AFC Playoff Picture: Chiefs, Patriots hold steady, but who has the edge when it comes to schedule the rest of the way?

The Chiefs and Patriots hold steady, while the Texans take advantage of another Steelers stumble and the Chargers keep moving forward. Kansas City still holds the top spot, but how does their schedule the rest of the way match up with New England, Houston, and Pittsburgh? And why do we want to fast forward to the Week 15 slate of games right now? Check out the full picture:

1. Chiefs (10-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens (7-5), vs. Chargers (9-3), at Seahawks (7-5), vs. Raiders (2-10)
Opponents record: 25-23 (.521)
The skinny: If you’re a New England fan with designs on that No. 1 seed, you not only have to keep winning out, you have to hope Kansas City stumbles sometime in the next three weeks. That double-dip in a couple of weeks — Chiefs-Chargers on Thursday night and Patriots-Steelers the following Sunday — will end up telling the story when to comes to who ends up where.

2. Patriots (9-3)
Remaining schedule: at Dolphins (6-6), at Steelers (7-4-1), vs. Bills (4-8), vs. Jets (3-9)
Opponents record: 20-27-1 (.417)
The skinny: South Florida late in the season hasn’t been kind to the Patriots, but if they get through this two-week stretch, the last two games of the regular season set up very nicely for New England.

3. Texans (9-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts (6-6), at Jets (3-9), at Eagles (6-6), vs. Jags (4-8)
Opponents record: 19-29 (.395)
The skinny: The Texans could finish the season on a 13-game win streak, which is ridiculous.

4. Steelers (7-4-1)
Remaining schedule: at Raiders (2-10), vs. Patriots (9-3), at Saints (10-2), vs. Bengals (5-7)
Opponents record: 26-22 (.542)
The skinny: Pittsburgh and Baltimore are the only teams that face two nine-plus win teams the rest of the way. There are a few things that need to fall into place, but their playoff lives could hinge on that regular-season finale against Cincy.

5. Chargers (9-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals (5-7), at Chiefs (10-2), vs. Ravens (7-5), at Broncos (6-6)
Opponents record: 28-20 (.583)
The skinny: Rivers vs. Mahomes to determine the winner of the AFC West? Should be fun.

6. Ravens (7-5)
Remaining schedule: at Chiefs (10-2), vs. Bucs (5-7), at Chargers (9-3), vs. Browns (4-7-1)
Opponents record: 28-19-1 (.587)
The skinny: With games left against Kansas City and Los Angeles, Baltimore is going to play a sizable role in the outcome of the AFC playoff picture.

IN THE HUNT

7. Dolphins (6-6)
Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots (9-3), at Vikings (6-5-1), vs. Jaguars (4-8), at Bills (4-8)
Opponents record: 23-24-1 (.479)
The skinny: Lot of scrap displayed by the Dolphins in that win over Buffalo. They will need some help — likely a collapse from either the Ravens or Colts — but they still have a shot at reaching the playoffs.

8. Colts (6-6)
Remaining schedule: at Texans (9-3), vs. Cowboys (7-5), vs. Giants (4-8), at Titans (6-6)
Opponents record: 26-22 (.542)
The skinny: The loss to the Jaguars’ reallllllly hurt their chances. Only team on the board that saw all four of its remaining opponents win this past weekend.

Rest of the field: 9. Broncos (6-6); 10. Titans (6-6); 11. Bengals (5-7); 12. Browns (4-7-1); 13. Bills (4-8); 14. Jaguars (4-8); 15. Jets (3-9); 16. Raiders (2-10).