Bold snapshot: the Bills aren’t out of the woods yet, and their playoff fate hinges on more than one Sunday win—they need some help from fellow AFC teams too. Buffalo’s victory over New England prevented the Patriots from clinching the AFC East, but the path to January remains a collaborative effort among several clubs. And as Week 15 unfolds, the Chiefs’ and Bengals’ fates shifted dramatically with their eliminations, bringing the race into sharper focus.
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos captured the AFC’s first playoff berth and surged to the top spot after their win, with the Jacksonville Jaguars rising to third after a Sunday victory. The Los Angeles Chargers handed the Chiefs a loss, keeping them at fifth and creating a tiebreaker edge over Buffalo. Houston sits one game behind Buffalo in seventh, while Indianapolis has slipped a game further back.
Looking ahead, the Bills can secure a playoff spot in Week 16, but their immediate Week 15 standings reveal a tightening race across the conference.
AFC standings after Week 15
- Denver Broncos (12-2)*
- New England Patriots (11-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-4, 8-2 AFC)
- Buffalo Bills (10-4, 7-3 AFC)
- Houston Texans (9-5)
- Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
- Miami Dolphins (6-7)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) -e
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) -e
- New York Jets (3-11) -e
- Cleveland Browns (3-11) -e
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) -e
- Tennessee Titans (2-12) -e
*clinched a playoff spot
-e eliminated from the playoffs
AFC East standings after Week 15
The Pats would have clinched the division with a win over the Bills, but that result didn’t come to pass. The Jets continued to struggle, and the Dolphins’ prime-time showcase loomed large.
- New England Patriots (11-3)
- Buffalo Bills (10-4)
- Miami Dolphins (6-7)
- New York Jets (3-11)
The Jets and Dolphins had already been eliminated from the AFC East race prior to Week 15.
