Here is how the Buffalo Bills fared in national power rankings polls heading into Week 14 following their 14-10 loss to the New England Patriots:
USA TODAY
10. Bills (11): Prohibitive AFC East favorites in preseason, they’re suddenly on verge of falling out of playoff field – next game at Tampa – and not handling pressure well on the field or in their post-game press conferences.
Touchdown Wire
10. Buffalo Bills (7-5)
Last week: 7Things could have been different for the Bills against the Patriots had it been a normal game day. Ridiculous wind gusts made things anything but that, however, in a 14-10 loss, Buffalo clearly did not have good play in the trenches which is going to hurt them in the long run.
Sporting News
8. Buffalo Bills 7-5 (8)
The Bills smashed the Saints in Week 12 for a much-needed get-well game on the road before taking on the Patriots trap at home. Buffalo can still be a big-time threat in the AFC playoffs, but it would be a lot easier as a No. 1 seed than wild card.
Bleacher Report
7. Buffalo Bills (7-5)
Last Week: 6
Week 13 Result: Lost vs. New England 14-10
It’s getting harder and harder to figure out if the Buffalo Bills are a Super Bowl contender or not.
Granted, part of the blame for Monday’s loss to the rival Patriots can be blamed on ridiculous weather conditions. But the Bills bear their share as well. Despite knowing full well it was coming, the Bills had no answer for New England’s run game. Twice in the fourth quarter of a four-point game, Buffalo traveled into the red zone and came away empty.
Yes, these Bills went into Arrowhead and thumped the Chiefs back in Week 5. But ever since that game, Buffalo has alternated losses and wins. And since that win over the Chiefs, the Bills have lost to two teams (New England and Tennessee) who are inside the AFC bracket, and got blasted by a Colts team that’s just outside of it.
Never mind the Week 9 loss at Jacksonville.
Now, Buffalo’s backs are against the wall a bit—lose in Week 14, and the Bills will fall two back of the Patriots with a head-to-head loss.
And next up on the schedule is a trip to Tampa Bay to face the defending Super Bowl champions.
NFL.com
7. Buffalo Bills (7-5)
Previous rank: No. 6
A challenging Bills season reached new levels of frustration on Monday Night Football in the swirling winds of Orchard Park. The Patriots proved themselves to be the more physical team, repeatedly winning at the line of scrimmage even when the whole stadium knew Mac Jones’ primary job was to turn around and hand the ball off. Josh Allen made good use of his cannon arm, but he also missed key throws and presided over two fourth-quarter drives that stalled in the red zone and ultimately cost Buffalo a game it desperately needed. A rematch at Foxborough looms, but not before a date with Tom Brady and the Bucs. Gut-check time has arrived.
CBS Sports
7. Bills (-1)
They now look like they could be taking a wild card route. They just couldn’t stop the run against the Patriots. Now they face a tough road game against Tampa Bay.
Pro Football Talk
11. Bills (7-5, No. 9): They waited too long to throw caution, and footballs, to the wind.
Yahoo! Sports
9. Buffalo Bills (7-5, LW: 7)
It was hard to play football in Monday’s weather conditions. And the Bills still almost won in a tough game. But this is the truth: They’re a team just two games over .500 that is a game-and-a-half back in the AFC East and New England has the edge in the tiebreaker too. It’s hard to say this Bills season has been anything other than disappointing to this point.
ESPN
8. Buffalo Bills (7-5)
Previous ranking: 7Player who must step up: QB Josh Allen
The Bills’ ability to secure a top playoff seed and potentially make a Super Bowl relies on the whole team playing well, but the performance of Allen down the stretch will be vital. Turnovers have been an issue for Allen as of late — seven interceptions and two fumbles in the past five games — and while they are not all his fault, he needs to make better decisions with the football. Overall, Allen has had a solid season, but he and the offense need to take it to the next level to get where the Bills want to go.
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