Bills clinch playoff berth after Week 16 slate, still reaching for AFC East
With a win against Cleveland and Indianapolis losing to the 49ers on Monday, Buffalo clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season. The Bills secured their spot alongside the Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars and Chargers. They currently sit at the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture.
“Obviously to accomplish everyone’s main goal, got to make the playoffs and giving yourself a chance to win the lottery,” Allen said before facing the Browns. “That’s your ticket right there is getting into the playoffs.”
Even though New England beat Baltimore in Week 16, Buffalo is still in the AFC East race. The Patriots end their season facing the Jets and Dolphins. They need to lose to at least one of those teams, finishing either 13-4 or 12-5.
If New England drops one of those games, the Bills must win out – beating the Eagles and Jets. With two Patriots losses, Buffalo only needs to win one against its remaining two opponents.
“Knowing how to win, I would say, is important overall,” McDermott said. “Different ways to win, knowing how to win, being in close games. That’s the NFL as it is anyway, as a league as a whole.”
The AFC seeding isn’t set, meaning it’s still a possibility for the Bills to play a playoff game at Highmark Stadium. However, knowing Weeks 17 and 18 of the regular season might be the final two times they take the field in the historic stadium, they’re prepared to take it all in with all of Bills Mafia.
“I’m going to enjoy these last two here and know that it’s a pretty fun time for our fans and ourselves to be in the stadium,” Allen said.