The Buffalo Bills are virtually eliminated from the 2018 NFL Playoffs. As we discussed earlier this week, they could be eliminated as soon as this Sunday. If you’re still holding out faint hope, this is the post for you.
Here is a reminder of the playoff race as it stands now and who you need to root for this week to help Buffalo’s magical playoff run.
- Kansas City Chiefs (10-2)
- New England Patriots (9-3, head-to-head win over HOU)
- Houston Texans (9-3, head-to-head loss to NE)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1)
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-5)
- Miami Dolphins (6-6, 5-4 AFC)
- Indianapolis Colts (6-6, head-to-head win over TEN, 5-5 AFC)
- Denver Broncos (6-6, 4-5 AFC)
- Tennessee Titans (6-6, head-to-head loss to IND, 4-6 AFC)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-7)
- Cleveland Browns (4-7-1)
- Buffalo Bills (4-8, head-to-head win over JAX)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8, head-to-head loss to BUF)
- New York Jets (3-9)
- Oakland Raiders (2-10)*
* - Oakland has been eliminated from the playoffs
Buffalo Bills over New York Jets
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
If the Bills lose, they are eliminated.
Kansas City Chiefs over Baltimore Ravens
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Baltimore is in the driver’s seat for the final playoff spot. If they win this week, they are guaranteed to finish ahead of Buffalo.
Oakland Raiders over Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. Eastern
If Buffalo and Baltimore both win in the early game, Pittsburgh could still eliminate Buffalo with a win in the late game. The Steelers need one more win to guarantee finishing ahead of the Bills.
Houston Texans over Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
A team virtually guaranteed a division championship over a team squarely in the playoff race is a no-brainer. Especially when the Colts have a win in hand over Buffalo.
New England Patriots over Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Buffalo gets another shot at the Dolphins later, but they also need Miami to lose at least one more game. New England beating Miami would help.
San Francisco 49ers over Denver Broncos
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. Eastern
Denver stands in the Bills’ way currently, so an NFC team knocking them down a peg would be a step in the right direction.
Jacksonville Jaguars over Tennessee Titans
Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern
Buffalo has a tiebreaker over Tennessee and Jacksonville, but the Titans are two games clear of Buffalo. They need some losses if the Bills are going to catch them.
Los Angeles Chargers over Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. Eastern
A team virtually guaranteed a Wild Card spot over a team squarely in the playoff race is a no-brainer.
Carolina Panthers over Cleveland Browns
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
An NFC team taking out the last team in front of Buffalo would allow the Bills to move up a spot this week, at least.
If everything goes Buffalo’s way, they would still be an extreme long shot to make the playoffs. Here’s what it would look like on Monday morning:
- Kansas City Chiefs (11-2)
- New England Patriots (10-3, head-to-head win over HOU)
- Houston Texans (10-3, head-to-head loss to NE)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-3)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-6)
- Miami Dolphins (6-7, 5-5 AFC)
- Indianapolis Colts (6-7, head-to-head win over TEN, 5-6 AFC)
- Denver Broncos (6-7, 4-5 AFC)
- Tennessee Titans (6-7, head-to-head loss to IND, 4-7 AFC)
- Buffalo Bills (5-8, head-to-head win over JAX, 4-6 AFC)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8, head-to-head loss to BUF, 4-6 AFC)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-8, 3-6 AFC)
- Cleveland Browns (4-8-1)
- New York Jets (3-10)*
- Oakland Raiders (3-10)*
Buffalo would move up two spots, passing the Bengals and Browns. They would be one game from entering a potentially massive fray at 6-8 the next week. If Buffalo is going to make the playoffs, it’s as an 8-win team.