Report: Bills Get Shocking Help in AFC Playoff Race

The Buffalo Bills head into their Week 12 bye firmly in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Their position improved following a surprising result on “Thursday Night Football,” where the Cleveland Browns upset the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-19. Before the game, the Steelers, despite sharing the same number of losses as Buffalo, controlled their own destiny for the AFC’s top seed. With a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs later this season, Pittsburgh had the potential to finish with a stronger conference record than the Bills. However, the loss drops the Steelers a full game behind Buffalo, relinquishing that advantage.

Buffalo now sits just 0.5 games behind Kansas City for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and first-round bye. If the Chiefs lose to the Carolina Panthers this weekend, the Bills would claim sole possession of the conference’s top spot—a position they haven’t held entering the playoffs since 1993.

The Bills’ road ahead remains challenging, with matchups against formidable teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions still on the schedule. Nevertheless, the bye week offers Buffalo a chance to regroup and recover as they gear up for the crucial final stretch of the season.