Bills rooting interests: Christmas games could determine Buffalo's playoff seeding

The Buffalo Bills‘ Christmas wish list includes the top seed in the playoffs. A loss by the Kansas City Chiefs would bring holiday cheer.

Buffalo will be one step closer to unwrapping its postseason seed on Wednesday.

There are three teams of interest for the Bills in the AFC playoff picture: the Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. They all play on Christmas Day. The games will give Buffalo clarity on its seeding possibilities and whether to rest starters in the final two regular season games.

Buffalo will either still be in contention for the No. 1 seed, lock up the No. 2 seed, or have one less team to worry about in obtaining the No. 2 seed following the Christmas games.

Buffalo is home for the holidays, hosting the New York Jets at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Bills would be home for all of January if they’re the top seed. The No. 1 seed gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the conference postseason.

If the Chiefs and Bills win, they will cement themselves as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively.

Here’s who Bills fans should root for in Week 17.

Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5), 1 p.m. Saturday, Netflix

Who to root for: Steelers.

Assuming Buffalo covets a chance at the No. 1 seed over clinching the No. 2 seed and the flexibility to rest starters to gear up for the postseason, a Steelers win gifts the Bills a chance at the top spot in the AFC.

If the Chiefs lose and the Bills win against the Jets on Sunday, the No. 1 seed would come down to Week 18.

The Bills can overtake the Chiefs for the No. 1 seed if Kansas City loses its final two games and Buffalo wins its last two games. Buffalo owns the head-to-head tiebreaker by handing Kansas City its only of the season with a 30-21 win in Week 11.

Kansas City clinches the top seed in AFC with a win.

Baltimore Ravens (10-5) at Houston Texans (9-6), 4:30 p.m., Netflix

Who to root for: Texans.

Baltimore could catch Buffalo for the No. 2 seed if the Ravens win out and the Bills lose their final two games.

Houston is no longer a threat to Buffalo’s seeding. The Bills can’t finish any worse than the No. 3 seed.

Bills playoff seeding scenarios on Christmas

There are four possible outcomes in the two games on Wednesday. Here’s how they’d impact Buffalo.

Chiefs win + Texans win: Chiefs clinch the No. 1 seed. Bills clinch the No. 2 seed.
Chiefs win + Ravens win: Chiefs clinch the No. 1 seed. Bills need a win in Week 17 or Week 18, or a Ravens loss in Week 18 to secure the No. 2 seed.
Steelers win + Texans win: Buffalo is still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed. Bills would also clinch at least the No. 2 seed with a win in Week 17 or Week 18, or a Steelers loss in Week 18.
Steelers win + Ravens win: Buffalo is still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed. Bills would also clinch at least the No. 2 seed with a win in Week 17 or Week 18, or losses by the Steelers and Ravens in Week 18.

Bills and Chiefs clinching scenarios on Christmas

The Chiefs clinch the No. 1 seed with a win.

The Bills clinch the No. 2 seed with a Steelers loss and Ravens loss.

Remaining schedules for Chiefs, Bills, Steelers and Ravens

Kansas City Chiefs

Week 17: Wednesday, Dec. 25 at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Week 18: at Denver, date and time TBD (flex game)

Buffalo Bills

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 29 vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Week 18: at New England, date and time TBD (flex game)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 17: Wednesday, Dec. 25 vs. Kansas City, 1 p.m.
Week 18: vs. Cincinnati, date and time TBD (flex game)

Baltimore Ravens

Week 17: Wednesday, Dec. 25 at Houston, 4:30 p.m.
Week 18: vs. Cleveland, date and time TBD (flex game)

AFC playoff picture

Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
Buffalo Bills (12-3)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
Houston Texans (9-6)
Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
Denver Broncos (9-6)
Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
Miami Dolphins (7-8)
Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

Eliminated: New York Jets (4-11), Cleveland Browns (3-12), Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12), Tennessee Titans (3-12), Las Vegas Raiders (3-12), New England Patriots (3-12)

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.

Head-to-head, if applicable.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
Strength of victory in all games.
Strength of schedule in all games.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
Best net points in conference games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss.

Buffalo Bills

Bills rooting interests: Christmas games could determine Buffalo’s playoff seeding

Like this:

Posts in same category:

Here’s what the Bills have to play for now that Chiefs clinched the 1-seed

HEARTS Act, backed by Bills S Damar Hamlin, signed into law

3 players on the Buffalo Bills’ naughty list for the 2024 season

NFL analyst delivers grim outlook for Josh Allen and Bills’ Super Bowl dreams – “They’re at a severe talent deficit”

Holiday reinforcements the Buffalo Bills should consider adding to the roster

NFL MVP race: Josh Allen’s case takes a hit. Is he still No. 1?

Many key Bills pieces have led the way to one of the NFL’s best records. An influential name may get looks if Buffalo plays into February.

Buffalo Bills looking to sweep NY Jets for first time since 2021 season in Week 17

The Buffalo Bills can’t reach the Super Bowl if their linebacker issues on defense aren’t addressed.

Bills Jordan Phillips says that “Buffalo changed my life”

Buffalo Bills re-sign veteran linebacker Nicholas Morrow

Buffalo Bills star WR starting to become a concern

VIDEO: Josh Allen Shares He Experienced Numbness in a Body Part During the Victory Against the New England Patriots

Bills’ Josh Allen updates injury post-Patriots win

GAME RECAP: Bills 24 vs 21 Patriots

Bills escape divisional trap game to stay alive for number-one seed in AFC playoffs

Share this: