The Buffalo Bills clinched at least the third seed in the AFC playoff race on Monday by beating the New England Patriots in impressive fashion. They currently sit second at 12-3 thanks to their tiebreaker win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bills can’t climb any higher than two, with the Kansas City Chiefs at 14 wins and Buffalo maxing out at 13. The Bills can’t fall lower than three, thanks to the Tennessee Titans loss on Sunday night. The best record the AFC South can produce is 11-5, at least one game back of Buffalo.
If the Bills win on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins or the Pittsburgh Steelers lose to the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo will be the two seed. Cleveland very much has something to play for while the Steelers haven’t had a bye week all year thanks to a COVID-19 delay before Thanksgiving. Pittsburgh may decide to rest their starters to give them a pick-me-up heading into the postseason.
Last year with the five seed locked up, the Bills chose to rest their starters in Week 17, but they had, in effect, nothing noteworthy to play for. This Buffalo team may want to secure the two seed and home-field advantage through the divisional round of the postseason.
Here are the updated standings:
Overall Standings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)+^
2 . Buffalo Bills (12-3, win over PIT)+
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3, loss to BUF)+
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 (6-9, win over LAC)
12. Los Angeles Chargers (6-9, loss to NE)
11. Denver Broncos (5-10)
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 and 2or 3 seed
Playoff Standings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)+^
2 . Buffalo Bills (12-3, win over PIT)+
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3, loss to BUF)+
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 and 2or 3 seed