Washington ? Just as everyone expected: One team is on the cusp of the playoffs, and the other is sinking like a stone.

Except that the roles are reversed. It’s the Kansas City Chiefs who can clinch a postseason berth, and it’s the Washington Redskins who are mired in last place as the teams meet today.

The Chiefs (9-3) haven’t been hitting on all cylinders lately — they’ve dropped three straight after winning their first nine — but they will secure their spot in the January NFL schedule with a win and a loss by either the Miami Dolphins or Baltimore Ravens.

“I know we’ve lost three in a row,” Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith said. “But you kind of flush that stuff behind you. You really have to look at it that we’re 9-3, we have a chance to win and a chance to qualify for a playoff spot. We’ve got a chance to go on the road, win a game and punch our ticket to the dance — that’s a huge opportunity. Not a lot of teams get to do that.”

Certainly not the Redskins (3-9), who have dropped four in a row and whose tumble from last season’s NFC East title has led to questions about the coach Mike Shanahan’s future.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid knows what that’s like. He was run out of Philadelphia after a 4-12 season last year and has enjoyed a renaissance in Kansas City. He’s done well against familiar faces: A win today will give him a 4-0 record this season against his old division.

More to the point, after two losses in three weeks against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs are getting a chance to do what they did so well early in the season — beat a weak opponent.

“We’re not at a panic mode yet,” Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said. “But the sense of urgency is there.”