Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and ChronicleFri, November 28, 2025 at 8:03 PM UTC·3 min readThe Buffalo Bills have 10 days to rest with a mini-bye. But their playoff hopes are getting restless.
Buffalo sits at 7-4, holding the AFC's final playoff spot entering Week 13. The Bills are one game ahead of the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers and don't own the tiebreaker over Houston.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA Bills loss to the Steelers on Sunday, combined with a win by the Texans, could drop Buffalo from the No. 7 seed to No. 9 in the AFC playoff picture.
Here’s who Bills fans should root for in Week 13.
Kansas City Chiefs (6–5) at Dallas Cowboys (5–5–1)
Who to root for: Cowboys
Update: Cowboys win, 31-28
Every Chiefs loss helps Bills fans in the standings and emotionally. Buffalo owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with Kansas City but the Chiefs are only a game behind the Bills in the wild-card standings. A Bills loss and Chiefs win would make both teams 7-5.
Cincinnati Bengals (3–8) at Baltimore Ravens (6–5)
Who to root for: Bengals
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUpdate: Bengals win, 31-14
If Baltimore wins the AFC North, Buffalo can’t use its head-to-head win as a tiebreaker. A Ravens loss pushes them back in the wild-card pack, where Buffalo holds the advantage.
Jacksonville Jaguars (7–4) at Tennessee Titans (1–10)
Who to root for: Titans
Jacksonville and Buffalo each have 7-4 records but the Jaguars own the tiebreaker with a better record in the conference.
Houston Texans (6–5) at Indianapolis Colts (8–3)
Who to root for: Colts
This is the biggest game for the Bills' playoff odds in Week 13. Houston owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Buffalo.
New Orleans Saints (2–9) at Miami Dolphins (4–7)
Who to root for: Toss-up
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis is a weird one. Miami is technically in the hunt for a playoff spot. But if the Dolphins lose and are eliminated from the postseason, they may not have much incentive down the stretch against the Steelers, Bengals and Patriots.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) at Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
Who to root for: Raiders
The Chargers are currently the No. 5 seed and have the same record as the Bills.
Denver Broncos (9-2) at Washington Commanders (3-8)
Who to root for: Commanders
Denver is leading the AFC West.
New York Giants (2-10) at New England Patriots (10-2)
If the Bills have a faint shot at the AFC East, New England needs to stumble. The Patriots have won nine straight games. New England can clinch the AFC East if it beats the Giants and sweeps the Bills in the season series in Week 15.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMatchups with indirect impact
These games don’t affect AFC standings directly, but SOS/SOV effects matter. Each of these matchups provides slight boosts to Buffalo’s strength-of-victory or hurts the SOV of other AFC contenders.
Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) at Detroit Lions (7-4): Root for Packers
Chicago Bears (8-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-3): Root for Eagles
San Francisco 49ers (8–4) at Cleveland Browns (3–8): Root for 49ers
Atlanta Falcons (4-7) at New York Jets (2-9): Root for Jets
Cardinals (3-8) at Buccaneers (6-5): Root for Buccaneers
Rams (9-2) at Panthers (6-6): Root for Panthers
Vikings (4-7) at Seahawks (8-3): Root for Seahawks
Teams on bye week
None.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills' rooting interests Week 13: Who to root for as playoff risk rises
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