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Five reasons Buffalo Bills will make the playoffs

By Parker Hurley

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan looks over the field before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan looks over the field before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws a pass during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arrowhead Stadium. Tampa Bay won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws a pass during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arrowhead Stadium. Tampa Bay won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

1. AFC West

As of right now, if the Bills want to make the playoffs, they need an AFC West team to choke away a wild card spot. The Raiders are sitting atop of the division at 8-2, and just behind them are the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos, both at 7-3. However, all three of these teams have games against each other, and the war of attrition could begin to knock one of these teams down a peg or two as they face a tougher stretch of their schedule than before.

Kansas City still have two games against the Broncos on the schedule and have another date with the Raiders. They also have to go to San Diego to take on a talented Charger team waiting to play spoiler and have to go to Atlanta for a key game for both sides.

Denver will see Kansas City twice and Oakland once here on out. They also have the Patriots and back-to-back road games sandwiched between those three division games.

Oakland has the slim lead in the division but still have road trips to Kansas City and Denver ahead of them. They also have to go to San Diego for a tough match, and the Bills can make a game up on them by beating them in their head to head match in week 13.

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All three of these teams will face their biggest tests of the season down this stretch. Meanwhile, the Bills are getting healthy, playing stronger defense, running the ball well, and have an easier schedule. They currently sit two games back in the standings, but with over an entire month left in the season, this Bills team is hardly out of a potential playoff push this season.

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