Bills playoff picture: Updated playoff berth, AFC East title races

What Buffalo Bills must do for playoff berth, AFC East title, following Week 14.

The Bills lost 24-17 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, but no worries.

A win would have been nice, but the Bills (9-4) still have outrageously good odds at making it to the 2019 postseason.

On Sunday Night Football next week, the nation will once again get a look at the Bills. That crowd could be watching the Bills clinch their second playoff berth in three seasons under head coach Sean McDermott because… that’s it.

If the Bills top the 8-5 Pittsburgh Steelers, they’re in.

But, this upcoming game is the Steelers’ final home game this season. Over the course of their final two regular season games, they’ll play at the Jets and Ravens, respectively, to roundout the year. In a playoff push of their own, Pittsburgh will be motivated to win in the final chance they have to play in front of their own crowd, a crowd they’ve gone 5-2 in front of this season.

It’s a tight race for the AFC playoffs in general thanks to the Bills’ loss to the Ravens, but even if they don’t beat the Steelers, if Buffalo beats either the Patriots or Jets in their final two games, they’re also in.

One win and Buffalo is in the dance.

That’s a straight forward one. How can the Bills still win the AFC East? That’s a little tougher.

AFC East title

The battle for the AFC East is between the Bills and long-time division champ, the Patriots. But there’s a slight hope.

Buffalo has to win out against the Steelers, Patriots and Jets.

If that happens, the Patriots would need to lose at least one of their other final three games, those coming at the Bengals and in New England against the Dolphins in Week 17.

If Buffalo loses to the Steelers, they still have a look at the division, but the Bills have to win their other two games, again, against the Patriots and Jets, while the Pats have to lose to the Dolphins.

Regardless, Buffalo’s Week 16 game in New England will have something attached to it, one way or another, so that’ll certainly make things fun.

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