Bills rooting interests: Both Saturday games have big playoff implications in Week 16

The Buffalo Bills control their own destiny for the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. The top seed is still within reach.

Buffalo is coming off a huge 48-42 road victory over the Detroit Lions and created separation for the second seed thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.

Buffalo travels to New England at 4:25 p.m. Sunday but the other games of interest for the Bills kick off Saturday.

The four teams either ahead of Buffalo (Kansas City) or within striking distance of the Bills (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Houston) face each other on Saturday.

The Buffalo Bills control their own destiny for the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. The top seed is still within reach.

Buffalo is coming off a huge 48-42 road victory over the Detroit Lions and created separation for the second seed thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.

Buffalo travels to New England at 4:25 p.m. Sunday but the other games of interest for the Bills kick off Saturday.

The four teams either ahead of Buffalo (Kansas City) or within striking distance of the Bills (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Houston) face each other on Saturday.

Patrick Mahomes is expected to start despite suffering a high ankle sprain in the fourth quarter last week.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) at Baltimore Ravens (9-5), 4:30 p.m. Saturday, FOX

Who to root for: Ravens.

The Steelers pose the biggest threat to the Bills locking up the No. 2 seed. If Pittsburgh wins, it clinches the AFC North and improves to 11-4 on the season. Should Buffalo and Pittsburgh have identical records at the conclusion of the regular season, the Steelers would have a higher seed based on the tiebreaker of won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference. Buffalo and Pittsburgh are each 7-2 in the AFC with three games apiece left within the conference. So for Pittsburgh to draw even with Buffalo, it would pass the Bills in conference record.

A Steelers loss and Bills win in Week 16 means Buffalo would secure the No. 2 seed with a single win or Pittsburgh loss over the final two weeks.

Bills and Chiefs clinching scenarios

The Chiefs could clinch the No. 1 seed with a win and a Bills loss.

The Bills could clinch at least the No. 3 seed with a win and Texans loss.

AFC playoff picture

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
4. Houston Texans (9-5)
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

Eliminated: New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders

NFL tiebreaker rules for the playoffs

Here are the tiebreaking procedures if two teams from different divisions finish with the same won-loss-tied record.

1. Head-to-head, if applicable.
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
4. Strength of victory in all games.
5. Strength of schedule in all games.
6. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
7. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
8. Best net points in conference games.
9. Best net points in all games.
10. Best net touchdowns in all games.
11. Coin toss.