Things have become a lot less complicated when it comes to the Buffalo Bills making the playoffs this season.
Win out and the Bills are in. It’s truly that simple.
Buffalo controls their destiny, but they can clinch a playoff berth as early as this weekend with some help along the way. Who should the Bills Mafia be cheering for this weekend? Here are the games that matter most.
New England Patriots (4-11) at Buffalo Bills (9-6)
Who to root for: Bills
Buffalo blew a late lead to the Patriots in their earlier matchup this season. There’s no doubt that Sean McDermott has reminded the team of this throughout the week. Revenge should be on Buffalo’s mind in this matchup.
New England won’t lie down for Buffalo, however. In fact, the team is arguably playing their best football of the season right now. In the past three weeks, Bailey Zappe and the Patriots have knocked off playoff contenders in the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos while also hanging with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bills will be in for a fight this weekend, but clinching a playoff berth starts with Buffalo handling their own business.
To keep their AFC East hopes alive
Miami Dolphins (11-4) at Baltimore Ravens (12-3)
Who to root for: Ravens
If the Bills want Week 18 to be for the AFC East crown, Buffalo needs to win their matchup and see the Dolphins drop their matchup to the Ravens.
Baltimore looked like the AFC’s top team last weekend in a beatdown win over the San Francisco 49ers. This weekend, the team can clinch the top seed in the AFC with a win over Miami. Cheer for Baltimore to win the No. 1 seed in the AFC to give Buffalo a shot at winning the AFC East. Buffalo can win the AFC’s No. 2 seed if Miami drops this matchup and Buffalo defeats them next week.
Scenario one to clinching a playoff berth this weekend
Buffalo needs two of the following three games to go their way in addition to a win of their own.
Carolina Panthers (2-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
Who to root for: Panthers
This matchup seems the least likely to go in Buffalo’s favor, but Trevor Lawrence was ruled out on Friday due to a shoulder injury. That means that C.J. Beathard will start for a Jaguars team that has dropped four straight games.
Carolina has the NFL’s fewest wins, but they have battled a bit as of late. The team edged out the Atlanta Falcons 9-7 two weeks ago and took the Packers to overtime last week in a 33-30 loss. Hope for a Panthers upset.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) at Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
Who to root for: Seahawks
Both 8-7 teams will be fighting for their playoff lives on Sunday afternoon. Seattle currently holds a Wild Card spot in the NFC while the Steelers are on the outside looking in as the AFC’s No. 10 seed.
In a AFC vs. NFC battle, root for the Seahawks.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (9-6)
Who to root for: Chiefs
After getting embarrassed by the Steelers, the Bengals’ playoff lives are dependent on winning out. That won’t be easy against a Kansas City Chiefs team that is reeling in their own right. The Chiefs are coming off of a surprising loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and will be looking to get back on track with the playoffs quickly approaching. A Bengals loss is part of the formula for the Bills to clinch this weekend, so root for the Chiefs in this matchup.
A backup scenario to clinching this weekend
The easiest path to the playoffs for Buffalo is highlighted above, but there is another path as well. The second scenario involves the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and either the Bengals or Steelers losing this weekend with Buffalo defeating the Patriots.
That means that Bills fans should be pulling for the following:
- Tennessee Titans (5-10) knock off the Houston Texans (8-7)
- Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) defeat the Colts (8-7).
- Chiefs defeat the Bengals or Seahawks defeat Steelers
C.J. Stroud will return for the Texans making that a tough game for Tennessee.
Las Vegas, riding high off of their upset win over the Chiefs, will look to knock off another playoff contender in the Colts. If Las Vegas is successful, Antonio Pierce’s odds of becoming the Raiders’ permanent coach in 2024 will be high.
Depending on this weekend’s results, Bills fans could be ringing in the New Year while celebrating Buffalo’s return to the playoffs.
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