NFL Playoff Picture 2025: Allen, Bills Clinch AFC East; Updated Bracket, Standings
Doric SamDecember 2, 2024
Bleacher Report
Star quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are back in the playoffs for the sixth straight year and clinched their fifth straight AFC East title after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 35-10 on Sunday Night Football.
A loss by the Miami Dolphins (5-7) on Thanksgiving Day against the Green Bay Packers opened the door for the Bills to clinch the division. Buffalo improved to 10-2 with Sunday night’s victory, and it’s the first time in 15 years that a team has won a division title this early.
The Bills are still in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC thanks to their head-to-head win over the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1). A loss by Kansas City in the final five weeks of the season would open the door for Buffalo to earn home-field advantage.
Here’s a look at the updated standings now that the Bills are back in the playoffs:
AFC Standings
Division Leaders
1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) – clinched playoff berth
2. Buffalo Bills (10-2) – clinched AFC East
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
4. Houston Texans (8-5)
Wild-Card Race
5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
7. Denver Broncos (7-5)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
9. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
11. Cleveland Browns (3-8)
12. New York Jets (3-9)
13. Tennessee Titans (3-9)
14. New England Patriots (3-10) – eliminated
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) – eliminated
NFC Standings
Division Leaders
1. Detroit Lions (11-1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
3. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
Wild-Card Race
5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
9. Arizona Cardinals (6-6)
10 Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-6)
12. Dallas Cowboys (5-7)
13. New Orleans Saints (4-8)
14. Chicago Bears (4-8)
15. Carolina Panthers (3-9)
16. New York Giants (2-10) – eliminated
After suffering back-to-back losses in Weeks 4 and 5, the Bills found a new gear and went on to win six straight games. Buffalo has perennially been one of the top contenders in the AFC, but the team finally appears poised to achieve the postseason success that has eluded the franchise for decades.
Allen has performed at an MVP level throughout the 2024 campaign. Against the 49ers, he threw two touchdowns, ran for another, and even recorded a receiving touchdown on one of the most impressive plays of the year.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportTHE BILLS GET TRICKY FOR THE TD 🤯
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/TKj9UcfSPz
Still, to finally break through and reach the Super Bowl, the Bills will likely have to get past the Chiefs once again. The back-to-back reigning champions are hoping to achieve the first three-peat in modern NFL history, so another epic playoff game against Buffalo could be on the horizon.
With Allen leading the way, the Bills could exorcise their postseason demons by taking down the defending champs.
