The Chiefs can clinch the one seed on Christmas Day. Pittsburgh loss is bigs for Bills.
So far, Week 16 has just been filled with teams in the AFC Playoff Picture. On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos and on Saturday there are two games features four current AFC postseason teams; the Houston Texans are at the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers are in Baltimore to face the Ravens.
The Buffalo Bills were two games behind the Chiefs for the one seed heading into the day while the Steelers were a game back of the Bills for the two seed. Houston was one game behind Pittsburgh and sitting in fourth place.
The Chiefs win over Houston means Kansas City can clinch the one seed on Sunday is the Bills lose or Christmas Day if the Chiefs win.
Pittsburgh’s loss means the Bills could be two games clear of the AFC North division leader with a win on Sunday. The Bills could wrap up the two seed in Week 17 and rest their starters in Week 18 if they are shut out of the one seed conversation.
While the outcome of both Saturday games didn’t impact the standings right now, it sets up a massive Week 17 and 18 starting on Christmas when the Chiefs and Steelers do battle followed by the Ravens and Texans.
AFC standings during Week 16
1. y-Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (11-3)
3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5, 7-3 vs BAL common opponents )
4. y-Houston Texans (9-6)
5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5, 7-4 vs PIT common opponents, win over DEN)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wins over DEN)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, losses to LAC)*
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8, 5-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8, 3-6 AFC)*
11. New York Jets (4-10) — eliminated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-11, win over JAX) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11, win over TEN, loss to CLE, win over NE) — eliminated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-11, loss to JAX, win over NE) — eliminated
15. New England Patriots (3-11, losses to JAX & TEN) — eliminated
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) — 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