Buffalo Bills’ Week 14 AFC Playoff Race Roots Interests

Well, that’s better. The Buffalo Bills looked like a winning football team last Sunday as they went about their business in Pittsburgh. The patchy offensive line did its job and kept quarterback Josh Allen clean. They did more than that by creating lanes for Buffalo’s running game, which kept running the same play over and over again against the Steelers.

But it’s time to stop reliving Sunday night and move on, because there’s still a lot of work to do if the Bills are going to play football in January.

Advertisement

Here’s a look at where things stand before Week 14 begins with Thursday night football.

Join the conversation!

Register for a user account and get:

• Comment on articles, community posts.

• Recording comments, community posts

• New improved notification system!

AFC East Week 14 standings

1. New England Patriots (11-2)

Image of the AFC playoffs heading into the week 14

1. New England Patriots (11-2)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)

The entire AFC East won in Week 13. That’s not great news since the Bills are still two games behind the Patriots, who are off this weekend. But it’s not bad news either, as the Jets climbed out of the AFC cellar by giving picks to five teams ahead of them in the 2026 NFL Draft.

There hasn’t been much change in the conference standings from last week to this week. The Patriots are still at the top of the table, the Bills are still clinging to the last wild card, while the Chiefs and Texans are on the outside looking in. One thing that did change, however, is the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars have now taken over the division and the Indianapolis Colts, who once held the top spot, are now the sixth seed.

Advertisement

There’s a lot of football to be played this first weekend of December, with plenty of key matchups, because, as we know, the NFL likes to keep things interesting. So, here’s a look at how we’d like things to go this weekend. Get ready Bills Mafia, it’s going to be another wild weekend!

_____________________________________________________________________________

AFC East Week 14 Bills rooting interests

Buffalo Bills (8-4) over Cincinnati Bengals (4-8), Sunday 1 pm EST (FOX)

This is the obvious game, right? We’re always rooting for the Bills and we’re at a point in the season where every game has become a must-win. Buffalo is sitting on a precarious edge: a loss and they’re on the outside looking in like members of the “In the Hunt” club. One win and they could (with a little help) move up a couple of spots. While the Bills can’t steal the AFC East crown, they may be a half-step closer to taking it from Drake Maye’s hands as the New England Patriots will watch from home this week.

Advertisement

What bills!

New York Jets (3-9) more Miami Dolphins (5-7)Sunday 1 pm EST (CBS)

It’s funny what a couple of good days can do for you, isn’t it? The Dolphins have a pair of wins, including one over the Bills in Week 10, and Miami believes they have a playoff-caliber organization in South Florida. Since the Dolphins have a better record than the Jets, let’s root for a New York win and then sit back and watch the two battle for draft position over the final month of the season.

Week 14 games that impact Bills’ playoff hopes

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) over Baltimore Ravens (6-6), Sunday 1 pm EST (CBS)

Since Buffalo already beat both teams once, it’s more about where they would prefer to go for a playoff game: Baltimore or Pittsburgh. With a Steelers win, they would trade places with the Ravens, taking over the AFC North, while Baltimore falls out of the playoff picture.

Advertisement

If Buffalo were to get help in the games listed below, they would move up to fifth place with a trip to fourth-place Pittsburgh in the plans. Yes, I know, the last month of the season can change everything, but let’s take it week by week. A second date with Aaron Rodgers sounds more appealing than one with Lamar Jackson right now.

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) over Indianapolis Colts (8-4), Sunday 1 pm EST (CBS)

The Colts and Bills have the same record. Technically, so do the Jaguars, but as the best team in the AFC South, they’re not the ones keeping Buffalo at number seven in the AFC. A loss in Indianapolis will put them below Buffalo, while a win in Jacksonville won’t hurt them. What this is about is breaking that tie between teams in places five to seven.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) over Denver Broncos (10-2)Sunday 4:05 pm EST (CBS)

While it will take a lot of help for the Bills to win the AFC East and have to worry about a top-four seed, we can have hope. So adding another tally this week to the Broncos’ loss column could be significant in a few weeks. It’s the NFL and anything can happen.

Advertisement

Kansas City Chiefs (6-6) over Houston Texans (7-5), Sunday 8:20 p.m. EST (NBC)

Josh Allen defeated Patrick Mahomes. He didn’t beat anyone on the Texans roster. So a Kansas City win helps Buffalo’s Strength of Victory score. A Houston loss widens the gap between the Texans and Bills, something that’s important since Buffalo will be the odd team out if the two finish tied at the end of the regular season.

The rest of the Bills’ interests in Week 14 of the NFL

Here, it’s about a few things: Supporting outcomes that improve Buffalo’s overall situation. DISTRESS CALL either SOV, NFC vs. AFCor choose the team that best positions the Bills in the playoff race.

Advertisement

Cleveland Browns (3-9) over Tennessee Titans (1-11) – SOV
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) over New Orleans Saints (2-10) – SOV
Philadelphia Eagles (8-4) over Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) – SOS

Games that don’t impact the Bills this week

Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) vs. Detroit Lions (7-5)
Seattle Seahawks (9-3) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
Washington Commanders (3-9) vs. Minnesota Vikings (8-4)
Chicago Bears (9-3) at Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
Los Angeles Rams (9-3) against Arizona Cardinals (3-9)

Goodbye teams
Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers

_____________________________________________________________________________

Advertisement

Optimistic AFC positions after Week 14

So if all the rebounds go in the Bills’ favor and all the right teams win, here’s what the AFC standings would look like on Tuesday morning:

1. New England Patriots (11-2)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)

_____________________________________________________________________________

Now we know who to root for, and more importantly, who to root against, when it comes to the Buffalo Bills in Week 14. What bills!