AFC playoff picture shows the Bills path to make the postseason: Here's how

Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired. Fans called for head coach Sean McDermott to be canned. The Buffalo Bills were left for dead.

Buffalo can still win the AFC East and has nearly a 50-50 shot at making the playoffs after a wacky week in the AFC.

The Bills had a 15% chance at the postseason following an overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12. That jumped to 22% following their Week 13 bye week. Their postseason odds are now at 49% after holding on for a 20-17 road victory against the Kansas City Chiefs.

They can partially thank backup quarterbacks turned starters Bailey Zappe, Zach Wilson, Jake Browning and Will Levis:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers lost 21-18 to New England Patriots and gave up three touchdowns to Bailey Zappe.

• The Houston Texans lost 30-6 to the New York Jets and allowed a 300-yard passing day from Zach Wilson.

• The Indianapolis Colts lost 34-14 to the Jake Browning-led Cincinnati Bengals.

• The Miami Dolphins imploded on Monday Night Football and yielded 327 yards passing to Will Levis in a 28-27 loss.

Buffalo is still seeded No. 11 because it loses the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals. The second tiebreaker is record within the conference: the Bills (4-5) are behind the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4), Indianapolis Colts (5-4) and Houston Texans (4-4).

Here's the good news: If the Bills win out, they're in the playoffs.

AFC playoff picture after Week 14

These are the current AFC standings. The top seven seeds make the playoffs.

1. Baltimore Ravens: 10-3, 1st AFC North

2. Miami Dolphins: 9-4, 1st AFC Est

3. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-5, 1st AFC West

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-5, 1st AFC South

5. Cleveland Browns: 8-5, 2nd AFC North

6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-6, 3rd AFC North

7. Indianapolis Colts: 7-6, 2nd AFC South

8. Houston Texans: 7-6, 3rd AFC South

9. Denver Broncos: 7-6, 2nd AFC West

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 7-6, 4th AFC North

11. Buffalo Bills: 7-6, 2nd AFC East

12. Los Angeles Chargers: 5-8, 3rd AFC West

13. Las Vegas Raiders: 5-8, 4th AFC West

14. New York Jets: 5-8, 3rd AFC East

15. Tennessee Titans: 5-8, 4th AFC South

16. New England Patriots: 3-10, Eliminated

Buffalo Bills schedule 2023: Games remaining

• Week 15: Sun. Dec. 17, vs. Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.

• Week 16: Sat. Dec. 23, at Chargers, 8 p.m.

• Week 17: Sun. Dec. 31, vs. Patriots, 1 p.m.

• Week 18: Sun. Jan. 7, at Dolphins, TBD

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills playoff chances increase in AFC standings after Week 14