Buffalo Bills Week 8 rooting interests

The Buffalo Bills play football this weekend, fresh off their bye week. The last time we saw them on a field it sure didn’t look look great. But that was Week 6, and this is Week 8, and we’re going to

hope for a fresh start and getting our football world back on its axis.

Right now, the Bills are the AFC’s five seed and a half game (plus a tie breaker) out of first place in the AFC East. That’s not something any of us had on our Bingo cards back in September. But that doesn’t mean they can’t climb back to the top of the AFC East with things falling into place over the next couple of weeks.

So, with all that in mind, here’s a look at what the standings look like before we begin a weekend full of big games.  

AFC East 

1. New England Patriots (5-2) 
2. Buffalo Bills (4-2) 
3. Miami Dolphins (1-6)
4. New York Jets (0-7)  

AFC Playoff Picture heading into Week 8

1. Indianapolis Colts (6-1)
2. New England Patriots (4-2)
3. Denver Broncos (5-2)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
5. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (now 5-3) 
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
8. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
10. Houston Texans (2-4)
11.  Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) 
12. Cleveland Browns (2-5)
13. Baltimore Ravens (1-5)
14. Miami Dolphins (1-6) 
15. Tennessee Titans (1-6)
16. New York Jets (0-7) 

The Chiefs are creeping their way closer to a playoff spot but still have two division rivals ahead of them. The Bengals took a big step toward righting their ship behind Joe Flacco while they wait for December when it’s thought that Joe Burrow will return. Everyone below them in the standings is a rapidly sinking ship, so we need to hope that the Bills stay above that line at the same time as rooting against those who threaten to raise the bar.

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AFC East Week 8 Bills rooting interests

Buffalo Bills (2-4) over Carolina Panthers (4-3), Sunday 1 p.m. EDT (Fox) 

This one goes without saying, but root for the Bills… in a big way. A big, dominant win would do a lot to boost morale — both in the locker room and among Bills Mafia. Nothing has been easy for Buffalo this season, and this one is not likely to be any different — but we can hope. If the Bills’ offense can return to the efficient juggernaut they were last season, they could start putting games away.

The Panthers have no idea who’s going to be their quarterback on Sunday. Bryce Young suffered an ankle injury last week and was replaced by Andy Dalton. High ankle injuries usually indicate a couple weeks out of the lineup so it was assumed it would be Dalton under center this week. But now, the Panthers are hinting that they want to see if they can get Young out there. How mobile will be be?

Will the Bills’ defensive line come to life behind the additions of Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht who will both make their debut in the red, white, and blue after starting their tenures in Buffalo on the league’s suspended list? Let’s hope that the answers to all our questions are coming up yes. Go Bills!

Atlanta Falcons (3-3) over Miami Dolphins (1-6), Sunday 1 p.m. EDT (CBS) 

At some point, we’re going to have to start rooting for the Dolphins just so that they don’t get a great draft spot in April. That point is not this weekend.

It’s highly doubtful that they’re going to turn this season around and make a run for a playoff spot. Instead, it looks as though they are self-destructing and it’s just a matter of time before owner owner Stephen Ross pushes the panic button and sends Mike McDaniel home.

New York Jets (0-7) over Cincinnati Bengals (3-4), Sunday 1 p.m. EDT (CBS)

Sure, the Jets could go on a 10-game win streak and make the playoffs. But they won’t. Yes, we haven’t quite reached the halfway mark of the NFL season — my usual, self-imposed rule for when it’s okay to root for the division rivals.

But the Bengals found new life last week, and it would be nice to put some distance between them and our Bills. So, break the rules: “J-E-T-S, Jets!”

Cleveland Browns (2-5) over New England Patriots (5-2), Sunday 1 p.m. EDT (FOX)

The Patriots are currently the AFC East’s leaders, and New England fans think quarterback Drake Maye is the second coming of Tom Brady. The Bills need to do their part to silence all that noise coming from the east, and the Browns could do a neighbor a favor by winning this week.

A Buffalo win coupled with a New England loss would make the division leaderboard look the way we know it was meant to be.

Week 8 games that impact the Bills

Minnesota Vikings (3-3) over Los Angeles Chargers (4-3), Thursday 8:15 p.m. EDT (Prime Video)

Final: Chargers 37, Vikings 10

Now 5-3, the Chargers are a half game behind the Bills in the AFC’s pecking order. They are ahead of the Chiefs, which is where we would like them to stay. But we are (obviously) going to root for a Kansas City loss Monday night too. So, rooting against the Chargers early was key to making sure that the Bills get the best playoff position possible.

Dallas Cowboys (3-3-1) over Denver Broncos (5-2), Sunday 4:25 p.m. EDT (CBS) 

Just like with the Chargers above, the Broncos are ahead of the Chiefs. In fact, they are currently leading the AFC West. But they are also ahead of the Bills, and even if everything in the East goes Buffalo’s way, a Denver win would keep them there.
As such, a Denver loss coupled with a New England loss and a Bills win would propel the Bills up to the two seed instead of the four.

Tennessee Titans (1-6) over Indianapolis Colts (6-1), Sunday 4:25 p.m. EDT (CBS) 

This post is about what we want to happen, right? While it seems impossible, we can dream. A Colts loss won’t move them out of the conference’s one seed position, but it would have them clinging to a half-game lead if everything else goes right, or tied with the Patriorts if it doesn’t.

Either way, the Bills won’t face them during the regular season, so help is going to be needed — might as well wish for it every week until we get it. So, for the second straight week … Titan Up!

Green Bay Packers (4-1-1) over Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2), Sunday 8:20 p.m. EDT (NBC) 

Pittsburgh is the AFC North leader. If everything goes Buffalo’s way this weekend, they won’t lose that title. But a Steelers’ loss coupled with a Denver loss, a New England loss, and a Bills win and the two seed is Buffalo’s.

Not much else needs to be said. After Bills Mafia gets done Shout!ing they can swap their chicken wing hats for cheese heads and get the “Go, Pack, Go” chants rolling.

Washington Commanders (3-4) over Kansas City Cheifs (4-3), Monday 8:15 p.m. EDT (ESPN)

You didn’t think the Chiefs were going to stay down forever did you? They’re creeping their way back toward the playoff picture. Yes, they have stayed at that “first loser” spot of just being left out of the postseason for a couple of weeks now, but they’re just one win plus a Chargers loss away from changing that.

So, yeah, I know it isn’t hard for you to do, root against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce every chance you get.

The rest of the NFL Week 8 Bills rooting interests  

Chicago Bears (4-2) over Baltimore Ravens (1-5)
San Francisco 49ers (5-2) over Houston Texans (2-4)
Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) over New York Giants (2-5)
New Orleans Saints (1-6) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)

Teams on Bye
Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks

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Optimistic AFC standings after Week 8 

So, if all the bounces go the Bills’ way and all the right teams win, this is what the standings in the AFC would look like on Tuesday morning:

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

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Now we know who to root for and, more importantly, who to root against, as we hope to see that the Bills have the train back on the right track in Orchard Park, NY.

Go Bills!