The Bills' position in the AFC East and Wild Card playoff race hinges on the outcome of the Texans game.

Billy Heyen

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Bills' NFL playoff picture in AFC East, Wild Card depends on Texans game image

TL;DR

  • Buffalo Bills are 7-3 and hold the AFC's 5-seed Wild Card spot.
  • A win against the Houston Texans is crucial for AFC East and Wild Card contention.
  • Losing to the Texans would hurt tiebreakers and widen the gap with the Patriots.
  • The Bills aim to secure a victory on Thursday night against the Texans.

It's never too early to start thinking about how the playoffs shape up.

This is particularly relevant for a squad aiming for The Super Bowl, such as the Buffalo Bills. Naturally, they must first secure a playoff berth, which is a significant part of the challenge. Considering the present playoff standings, what's required to contend in the AFC East or claim a Wild Card position? There remains unfinished business.

It starts Thursday night against the Houston Texans to open up Week 12.

The Bills are 7-3. They currently hold the AFC's best Wild Card spot, the 5-seed

The Texans hold a 5-5 record. They currently occupy the No. 8 position in the AFC standings, just outside the third and last Wild Card playoff spot.

The Bills are also chasing the New England Patriots, who lead the AFC East at 9-2.

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The need for a Buffalo win over Houston is two-fold.

The Bills' victory offers them an opportunity to stay close in the AFC East standings with The Pats. A defeat would widen the gap, making the divisional competition more challenging.

In the Wild Card scenario, the Bills aim to avoid forfeiting tiebreakers. The primary tiebreaker for a Wild Card position is the head-to-head result. Consequently, if the Texans defeat the Bills and they finish with identical records, Houston would rank higher than Buffalo in the standings.

The Bills want to win every week regardless.

It's becoming important to monitor these developments, and this week is crucial as Buffalo aims to prevent the unusual occurrences that can arise from a quick turnaround to a Thursday night game and secure a victory by any means necessary.

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Contributing Writer