Bills can lock up a playoff spot. Here’s who to root for this weekend

The Buffalo Bills spent last week getting close. This week, they can finish the job.

Buffalo's comeback win against the New England Patriots in Week 15 kept them alive for the AFC East title and nearly locked up a postseason berth.

Buffalo can clinch a playoff spot in Week 16 with a win and either a Houston Texans loss or an Indianapolis Colts loss. Doing so would give the Bills breathing room down the stretch and keep pressure on the Patriots in the division race.

Here’s who Bills fans should root for in Week 16.

Bills (10-4) at Browns (3-11), Sunday 1 p.m.

Who to root for: Bills

Buffalo must win or tie to activate any clinching scenario. A victory keeps the Bills firmly in the playoff field and opens the door to locking up a spot before the final two weeks.

Chargers (10-4) at Cowboys (6-7-1), Sunday 1 p.m.

Who to root for: Cowboys

Los Angeles is the No. 5 seed, just ahead of Buffalo at No. 6. A Chargers loss would help Buffalo climb the standings and improve seeding. The Chargers currently own the tiebreaker over the Bills due to a better conference record.

Raiders (2-12) at Texans (9-5), Sunday 4:25 p.m.

Who to root for: Raiders

Houston sits just behind Buffalo in the wild-card race and owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. A Texans loss, combined with a Bills win, would secure Buffalo’s playoff spot before Sunday night.

Patriots (11-3) at Ravens (7-7), Sunday 8:20 p.m.

Who to root for: Ravens

The Bills remain alive in the AFC East race. A Patriots loss would give Buffalo more margin for error over the final two weeks. A Patriots loss to a division opponent — the Dolphins or Jets — is more important in the final two weeks.

49ers (10-4) at Colts (8-6), Monday 8:15 p.m.

Who to root for: 49ers

Indianapolis is the other team that can block Buffalo from sealing a playoff spot this week. If the Bills win on Sunday and the Colts lose on Monday, the Bills would secure a playoff berth. Philip Rivers, 44, will start his second straight game for Indianapolis.

Jaguars (10-4) at Broncos (12-2), Sunday, 4:05 p.m.

Who to root for: Jaguars

Denver holds the No. 1 seed in the AFC but there's still a chance Buffalo could pass the Broncos.

Other games with indirect impact

These games don’t affect AFC playoff standings directly, but SOS/SOV effects matter. Each of these matchups provides slight boosts to Buffalo’s strength-of-victory or hurts the SOV of other AFC contenders.

Rams (11-3) at Seahawks (11-3), Thursday, 8:15 p.m.

Who to root for: Toss-up

UPDATE: Seattle wins, 38-37

Eagles (9-5) at Commanders (4-10), Saturday, 5 p.m.

Who to root for: Eagles

Packers (9-4-1) at Bears (10-4), Saturday, 8:20 p.m.

Who to root for: Toss-up

Buccaneers (7-7) at Panthers (7-7), Sunday, 1 p.m.

Who to root for: Buccaneers

Jets (3-11) at Saints (4-10), Sunday, 1 p.m.

Who to root for: Jets

Vikings (6-8) at Giants (2-12), Sunday, 1 p.m.

Who to root for: Toss-up

Chiefs (6-8) at Titans (2-12). Sunday, 1 p.m.

Who to root for: Chiefs

Bengals (4-10) at Dolphins (6-8), Sunday, 1 p.m.

Who to root for: Toss-up

Falcons (5-9) at Cardinals (3-11), Sunday, 4:05 p.m.

Who to root for: Toss-up

Steelers (8-6) at Lions (8-6), Sunday, 4:25 p.m.

Who to root for: Toss-up

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills’ rooting interests Week 16: How Buffalo can clinch playoffs