The Buffalo Bills have been the only team in a lifeless AFC East that finds themselves in the playoff picture in the conference. And as a result, we could very well see them reaching the postseason officially at a record pace.
At 6-2, the Bills hold a 3.5-game lead over the Miami Dolphins, who are the team with the second-best record in the conference. With a game against the Dolphins in Week 9, they can further extend that lead and set themselves up to potentially have a postseason spot clinched by the time Thanksgiving comes around.
If the Bills happen to win out, which includes a win over the Dolphins in Week 9, and also win out for the next two weeks, the Bills could clinch the AFC East division if the other teams in the division lose out for the next three games.
Should they be able to accomplish this feat, they would join just three other teams in NFL history to clinch their division by Week 12. The 2004 Philadelphia Eagles, 2007 New England Patriots, and 2009 Indianapolis Colts are the only three teams to ever do this.
The Bills have been excellent this year. But this is truly more of an indictment on the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, who were expected to be quite good this season in the eyes of most around the NFL.
Simply put, neither team has shown much life whatsoever, which could very well work in the Bills’ favor as they push closer and closer to mathematically winning the division before the start of the holiday season.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.