Power rankings: Where the Bills rank heading into Week 16
The Buffalo Bills (11-3) head into Week 16 fresh off of a 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions.
Coming into the year, many were all over the place when ranking how the Bills stacked up against the rest of the league. But now it’s clear that they are one of the league’s best.
Here’s how the Bills fare in national media power rankings polls heading into Week 16:
USA Today
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They’ve scored at least 30 points in their past eight games – only the fifth team ever to manage that in a single season – while averaging 35 during that stretch. Per NFL Media, they’re also the only team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to score at least five touchdowns in three consecutive games without giving up any sacks or turnovers. The Bills play the Patriots twice and the Jets once over the final three weeks – which would suggest the AFC East champs will score a lot more points, wind up 14-3 and have a great shot at the conference’s No. 1 playoff seed – all while QB Josh Allen should produce another 12 TDs or so in the ongoing bid for his first league MVP award.
Bleacher Report
USA Today Sports
I still have concerns about Buffalo’s defense. However, with the way Josh Allen is playing and the way Joe Brady continues to get everyone involved, I believe the Bills offense can carry this team through three playoff games and into the Super Bowl. It may require flawless offensive play for that to happen, but it can happen, especially if Buffalo plays the majority of its playoff games at home.It’s hard to see Buffalo losing to the Patriots (who it’ll see twice) or the Jets over the final three weeks. The big question for the Bills is whether Kansas City can slip enough to hand hand them the No. 1 seed.
NFL.com
USA Today Sports
The Bills have now beaten the 13-1 Chiefs and the 12-2 Lions and have topped the 30-point mark for eight straight games. As is true of Detroit, but to a lesser degree, Buffalo’s season could end up hinging on how healthy the defense is when the playoffs roll around. The Bills also have a lot of work to do if they are to steal the top seed in the AFC to earn a first-round bye. Then again, there’s always the Josh Allen counterargument: that the quarterback might just be good enough to blowtorch opponents into submission, defense be damned. In two consecutive contests, the Bills’ D has been run over, with the secondary being in particularly rough shape. But Allen nearly brought Buffalo back the first time and never trailed in the second. He’s your MVP until further notice, and he might give the Bills the best chance to win a Super Bowl, now or ever.
The Athletic
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Sunday: Beat Detroit Lions 48-42MVP: Quarterback Josh AllenIn the last two weeks, Allen has 704 passing yards and five passing touchdowns, plus 150 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Buffalo has scored 90 points in those games. Allen’s 36 combined touchdowns are second in the league behind Lamar Jackson’s and Joe Burrow’s 37. Against the Rams in Week 14, he had more fantasy points than any player in NFL history (51.88). Every Buffalo opponent worries he will have that type of game against them, which is why he will also be the league MVP.
CBS Sports
USA Today Sports
Winning at Detroit against the Lions was a big statement game. The past two weeks have showed that to beat this team, you might need to score 40 or more. Josh Allen is the MVP right now.
ESPN
Imagn Images
Biggest improvement: Offensive cohesionEarly in the season, there were some lulls for the Bills’ offense. Quarterback Josh Allen needed time to get on the same page with new wide receivers. From Weeks 1 to 7, the Bills scored touchdowns on 31.5% of drives; they have since scored on 42.9% (first in the NFL) thanks to the play of Allen and a consistent offensive line. From Weeks 4 to 6, the offense scored 23 or fewer points in each game; the Bills have now tied an NFL record by scoring 30-plus points in eight straight. — Alaina Getzenberg
Read all the best Bills coverage at the Democrat and Chronicle and Bills Wire.
