It’s been a remarkable season for the Buffalo Bills. After losing All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason, many expected Buffalo to take a step back on the offensive side of the ball.
The Bills have done anything but regress, securing their fifth consecutive AFC East title. Star quarterback Josh Allen has played a key role in their success, leading the team to 11-plus wins yet again in an MVP-caliber season.
While regular season accolades are great, this is a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The Bills have continually proven to be able to compete with the class of the NFL, and the idea of Allen hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans isn’t so far-fetched.
With the Chiefs having already locked up the AFC’s top seed, Buffalo’s journey to the Super Bowl will begin in the wild-card round. Let’s take a look at who the Bills may face in the first round of the playoffs.
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Who will the Bills play in the playoffs?
Regardless of the outcomes of Week 18, the Bills will hold the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. This means they will host whichever team earns the No. 7 seed in the opening round of postseason play.
Denver Broncos
The path for the Denver Broncos to make the playoffs as the seventh seed is quite clear. If they beat the Chiefs at home on Sunday, they’ll hold the No. 7 seed and take a trip to Buffalo for the wild-card round. Considering the Chiefs will be resting key starters on Sunday, Denver should be able to find a win.
If the Broncos manage to lose to the Chiefs’ backups on Sunday, there is still a path for them to make the playoffs. If Denver loses and both Cincinnati and Miami also lose, Denver will still make the playoffs in the No. 7 slot.
As of now, ESPN places Denver’s odds of making the playoffs at 67.1 percent and they are the clear favorite to enter the playoffs as the seventh seed.
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Miami Dolphins
In order to make the playoffs, the Dolphins will need to win and get a bit of help. Miami will have to beat the Jets on the road and have the Broncos lose to the Chiefs on Sunday. If both games go Miami’s way, they’ll have a date in Buffalo next weekend.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they’ll have to beat the Jets with a banged-up offense. Tua Tagovailoa is not expected to play, and both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are “questionable.” Miami will need a bit of January magic to help them clinch a playoff berth.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are the final team vying for the seventh seed and they have the hardest path to get there. Cincinnati got its needed win in Pittsburgh on Saturday night and now needs both Denver and Miami to lose their respective matchups.
The Bengals are a long shot to make it to the postseason, but crazier things have happened in the NFL. If Cincinnati is able to find a way into the playoffs, this will be a rematch of the 2022 Divisional Round in which Cincinnati defeated Buffalo 27-10 to secure a spot in the AFC Championship game.
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