The Buffalo Bills remain on the brink of playoff qualification as they head into Week 17 with a notable 99% chance of making the postseason. Despite not being able to secure a playoff spot independently in Week 16, the Bills have reduced their magic number to just one. A playoff berth will be confirmed if either the Houston Texans or the Indianapolis Colts lose in their upcoming matches. Given that the Texans secured a win against the Raiders, the Bills are now hoping for a loss from the Colts, who are set to face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
The Bills’ win last week helped them maintain their momentum, though they did not gain ground in the wild card standings, as the Los Angeles Chargers also emerged victorious. The seventh playoff spot remains under the control of the Texans following their recent win.
In the AFC East standings, the New England Patriots are currently at the top with an 11-3 record, while the Bills trail closely behind at 10-4. A victory for the Bills combined with a Patriots loss could create a tie; however, due to the tiebreaker rules, the Patriots would remain in first place.
Currently, the AFC playoff picture is shaping up as follows:
– Denver Broncos 12-3 (playoff berth clinched)
– New England Patriots 11-3
– Jacksonville Jaguars 11-4
– Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6
– Los Angeles Chargers 11-4
– Buffalo Bills 11-4
– Houston Texans 10-5
– Indianapolis Colts 8-6
– Baltimore Ravens 7-7
Several teams have already been eliminated from playoff contention, including the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Las Vegas Raiders.
With just a couple of weeks left in the regular season, all eyes are on the Bills as they aim to secure their playoff fate. A bright spot for the team is their strong performance this season, keeping fans hopeful for a deep postseason run.