The Buffalo Bills won a tight contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers; the game initially favored the home team, but things shifted in the second half to benefit Josh Allen and his teammates. This result immediately updated the AFC standings in the playoff race.
The NFL playoff picture in the AFC remains quite compact so far. The Patriots still hold the top spot, looking secure and dominant. The Broncos could potentially climb and steal that spot but must win their game against the Commanders. Meanwhile, the Bills moved up a couple of spots, and the Steelers dropped slightly lower in the standings.
Things aren’t looking too bad for the Steelers despite the recent defeat against the Bills. Holding the second spot within the AFC North division is not the worst position, especially knowing that the Bengals and Browns don’t pose a major threat due to the poor seasons those two teams have had this year.
AFC playoff ‘favorites’
Beyond the obvious conference favorites, the Patriots and Broncos, another team favored to reach the AFC playoffs is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are having a very strong season. According to ESPN’s playoff picture, the Jaguars have a very high probability of at least competing for a Wild Card spot.
If the Steelers want to increase their favorite status, they need to win more than half of their final four regular-season games (against the Ravens, Dolphins, Lions, and Browns). That would be a significant shift that would boost their chances of reaching the playoffs.
Bills remain solid in the AFC
Despite not having the best record in the AFC, the Bills hold the second spot in the AFC East, sitting right behind one of the big favorites, the Patriots. Similar to the Steelers, that spot for Buffalo is ‘safe,’ as neither the Dolphins nor the Jets represent a major threat to them.