lead with 4:04 left in the game when Jackson hit John Brown for a nine-yard touchdown. The Chiefs were on the ropes, but a five-yard touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to Damien Williams tied the game and sent it to overtime, and Kansas City would then win it 27-24 after a Harrison Butker field goal and a defensive stop.
In addition to clinching a playoff spot, the Chiefs (11-2) also put more space between them and both the New England Patriots (9-4) and Houston Texans (9-4), who both lost in Week 14. They aren’t completely out of the woods yet, but it would take a miracle at this point for the road to the Super Bowl to not go through Arrowhead Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Saints trailed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14-3, but quarterback Drew Brees led a second half comeback to win 28-14 as the Bucs were held off the scoreboard in the third and fourth quarters.
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Not only did the win clinch a playoff berth for the Saints (11-2), but it brought them to within a half game of the Los Angeles Rams (11-1), who play the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. If the Rams lose, then New Orleans will officially take over the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
If they could hold on to it, the Saints wouldn’t have to leave the comfort of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome until they reached the Super Bowl.