The Patriots’ already wide-open path to winning the AFC East and the guaranteed playoff home game that comes with it, is even clearer for them now.
The Bills’ 23-19 loss to the Texans on Thursday Night Football leaves New England (9-2) two games ahead of Buffalo (7-4) in the loss column heading into the Patriots’ game with Cincinnati on Sunday.
The Patriots have already beaten the Bills once this season. They could now lose the rematch on Dec. 14 at Gillette Stadium and still win the division without any other help.
According to The Athletic’s computer simulation predictive model, the Patriots now have a 90% percent chance to win the AFC East.
AFC East Standings
WLTPctPFPANew England920.818292206Buffalo740.636311252Miami470.364226269N.Y. Jets280.200209268
The Bills have a much tougher schedule remaining as well. Making the playoffs, a given for Buffalo entering the season, isn’t a lock now either. They need at least three wins in their final six games to get to 10 wins, a threshold that makes them a likely postseason team, but not a guaranteed one. They still have three games left against teams currently in the playoff picture – Steelers, Patriots and Eagles.
Bills remaining schedule:
- Nov. 30 — at Pittsburgh
- Dec. 7 — vs. Cincinnati
- Dec. 14 — at New England
- Dec. 21 — at Cleveland
- Dec. 28 — vs. Philadelphia
- Jan. 4 — vs NY Jets
Patriots remaining schedule
- Nov. 23 — at Cincinnati
- Dec. 1 — vs. NY Giants
- Dec. 14 — vs. Buffalo
- Dec. 21 — at Baltimore
- Dec. 28 — at NY Jets
- Jan. 4 — vs. Miami
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