The Buffalo Bills visit the New England Patriots Thursday night in a game that has serious playoff implications for the 2022 NFL season. With just two games separating the entire AFC East, there are realistic scenarios that give all four teams a chance to win the division.

The Miami Dolphins and Bills share the same 8-3 record atop the division. Buffalo is in second place because of its Week 3 loss in Miami. The New York Jets are 7-4 and a game out of first place. The New England Patriots sit in last place at 6-5.

The Bills are the AFC's No. 5 seed and atop the wild-card standings. The Patriots are the No. 8 seed and the first team in the conference that is out of the Week 13 playoff picture.

A loss Thursday night for the Patriots would significantly lower the team's chances of winning the AFC East. A victory over Buffalo, on the other hand, would put New England in position to potentially pass the Bills in the standings.

The Patriots have a 2-1 record within the division, having already swept their season series with the Jets after suffering a Week 1 loss in Miami. The Bills have suffered losses against the Dolphins and Jets. If Buffalo is upset by New England Thursday, the Bills will be 0-3 in the division and in danger of losing important playoff tiebreakers.

Buffalo is favored by just north of a field goal in New England. The Bills beat the Patriots on the road in a key Week 16 matchup that ultimately decided the AFC East championship.

The Jets are underdogs against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. A win for the Patriots and a loss for New York in Week 13 would put the Jets in last place.

The Dolphins are road underdogs against the San Francisco 49ers in their upcoming matchup. If Buffalo wins and Miami loses, the Bills will move into sole possession of first place.

New England and Buffalo split their two meetings during the 2021 regular season. The Bills blew out the Patriots 47-17 on Wild-Card Weekend in a game that was even more one-sided than the final score indicated. Josh Allen completed 21-of-25 passes for 308 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Bills to a commanding 27-3 lead by halftime.

The Bills defeated the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. New England came up short against Minnesota in their holiday game.

Odafe Oweh, Josh Allen
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after being hit by Odafe Oweh #99 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. Patrick Smith/Getty Images