Buffalo Bills defeat Kansas City Chiefs to remain in AFC and Super Bowl picture

This season has been up and down for the Buffalo Bills. They are currently a 7-6 team and still in the hunt for a playoff spot. With four tough games remaining on their schedule, the Bills have a chance to make the playoffs and go on a run. The sportsbooks are not counting them out. They still have decent odds to win the AFC title and the Super Bowl this year.

Bills defeat Chiefs to keep playoff hopes alive

The Buffalo Bills defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-17 in Kansas City on Sunday. The ending of this game was one of the most dramatic endings of the season and a great example why sports betting is so tricky. The Chiefs should have been up 20-24 with about a minute to go in the game. The Bills would have needed to score a touchdown with less than a minute and a half left in the game if not for an offsides penalty on Kadarius Toney that erased one of the most spectacular touchdowns of the year. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney scored a touchdown after catching a lateral from Travis Kelce. The touchdown was called back because Toney was offside. 

KADARIUS TONEY ROBBED US OF GREATNESSpic.twitter.com/M17qkvgL0h

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 11, 2023

Thanks to the win, the Bills are now 7-6 and second in the AFC East division. They are only behind the division leading Miami Dolphins. The AFC playoff race is extremely tight. Six AFC teams have a 7-6 record: the Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals. Their upcoming schedule is tough, but the Bills are still in the playoff hunt. 

Bills in top 5 to win AFC championship

The Bills currently hold the 11 spot in the AFC, but they have the fourth best odds to win the AFC title on BetRivers. The Bills have +900 odds. They are one spot behind the +325 Chiefs. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are the betting favourites with +225 odds. The Dolphins have the second best odds at +225. The Bills lost four of their last seven games, but their win over the Chiefs proves that they can still compete with the best teams in the league and they have not given up on the season.

If the Bills can find a way to make the playoffs, they could be dangerous. They have one of the highest ranked offences and defences in the league, ranking in the top 10 for fewest points allowed and points scored this season. All their losses were close games. They have lost six games so far by a combined 24 points, losing games by an average of four points. If the Bills start clicking and figure out how to close games consistently, this team will be tough to beat in the playoffs.

Bills not out of the Super Bowl picture

Although the Bills have a couple of tough games left, outlined above, their schedule might be an advantage if they can sneak into the playoffs. From week 12 on, they would have played against the Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, and Dolphins once the playoffs begin. Four of those teams are Super Bowl contenders and the Bills will almost certainly have to go through at least one or two of them to win the Super Bowl.

The San Francisco 49ers are currently the betting favourites to win the Super Bowl on BetMGM. They have +260 odds. The Bills eighth best odds at +2000. A Super Bowl title is still not out of the realm of possibility even though this season has been a bit disappointing for the Bills thus far. The Bills are worth considering because they have enough talent to beat pretty much any team in the AFC. Two of the biggest concerns are whether or not the Bills can close games and if they will be able to make the playoffs. If the answer is yes for both, the Bills are a solid pick at +2000 because the playoffs are one and done. The Ravens have the second best odds to win the Super Bowl at +600, the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Dolphins are tied for third at +700.