Earlier this week I told you how the Bills could clinch a playoff spot in Week 17, but I also told you that Buffalo couldn’t clinch the division this weekend. Now I’ve had folks asking why that is, so I thought I’d lay it out.
Current AFC East Standings
If the Bills (9-6) win this week and the New England Patriots (9-6) lose this week, Buffalo takes a one-game lead into the final week of the season. Buffalo can’t clinch the tiebreakers needed to secure the division based on potential Week 18 outcomes.
If the Bills beat the Falcons and lose to the Jets while the Patriots lose to the Jaguars and beat the Dolphins, here is the order of operations:
1) Head-to-head tiebreaker
The Bills and Patriots are 1-1 against each other, so it moves on.