The Buffalo Bills were able to move up in the AFC playoff race without even playing a snap on Sunday as several of the teams vying for a spot in the postseason all lost in the afternoon. The Bills can still clinch with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers
In the afternoon, the Tennessee Titans lost to the Houston Texans, clearing up the playoff picture in the AFC South and, by extension, the Wild Card. Later in the afternoon, the Oakland Raiders lost in the final minute to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns lost to the Arizona Cardinals.
With all of those outcomes, the Bills have another way to make the playoffs even if they lose tonight. One more loss by the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans, and the Bills will make the playoffs even if they don’t win another game. That could happen next Sunday even if the Bills lose to the Patriots.
Of course, the Bills could win tonight and put all those things to bed, securing at least the five seed.
Full AFC Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens (12-2) [Clinched AFC North]
2. New England Patriots (11-3) [Clinched playoff spot]
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) [Clinched AFC West]
4 . Buffalo Bills (9-4, 6-3 AFC)
5. Houston Texans (9-5)
6 . Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5, 6-3 AFC)
7 . Tennessee Titans (8-6)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7, 5-6 AFC, head-to-head loss to OAK)
9. Cleveland Browns (6-8, 6-4 AFC)
10. Oakland Raiders (6-8, 4-6 AFC, head-to-head win over IND)
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9, 5-6 AFC)*
12. Denver Broncos (5-9, head-to-head wins over LAC, 4-6 AFC)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9, head-to-head losses to DEN, 3-7 AFC)*
14. New York Jets (5-9, 1-8 AFC)*
15. Miami Dolphins (3-11)*
16. Cincinnati Bengals (1-13)*
Full AFC Playoff Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens (12-2) [Clinched AFC North]
2. New England Patriots (11-3) [Clinched playoff spot]
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) [Clinched AFC West]
4. Houston Texans (9-5)
5 . Buffalo Bills (9-4, 6-3 AFC)
6 . Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5, 6-3 AFC)
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7 . Tennessee Titans (8-6)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7, 5-6 AFC, head-to-head loss to OAK)
9. Cleveland Browns (6-8, 6-4 AFC)
10. Oakland Raiders (6-8, 4-6 AFC, head-to-head win over IND)
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9, 5-6 AFC)*
12. Denver Broncos (5-9, head-to-head wins over LAC, 4-6 AFC)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9, head-to-head losses to DEN, 3-7 AFC)*
14. New York Jets (5-9, 1-8 AFC)*
15. Miami Dolphins (3-11)*
16. Cincinnati Bengals (1-13)*