NFL playoff picture: How the Bills can clinch a playoff berth in Week 16

NFL playoff picture: How the Bills can clinch a playoff berth in Week 16

With their win over the New England Patriots last weekend, the Buffalo Bills kept their hopes for another AFC East title alive.

But here in Week 16, the Bills can take their next step to Super Bowl LX, by clinching a playoff spot.

Here is how Buffalo can lock up a spot in the AFC playoffs this weekend.

Buffalo Bills playoff berth clinching scenarios

The Bills travel to northeast Ohio to take on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, and that game gives them a chance to book a spot in the AFC playoffs.

But they might have to wait until Monday night to celebrate.

There are four ways Buffalo can clinch a playoff berth here in Week 16. The first (and the most probable) comes with a win over the Browns, and an Indianapolis Colts loss or tie against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. While that game is in Indianapolis, the visiting 49ers are favored.

Buffalo can also clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Browns, and a Houston Texans loss or tie against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. However, the Texans are heavy favorites in that game, making this the less-likely path.

Buffalo can also clinch a playoff spot if their game against Cleveland ends in a tie. If that game ends tied, a Colts loss OR a Texans loss gets the Bills into the playoffs.

AFC standings entering Week 16

Here are the full AFC standings as Week 16 begins:

x – Team has clinched a playoff spot
e – Team has been eliminated from playoff contention

Here are the full standings in the AFC East, where the Bills are now just one game behind the Patriots:

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Deadspin | Texans officially sign LB Azeez Al-Shaair to extension  Nov 2, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) reacts after a play during the first half against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images   The Houston Texans announced a three-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on Friday.  Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports put the total value at  million.  Al-Shaair is the third key defensive player to sign an extension this offseason. All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. got a three-year, 0 million deal and five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter signed a one-year, .1 million deal.  Al-Shaair, 28, whose current deal was set to expire after the 2026 season, is tied to the franchise through 2029.   “This place is special. The people are special,” Al-Shaair said, per KPRC2. “A sense of family is hard to come by. Who would have thought I would make it to the NFL? I went through homelessness. I went to several schools. I couldn’t see myself putting on a uniform with anybody else.”  Al-Shaair, a team captain and first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2025, recorded 103 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions in 16 games (all starts) during the regular season.  He has totaled 535 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four interceptions in 100 career games (75 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2019-22), Tennessee Titans (2023) and Texans. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Texans #officially #sign #Azeez #AlShaair #extensionNov 2, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) reacts after a play during the first half against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images

The Houston Texans announced a three-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on Friday.

Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports put the total value at $54 million.

Al-Shaair is the third key defensive player to sign an extension this offseason. All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. got a three-year, $150 million deal and five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter signed a one-year, $40.1 million deal.


Al-Shaair, 28, whose current deal was set to expire after the 2026 season, is tied to the franchise through 2029.

“This place is special. The people are special,” Al-Shaair said, per KPRC2. “A sense of family is hard to come by. Who would have thought I would make it to the NFL? I went through homelessness. I went to several schools. I couldn’t see myself putting on a uniform with anybody else.”

Al-Shaair, a team captain and first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2025, recorded 103 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions in 16 games (all starts) during the regular season.

He has totaled 535 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four interceptions in 100 career games (75 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2019-22), Tennessee Titans (2023) and Texans. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Texans #officially #sign #Azeez #AlShaair #extension">Deadspin | Texans officially sign LB Azeez Al-Shaair to extension  Nov 2, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) reacts after a play during the first half against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images   The Houston Texans announced a three-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on Friday.  Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports put the total value at  million.  Al-Shaair is the third key defensive player to sign an extension this offseason. All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. got a three-year, 0 million deal and five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter signed a one-year, .1 million deal.  Al-Shaair, 28, whose current deal was set to expire after the 2026 season, is tied to the franchise through 2029.   “This place is special. The people are special,” Al-Shaair said, per KPRC2. “A sense of family is hard to come by. Who would have thought I would make it to the NFL? I went through homelessness. I went to several schools. I couldn’t see myself putting on a uniform with anybody else.”  Al-Shaair, a team captain and first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2025, recorded 103 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions in 16 games (all starts) during the regular season.  He has totaled 535 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four interceptions in 100 career games (75 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2019-22), Tennessee Titans (2023) and Texans. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Texans #officially #sign #Azeez #AlShaair #extension

