NFL playoff picture: Here's where Patriots stand after loss to Bills originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Buffalo Bills took a commanding lead in the AFC East title race with a 33-21 win over the New England Patriots in Sunday's Week 16 game at Gillette Stadium.
These two teams are tied atop the division standings with a 9-6 record, but Buffalo has the advantage via the division record tiebreaker. The Bills are 4-1 against divisional opponents, compared to the Patriots' 3-2 record.
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The Bills now have a 88% chance of finishing the regular season as AFC East champions, while the Patriots' chances of claiming the division crown are 12%, per FiveThirtyEight. Buffalo has not won back-to-back division titles since 1990 and 1991.
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The Patriots have dropped into the wild card portion of the AFC playoff bracket as the No. 6 seed. They have head-to-head tiebreakers over the Los Angeles Chargers and Cleveland Browns. The Indianapolis Colts have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Patriots.
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New England still has a 93% chance of reaching the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight, but it's likely to be via one of the wild card berths rather than the division winner. The Patriots end the season with a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17 and a road game versus the Miami Dolphins in Week 18.
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Here's an updated look at the AFC playoff picture through Sunday's early afternoon Week 16 matchups. This story will be updated as more games conclude.
In a Playoff Spot
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 10-4 (AFC West leader)
2. Tennessee Titans, 10-5 (AFC South leader)
3. Cincinnati Bengals, 9-6 (AFC North leader)
4. Buffalo Bills, 9-6 (AFC East leader)
5. Indianapolis Colts, 9-6 (First wild card)
6. New England Patriots, 9-6 (Second wild card)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7-6-1 (Third wild card)
On the Bubble
8. Baltimore Ravens, 8-7
9. Los Angeles Chargers, 8-7
10. Las Vegas Raiders, 7-7
11. Miami Dolphins, 7-7
12. Denver Broncos, 7-7
13. Cleveland Browns, 7-8
