The Buffalo Bills haven't been the team many expected this year, but they still have a chance to make a Super Bowl run.
Entering Week 17, the Bills were one-game back of the New England Patriots and still had a chance to win the AFC East. The Patriots' win against the New York Jets, then, put all the pressure on the Bills to win their next two games.
However, Buffalo faced a much tougher opponent on Sunday, as the Philadelphia Eagles came to town. Needing to win each of their last two games to have a chance to win the division, the Bills had to find a way to take down the reigning Super Bowl champions to keep their hopes of passing the Patriots alive.
Here's a look at the Bills playoff picture after their Week 17 result.
MORE WEEK 17 NEWS:
- Updated AFC, NFC standings in NFL playoff picture for Week 17
- How Giants-Raiders Week 17 matchup likely decides No. 1 overall pick
- Texans, Packers among latest teams to clinch spot in NFL postseason
Bills playoff picture
The AFC playoff picture is becoming more clear after Week 17. With the Bills' loss to the Eagles, Buffalo can't win the AFC East and is now guaranteed to secure one of the three wild-card spots.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | Denver Broncos | 13-3 |
| 2. | New England Patriots | 13-3 |
| 3. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 12-4 |
| 4. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-7 |
| 5. | Houston Texans | 11-5 |
| 6. | Los Angeles Chargers | 11-5 |
| 7. | Buffalo Bills | 11-5 |
| 8. | Indianapolis Colts | 8-8 |
| 9. | Baltimore Ravens | 8-8 |
| 10. | Miami Dolphins | 7-9 |
| 11. | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-10 |
| 12. | Cincinnati Bengals | 6-10 |
| 13. | Cleveland Browns | 4-12 |
| 14. | Tennessee Titans | 3-13 |
| 15. | New York Jets | 3-13 |
| 16. | Las Vegas Raiders | 2-14 |
Sunday's loss dropped the Bills to the No. 7 seed in the AFC, with the Texans and Chargers holding three-team tiebreaker advantages over Buffalo. If the standings held as they currently are, the Bills would face the New England Patriots on the road in the wild-card round.
AFC wild-card standings
The Bills entered Week 17 holding the top wild-card spot and with a chance to win the division, but they were eliminated from AFC East contention with the loss and dropped to No. 7 in the AFC. They can still rise as high as the No. 5 seed but will start the playoffs on the road.
Division leaders
- AFC West: Denver Broncos (13-3)
- AFC East: New England Patriots (13-3)
- AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
- AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Wild card teams
- Houston Texans (11-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-5)
Entering Week 18, the Bills' first playoff opponent is still to be determined, as it will come down to how the standings shake out in the final week.
AFC East standings
The Patriots took control of the AFC East in the second half of the season, controlling their own destiny for the majority of the year. With the Bills loss in Week 17, New England officially clinches the division title for the first time since 2019.
Therefore, the Bills clinch second in the AFC East this year but will still head to the playoffs anyway.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | New England Patriots | 13-3 |
| 2. | Buffalo Bills | 11-5 |
| 3. | Miami Dolphins | 6-10 |
| 4. | New York Jets | 3-13 |
Bills remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| TBD | vs. Jets | TBD | TBD |
The Bills will close the season in Week 18 at home against the New York Jets, who will enter that game with a 3-13 record. Buffalo beat New York in Week 2 by a score of 30-10 in New York.