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The Buffalo Bills knew going into Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans that they would likely need to run the table and win their five remaining games in order to be in the mix for a playoff spot. They didn't, and most of the teams above them won.
The biggest shake-up in the playoff picture was the Denver overtaking Oakland in the AFC West. All the other teams and positions remained the same. Cincinnati remained in the sixth playoff spot despite their loss thanks to their AFC record.
After the jump, you'll see the only remaining scenarios where the Bills make the playoffs. It's more than a long-shot, folks.
If the playoffs began today, here's what the AFC would look like:
No. 1 - New England Patriots (9-3)
No. 2 - Houston Texans (9-3, lose strength of victory tie-breaker)
No. 3 - Baltimore Ravens (9-3, lose AFC record tie-breaker to NE/HOU)
No. 4 - Denver Broncos (7-5)
No. 5 - Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3, lose head-to-head tie-breaker to BAL)
No. 6 - Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
7 (OUT) - Tennessee Titans (7-5, lose AFC tie-breaker to CIN)
8 (OUT) - Oakland Raiders (7-5, lose AFC West tie-breaker to DEN, lose AFC tie-breaker to TEN)
9 (OUT) - New York Jets (7-5, lose head-to-head tiebreaker to OAK)
10 (OUT) - Buffalo Bills (5-7)
11 (OUT) - Kansas City Chiefs (5-7, lose head-to-head tie-breaker to BUF)
AFC Also-rans: San Diego Chargers (4-7), Cleveland Browns (4-8), Miami Dolphins (4-8), Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8), Indianapolis Colts (0-12)
Four remaining playoff scenarios:
- Buffalo wins out to finish 9-7 AND New England loses out AND New York loses three of their remaining four games - Bills win AFC East
- Buffalo wins out to finish 9-7 AND Cincinnati loses three of their final four remaining games AND Tennessee loses three of their final four remaining games AND New York loses three of their final four remaining games AND Denver loses one game other than their game against Buffalo OR Oakland loses one of their remaining games - Bills win AFC Wild Card
- Buffalo wins out to finish 9-7 AND Baltimore loses all their remaining games OR Pittsburgh loses all their remaining games AND two of Cincinnati, Tennessee, and New York lose three of four remaining games AND Denver loses one game other than their game against Buffalo OR Oakland loses one of their remaining games - Bills win AFC Wild Card
- Buffalo wins three of four to finish 8-8 AND Cincinnati loses their final four remaining games AND Tennessee loses their final four remaining games AND New York loses their final four remaining games AND Denver loses two games other than their game against Buffalo OR Oakland loses two of their remaining games - Bills win AFC Wild Card
So... yeah. That's not going to even come close to happening.