Buffalo Bills Bye Week: Who to root for in Week 12 while Buffalo rests up

The bye week is here. Following a much-needed beating of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills have earned some rest. As we sit down to enjoy a nice, casual weekend of football, here's your guide to who to root for. As the Bills are unlikely to require any advanced tiebreaking procedures considering their status so far atop the AFC East, this guide focuses on games that effect the rest of the AFC, and that ever-closing playoff race.

Thursday, Nov. 21st

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns - 8:15pm

We'll start off with a no-brainer. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team with an opportunity to tie the Bills this week with a win, and they currently hold the tiebreaker for playoff seeding. There's no reason to believe Cleveland pulls this off, without need or any sort of motivation. The Browns have struggled mightily all season and Pittsburgh has been very consistent this season. Ahead of an unforgiving slate of games to close 2024, Pittsburgh should take this one, but it's in the best interest of the Bills that they start to fail early.

Prediction: Steelers Root For: Browns

Sunday, Nov. 24th

Kansas City Chiefs @ Carolina Panthers - 1:00pm

The Kansas City Chiefs are the obvious and clear favorites. Carolina is arguably the hottest of all dumpster fires in the NFL this season, and Kansas City are coming off their first loss of the year. Buffalo needs Kansas City to lose for them to claim top spot in the AFC and that coveted first round bye week. That won't happen this week.

Prediction: Chiefs Root For: Panthers

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans - 1:00pm

Houston is two games behind Buffalo and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The playoffs are not far off, and seeding is as significant as home field advantage. Houston is favored, but they're also 2-3 in their last five games. The season took a turn for the worse, and they have an uphill climb in the race for playoff seeding. The Titans winning keeps Houston on the bottom side of the playoffs, and visiting Buffalo if they ever meet again. A win for Tennessee helps Buffalo's strength of victory tiebreaker down the line, but it's unlikely they need it this season anyway. Down with Houston, however unlikely.

Prediction: Texans Root For: Titans

Detroit Lions @ Indianapolis Colts - 1:00pm

Typically, in an NFC-AFC matchup, an NFC victory helps the Bills, but not today. The Colts are still within playoff contention, and a weak opponent. In case Buffalo doesn't get the #1 seed, we can only hope for weaker Wild Card teams to beat up on.

Prediction: Lions Root For: Colts

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins - 1:00pm

Buffalo currently hold a 4.5 game lead on the rest of the AFC East, plus the tiebreaker over their main competition, the Dolphins. All in all, they have all but locked the door on the division by Week 12. Still, they can forget about the race altogether if the New England Patriots pull off the upset this Sunday.

Prediction: Dolphins Root For: Patriots

Denver Broncos @ Las Vegas Raiders - 4:05pm

The Broncos seem to be coming to life at the right time for them, and the wrong time for the Bills. If Buffalo is to meet them in the playoffs, their unpredictable offense could prove a challenge. Giving the Colts the bump instead, and letting Denver fall out of the bracket, would be better for Buffalo. Here's to the Raiders pulling off the upset to clear the road.

Prediction: Broncos Root For: Raiders

Monday, Nov. 25th

Baltimore Ravens @ Los Angeles Chargers - 8:15pm

The Chargers are sitting one behind the Bills with only three losses. The Ravens, with four, are firmly in the Wild Card spot. One would imagine that the path to the top would involve getting higher above the Chargers; They would be wrong. The easiest path through the playoffs is the one that doesn't send Buffalo to Baltimore again. L.A. has a few difficult games ahead of them, and Buffalo will have their chance to ascend. This time, Baltimore must be firmly removed from any chance at home field advantage with Buffalo.

Prediction: Ravens Root For: Chargers

Now, that list is looking like a whole set of underdogs. That's how it often is when you're on top; rarely is the competition your friend. Still, with a little luck, Buffalo can exit this weekend one step closer to the front of the queue.

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