Now that the Christmas Day games are over, the Buffalo Bills’ path is now clear.
Four AFC playoff teams took the field on Christmas Day to kick off Week 17. As a result, the Buffalo Bills have a lot more information about their future heading into their game on Sunday.
Let’s look at the key storylines and update the standings:
The Bills can’t be the one seed anymore
The Kansas City Chiefs locked in the one seed on Wednesday, which means they won’t play a meaningful game of football until January 18th or 19th. Buffalo had said they were gunning for the one seed and two home playoff games, but now they will need to focus on at least two home playoff games as the two seed.
Buffalo Bills can clinch the two seed this Sunday against the Jets
With a win on Sunday, the Bills would move to 13-3 on the year and two games clear of the Baltimore Ravens with only one to play. That would clinch the two seed and allow the Bills to rest their starters in Week 18 if they so choose.
Three seed is still up in the air in the AFC
The Baltimore Ravens passed the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday to move into third place in the AFC. They are now 1.5 games behind Buffalo and they’ll have plenty to play for in Week 18. If Baltimore loses to the Browns and the Steelers beat the Bengals, Pittsburgh moves back into the division lead and secures a home playoff game.
The Houston Texans are locked into fourth in the AFC
Houston can rest their starters in Week 18, too. They can’t climb into the third seed, so they don’t have anything to play for as it pertains to the playoff picture.
All seven of the AFC playoff teams could be set by Sunday night
If either the Broncos and Chargers win on Sunday, they will each secure a wild card spot in the postseason. If and of the Colts, Dolphins, or Bengals lose, that losing team will be eliminated. So five teams could settle all the way to two by the end of play on Sunday afternoon. While the teams will be settled, they will still have lots to play for in Week 18 as the seeding comes into focus.
AFC standings during Week 17
1. z-Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (12-3)
3. x-Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-7)
5. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wins over DEN)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, losses to LA)*
8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8, 6-5 AFC)*
9. Miami Dolphins (7-8, 5-5 AFC)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8, 4-6 AFC)*
11. New York Jets (4-11) — eliminated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-12, 3-7 AFC. win over JAX) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12, win over TEN, 3-7 AFC, loss to CLE) — eliminated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-12, loss to JAX, 3-7 AFC) — eliminated
15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12, 3-8) — eliminated
16. New England Patriots (3-12, 2-8) — eliminated
Teams with an asterisk (*) have been eliminated from divisional contention
Teams with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Teams with a (y) have clinched their division
Teams with a (z) have clinched homefield advantage and a first-round bye.