Buffalo was sitting at 6 - 6 just five weeks ago and many fans were throwing in the towel on the season. The "receipts" were flying all over X after the Tennessee Titans ended the Jacksonville Jaguars season, which sent the Bills into the playoffs regardless of the outcome of their matchup with the Dolphins. But the Bills didn't care, they not only wanted to make the playoffs, but they also wanted the division title and the two seed.
The Buffalo Bills did what needed to be done, winning five straight and everything lined up the way they needed. Buffalo won their fourth straight AFC East championship, defeating the Miami Dolphins 21 - 14, and secured the number two seed in the playoffs. At 11 - 6, the Bills will now take aim at the Pittsburgh Steelers and look to advance to the AFC Divisional Round.
The wildcard matchup
With Buffalo securing the number two seed, they guarantee themselves at least two playoff home games, beginning with the Pittsburgh Steelers. These two teams didn't see each other during the regular season and the last time they faced each other was 2022 with the Bills winning 38 - 3 at home. The Steelers own the all-time head-to-head, with a record of 17 - 12 against the Bills.
This will be the fourth playoff showdown between the Bills and Steelers, with the Steelers owning that head-to-head, winning two of the three. The last time these teams met in the playoffs was 1996 in a game that was won by the Steelers 40 -21. Will the Bills even up that playoff record?
With the loss and taking their spot as the seventh seed, that means the Bills will be staying in Miami to take on the Dolphins again, being the third time this season. We know the score from the first game this season, with the Bills winning 48 - 20 but after losing the Week 18 showdown with Miami, it's anyone's guess who pulls out this wildcard matchup. This will also be the sixth matchup between the Bills and Dolphins over the last two years, with the Bills having won three of five, including a playoff bout a season ago.
The Bills and Dolphins have faced each other 121 times, with the Dolphins leading the series 62 - 57 with one tie. However, the two teams have seen each other five times in the playoffs, with the Bills winning four of those. Can the Bills make it five playoff wins against the Dolphins? We'll find out this weekend during NFL Super Wild Card Weekend.
Bills NFL playoff date, time and where to watch
Game | Date | Time | TV Channel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildcard | vs. Steelers | Sunday, January 14 | 1:00 PM ET | CBS |
2024 NFL Wild Card Round dates, times, and scores
Saturday, January 13th
- Cleveland @ Houston - 4:30 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)
- Miami @ Kansas City - 8:15 p.m. (Peacock)
Sunday, January 14th
- Pittsburgh @ Buffalo - 1 p.m. (Fox or CBS)
- Green Bay @ Dallas - 4:30 p.m. (Fox or CBS)
- Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions - 8:15 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)
Monday, January 15th
- Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay - 8:15 p.m. (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2)
2024 NFL Divisional Round dates and times
- Saturday, January 20: TBD
- Sunday, January 21: TBD
2024 Conference Championship Game dates and times
Sunday, January 28
- AFC Championship Game - 3 p.m. (CBS) - TBD
- NFC Championship Game - 6:30 p.m. (FOX) - TBD
Super Bowl LVIII
Sunday, February 11, 2024 - 6:30 p.m. (CBS)
- TBD - 6:30 p.m. (CBS)