Bills an AFC Playoff Lock
Quarterback Josh Allen (#17) Celebrates a score with Tackle Cody Ford (#70, right). (Photo:©Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports)
The surprise team in the AFC after seven weeks is the Buffalo Bills.
Behind a stout defense that ranks 2nd in the conference in both points and yards allowed per game, the Bills are 5-1 and primed for a playoff push.
Wide receiver John Brown scores on a 20-yard touchdown reception to give his team a 15-14 lead in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win against the Miami Dolphins. (Photo:©Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports)
AFC CONTENDERS FAULTER
Although Buffalo struggled through most of Sunday’s 31-21 victory over the winless Miami Dolphins (0-6), a 22-point 4th quarter salvaged the victory and helped the Bills pick up a full game in the standings against other AFC contenders.
The Oakland Raiders (3-3) dropped a 42-24 decision on the road against the Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Chargers (2-5) inexplicably missed on three straight goal-line carries to lose 23-20 in Nashville against the now 3-4 Tennessee Titans, and the Houston Texans (4-3) fell 30-23 on the road to the division leading Indianapolis Colts (4-2).
The Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) dominated the Denver Broncos (2-5) 30-6 on Thursday night, and the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) looked dominant in a 30-16 win on the road at Seattle (5-2). Those two squads look like runaway winners in the AFC West and AFC North, respectively.
Outside of the Bills, the Houston Texans (2nd-place/AFC South) are the only other non-division-leading team with a winning record in the entire conference.
FAVORABLE REMAINING SCHEDULE
Buffalo will be favored to win 4 of its next 5 games (vs. Redskins, at Browns, at Dolphins, vs. Broncos). They could realistically be 9-2 heading into a Thanksgiving Day tilt at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (4-3).
After the Thanksgiving dust settles, the Bills will face their toughest three-game stretch of the season from Weeks 14-16 (vs. Ravens, at Steelers, at Patriots). A home game against the struggling New York Jets (1-4) will close out the 2019 regular season.
10-6 looks like a very likely record for Buffalo, while 11-5 and even 12-4 remain in play. With the way the rest of the AFC has played thus far, even 9 wins could be enough to sneak into the playoffs as a Wild Card.
PATRIOTS STAND IN WAY OF DIVISION TITLE
The yet unbeaten New England Patriots (6-0) are having quite possibly the best defensive start to a season in the modern era. Their defense is allowing an absurd 8 points per game, by far the best mark in the league. Not to be outdone, the Patriots also own the highest-scoring offense in the NFL (31.7 Pts/G).
They have won 10 consecutive AFC East titles, 15 of the last 16 AFC East titles, have played in 8 straight AFC Championship Games, and have appeared in 4 of the last 5 Super Bowls (3 SB wins). Having already won in Buffalo, there is nothing to suggest that the Patriots will not repeat as AFC East champions in 2019 for an 11th consecutive season.
PLAYOFF BIRTH Appears CERTAIN
Although an AFC East division title would require making up ground on the seemingly invincible Patriots, Buffalo should be able to cruise to a playoff birth via the Wild Card, the same route that saw the Bills end an 18-year playoff drought in 2017.
A once-storied AFC franchise that now features an entire generation of fans who have not witnessed a Bills playoff victory should feel confident that they will get a shot in the postseason again this season.
What happens once the playoffs kick off is anyone’s guess, but this much is clear: the Buffalo Bills are a lock to make the AFC playoffs.