Predicting how the AFC playoff picture will turn out in ’22
By Grant Tuttle
Buffalo Bills (9-3)
If the season ended today: #1 Seed
Remaining schedule: Jets, Dolphins, @ Bears, @ Bengals, Patriots
Analysis: As a Chiefs fan, I am thankful that this is not the Chiefs’ remaining schedule. The Jets have an exceptional defense that has only gotten better as the season has gone on. The emergence of Mike White (again) has made them a more formidable opponent than many have given them credit for. After a divisional showdown with the Jets, they face yet another divisional foe that handed them their first loss of the season: the Dolphins. While they get to play the hapless Bears, ending the season with the Bengals (who are playing incredibly well) and the Patriots (who aren’t playing that well) is not a cakewalk.
It will all come down to the Bills’ resiliency. All offseason, all anyone wanted to talk about was the depth and talent of this Bills team. Now it finally gets put to the test. Can the Bills show that they are that team, or will they break under the pressure?
Prediction: The Bills crash land to the #2 seed
Look, I know that the Bills are good. Great, even. I just can’t imagine that they meet up with the Jets, Dolphins, and Bengals and manage to beat all three. It would not be totally shocking if they dropped more than one game to end the season. For now, I think they lose to the Jets and/or Bengals to hand the keys to the conference.