The Buffalo Bills’ season got off to an inconsistent start, but they have emerged as one of the top Super Bowl contenders yet again. Entering Week 17, Buffalo was in a position to potentially claim the AFC No.1 seed. However, the Kansas City Chiefs had something to say about that on Christmas Day.
After the Bills’ convincing win over the New York Jets on Sunday, let’s look at the Bills’ current playoff picture.
What Is the Buffalo Bills’ Current Playoff Picture?
The Bills had already clinched the AFC East for the fifth consecutive season. However, with the Chiefs defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patrick Mahomes and Co. have clinched the top seed in the AFC.
With the top seed off the table, the Bills hosted the Jets on Sunday and easily defeated Gang Green, locking up the no. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture. Buffalo will host the AFC’s no. 7 seed in two weeks on Wild Card Weekend.
Are there any Week 18 Playoff Implications for the Bills?
With the Bills having secured the AFC’s second seed, the only thing left to be determined in Week 18 for Buffalo will be which Wild Card team the Bills will host in two weeks. The Denver Broncos currently have the clearest path to the final AFC playoff berth. If Denver wins at home next week against the Chiefs, the no. 7 seed is theirs.
As noted above, the Chiefs have already secured the top seed in the AFC. Therefore, it’s expected that most of Kansas City’s key starters, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will not play in Week 18.
If the Broncos are unable to defeat the Chiefs in Week 18, then the final spot in the AFC playoff picture could be earned by the Miami Dolphins or Cincinnati Bengals.
If the Dolphins win in Week 18 against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands, they would be the AFC’s no. 7 seed if the Broncos fall to the Chiefs.
And if the Broncos and Dolphins both lose in Week 18, then the Bengals would earn the no. 7 seed if they win in Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Broncos would be the AFC’s no. 7 seed regardless of their outcome against Kansas City in Week 18 if both the Dolphins and Bengals lose in Week 18.
So, Week 18 is consequential for the Bills as it pertains to who they will host on Wild Card Weekend in Buffalo. But one thing is assured — the Bills will host the no. 7 seed in two weeks and, with a win, would also host an AFC Divisional Round game.
To simulate all the different scenarios, head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to see how they change the playoff picture and the NFL postseason bracket.
