Chapter 725 Stands Out
Analyzing from different angles, the Kansas Chiefs firmly control their destiny in their own hands. As long as they can defeat the Oakland Raiders, the No. 1 seed in the American League will belong to the defending champion.
But here, the Oakland Raiders are always a variable, even if they are a strong contender for the vice squad this season, even if the last week's game is about to take place in the Arrowhead Chiefs; but don't forget, the game between the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas Chiefs, the rivals in the same district. Never judge by convention.
Who knows, what will the Oakland Raiders choose between "picking a pick in next year's draft" and "ruining the playoff plans of their rival in the same division"?
It is precisely because of this that the game in the penultimate week of the regular season is particularly important. The Kansas Chiefs need to win and take the initiative in their hands.
result--
The Kansas City Chiefs did it.
By destroying the Seattle Seahawks, they had the last laugh in the fierce collision of this powerful matchup, and took the lead in the competition for the first seed seat in the American League.
At this point, it’s time to look at the performance of the competitors in the sprint phase of the regular season.
The New England Patriots defeated the rival Buffalo Bills in the same division this week, but had previously suffered two consecutive losses to the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, and currently have a record of 10 wins and 5 losses.
The Houston Texans suffered a two-point defeat to last season's Super Bowl runner-up Philadelphia Eagles in a very, very close game. They currently have a record of 10 wins and 5 losses.
In other words, both teams fell behind in varying degrees and in different ways. After all, they were unable to keep up with the Kansas Chiefs and gradually withdrew from the battle for the first seed in the American League. Regardless of the results of the final week of the game, they had no chance. Competed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the end, that leaves the Los Angeles Chargers in the American League West.
The No. 1 seed seat is about to be competed by two teams from the same division. This is undoubtedly a strange scene, and it can be seen from the side that the competition within the American League West is fierce.
This week, the Los Angeles Chargers host the Baltimore Ravens.
Originally, Lynn's team was full of confidence and prepared to continue the momentum of last week's victory over the Kansas City Chiefs; but they never expected that things would develop in another direction. After winning the civil war in the same district, the Los Angeles Chargers locker room After enjoying the carnival, the extremely tense nerves were relaxed, and the toughest and most difficult battle was over, and the state of the following week became less compact.
At the critical moment of competing for playoff seeding, the Los Angeles Lightning exposed its shortcomings of unstable mentality. The game against the Baltimore Ravens was supposed to be a strong showdown, but it backfired.
The game collapsed immediately.
The Baltimore Ravens easily defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in an away game with a score of "10:22". They did not encounter any decent resistance throughout the game and escaped from Los Angeles.
Such a situation was something no one could have expected.
But this is the NFL, this is competitive sports. Every week's game is full of countless possibilities. Nothing is certain until the last moment.
All games in the fifteenth week of the regular season are over. The Los Angeles Chargers have eleven wins and four losses.
The ending is revealed in advance.
According to NFL ranking rules, the Kansas Chiefs have locked in the No. 1 seed in the American League playoffs one week in advance.
Even if the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Oakland Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos in the final week, the ranking results would still be the same.
In the 2018 season, the answer to the first big suspense of the regular season was revealed:
The defending champion Kansas Chiefs entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the American League. Not only did they get a bye in the first round of the wild card game, but they also enjoyed the home field advantage of all playoffs. .
At the same time, the competition for the second seed seat in the American League is still fierce. The winner will get a bye in the first round of the playoffs, and the loser will play in the wild card round. Such fierce competition requires the New England Patriots and Houston Texans to maintain their competitiveness. Tight across the board, nothing can be missed in the final week of competition.
The National League is no exception. The New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears are inseparable. The three teams are about to determine the ranking of the top three seeds. The answer cannot be predicted until the last moment. If any team loses its chain, the seed ranking will be determined. The ranking may change dramatically. In other words, in the last week of the regular season, there are still a series of suspense waiting to be revealed. The teams still need to go all out, and the battle is unprecedentedly intense.
The only exception is the Kansas City Chiefs.
Because they have locked in the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in advance, just like last season, the Kansas Chiefs can welcome the last week of the regular season in a relaxed state and prepare for the playoffs in advance. When other teams are fighting to the death, Kansas Chiefs can The chief can drink tea and watch a show.
The treatment is completely different.
So, is this the posture of the defending champion?
No wonder after the "five devilish minutes" at the Century Chain Stadium, the media and social networks were filled with praise, exclamation, applause and cheers.
After a long and difficult regular season, the defending champion still secured the No. 1 seed in the American League in advance. No matter what others said, the Kansas Chiefs still secured a favorable position for themselves in the playoffs, and even had valuable points. Adjusting the time is impressive.
"...Oh, you guy, you are a little touched."
JJ Watt is on the phone with Levi. On the one hand, he congratulates Levi on completing an outstanding season, but on the other hand, he needs some moral support——
The Houston Texans have a rare opportunity this season.
First of all, they made history by becoming the first team in league history to win nine consecutive games after a three-game losing streak at the beginning.
Secondly, they won more than ten games in a season for the second time since the 2012 season.
Finally, they have a chance to win the third division championship in franchise history.
Everything is on track.
But precisely because of this, the pressure in the final week of the regular season is unprecedented.
In Week 17 of the regular season, the Houston Texans will face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jacksonville Jaguars who had an inseparable battle with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Finals last season.
Before the start of this season, many professionals believed that the Jacksonville Jaguars, which relied on defense and played steadily, would still be a strong contender for the American League championship this season; however, the reality is cruel. The Jacksonville Jaguars' season collapsed. With only four wins, he is competing for the position of vice squad leader.
From heaven to hell, falling at the speed of light, but this is the NFL, one season at a time, no one can 100% guarantee their position.
From all aspects, the Houston Texans are the favored side in this game; but precisely because of this, victory seems within reach, but it may make people relax, take victory as a matter of course, ignore the opponent, and can’t wait to look forward to it early The prospect of the playoffs, and the direction of development of such a story is often to be slapped in the face and taught a lesson by reality.
Pressure is no small matter.
As the captain and spiritual leader of the Houston Texans, Watt cannot show any wavering in the locker room, not even a crack. He needs to bear all the pressure on his own; and his brothers are not strong enough to face such a situation.
Maybe, it’s just Levi.
(End of chapter)