Entering Sunday's showdown against the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills' most likely first-round playoff opponent is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That's especially the case in the AFC, where there are two teams whose records stand out above the rest but who do not necessarily fit the traditional look of heavy favorites. Behind those teams (the Patriots and Broncos) is a group of eight squads that are fighting for five playoff spots -- two division titles and three wild cards.