Deadspin | Ben Rice (3-run HR) backs Will Warren as Yankees beat O’s  May 1, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images   Ben Rice continued his torrid start by hitting a three-run homer in the second inning Friday night and the host New York Yankees recorded a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.  The Yankees won for the 11th time in their past 13 games in their return from a 7-2 road trip against the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.  Jose Caballero also homered and Cody Bellinger hit an RBI double as the Yankees rebounded from getting blanked for the second time this season. Aaron Judge added an RBI single in the eighth, reached base four times and scored on Bellinger’s double and Amed Rosario’s single in the seventh.  New York’s Will Warren (4-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine, walked one and won his third consecutive start.  Pete Alonso hit a tying homer in his first at-bat in New York since joining the Orioles on a five-year, 5 million contract after he was not offered a contract by the New York Mets in the offseason.  Baltimore’s Cade Povich (1-1) was tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.  In the first of seven meetings with the Yankees over the next two weeks, the Orioles were held to three hits and lost for the 10th time in 15 games. Earlier in the day, Baltimore put closer Ryan Helsley on the injured list with elbow inflammation.   Alonso forged a 1-1 tie by hitting a 1-1 sinker into the second deck in right field but the Yankees answered with a four-run second.  Caballero homered down the left field line by hitting Povich’s first-pitch fastball. Following a two-out double by Trent Grisham and a walk by Paul Goldschmidt, Rice hammered a 1-0 slider into the right field seats.  It was Rice’s 11th homer, one behind Judge for the team lead. It also was the first baseman’s seventh in the past 14 games and fifth off a left-handed pitcher this season.  Warren retired 12 straight until Alonso walked with one out in the seventh. After Samuel Bassallo singled and took second on Grisham’s error in center field, Fernando Cruz came in and allowed a run-scoring groundout to Dylan Beavers before finishing the inning.  Camilo Doval and Jake Bird pitched an inning apiece to close out the win.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Ben #Rice #3run #backs #Warren #Yankees #beatMay 1, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Ben Rice continued his torrid start by hitting a three-run homer in the second inning Friday night and the host New York Yankees recorded a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

The Yankees won for the 11th time in their past 13 games in their return from a 7-2 road trip against the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.

Jose Caballero also homered and Cody Bellinger hit an RBI double as the Yankees rebounded from getting blanked for the second time this season. Aaron Judge added an RBI single in the eighth, reached base four times and scored on Bellinger’s double and Amed Rosario’s single in the seventh.

New York’s Will Warren (4-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine, walked one and won his third consecutive start.

Pete Alonso hit a tying homer in his first at-bat in New York since joining the Orioles on a five-year, $155 million contract after he was not offered a contract by the New York Mets in the offseason.

Baltimore’s Cade Povich (1-1) was tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.


In the first of seven meetings with the Yankees over the next two weeks, the Orioles were held to three hits and lost for the 10th time in 15 games. Earlier in the day, Baltimore put closer Ryan Helsley on the injured list with elbow inflammation.

Alonso forged a 1-1 tie by hitting a 1-1 sinker into the second deck in right field but the Yankees answered with a four-run second.

Caballero homered down the left field line by hitting Povich’s first-pitch fastball. Following a two-out double by Trent Grisham and a walk by Paul Goldschmidt, Rice hammered a 1-0 slider into the right field seats.

It was Rice’s 11th homer, one behind Judge for the team lead. It also was the first baseman’s seventh in the past 14 games and fifth off a left-handed pitcher this season.

Warren retired 12 straight until Alonso walked with one out in the seventh. After Samuel Bassallo singled and took second on Grisham’s error in center field, Fernando Cruz came in and allowed a run-scoring groundout to Dylan Beavers before finishing the inning.

Camilo Doval and Jake Bird pitched an inning apiece to close out the win.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Ben #Rice #3run #backs #Warren #Yankees #beat">Deadspin | Ben Rice (3-run HR) backs Will Warren as Yankees beat O’s  May 1, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images   Ben Rice continued his torrid start by hitting a three-run homer in the second inning Friday night and the host New York Yankees recorded a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.  The Yankees won for the 11th time in their past 13 games in their return from a 7-2 road trip against the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.  Jose Caballero also homered and Cody Bellinger hit an RBI double as the Yankees rebounded from getting blanked for the second time this season. Aaron Judge added an RBI single in the eighth, reached base four times and scored on Bellinger’s double and Amed Rosario’s single in the seventh.  New York’s Will Warren (4-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine, walked one and won his third consecutive start.  Pete Alonso hit a tying homer in his first at-bat in New York since joining the Orioles on a five-year, 5 million contract after he was not offered a contract by the New York Mets in the offseason.  Baltimore’s Cade Povich (1-1) was tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.  In the first of seven meetings with the Yankees over the next two weeks, the Orioles were held to three hits and lost for the 10th time in 15 games. Earlier in the day, Baltimore put closer Ryan Helsley on the injured list with elbow inflammation.   Alonso forged a 1-1 tie by hitting a 1-1 sinker into the second deck in right field but the Yankees answered with a four-run second.  Caballero homered down the left field line by hitting Povich’s first-pitch fastball. Following a two-out double by Trent Grisham and a walk by Paul Goldschmidt, Rice hammered a 1-0 slider into the right field seats.  It was Rice’s 11th homer, one behind Judge for the team lead. It also was the first baseman’s seventh in the past 14 games and fifth off a left-handed pitcher this season.  Warren retired 12 straight until Alonso walked with one out in the seventh. After Samuel Bassallo singled and took second on Grisham’s error in center field, Fernando Cruz came in and allowed a run-scoring groundout to Dylan Beavers before finishing the inning.  Camilo Doval and Jake Bird pitched an inning apiece to close out the win.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Ben #Rice #3run #backs #Warren #Yankees #beat

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