The Buffalo Bills simplified an image of the AFC playoffs as they approached Week 17 by beating the New England Patriots on Monday night.
A win over the Miami Dolphins will put the Bills in second place and position them as the Kansas City Chiefs’ competitor in the AFC.
Miami is part of a confusing mess for all three wildcard positions. The Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are also in the mix.
The NFC wildcard search has taken an unforeseen turn in more than 48 hours, as the Los Angeles Rams will be Jared Goff and the Arizona Cardinals have considerations about Kyler Murray.
At worst, the Rams-Cardinals game, which has many playoff implications, can be through two replacement field marshals.
Wildcard round: January 9-10
Divisional event: January 16-17
Conference Championships: January 24
Super Bowl: February 7
Division heads
1. Kansas City (14-1)
2. Ox (12-3)
3. Pittsburgh (12-3)
4. Tennessee (10-5)
The only replacement I would make in the most sensible three in the AFC would come if the Bills lost to the Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns.
The Bills have the tiebreaker in front of the Steelers and would be second if they had the same record.
The Tennessee Titans want a win over the Houston Texans to secure the South AFC. They have a credit for a game in the department’s record for the Colts.
Wildcard career
5. Miami (10-5)
6. Baltimore (10-5)
7. Cleveland (10-5)
8. Indianapolis (10-5)
The simplest wildcard situation features victories for the Dolphins, Browns and Baltimore Ravens. In that situation, all three franchises would reach the playoffs and the Colts would be out.
Indianapolis will have to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars and one of the three most sensitive groups will have to lose in Week 17.
Miami and Cleveland face the Bills and Steelers respectively, and both deserve to look to win to secure second place and the right to potentially have at least two playoff games.
Baltimore turns out to have the track to the playoffs, unlike the Cincinnati Bengals. As long as John Harbaugh’s team wins, he’ll be in the seven-man field.
If one from Miami, Baltimore or Cleveland loses, Indianapolis would have to stumble in front of Jacksonville to stay among the seven most sensible.
Division heads
1. Green Bay (12-3)
2. New Orleans (11-4)
3. Seattle (11-4)
4. Washington (6 to 9 years)
If the Green Bay Packers defeat the Chicago Bears on Sunday, they’ll be seeded No. 1 NFC. Where things get confusing is whether the Bears secure their most sensible place by beating their NFC North rival.
If Green Bay finishes in three with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks, the NFC West champion would move on from No. 3 to No. 1, New Orleans can’t finish first if he’s tied for Green Bay because of the Packers’ tiebreaker.
The Washington football team may be the last franchise to qualify for the playoffs against Philadelphia on Sunday night.
Ron Rivera’s team will turn to Alex Smith or Taylor Heinicke to begin as quarterback after the release of Dwayne Haskins. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Washington “expects” Smith to begin.
If Washington loses, Sunday afternoon winner between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants will win the NFC East.
Wildcard career
5. Tampa Bay (10-5)
6. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
7. Chicago (8-7)
8. Arizona (8 to 7)
Tampa Bay came out of nowhere. The Buccaneers have clinched a playoff spot and will host the NFC East champions if they beat the Atlanta Falcons.
Two from Los Angeles, Arizona and Chicago will participate in the playoffs, but find out which groups will win the toughest places on Monday.
John Wolford is expected to begin as quarterback in the position of injured Jared Goff. If the Rams lose and the Bears win, they may not make it to the playoffs.
Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Murray for Sunday was “uncertain” after suffering a leg injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Murray’s replacement is Chris Streveler.
No matter who plays as a quarterback for NFC West groups on Sunday, the winner of this contest will get a wildcard position. Both groups can reach the playoffs if Arizona wins and Chicago loses.