After 1-5 start, the Chiefs are now in the driver’s seat for a wild card

Of all the teams who wouldn’t panic with a 10-point deficit, the Kansas City Chiefs might top the list.

After you’ve dug out of a 1-5 start to the season to become a favorite to grab for one of the AFC’s two wild-card spots, something trivial like a first-half deficit isn’t going to be a bother.

The Chiefs are authoring a pretty incredible story this season. Left for dead after losing five of their first six games, they have now won five in a row, have the NFL’s easiest schedule the rest of the way, and scored a huge win in the AFC playoff picture by beating the Buffalo Bills 30-22 on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs battled back after trailing 10-0 and 16-7 in the first half. The Chiefs not only took a one-game lead in the standings over the Bills, they now own the head-to-head tiebreaker too. 

The Chiefs’ remaining schedule is beyond friendly. Each of the Chiefs’ final five opponents are below .500 this season. The toughest game they have left, by far, is at the Oakland Raiders. The Bills were the Chiefs’ last big test, and they aced it.

The Chiefs not only bounced back from a poor start to the season, but they have survived the loss of their best offensive player, running back Jamaal Charles. When Charles went down, Charcandrick West filled in admirably. When West was out Sunday with a hamstring injury, Spencer Ware became the latest Chiefs hero. Ware rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown in his first career start.

The Chiefs aren’t the most exciting team in the NFL, but their formula under Andy Reid wins games. The defense, which got torched for 158 yards and two touchdowns by Bills receiver Sammy Watkins in the first half, adjusted and didn’t give up any catches to Watkins after halftime. Alex Smith had a good game, with 255 yards and two touchdowns. And as usual, he didn’t make any mistakes. He did not throw an interception.

The Chiefs remain on track for some history. The only team since the AFL-NFL merger to start 1-5 and make the playoffs was the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals. The way the Chiefs’ schedule looks, it’s possible they could turn a 1-5 start into an 11-5 finish.

Kansas City hasn’t broken through with a playoff win under Andy Reid yet. But it’s a team that won’t be fun to face in the playoffs. And at this point it appears the Chiefs will be in the playoffs, as crazy as that possibility seemed after their first six games.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab