Bills playoff schedule: Buffalo earns No. 2 seed and will host the Dolphins
The Buffalo Bills ensured they won't have to play in Kansas City in the postseason for a third straight year. They also won't face a true road game in the playoffs.
If the Bills and Chiefs meet in the AFC Championship, it will be held at a neutral site.
Buffalo secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC with an emotional 35-23 season sweep over New England to knock the Patriots out of playoff contention.
The Bills entered Sunday with a chance at the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the conference after the NFL amended its postseason format following the cancellation of the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals game in Week 17. The win was crucial for Buffalo to get the second seed because the Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens.
Buffalo's season has ended two years in a row at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, a 38-24 loss in the AFC Championship two years ago and a 42-36 overtime heartbreaker in the Divisional Round last season. Here is a breakdown for Week 18:
Here is a breakdown of Week 18:
Who do the Bills play in the AFC playoffs?
Buffalo (13-3) will host the No. 7 seed Miami Dolphins (9-8) at 1 p.m. Sunday in the wild-card round.
When is the Bills-Dolphins wild-card playoff game?
Kickoff is 1 p.m. on Sunday at Highmark stadium. The game will air nationally on CBS.
How did the Miami Dolphins make the playoffs?
The Dolphins locked up the seventh and final playoff berth thanks in part to the Bills.
Entering Sunday, the No. 7 seed could've gone to the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins or Pittsburgh Steelers. New England had the inside track and was in with a win. Miami needed to win coupled with a New England loss.
Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders booted a 50-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter in an 11-6 win over the New York Jets. A few minutes later, the Patriots were bounced by the Bills.
Pittsburgh defeated the Cleveland Browns, 28-14, and would have gotten the No. 7 seed had the Dolphins lost. The Steelers (9-8) are the only AFC team with a winning record to miss the playoffs.
What are the scenarios for the AFC Championship Game at a neutral site?
The NFL is determining the AFC seeds based on winning percentage because the Bills and Bengals played one less regular season game than the rest of the league.
This is the only scenario that could result in a neural site:
A Bills-Chiefs AFC championship would be played at a neutral site.
Which neutral site would host the AFC Championship?
The NFL has not announced where a neutral AFC Championship would be held, if necessary.
The city of Indianapolis reportedly turned down the NFL to host the game because a national volleyball tournament is already scheduled at Lucas Oil Stadium.
More:Why doesn't NFL have playoff scenario putting potential Bills-Bengals rematch at neutral site?
AFC playoff picture
Clinched Playoffs
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3): Clinched AFC West
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3): Clinched AFC East
3. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4): Clinched AFC North
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8): Clinched AFC South
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6): Second in AFC West
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-7): Second in AFC North
7. Miami Dolphins (9-8): Second in AFC East
Eliminated
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8)
New England Patriots (8-9)
Tennessee Titans (7-10)
New York Jets (7-10)
Cleveland Browns (7-10)
Las Vegas Raiders (6-11)
Denver Broncos (5-12)
Houston Texans (3-13-1)
Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1)
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills earn No. 2 seed and will host Miami Dolphins in playoffs
