Thanks to a host of tiebreakers at their disposal, the Buffalo Bills would clinch at least the number five seed with a win Sunday night over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Buffalo wouldn’t just clinch a Wild Card spot, they’d clinch the top Wild Card spot and still be in the race for the AFC East.
That’s because of those aforementioned tiebreakers. At ten wins, the Bills would be certain of a 10-6 season or better and the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers would be the only two teams that could join them in the Wild Card with that record. Buffalo would own the head-to-head tiebreaker against both teams, thus securing the five seed. (In any scenario, where the Houston Texans are 10-6, they would win the AFC South over the Titans and not be involved in the conversation.)
Buffalo would also be alive for the AFC East division crown, and could jump as high as the number one seed with help. That means they would be playing their butts off in the Week 16 game against the New England Patriots. A loss to New England following a win over Pittsburgh would mean Buffalo could rest their starters in Week 17.
All of it is in front of Buffalo with a win on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting their third quarterback of the season.
Full AFC Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-2, head-to-head win over NE)
2. New England Patriots (10-3)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4, 7-3 AFC)
4 . Buffalo Bills (9-4, 6-3 AFC)
5. Houston Texans (8-5, 7-3 AFC)
6 . Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5, 6-3 AFC)
7 . Tennessee Titans (8-5, 6-4 AFC)
8. Cleveland Browns (6-7, 6-4 AFC)
9. Oakland Raiders (6-7, 4-5 AFC, head-to-head win over IND)
10. Indianapolis Colts (6-7, 5-6 AFC, head-to-head loss to OAK)
11. Denver Broncos (5-8, head-to-head wins over LAC, 4-5 AFC)
12. Los Angeles Chargers (5-8, head-to-head losses to DEN, 3-7 AFC)
13. New York Jets (5-8, 1-7 AFC)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9, 4-6 AFC)*
15. Miami Dolphins (3-10)*
16. Cincinnati Bengals (1-12)*
Full AFC Playoff Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-2, head-to-head win over NE)
2. New England Patriots (10-3)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4, 7-3 AFC)
4. Houston Texans (8-5, 7-3 AFC)
5 . Buffalo Bills (9-4, 6-3 AFC)
6 . Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5, 6-3 AFC)
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7 . Tennessee Titans (8-5, 6-4 AFC)
8. Cleveland Browns (6-7, 6-4 AFC)
9. Oakland Raiders (6-7, 4-5 AFC, head-to-head win over IND)
10. Indianapolis Colts (6-7, 5-6 AFC, head-to-head loss to OAK)
11. Denver Broncos (5-8, head-to-head wins over LAC, 4-5 AFC)
12. Los Angeles Chargers (5-8, head-to-head losses to DEN, 3-7 AFC)
13. New York Jets (5-8, 1-7 AFC)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)*
15. Miami Dolphins (3-10)*
16. Cincinnati Bengals (1-12)*