Playoff picture, Week 8: Buffalo Bills half-game out of first place in AFC

The Buffalo Bills took care of business on Sunday, defeating the Oakland Raiders at New Era Field. The New England Patriots also won on Sunday, so Buffalo is still a half-game back in the division.

The Miami Dolphins lost on Thursday night and the New York Jets lost on Sunday afternoon, so the Bills and Patriots appear to be the class of the division.

The rest of the AFC is wide open, too. Buffalo has the 4th-best record in the AFC behind the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Patriots who are all 6-2. A win Thursday night would move the Bills into a tie with that trio. Even the tiebreakers would work in Buffalo’s favor, as a strong AFC record would catapult the Bills into a dead heat with the Steelers and taking it to the record vs. common opponents tiebreaker for first place in the conference.

Only the tiebreakers that currently come into play are listed.

AFC Playoff Standings

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2, head-to-head win over KC)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2, head-to-head loss to PIT, head-to-head win over NE)
3. New England Patriots (6-2, head-to-head loss to KC)
4. Tennessee Titans (4-3, head-to-head win over JAX)
5. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3, head-to-head loss to TEN, 4-2 AFC)
7. Miami Dolphins (4-3, 3-2 AFC)
8. Baltimore Ravens (4-4)
9t. Houston Texans (3-4, 3-3 AFC)
9t. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4, 3-3 AFC)
11. Denver Broncos (3-4, 2-3 AFC)
12. New York Jets (3-5, 3-4 AFC)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (3-5, 2-4 AFC, head-to-head win over OAK)
14. Oakland Raiders (3-5, head-to-head loss to LAC)
15. Indianapolis Colts (2-6)
16. Cleveland Browns (0-8)