Bills playoff picture: What win over Steelers in Week 13 means for Buffalo's postseason chances

The Buffalo Bills came into a Week 13 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, barely hanging onto a playoff spot. 

Seven teams will make the AFC playoff bracket, and Buffalo entered the game as the No. 7 seed in the current playoff picture. The Bills played a rough first half, and then the run game took over. Buffalo set the record for most rushing yards by a visiting team at Heinz Field/Acrisure Stadium. 

The Bills moved to 8-4 with the win. They still trail the New England Patriots by two games in the AFC East, but head into Week 14 still clutching to a playoff spot. 

Here is more on what the Bills' win over the Steelers means for their playoff chances. 

MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff standings in Week 13

Bills playoff picture

Division

The Patriots will play the New York Giants for Week 13's "Monday Night Football." Regardless of the result, New England will remain at least two games up on Buffalo in the division. The Bills cannot rise or fall in the division this week with a Patriots loss or win. New England will finish first in the division standings going into Week 14. 

AFC

The win over the Steelers doesn't allow the Bills to move in the playoff picture. The Indianapolis Colts lost earlier in the day, but the Los Angeles Chargers won. That combination had those teams flip-flop in the standings. Despite the same record, the Chargers currently hold the tiebreaker over both the Colts and the Bills due to a better conference record. 

Indianapolis holds the tiebreaker over Buffalo and has the better conference record. Los Angeles is 7-2 in AFC games, Indianapolis is 6-3, and Buffalo is 5-3. A few more wins and some clutch losses, and the tiebreaker swinging toward the Bills is not only plausible, but it could also cause a huge swing in the standings. 

The margin of error for Buffalo is razor-thin. The Bills are up only one game on the Houston Texans for that final Wild Card spot. The Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs are both 6-6, but have plenty of time remaining in the regular season to go on a run and make a playoff push. 

MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order in Week 13

Bills remaining schedule

The Bills have an interesting schedule remaining. Buffalo returns home and will welcome Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals to town. The Bengals are coming off an upset win over the Ravens in Week 13. The Bills then have to travel to face the division-leading Patriots. 

Buffalo will go on the road to take on the Cleveland Browns and will not be able to overlook that defense in a trap game. The Bills then play the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. Buffalo ends the regular season with a trap game against the New York Jets. The Bills are used to resting some players in Week 18, but if the playoff picture stays the same in the final week, the pressure will be on Buffalo. For now, though, the Bills are still in the AFC's playoff picture.