The Buffalo Bills have a few things to play for on Sunday against the New York Jets, who will only suit it up for pride.
It’s well known by most that the Bills (10-6) need to beat the Jets (4-12) to make sure they secure their second-straight AFC East title. But there’s more than that worth playing for.
Currently the No. 4 seed, Buffalo can move up as high as the second-place spot still.
In order to get all the way there, the current placeholder there, the Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) must lose to the Denver Broncos (7-9).
In addition, the Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) also must lose. They play the Cleveland Browns (7-9).
In that one, both the Bengals and Browns will be sitting starters due to injury and COVID-19.
Both teams Buffalo need to fall are facing teams that have already been eliminated from the postseason… at least they’re both playing on the road this week and both games will be finished before kickoff at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.
With a loss, the Bills could lose out on the AFC East title to the New England Patriots (10-6) if they beat the Miami Dolphins. From there, Buffalo would then fall into the wild-card discussion.
Teams currently holding those spots are the Patriots, Indianapolis Colts (9-7) and Los Angeles Chargers (9-7), respectively. On the outside looking in and on the bubble are the Las Vegas Raiders (9-7), Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8-1) and Baltimore Ravens (8-8).
Plenty still to be settled in the AFC playoff picture.
The only team not mentioned is the current No. 1 seed: The Tennessee Titans (11-5) who face the Houston Texans (4-12).
The top-seed is the lone side that gets a bye in the postseason. From there, the higher seed helps in terms of home-field advantage with the better one slated as the home side for each round.
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