This is where the playoff race stands for the Buffalo Bills after Week 12.
This time of the year the focus is on the playoffs and first trying to get in but then moving up as high in the seeding as possible. In past seasons when the Buffalo Bills have been in playoff contention, the focus has been on the Wild Card.
This was due to the New England Patriots’ dominance of the AFC East however this season the Buffalo Bills are not only squarely in the playoff race but in the driver seat for the division lead. This is where the Bills are sitting after Week 12 in the NFL.
AFC East Division Race
The Buffalo Bills were on their bye in Week 11 and got some breathing room with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots both losing. However, in Week 12 it was the opposite as the three teams in contention all won.
The Buffalo Bills beat the Los Angeles Chargers while the Dolphins beat the Jets with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. Meanwhile, the Patriots kept their playoff hopes alive with a last-second field goal by Nick Folk to beat the Arizona Cardinals.
The Buffalo Bills still have a one-game lead over the Dolphins as well as holding the tiebreaker in their head to head matchup. However, these two teams do face off once more this season in the final regular season game.
AFC Playoff Seeding
While the Buffalo Bills should just focus on winning their games and letting the cards fall as they may, the seeding within the AFC is going to be critical on who they face the first week of the playoffs.
The Buffalo Bills did win in Week 12 and move to 8-3 but fell in the seeding to fourth in the AFC. The reason was that the Titans also won, moved into first place in the AFC South with an 8-3 record. However, they hold the tiebreaker over the Bills and this was why they moved into third.
Considering the way the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs are playing, the best the Bills realistically can finish would be third. If the Titans slip and the Colts end up surpassing them for the AFC South title, this would be a big advantage for the Bills.