Bills playoff picture: How Buffalo can win AFC East in Week 18 after clinching wild-card berth

Vinnie Iyer

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Bills playoff picture: How Buffalo can win AFC East in Week 18 after clinching wild-card berth image

The Bills have made the NFL playoffs for the fifth consecutive season under coach Sean McDermott. They clinched at least a wild-card berth ahead of taking the field in Miami on Sunday night of Week 18 when the Jaguars lost ahead of them.

They are now also looking to make it four straight AFC East titles. After a disappointing first half and beyond, they have a good chance of that streak during the final week of the 2023 regular season.

Here's looking at where Buffalo stands in the AFC playoff picture going into Week 18's Sunday night game at division-leading Miami and how it can qualify for the postseason:

LIVE: Updated NFL standings, clinching scenarios for Week 18

Bills playoff picture 2024

The Bills are at 10-6, putting them for now as the No. 6 seed and second wild-card team, wedged right in between the AFC North combination of the No. 5 Browns (11-6) and No. 7 Steelers (10-7). The Bills'' potential playoff seeds are down to the No. 2 seed or the No. 7 seed in the AFC. 

How the Bills can win the AFC East in Week 18

The Bills beat the Dolphins. This is the first and only step for Buffalo to take another title, clipping Miami in the finale. That would improve the Bills' record to 11-6, matching the Dolphins' final mark. The Bills would own the tiebreaker from having the season head-to-head sweep.

By winning the division, the Bills would jump up to the No. 2 seed behind the Ravens (12-3), displacing the Dolphins. At 11-6, there's a chance the Bills can be tied with the AFC West-winning Chiefs, the current No. 3 seed, but the Bills also own the head-to-head tiebreaker after beating the Chiefs.

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer Photo

Vinnie Iyer, has been with TSN since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. A native of St. Louis, Mo. but now a long-time resident of Charlotte, N.C. Vinnie’s top two professional sports teams are Cardinals and Blues, but he also carries purple pride for all things Northwestern Wildcats. He covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including player evaluations, gambling and fantasy football, where he is a key contributor. Vinnie represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. Over his many years at TSN, he’s also written about MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, tennis, horse racing, film and television. His can’t-miss program remains “Jeopardy!”, where he was once a three-day champion and he is still avid about crossword puzzles and trivia games. When not watching sports or his favorite game show, Vinnie is probably watching a DC, Marvel or Star Wars-related TV or movie.