The main impact if the Buffalo Bills lose today is on their playoff seeding and chances, not immediate elimination.
Record and standings
If the Bills lose today, their record drops to 9–5, and they stay in second place in the AFC East behind the New England Patriots. This keeps them firmly in the playoff hunt but gives them less margin for error in the final games.
Playoff chances
A loss reduces the Bills’ probability of winning the division and slightly increases the chance they fall to a wild card spot or miss the playoffs. Scenario tables show that losing the next game shifts a portion of outcomes from “division winner” toward “wild card” and “no playoffs,” though they still have strong odds to qualify if they play well in the remaining schedule.
Seeding and tiebreakers
Dropping this game makes tiebreakers more dangerous for Buffalo, since other AFC teams like Houston, Jacksonville, and the Chargers can match their record and beat them on conference or head‑to‑head criteria. That could mean a lower seed, a tougher road matchup, or in some combinations, being on the wrong side of a multi‑team tie.
