On Monday I laid out the possible ways for the Bills to make the playoffs in my results post.  Here's the link.  Now it's time to talk about this week and how it could change the playoff picture.  What needs to happen this week to make a playoff shot even remotely possible?  First, the Bills need to win.  If they lose this game they can kiss any shot they may have goodbye.  All the tiebreakers go out the window with a 2-4 or worse division record and 7-5 or worse AFC record.  They disappear.  Win this game Bills, or it's not just "probably not in the playoffs".  If they lose it's time to bring out the draft boards.

Who should we root for this week?

Rule #1: Always root for the NFC teams to beat an AFC team

• San Fransisco over New York Jets (8-4) - The Jets have a long road trip to San Fransisco this week.  Here's hoping for some Jet lag (get it? Jet-lag?)  If the Jets lose this week it wouldn't effect a whole lot for the Bills.  But if the Jets decided to go on a losing streak, say losing 3 of 4, the Bills could climb over them in the division race.  For the Bills to win the division over the Jets, we need to beat them and they need to lose to the Dolphins in Week 17 to even out division records.  The even division record would send it to the AFC tiebreaker where the Bills would own the advantage.  The only other way for the Bills to win the division is if the Jets can lose all three of their other games against the Niners this week, the Bills next week in Jersey, and then at Seattle where I can use my Jet lag pun again (how exciting).  This loss opens that second door for the Bills.  If the Jets win by the Bay this week, the Bills only division hope is a Dolphins win week 17.
• Seattle over New England (7-5) - The Bills still control their own destiny over the New England Patriots.  If the Bills win out, they will beat the Pats and possess the necessary tiebreakers.  A loss by the Pats this week to a Seattle team can't hurt the Bills, though.
• Dallas over Pittsburgh (9-3) - Last week we rooted for the Steelers.  This week we can root against them again.  If the Steelers win their division it doesn't really matter to the Bills.  Let's assume that Baltimore beats the Steelers next week.  Now they are all tied up.  If Pittsburgh gets beat by the Cowboys, they are now 9-5 and only a game ahead of the Bills.  Anyways, this loss couldn't hurt the Bills so root for the Cowboys (I just threw up in my mouth a little and will be doing it again in a couple weeks when the Cowboys play the Ravens assuming the Bills are still in it by then.  God I hate the Cowboys.)  Also if we both end up 10-6 and division winners, we might get a 2 seed behind the Titans* and in front of the Broncos and Steelers.  Think about it!!! 
• Washington over Baltimore (8-4) - One of the two ways for us to pass Baltimore is if they lose three out of four down the stretch.  This could be number one on that list.  They also play the Steelers, Cowboys, and Jaguars so that scenario isn't out of the question.  This is a Sunday Night game so everyone should be able to watch it and root for those Redskins!!!

Rule #2: AFC upsets help us a lot

• Cincinnati (1-10-1) over Indianapolis (8-4) - This one seems like a long shot.  Here's hoping the Bengals can remember they are professional football players for one afternoon or that Boomer Esiason puts on a helmet and takes charge.  Indy has essentially passed us, anyways.  They need to lose 2 of 3 AFC games for the Bills to pass them and they play Cincy, Jacksonville, and a clinched-and-resting Tennessee*.  Not really a likely scenario but, hey, no fat lady has sung yet.

Games that don't matter to the Bills playoff hopes:

Oakland @ San Diego, Jacksonville @ Chicago, Minnesota @ Detroit, Houston @ Green Bay, Atlanta @ New Orleans, Philadelphia @ New York Giants, Cleveland @ Tennessee*, Kansas City @ Denver, St. Louis @ Arizona, Tampa Bay @ Carolina

Implications: (If the games all went the way we want)

AFC East: 1st Jets (8-5 overall, 3-1 AFC East, 6-4 AFC), 2nd Patriots (7-6, 3-2, 5-5), 3rd Dolphins (7-6, 2-3, 5-5), 4th Bills (7-6, 1-3, 5-4) 

 AFC North: 1st Steelers (9-4), 2nd Ravens (8-5, 7-3 AFC), 3rd Browns (5-8 or 4-9), 4th Bengals (2-10-1)

AFC South: 1st Titans* ( 12-1 or 11-2), 2nd Colts (8-5, 7-3 AFC), 3rd Texans (6-7 or 5-8), 4th Jaguars (5-8 or 4-9)

AFC West: 1st Broncos (8-5 or 7-6), 2nd Chargers (5-8 or 4-9), 3rd Raiders (4-9 or 3-10), 4th Chiefs (3-10 or 2-11)

AFC Division Winners and seeds: 1st Titans* (12-1 or 11-2), 2nd Steelers (9-4), 3rd Jets (8-5), 4th Broncos (8-5 or 7-6)

AFC Wild Card Teams and seeds: 5th Colts (8-5, 7-3 in AFC, win over Ravens), 6th Ravens (8-5, 7-3 in AFC)

Outside Looking In: 7th Patriots (7-6, 3-2 AFC East, 5-5 AFC), 8th Dolphins (7-6, 2-3 AFC East, 5-5 AFC), 9th Bills (7-6, 1-3 AFC East, 5-4 AFC)

 * Tennessee became the first AFC team to clinch a playoff spot over the Bills with their Thanksgiving win and the Bills ugly loss.

Analysis:

If this scenario happened and the Bills got all the luck in the world, they would control their own destiny over the Pats and Dolphins.  They would gain a game on both the Colts and Ravens as well in the Wild Card race and the Jets in the Division race but still would not control their destiny against the three teams ahead of them for the last three spots.  The two games that matter the most are Indy's and Batimore's.  If either of these teams lose this week the Bills get some life back.  A Jets' loss would be gravy on the Bills' proverbial french fries this week in Toronto.  TV note: The Bills game is on TV at 4 this week.  Indy is on at 1 but not televised in any market that gets the Bills as its primary team because CBS only has a single game this week with Fox getting the doubleheader.  Baltimore is on Sunday Night so you can tune in to NBC.  Happy rooting!

Want to know more about the tiebreakers?  Check out the tiebreaking procedures for yourself.

Agree or disagree?  Comments?  Leave a note in the comments section.