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Updated AFC Playoff picture, AFC Wild Card standings after Bills beat Chiefs

By Josh Hill

Oct 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) defends during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) defends during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Let’s check the pulse on the AFC Playoff Picture and AFC Wild Card standings after the Buffalo Bills defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6. 

We’re only six weeks into the season but the NFL Playoff Picture is starting to take shape.

There’s still plenty of football left to play this year, but fans were gifted a playoff-caliber showdown in Kansas City between the Bills and Chiefs. It was a heavyweight fight, one that Buffalo came out on top in.

It’s only October but the win will likely have massive playoff implications moving forward.

Buffalo’s win means they hold an all-important tiebreaker over Kansas City. If things continue the way they’re going now, the AFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to these two teams, and Buffalo now essentially has a Get Out Of Jail Free card. Buffalo can breathe easy knowing it can afford to lose another game this season and still control the No. 1 seed, where the Chiefs now need Buffalo to lose twice while winning out themselves to claim the top spot in the conference.

With that said, the runway on the season is long. Buffalo all of a sudden has tough divisional matchups with the Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots left while Kansas City gets a bafflingly lackluster Broncos team twice, a Raiders team they’ve already beaten once, and the injured Chargers left on their divisional slate.

A massive piece of the AFC Playoff Picture was placed after Week 6’s game in Kansas City.

Note: This will be updated after the Week 5 slate concludes on Monday night with Chiefs vs. Raiders. 

Updated AFC Playoff Picture after Week 6

Here’s what the AFC playoff bracket would look like if the postseason started today:

  1. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
  2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-2)
  3. Tennessee Titans (3-2)
  4. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
  5. New York Jets (4-2)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
  7. Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1)

Based on those standings, here’s what the playoff matchups would look like for the first weekend of action:

  • (2) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (7) Indianapolis Colts
  • (3) Tennessee Titans vs. (6) Los Angeles Chargers
  • (4) Baltimore Ravens vs. (5) New York Jets

AFC Wild Card standings after Week 6

More happened in the AFC than the Bills-Chiefs showdown. In the shadow of that colossal matchup, the Jets went into Lambeau Field and destroyed the Packers to reach 4-2 and firmly place themselves in the Wild Card hunt.

For now, here’s what the Wild Card standings look like after Week 6:

5th Seed: New York Jets (4-2)
6th Seed: Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
7th Seed: Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1)

On The Bubble
Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
Miami Dolphins (3-3)
New England Patriots (3-3)
Denver Broncos (2-3)

In The Hunt
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4)
Cleveland Browns (2-4)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
Houston Texans (1-3-1)
Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)

AFC Playoff Picture Tiebreaker Scenarios

With so many teams tied in the standings, a handful of tiebreakers come into play based on various factors related to the schedule.

  • Ravens win the tiebreaker over Cincinnati based on head-to-head win percentage.
  • Bengals hold the tiebreaker Miami based on head-to-head win percentage.
  • Dolphins hold a tiebreaker over New England based on head-to-head win percentage.
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