AFC Playoff Picture: Buffalo Bills get a little help on Sunday, but Patriots grow lead

The Buffalo Bills lost on Thursday night to the Houston Texans, and they didn’t get much help on Sunday. The New England Patriots were able to overcome a very game Cincinnati Bengals team to take the top spot in the conference and solidify their lead over the Bills in the AFC East.

The Denver Broncos were on the bye along with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Indianapolis Colts lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the biggest game of the week in the AFC. Indy remains in third place.

The biggest change in the playoff picture was the Baltimore Ravens moving from out of the picture into the fourth slot. Baltimore won and the Pittsburgh Steelers lost, so the Steelers fall all the way out of the playoffs for now.

The Jacksonville Jaguars play in the late afternoon Sunday. We will update.

AFC standings during Week 12

The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers were on the bye this week along with the Miami Dolphins.

In the three-way tie at 6-5, the Chiefs are eliminated first because of a worse AFC record than Pittsburgh and Houston. The Steelers wins have come against teams with 29 total wins while the Texans’ wins have come against teams with a combined 28 wins. That can change very quickly.

1. New England Patriots (10-2)
2. Denver Broncos (9-2)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-3)
4. Baltimore Ravens (6-5, 2-0 AFCN)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4, 6-2 AFC)
6. Buffalo Bills (7-4, 4-3 AFC)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5, 5-2 AFC, SOV > HOU)
9. Houston Texans (6-5, 5-2 AFC, SOV < PIT)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5, 3-4 AFC)
11. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-8)
13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
14. Cleveland Browns (2-8)
15. New York Jets (2-9)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-10)

AFC East standings during Week 12

The New England Patriots hold every tiebreaker over the Bills right now, so Buffalo doesn’t need New England to get to four losses. The Bills need the Patriots to lose three games at this point in order for Buffalo to win their sixth straight division title. Dire times in Orchard Park.

1. New England Patriots (10-2)
2. Buffalo Bills (7-4)
3. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
4. New York Jets (2-8)