There were NFL games on Friday, Saturday, and now Sunday. With the Buffalo Bills playing on Monday following a game on the Saturday nine days prior, a lot has shifted in the playoff picture since Buffalo last suited up.
For starters, the Bills can no longer finish with the best record in the AFC. The Kansas City Chiefs clinched that with a narrow victory over the Atlanta Falcons to move to 14-1.
Secondly, the win by the Pittsburgh Steelers means Buffalo can’t clinch the two seed in the AFC in Week 16 and will have something to play for on Monday night and next Sunday in Week 17. They could still fall as low as fourth in the AFC playoff picture with consecutive losses to end the year.
The Tennessee Titans lost to the Green Bay Packers, which means one Bills win would clinch either the two or the three seed. That allows Buffalo to avoid the Kansas City Chiefs until the AFC Championship Game.
Overall Standings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)+^
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3, loss to BUF)+
3 . Buffalo Bills (11-3, win over PIT)+*
4t. Tennessee Titans (10-5, 4-1 AFCS, 7-4 AFC, loss to CLE)
4t. Miami Dolphins (10-5, 7-4 AFC)
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-5, 6-5 AFC, BAL season sweep CLE win over IND)
7. Cleveland Browns (10-5, 6-5 AFC, win over TEN & IND, swept by BAL)
8. Indianapolis Colts (10-5, 3-2 AFCS, 6-5 AFC, loss to CLE)
9. Las Vegas Raiders (7-8)
10. New England Patriots (6-8)*
11. Denver Broncos (5-10)
12. Los Angeles Chargers (6-9)
13. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1)
14. Houston Texans (4-11)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-14)
16. New York Jets (2-13)
^ Clinched 1 seed
+ Clinched playoff spot
* Still to play this weekend
Overall Standings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)+^
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3, loss to BUF)+
3 . Buffalo Bills (11-3, win over PIT)+*
4. Tennessee Titans (10-5, 4-1 AFCS, 7-4 AFC, loss to CLE)
5. Miami Dolphins (10-5, 7-4 AFC)
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-5, 6-5 AFC, BAL season sweep CLE win over IND)
7. Cleveland Browns (10-5, 6-5 AFC, win over TEN & IND, swept by BAL)
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8. Indianapolis Colts (10-5, 3-2 AFCS, 6-5 AFC, loss to CLE)
^ Clinched 1 seed
+ Clinched playoff spot
* Still to play this weekend