Who To Root For

AFC Playoff Picture | Who Buffalo Bills fans should root for in Week 12

Nov 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Alec White

Content Coordinator

As the Buffalo Bills (9-2) head into their bye week and rest up for the final six games in the regular season, let's take a look at where things stand in the AFC Playoff Picture.

Prior to Thursday Night Football between the Steelers (8-2) and Browns (2-8), the Bills hold the No. 2 seed in the AFC and are 4.5 games ahead of the Dolphins (4-6) for first place in the AFC East.

Buffalo can't clinch the AFC East during the bye week, but it is possible in Week 13. The Bills could also jump into the AFC No. 1 seed this weekend.

Click here to learn more about the NFL’s tie-breaking procedures

Here's who Bills fans should be rooting for in Week 12 to help Buffalo's playoff seeding:

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) at Cleveland Browns (2-8) | Thursday, Nov. 21 at 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video

Who to root for: Root for the Browns

Why: The Steelers could grab the No. 2 seed in the AFC going into Week 13 with a win on Thursday night against the Browns. In this scenario, the Bills and the Steelers would have identical win-loss records (9-2), but Pittsburgh would hold the tie-breaker of higher win percentage vs. AFC teams (.857 with a win vs. Cle).

Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) at Carolina Panthers (3-7) | Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. on CBS

Who to root for: Root for the Panthers

Why: Kansas City still holds the No. 1 seed in the AFC, even after losing to Buffalo in Week 11. However, the Bills win over the Chiefs could loom large in seeding if KC were to lose another game this season.

If the Panthers beat the Chiefs, the Bills would move ahead of the Chiefs in the AFC standings and potentially hold the No. 1 seed IF the Browns also beat the Steelers.

New England Patriots (3-7) at Miami Dolphins (4-6) | Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. on CBS

Who to root for: Root for the Patriots

Why: Over the next two weeks, the Bills need two Miami losses or one Miami loss + a Bills win in Week 13 in order to clinch the AFC East.

A Dolphins loss to the Patriots this week means all the Bills need to do in Week 13 is beat the 49ers to win the AFC East.

Who To Root For

AFC Playoff Picture | Who Buffalo Bills fans should root for in Week 12

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) at Cleveland Browns (2-8) | Thursday, Nov. 21 at 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video

Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) at Carolina Panthers (3-7) | Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. on CBS

New England Patriots (3-7) at Miami Dolphins (4-6) | Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. on CBS

Related Links

Best case Scenario in Week 12

Worst Case Scenario in Week 12

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