The Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and, in doing so, secured their place in the runner-up position in the AFC for at least another week. They also received some help from around the NFL in their quest for a playoff berth.
With the New England Patriots playing on Monday night, they did the best they could in the divisional race, now just one game back in the AFC East.
In the Wild Card race, the Oakland Raiders fell to the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Texans lost to the Indianapolis Colts, putting some room between the Bills and the sixth-place team in the AFC. At 4-3, Buffalo has a 1.5-game lead on the sixth and final playoff team.
Here are the full standings in the AFC heading into Monday night’s game between the Patriots and the New York Jets
Full AFC Standings
1. New England Patriots (6-0)
2. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, head-to-head win over BAL)
4. Baltimore Ravens (5-2, head-to-head loss to KC)
5. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
6. Houston Texans (4-3)
7. Oakland Raiders (3-3)
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4, head-to-head win over TEN)
9. Tennessee Titans (3-4, head-to-head loss to JAX)
10. Cleveland Browns (2-4, 1-0 in AFC North)
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4, 1-1 in AFC North)
12. Denver Broncos (2-5, head-to-head win over LAC)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (2-5, head-to-head loss to DEN)
14. New York Jets (1-4)
15. Miami Dolphins (0-6)
16. Cincinnati Bengals (0-7)
The Bills are still rooting for the Patriots to lose on Monday night to the Jets, as that would put Buffalo just a half-game out of first place in the division.
Here are the playoff standings, including every team within one game of a playoff spot:
AFC Playoff Standings
1. New England Patriots (6-0)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, head-to-head win over BAL)
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2, head-to-head loss to KC)
4. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
5. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
6. Houston Texans (4-3)
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7. Oakland Raiders (3-3)
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4, head-to-head win over TEN)
9. Tennessee Titans (3-4, head-to-head loss to JAX)