The Buffalo Bills didn't receive any help from the out of town scoreboard on Sunday. They also didn't help their own cause by losing on the road to the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, we've reached the point where the Bills aren't mathematically eliminated from AFC playoff contention, but have no realistic shot of making the postseason. Draft talk it is!
Wins by Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and the New York Jets have put lots of room between those in the playoff picture and those on the outside looking in. With several games left in the AFC playoff race this week, it won't matter much to Buffalo. While they are still within striking distance, they can't move into the playoff field without major help over the last three weeks.
Standings
1. New England Patriots (11-2, 7-1 AFC)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (10-3, 8-2 AFC)
3. Denver Broncos (10-3, 6-3 AFC)
4. Indianapolis Colts (6-7, 4-5 AFC, head-to-head win over HOU)
5. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5, 7-2 AFC)
6. New York Jets (8-5, 6-4 AFC)
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7. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5, 5-4 AFC)
8. Oakland Raiders (6-7, 6-4 AFC)
9. Buffalo Bills (6-7, 6-5 in AFC, head-to-head win over HOU)
10. Houston Texans (6-7, head-to-head losses to IND and BUF)
11. Miami Dolphins (5-7*, 3-6 AFC)
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)
13. +Baltimore Ravens (4-9)
14. +San Diego Chargers (3-10, 2-6 AFC)
15. +Cleveland Browns (3-10, 2-8 AFC)
16. +Tennessee Titans (3-10, 1-8 AFC)
* - games still to play this week
+ - eliminated from the playoffs
Playoff scenarios
It's come to this: the Bills will need to win out to finish 9-7. Pittsburgh needs to lose two of their remaining three games, or Kansas City will need to lose all three of their games. The Jets need to lose one of their two remaining games that aren't against Buffalo. That's a lot to ask with the teams on left on the schedules, particularly for Kansas City and Pittsburgh.