Yes, the Buffalo Bills lost to the New England Patriots this weekend. They are 4-1 and in second place in the AFC. But they are still sitting pretty all thing considered and in charge of their own destiny.
You can’t say the same for the other preseason favorites in the AFC.
The defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs lost on Monday night to fall to 2-3 on the year, a game back plus a tiebreaker in their own division. They control their own destiny to the AFC West crown, but the path looks more difficult
each week. The path gets no easier in Week 6 as they host the Detroit Lions.
The Baltimore Ravens fell to 1-4 after a dismal showing against the Texans this week. They have a laundry list of injuries and we don’t know when Lamar Jackson will be back or if that will be too late. The Cincinnati Bengals were 2-0 and on top of the world when Joe Burrow sprained his toe. They are 0-3 since and Burrow is still set to be out a long time. The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-1 despite being 25th in yards per play on offense and 26th in yards per play allowed on defense.
Then we come to the AFC South, where the Houston Texans were the preseason favorite. Their offensive line was always a question mark and they sit 2-3 heading into Week 6. The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars are tied atop the division at 4-1.
AFC playoff standings after Week 5
1. Indianapolis Colts (4-1, 4-0 AFC)
2. Buffalo Bills (4-1, 3-1 AFC)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
4. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1, (2-1 AFC)
6. Denver Broncos (3-2)
7. New England Patriots (3-2)
8. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
9. Houston Texans (2-3)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)
11. Las Vegas Raiders (1-4)
12. Baltimore Ravens (1-4)
13. Miami Dolphins (1-4)
14. Cleveland Browns (1-4)
15. Tennessee Titans (1-4)
16. New York Jets (0-5)
AFC East standings heading into Week 6
The only winless team in the NFL is the Jets, and they play the Broncos this week, who just knocked off the defending Super Bowl champs. Are we on 0-17 watch?
The struggling Miami Dolphins host the Los Angeles Chargers, and normally a West Coast team coming for a 1 PM Eastern kickoff could be grounds for a potential upset.
The 3-2 Patriots travel to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints, but the Saints just picked up their first win.
Meanwhile the Bills are in Atlanta for a Monday night game. The Falcons have had their bye week to get themselves turned around. We will see what they look like.
1. Buffalo Bills (4-1)
2. New England Patriots (3-2)
3. Miami Dolphins (1-4)
4. New York Jets (0-5)
