The Buffalo Bills may have already suffered their Thursday Night Football embarrassment, but there is plenty of football left this week. As Week 12 rolls on, the Bills hunt for the playoffs is still going strong. The team sits in the 6th seed after their loss to the Houston Texans.
The #1 seed may seem like a dream now but, as long as it's in play, that will be the goal. In order to make that happen, here's what fans should root for in Week 12.
AFC Playoff Race
West | East | South | North |
|---|---|---|---|
9-2 Broncos (1) | 9-2 Patriots (2) | 8-2 Colts (3) | 6-4 Steelers (4) |
7-4 Chargers (5) | 7-4 Bills (6) | 6-4 Jaguars (7) | 5-5 Ravens |
5-5 Chiefs | 4-7 Dolphins | 6-5 Texans | 3-7 Bengals |
2-8 Raiders | 2-8 Jets | 1-9 Titans | 2-8 Browns |
Early Window
Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs - 1:00pm
The Colts (8-2) vs. Chiefs (5-5) is the first and arguably most significant game this week. Kansas City is the 9th seed, and sits behind several teams with tiebreakers over them. The Colts are one of the top teams in the NFL, and sit ahead of the Bills in the playoff race. If the goal is to avoid the Chiefs in the playoffs, root for the Colts. As long as the hunt for the #1 seed is in play, that will be the goal. Caution, however, the Chiefs are on Buffalo's tail.
Interest: Chiefs win
Seattle Seahawks @ Tennessee Titans - 1:00pm
This is simple, the NFC vs the AFC, in a field where all the AFC teams have direct or near-direct tiebreakers. The Titans (1-9) may not be in the hunt, but until they're mathematically eliminated, they remain a party of interest. The Seahawks (7-3) remain in the NFC.
Interest: Seahawks win
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers - 1:00pm
The first game on the docket to feature two NFC teams, there is no obvious answer as to who Bills fans root for; These two can only affect the AFC race through tiebreakers. The Packers (6-3) have been solid against the AFC, but the Vikings (4-6) have lost to three of Buffalo's main competition this year already. To avoid helping them with strength of victory tiebreakers, root for Green Bay.
Interest: Packers win
New York Jets @ Baltimore Ravens - 1:00pm
The Buffalo Bills have head-to-head wins over both these franchises, but only one poses a real threat to the AFC playoff race. The Baltimore Ravens (5-5) may be the 10th seed, but they're one game behind the Steelers for the AFC North. If the Ravens take that lead, they would host the top wild card team, currently Buffalo. The New York Jets (2-8) winning would be substantially better for the Bills' potential playoff run.
Interest: Jets win
New York Giants @ Detroit Lions - 1:00pm
All this matchup between the Giants (2-9) and the Lions (6-4) has that matters to the Buffalo Bills is a strength of victory tiebreaker. A win for the Giants benefits the Chiefs and Broncos, but a win for the Lions benefits only Kansas City, as Detroit beat the Baltimore Ravens early this season. For the marginal lesser of two evils, pick the Lions.
Interest: Lions win
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Chicago Bears - 1:00pm
The Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) are the fourth seed, and a potential Bills' wild card opponent. With Aaron Rodgers' wrist injury, they could see some difficult times, but they're a more favourable matchup for Buffalo than the alternative Baltimore Ravens.
With the Bengals and Browns unlikely to make the playoffs at this point, this two-horse race is one to keep an eye on. Though a typical AFC vs. NFC matchup has us root for the Bears (7-3), a Ravens win and Pittsburgh loss can potentially put Buffalo on the road in Baltimore for the playoffs. The Ravens' result determines if we simply root against the AFC or if we hope for a Pittsburgh win, to help keep Baltimore out of the playoffs.
Interest: Bears win if Ravens lose, Steelers win if Ravens win
New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals - 1:00pm
The New England Patriots (9-2) have been one of the NFL's premier teams in 2025. They currently lead the AFC in record, narrowly losing their tiebreaker to Denver. The Bengals (3-7) are a long-shot to make the playoffs. Though Buffalo is behind the Patriots for the AFC East title, they're still within striking distance. A Bengals win would keep them there.
Interest: Bengals win
Late Window
Cleveland Browns @ Las Vegas Raiders - 4:05pm
Neither franchise is a major threat to the 2025 playoff teams. The Browns (2-8) are crashing, and the Raiders (2-8) are struggling mightily. Of the pair, Las Vegas is in the best position to help Buffalo with some wins if they can upset some of the AFC West. It's a bleak season for these two, and this game likely will be meaningful only on draft day.
Interest: Raiders win
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Arizona Cardinals - 4:05pm
Buffalo still has a chance at the playoffs, but the Jaguars (6-4) are within reach. A Jacksonville loss puts some space between Buffalo and the rest of the race. A Cardinals (3-7) win costs the Bills nothing. The choice is clear.
Interest: Cardinals win
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys - 4:25pm
Neither of these two teams matter much to Buffalo right now, but the Bills meet the Eagles (8-2) in a critical Week 17 matchup. For Buffalo's strength of victory, the Cowboys (4-5) losing is only good, as they play other AFC contenders this year. The Eagles win makes them a bigger fish for the Bills to fry later, and could mean Philly takes it easy ahead of the playoffs in Week 17.
Interest: Eagles win
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints - 4:25pm
According to the NFL's tiebreaking procedures, strength of victory is ahead of strength of schedule. If it comes down to it, the more wins the Saints (2-8) rack up, the better. Wins by the Falcons (3-7), who beat Buffalo this season, matter less.
Interest: Saints win
Sunday Night Football
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angeles Rams - 8:20pm
The Buccaneers (6-5) visit the L.A. Rams (8-2) in another NFC-NFC matchup. All the same rules apply, but neither team plays much of the AFC field this season. The Bills have already beaten the Bucs, so strength of victory applies.
Interest: Buccaneers win
Monday Night Football
Carolina Panthers @ San Francisco 49ers - 8:15pm
This matchup is worthy of Monday Night Football, with the Panthers (6-5) taking a playoff spot from the 49ers (7-4) with a win. It's NFC vs. NFC again, and the 49ers have already lost to the Texans and Jaguars. Buffalo has a win over the Panthers, and they don't play another AFC competitor. Strength of victory can worsen for the Bills' opposition and improve for them with Carolina winning.