It’s fair to say that Buffalo Bills fans would like to forget Week 12 even happened. Unfortunately, nothing went their way, but all hope is not lost. The Bills are still clinging to the AFC’s final playoff spot and don’t need any help to stay there.
Obviously, moving up would be ideal, but Buffalo will need a lot of help to reclaim the crown they’ve worn as AFC East Division Champions for the past five seasons. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible.
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Here’s a look at how things stand before Week 13 kicks off with two games on Thanksgiving Day and then the usual Thursday Night Football game later that evening.
AFC East Week 13 standings
New England Patriots (10-2)
Buffalo Bills (7-4)
Miami Dolphins (4-7)
New York Jets (2-9)
AFC Playoff Picture heading into Week 13
New England Patriots (10-2)
Denver Broncos (9-2)
Indianapolis Colts (8-3)
Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)
Buffalo Bills (7-4)
Houston Texans (6-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)
Miami Dolphins (4-7)
Cincinnati Bengals (3-8)
Cleveland Browns (3-8)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
New York Jets (2-9)
Tennessee Titans (1-10)
Nobody gets a bye on this holiday weekend, so there’s going to be plenty of football to watch. Teams that weren’t a whole lot of threat to the Bills’ postseason endeavors just a few weeks ago are now going to warrant some watching again. With Buffalo on the bubble, everyone except the basement dwellers are a threat right now.
So, here’s a look at how we’d like to see things go this weekend. Get ready Bills Mafia, it’s going to be another wild weekend!
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AFC East Week 13 Bills rooting interests
Buffalo Bills (7-4) over Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5), Sunday 4:25 p.m. EST (CBS)
This is obvious, right? We’re always rooting for the Bills. And, now with some unexpected losses, every game feels like a must-win situation. Not only do the Bills need to win because it would be great if they moved up off of that bubble position in the Wild Card race, but the Steelers are on the opposite side of that bubble. A Buffalo loss would give Pittsburgh the tie-breaker and, yes, the two would be tied. So, this Week 13 game is one they just cannot afford to lose.
Miami Dolphins (4-7) over New Orleans Saints (2-9), Sunday 1 p.m. EST (FOX)
I know, this one takes some thinking to understand. I don’t want to root for the South Florida team anymore than the rest of you, but this is about tie-breakers. A Miami win won’t move them into the playoff picture, but it will improve Buffalo’s SOV score. New Orleans isn’t going to come away with a winning record this season, so root for the team that still has a chance to improve (at least until we need them to lose — but if Buffalo takes care of their own business, no number of Dolphins wins will hurt).
New York Jets (2-9) over Atlanta Falcons (4-7), Sunday 1 p.m. EST (FOX)
This is another SOV game. Buffalo beat New York and lost in Atlanta. a Falcon win does nothing to help the Bills should they need a tie breaker in a few weeks. While the Jets aren’t going to win enough games to get over .500, some wins are better than none here.
New York Giants (2-10) over New England Patriots (10-2), Monday 8:15 p.m. EST (ESPN)
As unlikely as it is to happen, all of Bills Mafia will be rooting for a huge upset on Monday Night Football. Buffalo needs help (a lot of help) to win the division. So, as it has been since Week 5, if the Patriots are playing, we’re rooting for their opponent. A full meltdown with an epic slide is what it’s going to take for New England to be moved off the top tier, so why not let that start this week.
Week 13 games that impact Bills’ playoff hopes
Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1) over Kansas City Chiefs (6-5), Thursday 4:30 p.m. EST (CBS)
The Chiefs, like the Steelers, are sitting right outside the playoff picture. A Buffalo miss, and Kansas City will make their way back to the postseason tournament. So, we are back to the point where we can be happy rooting for Mahomes and company to fail.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) over Baltimore Ravens (6-5), Thursday 8:20 p.m. EST (NBC)
It would be better for the Bills if the Ravens were a Wild Card team. Buffalo holds the tiebreaker over the Ravens, so getting them back among the bottom three playoff teams gives the Bills a chance to move up if needed. It would also mean that the Bills would not play a postseason game in Baltimore, which everyone but the Ravens would prefer.
*Indianapolis Colts (8-3) over Houston Texans (6-5), Sunday 1 p.m. EST (CBS)*
I know, the Colts are ahead of the Bills in the Playoff Picture, but Houston is a problem. With their win last week, they will hold the head-to-head tie breaker with the Bills. As it sits right now, the Texans are too close to Buffalo for comfort. A loss will keep them behind (hopefully even further with a Bills win later the same afternoon).
Tennessee Titans (1-9) over Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4), Sunday 1 p.m. EST (CBS)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) over Los Angeles Chargers (7-4), Sunday 4:25 p.m. EST (CBS)
Both of these games are about getting rid of some of those ties among the Wild Card teams. The Jaguars, Chargers, and Bills all have the same record. Unfortunately, with those losses to AFC teams, Buffalo is losing the race to these two. So, losses by Jacksonville and Los Angeles coupled with a Buffalo win would vault the Bills up to the five seed Sunday night.
Washington Commanders (3-8) over Denver Broncos (9-2), Sunday 4:25 p.m. EST (CBS)
If the Chiefs and Chargers lose, the Broncos will maintain their hold on the AFC West regardless of what happens in this game. Really, they will even if the other two win, it will just become a closer race. However, a Denver loss would open the door for better seeding for Buffalo should the Patriots go on that epic slide we talked about above.
Remainder of Bills’ NFL Week 13 rooting interests
Here, it’s all about a few things: Rooting for outcomes that improve Buffalo’s overall SOS or SOS, NFC vs. AFC, or taking the team that will better-position the Bills in the playoff race.
Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) over Chicago Bears (8-3), SOS
Carolina Panthers (6-6) over Los Angeles Rams (9-2), SOV
Cleveland Browns (3-8) over San Francisco 49ers (8-4), SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) over Arizona Cardinals (3-8) SOV
Games that do not impact the Bills this week
Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) at Detroit Lions (7-4)
Minnesota Vikings (4-7) at Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
Teams on Bye
None
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Optimistic AFC standings after Week 13
So, if all the bounces go the Bills’ way and all the right teams win, this is what the standings in the AFC would look like on Tuesday morning:
New England Patriots (10-3)
Indianapolis Colts (9-3)
Denver Broncos (9-3)
Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
Buffalo Bills (8-4)
Los Angeles Chargers (7-5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5)
Houston Texans (6-6)
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
Miami Dolphins (4-8)
Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
Cleveland Browns (4-8)
Las Vegas Raiders (3-9)
New York Jets (3-9)
Tennessee Titans (2-10)
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Now we know who to root for and, more importantly, who to root against, as it relates to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13.