It wasn’t so long ago that the 2008 Buffalo Bills began the season 5-1 before faltering down the stretch to miss the playoffs. They finished the year 7-9, so rooting interests around the league wouldn’t have helped them, but Buffalo’s 2019 schedule looks weak enough that a run to 10-6 or better not only seems possible, it would be a huge disappointment if they didn’t get there.
Standings entering Week 6
1. New England Patriots (5-0)
2t. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1, 3-1 AFC)
2t. Buffalo Bills (4-1, 3-1 AFC)
4. Houston Texans (3-2, 2-0 AFC)
5. Oakland Raiders (3-2, 2-1 AFC)
6t. Baltimore Ravens (3-2, 2-2 AFC)
6t. Indianapolis Colts (3-2, 2-2 AFC)
8. Cleveland Browns (2-3, 2-1 AFC)
9t. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3, 2-2 AFC)
9t. Los Angeles Chargers (2-3, 2-2 AFC)
11. Tennessee Titans (2-3, 1-3 AFC)
12t. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4)
12t. Denver Broncos (1-4)
14t. New York Jets (0-4)
14t. Miami Dolphins (0-4)
16. Cincinnati Bengals (0-5)
While Buffalo is on their bye, here are the OTHER NFL teams you should be rooting for this week starting with Thursday night’s game.
Note: These games go in order of importance to the Bills.
New York Giants over New England Patriots
Thursday, 8:20 PM Eastern
The Giants offense is a MASH unit, but Danny Dimes has turned the Giants into a team that has a puncher’s chance, right? RIGHT!? The Giants haven’t lost have been a much better team with their rookie QB at the helm and it would be huge for Buffalo to get within a half-game of the lead in the AFC East without playing a snap. It’s a short week and stranger things have happened.
New Orleans Saints over Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 1:00 PM Eastern
An NFC team beating up on an AFC Wild Card contender is such an easy call. The Bills being 2.5 games up on Doug Marrone’s team heading into Week 6 would be as tasty as a bologna sandwich.
Seattle Seahawks over Cleveland Browns
Sunday, 1:00 PM Eastern
Pretty much the same thing as the Saints over the Jaguars, only with fewer bologna sandwiches. An NFC team knocking down an AFC Wild Card contender would be pretty nice.
Cincinnati Bengals over Baltimore Ravens
Sunday. 1:00 PM Eastern
There is no reason to root for the Ravens in this game. They are in a fight for the AFC North division crown and could be a Wild Card foe when all is said and done.
Denver Broncos over Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 4:25 PM Eastern
For now, it’s about eliminating threats. If both of these teams are 2-4 at the end of the weekend, Buffalo is up 2.5 games on both of them. If Tennessee wins, the Bills will only be a game and a half plus a tiebreaker above them. I also think the Titans stand a better chance of making a run than the Broncos.
Pittsburgh Steelers over Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday. 8:20 PM Eastern
Much like the Denver/Tennessee game, if both of these teams are 2-4 come Monday, it’s better for Buffalo long-term. The Bills get a game against the Steelers later, too, so it’s a no-brainer.
Dallas Cowboys over New York Jets
Sunday, 4:25 PM Eastern
Until the Jets are eliminated they are a threat. Good thing they aren’t a threat to score. Let’s not “root for the Cowboys”, but rather “root against the Jets”.
Kansas City Chiefs over Houston Texans
Sunday, 1:00 PM Eastern
Both of these teams won’t play Buffalo later in the year. If you’re rooting for Buffalo to get into the playoffs, go with the Chiefs over the Texans. Kansas City has a much better chance of winning their division than Houston. If you think the Bills can win the AFC East and you want a higher playoff seed, go with the Texans over the Chiefs. Personally, I think it’s more likely the Bills will be in competition with the Texans than the Chiefs when the smoke clears.
Washington over Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 1:00 PM Eastern
We’re not exactly worried about the Dolphins, but we aren’t rooting for them just for some down-the-list tiebreaker when they haven’t been eliminated from playoff contention.
Philadelphia Eagles over Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, 1:00 PM Eastern
The Bills play the Eagles and don’t play the Vikings, so it helps Buffalo’s strength of schedule at minimum and strength of victory at best.
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals
Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
These games don’t matter directly for the Bills.
Standings after this fictional Week 6
1. New England Patriots (5-1, 4-0 AFC)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1, 3-1 AFC)
3. Buffalo Bills (4-1)
4. Oakland Raiders (3-2, 2-1 AFC)
5. Indianapolis Colts (3-2, 2-2 AFC)
6. Houston Texans (3-3, 2-1 AFC)
7. Los Angeles Chargers (3-3, 3-2 AFC)
8. Baltimore Ravens (3-3, 2-3 AFC)
9. Cleveland Browns (2-4, 2-1 AFC)
10t. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4, 2-2 AFC)
10t. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4, 2-2 AFC)
10t. Denver Broncos (2-4, 2-2 AFC)
13. Tennessee Titans (2-4, 1-4 AFC)
14. Cincinnati Bengals (1-5)
15t. New York Jets (0-5)
15t. Miami Dolphins (0-5)
The Bills would be a half-game out of first in the AFC East. They would control their own destiny in every way.
In the Wild Card race, the Bills would be a full game ahead of the Raiders for the 5th seed and 1.5 games ahead of the Texans for the 6th seed. The Chargers and Ravens are also at 3-3.