Here’s what needs to happen in Week 17 for the Buffalo Bills to secure a postseason spot.

Not long ago, the Buffalo Bills were on the verge of missing the NFL Playoffs for the first time since Josh Allen’s rookie season in 2018.

Buffalo was 6-6 after a painful overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12 and on the outside looking in when it came to the AFC playoff picture.

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Following their bye week, the Bills went into Arrowhead to face the Kansas City Chiefs and won by three points. The following week, they defeated the red-hot Dallas Cowboys by a score of 21 points. Even though they battled against an injury-plagued Los Angeles Chargers club in Week 16, they still won 24-22.

Buffalo, now 9-6 and in sixth place in the AFC East, can officially punch its fifth consecutive postseason ticket in Week 17. And, despite the fact that it didn’t seem conceivable a few weeks ago, Sean McDermott’s team still has a chance to take the AFC East from the Miami Dolphins.

Buffalo Bills clinching possibilities for Week 17
With a win versus the Patriots and some help, the Bills can clinch a postseason spot.

To punch their postseason ticket, the Bills must first beat or tie the New England Patriots, as a loss negates all of the scenarios outlined below.

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Given the overall level of opponents Buffalo has previously defeated, this Week 17 meeting doesn’t appear to be much of a matchup at all.

Bill Belichick and the Patriots, on the other hand, are coming off a thrilling 26-23 victory over the Denver Broncos. And, given how the 2023 NFL season has gone thus far, there is no such thing as a sure certainty.

Even if the Bills win, they’ll still need a lot of help to secure a postseason spot. There are 14 different ways Buffalo might make the playoffs. But, because nine of them include an unlikely Bills-Patriots tie, let’s focus on the five that entail a Buffalo victory:

The Bills win against the Patriots, while the Steelers lose/tie against the Seahawks and the Bengals lose/tie against the Chiefs.
The Bills win against the Patriots, while the Steelers lose/tie against the Seahawks and the Jaguars lose/tie against the Panthers.

Bills drill last-minute field goal to stay hot against Chargers

The Bills win against the Patriots, while the Steelers lose/tie against the Seahawks, the Texans lose/tie against the Titans, and the Colts lose/tie against the Raiders.
The Bills win against the Patriots, while the Bengals lose/tie against the Chiefs and the Jaguars lose/tie against the Panthers.
The Bills win against the Patriots, while the Bengals lose/tie against the Chiefs, the Texans lose/tie against the Titans, and the Colts lose/tie against the Raiders.

A Bills victory also keeps them in contention for the AFC East title, but only if the 11-4 Dolphins lose to the Baltimore Ravens, which is very likely given how the Ravens are performing right now.

In this scenario, a Buffalo victory and a Miami defeat set up a Week 18 confrontation between the Bills and the Dolphins to decide the division. But first, let’s see how Week 17 goes.

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