It’s been 28 years since the Buffalo Bills were able to go into their 15th game of the season already knowing they were in the postseason. You have to go back to 1991 for a time when the Bills clinched a playoff spot in Week 15 or earlier.
In 1991, the Bills won on December 1st against the New York Jets in Week 14 to get to 11-2 on the year. They went on to win their next two games to get to 13-2, clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, before losing their final game of the regular season.
The rest of the AFC East finished at 8-8 or worse, helping the Bills clinch so early.
It was an MVP season for Thurman Thomas and the Bills made their second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl, losing to Washington in Super Bowl XXVI.
This year, the Bills were able to clinch a playoff spot in Week 15 by getting to ten wins in a subdued AFC Wild Card race. After clinching a playoff spot on December 15th, the Bills need some help if they want to win the division over the 11-win New England Patriots.