Buffalo Bills Week 18 AFC playoff race rooting interests

This is it. The last one of the season. The Buffalo Bills are a Wild Card, that much we know, but exactly which seed the’ll be (and who they will face in next week’s playoff game) is yet to be determined. And there’s a lot to determine in this final week of the 2025 NFL season. Before we get started, let’s look at who is in and who is out and who is hoping for one last chance.

AFC East Week 18 standings

1. New England Patriots (13-3)
2. Buffalo Bills (11-5)
3. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
4. New York Jets (3-13)

AFC Playoff Picture heading into Week 18

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

z – Division Champion, y – Locked in a Playoff Spot, x – Eliminated, BOLD – Not in Yet

New England is the AFC East champion. Yes, Buffalo gave them that with their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend. But, the Patriots aren’t locked into their two seed just yet. In fact, the Broncos aren’t locked in to the one seed spot either. And, while the Bills are listed in the final wild card spot, that could change with all the right outcomes.

It’s possible that Buffalo could move up to the five-seed spot by the end of Sunday’s games. If they did, their opponent in the Wild Card round for the AFC Playoffs will be the four seed. Who that is, is also up for grabs this weekend. The Steelers and the Ravens will face off in a “winner take all” — or maybe more correctly, a “loser go home” — game.

So, here’s a look at who Bills Mafia needs to root for in Week 18 — or at least who I will be rooting for, because this week, it’s all about what matchup you hope for next weekend.

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AFC East Week 18 Bills rooting interests

Buffalo Bills (11-5) over New York Jets (3-13), Sunday 4:25 p.m. EST (CBS)

It’s been strongly suggested that head coach Sean McDermott may give his starters a rest this weekend. A wild card spot is a wild card spot. But winning and losing could mean the difference between going to New England or Pittsburgh (or Baltimore). Plus, there are records and incentives on the line.

Expect Josh Allen to be in a very limited amount of time — maybe one chance at touchdown number 40, maybe not even that. Expect James...