Buffalo Bills playoff picture: What Week 15 vs. Patriots means for AFC standings

The Buffalo Bills won an important AFC matchup on Sunday to keep the New England Patriots from clinching the AFC East. The fight is far from over, but the Bills need some help from the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets.

Elsewhere, the Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated at the picture comes further into focus.

The Denver Broncos clinched the first playoff spot in the AFC and moved into first place after their win. The Jacksonville Jaguars are third after winning on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Chargers beat the Chiefs to stay in fifth place, a tiebreaker ahead of the Bills. The Houston texans are a game behind Buffalo in seventh and the Indianapolis Colts to fall a game back of the Texans.

The Bills can clinch a playoff spot in Week 16.

AFC standings during Week 15

The Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals were both eliminated from the AFC playoff race on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers play the Dolphins on Monday night.

1. Denver Broncos (12-2)*
2. New England Patriots (11-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4, 8-2 AFC)
6. Buffalo Bills (10-4, 7-3 AFC)
7. Houston Texans (9-5)
8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
10. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
11. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) -e
12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) -e
13. New York Jets (3-11) -e
14. Cleveland Browns (3-11) -e
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) -e
16. Tennessee Titans (2-12) -e

* – Clinched a playoff spot
e- Eliminated from the playoffs

AFC East standings during Week 15

The New England Patriots would have clinched a division win on Sunday if they had beaten the Bills. Instead, that will have to wait. The New York Jets continued to look terrible and the Miami Dolphins play in prime time.

1. New England Patriots (11-3)
2. Buffalo Bills (10-4)
3. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
4. New York Jets (3-11)

The Jets and Dolphins were previously eliminated from the AFC East race.