It seems like just yesterday that the Buffalo Bills were preparing to kick off their 2024 campaign, an offseason of ridicule from national pundits and opposing fans fresh in their minds. We collectively wake up on November 25 with Week 13 of the season upon us, and the Bills – get this – are actually still good.

Buffalo is 9-2 heading into its Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, the AFC East firmly in its control and the AFC’s No. 1 seed within its reach. There are (somehow) only six games left in the 2024 season, and if the quality the Bills have displayed so far this year hasn’t given you confidence heading into the home stretch, their opposition in the final six weeks of the season should do so. Buffalo’s remaining roster, while boasting some talented opponents, isn’t extremely difficult on paper, as its six remaining opponents have a combined record of 29-39 through 12 weeks.

The team’s next opponent is San Francisco, who just lost 38-10 to the Green Bay Packers last weekend. Anyone who has watched football over the last two years can tell you that the 49ers are nothing to sneeze at, having been to the NFC Championship in four of the last five years; that said, they have been decimated by injuries this season (with quarterback Brock Purdy potentially sidelined for Week 13) and just don’t look like the team they once were. They are tied for last place in the NFC West through 12 weeks at 5-6, their record matching that of the Los Angeles Rams.

Speaking of the Rams, they’re the ones the Bills are visiting at SoFi Stadium in Week 14. They’re similar to San Francisco in that they’ve been competitive as of late (they won the Super Bowl LVI), but they were, once again, inconsistent. season. Victory should never be assumed when a team has to travel across the country, especially when you have to face Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford, but this too is a winnable game.

The Week 15 matchup between Buffalo and the Detroit Lions is not only the most important remaining game on its schedule, but it’s one of the most interesting matchups on the NFL’s overall slate. The Lions have been dominant since last season, with their 10-1 record currently tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for best in the league. This is a potential Super Bowl preview, and the eyes of the NFL world will be on Detroit on December 15.

The Bills close out their schedule with three divisional battles, two against the New England Patriots and one against the New York Jets. These teams are 3-8 and 3-9 respectively at this point, and neither should pose a threat to Buffalo; the Patriots are rebuilding and the Jets are the Jets.

A team’s schedule is never a complete indicator of its talent or ability, and any team can win a game on any given Sunday. That said, Buffalo’s remaining roster is pretty favorable, especially once they get past their next three games. You should never put the cart before the horse, but the team is in a good position to earn its first AFC seed this season since 1993, especially since it holds the tiebreaker against face against Kansas City.

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