Buffalo Bills Week 13 AFC playoff race rooting interests

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.

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

1. New England Patriots (10-2)
2. Buffalo Bills (7-4)
3. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
4. New York Jets (2-9)

AFC Playoff Picture heading into Week 13

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

Go Bills!

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...