Introduction
The defensive tackle of the Kansas City Chiefs, Chris Jones, concluded the 2022 - 2023 NFL regular season with an amazing performance. He managed to sack the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, 2 and a half times last Saturday night, which puts Jones at a total of 15.5 - sacks for the 2022 - 2023 NFL regular season, which should definitely place him in the top – 5 in the league for sacks when it is all said and done for this current football season.
Although Jones has be excited for his outstanding performance on the gridiron this season, but that is not what brought a smile to Chris' face following the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders with a final score of 31 to 13 resulting in the Kansas City Chiefs securing the AFC's number 1 playoff seed giving them a bye in the first week of the 2022 - 2023 NFL playoffs and home field advantage throughout the NFL postseason as well.
"We came in with intention, knowing what's at stake and what we were fighting for,'' the Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones explained. "We were able to win the game, most importantly. So, heading into the playoffs, we get the bye week.''
The Kansas City Chiefs Playoff Perspective
The now number 1 - seeded Kansas City Chiefs who went 14 and 3 throughout the entirety of the 2022 - 2023 NFL regular season will be the AFC's only franchise to get the 1st - round bye in the 2022 - 2023 NFL playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs will start their NFL playoff run with a divisional round battle against an unknown opponent at this time 2 - weeks from now at Arrowhead Stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri.
Should the Kansas City Chiefs advance to the AFC championship game, home field advantage is not fully - guaranteed following the decision of the National Football League as they chose to change some of their NFL playoff seeding rules due to the occurrence last Monday night when Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field in cardiac arrest eventually canceling the Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals Monday Night Football game.
So essentially the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, who are both AFC contenders in the upcoming NFL postseason, have played one less game than every other team in the league during this 2022 - 2023 NFL regular season. It’s a very controversial situation.
The AFC championship game under particular circumstances may be played at a neutral site. But it would be played Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City if the 12 and 3 Buffalo Bills end up losing this Sunday to the New England Patriots, of course under assumption that the Kansas City Chiefs are able to advance.
At least for now, the Kansas City Chiefs are very happy to receive the playoff bye week in order to rest up and prepare for their initial 2022 - 2023 NFL playoff game. The Kansas City Chiefs have not had a break in the season ever since week - 8 of the regular season, in other words in over 2 - months ago.
Head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Andy Reid, disclosed that the Kansas City Chiefs plan on practicing some during their upcoming playoff bye week, but he also wants to give his players and staff some time off as well.
"Just take a step back and get yourself where you feel stronger and healthier,'' the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Andy Reid, relayed to all of his players as they prepare for the 2022 - 2023 NFL playoffs. "You still gotta take care of business. Our guys understand that.''
Patrick Mahomes
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is yet to play an AFC playoff game in any other stadium than his home stadium of Arrowhead. All 9 of his previous postseason games that led up to a Super Bowl have been played in Kansas City, Missouri at the historic and legendary Arrowhead Stadium.
That arena for a sporting event is no like nothing else. The Kansas City Chiefs are 7 and 2 in those 9 - NFL playoff games with Mahomes at the quarterback position, and the 2 - loses both occurring in overtimes. That is a pretty solid history that should only breed confidence for the Kansas City Chiefs as they get ready enter the postseason of the National Football League once again this year.
Mahomes revealed the Kansas City Chiefs take the time to set 3 - main goals each season when they all get together for the start of the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp. The 1st one this year was to win the AFC West championship title, which the Kansas City Chiefs achieved this NFL season for the 7th - consecutive year with their week - 15 regular season win over the Houston Texans. The Kansas City Chiefs 2nd - main goal is to get the AFC's top playoff seed (which they just accomplished). The Kansas City Chiefs 3rd - main goal is obviously to win the Super Bowl this year.
The Kansas City Chiefs 6 and 0 record versus AFC West opponents during this 2022 - 2023 NFL regular season has done nothing but fuel their rise to climb to the top of the AFC. Mahomes is 27 and 3 versus divisional rivals throughout his young and illustrious NFL career, and Patrick is 16 and 0 on the road against them. He is a special quarterback that continues to amaze and entertain us all as we continue to watch his spectacular career in the National Football League unfold in front of our eyes.
"Something that was instilled with me right when I got here is we were gonna focus on the AFC West opponents,'' the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, stated. "We believe we have one of the best divisions if not the best division in football, so we know if we can handle business in the AFC West, it's going to put us in the position to be where we want to be at the end of the year.''
The Kansas City Chiefs have now been able to advance to the AFC championship game in each of the previous 4 - NFL seasons. The Chiefs are the AFC's number 1 - seed for the 3rd - time in the course of the past 5 - years.
Sources:
“Chiefs top Raiders in finale, clinch top seed, bye in AFC”, Adam Teicher, espn.com, January 7, 2023.