An NFL playoff bracket without the Kansas City Chiefs is like bread without butter.
It’s a staple at the dinner table, the foundation of the pre-entree offerings at most restaurants. Not everyone likes butter though. Some prefer to dip the bread in olive oil. Others like jam or cream cheese. There are countless ways to enjoy that slice of bread and unlimited ways to make it.
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Like your butter-less bread, it might seem unfathomable at first, but then you realize there are bigger issues to worry about and find a way to enjoy it anyway. As the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
The NFL has enjoyed having the Chiefs in the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons. That streak is in danger of being snapped as new contenders have emerged in a big way.
It’s almost like the league found its butter alternative.
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Kansas City’s season isn’t over yet, and there is still plenty of time for it to sneak into the bracket, but will it? Here’s our take on whether the Chiefs will make the playoffs in 2025.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: The New England Patriots’ Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.
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Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.
Will the Chiefs make the playoffs?
The 2025 Kansas City Chiefs are not the same team that has tormented the NFL for a decade.
They have familiar faces, star power, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, but it’s not enough anymore. It used to be enough, but not now.
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This version of the Chiefs has offensive line injuries – injuries that make last season’s Super Bowl disaster look like a great performance. This version of the Chiefs has no explosiveness at running back. This version of the Chiefs has a leaky defense that struggles to pressure the quarterback.
Entering Week 14, this version of the Chiefs had the 10th most penalties after finishing with the 12th fewest in 2024. This version of the Chiefs is 1-6 in one-score games after going 12-0 in 2024.
Sensing a theme?
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Too many people are banking on the Chiefs to figure it out because that’s what they’ve always done, but this team hasn’t been the same all year. They entered Week 14 with a 34% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That dropped to 15% with their loss to the Houston Texans.
Injuries have taken their toll and all that extra football looks like it’s taking its toll. The Chiefs’ playoff chances are further hampered by losing key head-to-head tiebreakers to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills, who could factor into the wild-card race.
They do own the tiebreaker over the Indianapolis Colts but the loss to the Texans on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 14 further hurt their chances.
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It will take a lot more than showing their list of accomplishments at the door.
The Chiefs might sneak into the playoffs, but we wouldn’t bet on it.
AFC playoff picture
Denver Broncos (11-2; AFC West leaders)
New England Patriots (11-2; AFC East leaders)
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4; AFC South leaders)
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6; AFC North leaders)
Buffalo Bills (9-4, wild card No. 1)
Los Angeles Chargers (8-4, wild card No. 2)
In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (8-5); Baltimore Ravens (6-7); Kansas City Chiefs (6-7); Miami Dolphins (6-7); Cincinnati Bengals (4-9);
Eliminated: New York Jets (3-10); Cleveland Browns (3-10); Las Vegas Raiders (2-11); Tennessee Titans (2-11)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will the Chiefs make the playoffs? Breaking down Kansas City’s odds