Breaking down AFC Playoff field

Digest Correspondent

Even though the AFC Playoff field is not completely set, here is a look at the teams most likely to join the Steelers in the seven-team tournament:

KANSAS CITY

STRENGTHS: Led by QB Patrick Mahomes and designed by Coach Andy Reid, this is the best offense in football. Kansas City has ridiculous offensive talent around Mahomes, and Tyreek Hill is probably the most dangerous receiver in football. But it’s Travis Kelce who causes the most problems for opposing defenses, and few teams have any sort of man-to-man option for Kelce, who has taken his game to another level in 2020 … Mahomes is the NFL’s passing yards leader by a wide margin; Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins is the only player in the league with more receiving yards than Kelce with two games left; and Hill leads the league in receiving touchdowns … As Kansas City has shown in the postseason numerous times, it’s the best in the NFL at coming from behind, and can do it late in games. What is remarkable is that as aggressive as the Chiefs are on offense, they very rarely turn the ball over … Kansas City complements the offense with a big-play defense. Chris Jones is maybe the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL not named Aaron Donald. The Chiefs’ other high impact defender is DB Tyrann Mathieu, used in numerous ways and opposing quarterbacks must be very aware of his whereabouts … Kansas City plays a lot of man-to-man coverage with a heavy dosage of blitz. If they allow a big play because of this aggressive defensive mentality, they know Mahomes is likely to make up for it. Through 14 games, Kansas City has outscored opponents by 125 points.

The best approach against the Chiefs might be having the defense rush Mahomes with just four (and maybe even three) while playing zone behind it and not allowing