Buffalo Bills Out of Playoff Picture After Loss to Cincinnati Bengals

At 5-4 with eight games left to play, the Buffalo Bills need to find their stride sooner than later.

Few teams have had higher expectations in recent years than the Buffalo Bills. They've earned the right to have that high standard after winning the AFC East in three straight seasons. 

But after a 24-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Paycor Stadium, the Bills are now 5-4 in a crowded AFC. Buffalo has already lost more games in the regular season than it did last season, and its hopes of a fifth straight playoff appearance appear more bleak than it has been at this point of the year in the last four seasons.

Josh Allen turned in a solid performance, completing 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Allen was also the Bills' leading rusher, running the ball eight times for 44 yards and a touchdown. Stefon Diggs caught Allen's lone touchdown pass and had six catches for 86 yards against Cincinnati (5-3).

The Bills' defense was decimated by more injuries in the loss to the Bengals. Linebacker Terrel Bernard left the game with a concussion and safety Micah Hyde was taken out twice due to two different injuries. Buffalo is already without linebacker Matt Milano, cornerback Tre'Davious White and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones for the season due to injuries. 

If the season were to end today, Buffalo would be out of the playoff picture. With eight games left in the season, the Bills are currently the ninth-best team record-wise in the conference so there isn't a reason to fret. The odds that a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) makes the playoffs after being out-gained in every game they've played in this season appear slim at best.

But if the Bills are going to slide into a playoff spot, they'll have to play their best football against a brutal schedule to round out the season. 

The combined record of the teams Buffalo plays in its final eight games is 38-28. The slate of games includes the top seeds in each conference, with the Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) and Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) in back-to-back games on the road. 

The Buffalo Bills' upcoming opponents have a combined winning percentage of .576 / © Katie Stratman, USA TODAY

They'll also have to face the New York Jets, who beat the Bills 22-16 in the first game of the season and the Dallas Cowboys (5-3), who are one of the best teams in football.

Even the Denver Broncos (3-5), New England Patriots (2-7) and Los Angeles Chargers (3-4), opponents that Buffalo should be a clear favorite against, are far from a sure thing. The Broncos will be coming off of a bye week and just beat the Chiefs heading into the Monday Night Football matchup against Buffalo on Nov. 13, while the Patriots already beat the Bills 29-25 on Oct. 22. 

Justin Herbert and the Chargers are capable of giving anyone trouble, and the Bills' Week 18 matchup against the Miami Dolphins (6-3) could decide who wins the AFC East or sneaks into the playoffs with the final Wild Card spot. 

With the ebbs and flows of a season, things can change on a dime, and Buffalo could find itself in a playoff spot by next week. But if the Bills are going to avoid being on the outside looking in by the time the playoffs roll around, they'll need to play their best to weather a brutal stretch to close the season.