The Buffalo Bills defeated the Denver Broncos convincingly, 48-19, during the Week 15 slate of NFL games to improve to 11-3, all while winning their first AFC East divisional title since “Wonderwall” was a hit.
With another loss this week by a previous opponent for the Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo is currently in possession of the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture as well. As the second-place team, that brings the No. 1 crew to the forefront for many in Buffalo: The Kansas City Chiefs.
Could these two teams be on a collision course for a rematch in the AFC Championship game? In terms of the standings and power rankings alike, it’s looking like they could be.
With that, here’s a rundown of where the Bills sit in the national power rankings polls following Week 15:
USA Today
3. Bills (4)
QB Josh Allen spreads wealth nicely, Buffalo’s 13 players with TD grabs tying league record … though one of those scores belongs to Allen himself.
Touchdown Wire
3. Buffalo Bills
(11-3. Last Week: 3)
The Buffalo Bills last secured the AFC East in 1995. Back then, you would have been reading this through either America Online or Prodigy, as that was the first year the internet became fully privatized and those two companies released web browsers to the general public. Bill Clinton was President of the United States, and Jim Kelly was taking the snaps for the Bills.
Of course, that changed this weekend. With their win on Saturday over the Denver Broncos, the Bills earned the AFC East title, dethroning the New England Patriots.
Sure, there is time to talk about how Buffalo might be the most dangerous team in the AFC right now. Time to talk about how the defense has improved in recent weeks to become the unit most were expecting to see when this year began. Time to talk about what the acquisition of Stefon Diggs has meant to this offense and its quarterback. And of course time to talk about that quarterback, Josh Allen, and what his growth and development this season means for the organization, the future in Buffalo and how quarterbacks will be evaluated in years to come.
But for now, from someone who grew up a Patriots fan: Congratulations Bills, and to all the Bills fans out there.
Sports Illustrated
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Last week: Win at Denver 48–19
Next week: at New England (Mon.)Josh Allen’s all grown up, and so is this Bills group—and it’s no mistake they’re here. Four years of building has manifested in an AFC power that looks like it could be Kansas City’s long-term foil in the conference.
NFL.com
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Previous rank: No. 4
When you haven’t won a division title since “Wonderwall” was on the charts, you don’t go in through the back door. The Bills announced themselves as AFC East champions with authority, bludgeoning the Broncos in a 48-19 coronation at Mile High. Josh Allen accounted for four more touchdowns in his latest superstar-level performance, while the rising Buffalo defense continued its December surge. Buffalo piled up 534 yards of total offense, led by playmaking wideouts Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley, who will soon become the first Bills receivers to go over 1,000 yards in the same season since Peerless Price and Eric Moulds back in 2002. The Bills are a rising tidal wave headed for the great wall that is the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sporting News
3. Buffalo Bills 11-3 (3)
The Bills are locked in offensively because of Josh Allen doing everything well again. For a second straight game, their defense played off that prowess to make big plays to finish off teams. They have developed as the best AFC threat to the Chiefs.
Pro Football Talk
2. Buffalo Bills (No. 2; 11-3)
If anyone from The Field is going to beat the Chiefs, it’s the Bills.
Yahoo! Sports
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3, LW: 3)
The Bills get a small bump up the power rankings, not because of the Packers but because Buffalo continued to get better as the season goes on. This is an impressive team without one bad loss all season.
CBS Sports
3. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
They are flying high on offense now. The Bills have already won the AFC East, which is the first time since 1996. They will be dangerous come playoff time.
Bleacher Report
3. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
High: 3
Low: 3
Last Week: 3
Week 15 Result: Won vs. Denver 48-19
The last time the Buffalo Bills were champions of the AFC East, Bill Clinton was in his first term as president. The top grossing movie that year was Batman Forever (the Val Kilmer one). The highest-selling album was Cracked Rear View by Hootie and the Blowfish. Bills quarterback Josh Allen wasn’t even born yet.
In other words: 1995 was a long time ago.
Twenty-five years later, the Bills are kings of the division once again after blasting the Broncos in Denver. But as Allen told his teammates after the game, the Bills have their sights set higher than just an AFC East title.
“We did something that nobody’s done in a long time,” Allen told reporters. “Understand what’s at stake, though. Understand what there is out there more for us. This hat’s fine and dandy. This hat and shirt’s fine and dandy. I want the one that says Super Bowl champs.”
Given that the Bills are playing arguably their best football of the season as the postseason nears. Allen’s aspiration isn’t unreasonable.
ESPN
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Week 15 Ranking: 3
Most underrated star: WR Cole Beasley
While most of the focus on the Bills’ wide receiver corps has deservedly been on Stefon Diggs, Beasley has put together the best season of his career. He has set personal highs in receptions, yards and yards per catch, and with two games left, he is just 50 yards from his first 1,000-yard season. Beasley is a safety net for quarterback Josh Allen, and this offense would have a difficult time moving the ball without him — even with Diggs’ spectacular numbers.
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