The Bills had a strong showing in Week 14, even in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Heading into Week 15, national media outlets reflected the Bills’ strong showing in their weekly power rankings. It doesn’t appear the loss hurt the Bills all that much.
Here’s how Buffalo fell in various national media polls prior to Week 15:
USA Today
11. Bills (9)
They only need one more win to clinch second playoff berth in three years under Sean McDermott … but draw Steelers and Pats next two weeks.
Touchdown Wire
7. Buffalo Bills
(9-4. Last week: 7)
When the Eagles shut down Michael Vick in the 2004 NFC Championship game, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson did it with a mush-rush as opposing to crashing his ends down on the hypermobile quarterback, and asking his linebackers and safeties to spy gaps in the defense as opposed to spying Vick himself. Current Bills head coach Sean McDermott was Johnson’s assistant secondary coach at the time, and there were elements of the Vick plan in Buffalo’s attempts to at least slow Lamar Jackson down on Sunday. It didn’t work on the scoreboard — the Ravens won their ninth game in a row with a 24-17 final — but Jackson was limited to a point. He did throw three touchdown passes, but managed just 145 passing yards on 16 completions in 25 attempts, and had just 40 rushing yards on 11 attempts. McDermott’s team doesn’t have much time to brood over this missed opportunity. They have the Steelers and Patriots on the docket next — and that’s bad news for quarterback Josh Allen, who looked anything but consistent against Baltimore’s defense.
NFL.com
11. Bills (9-4)
Previous rank: No. 10
It was another near miss against a conference powerhouse, but moral victories only go so far at this time of year. Credit the Bills’ defense for an inspired effort, limiting Lamar Jackson to just 145 yards passing and less than 4 yards per rush (Jackson entered the game averaging over 7.0 yards per carry in his likely MVP season). The problem for Buffalo was the offense. The Bills’ attack entered Sunday averaging more than 400 yards per game over the previous three weeks. But moving the ball was a chore against a strong Ravens defense: Josh Allen fumbled twice (losing one) and had just 89 yards passing with 10 minutes to play. Even Buffalo’s march into the red zone in the final minutes was entirely aided by 56 yards of Ravens penalties. The defense did its part on Sunday — Allen and the offense took a step back.
Sports Illustrated
9. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
Previous rank: 9
Points in poll: 169
Highest-place vote: 4 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 11 (2 voters)
Last week’s result: Lost to Baltimore, 24-17
This week: at PittsburghMore proof the Bills aren’t messing around this season, but the offense couldn’t get out of its own way long enough to mount an effective comeback. Shaky outing from Josh Allen (17-of-39, 146 yards, TD, 62.6 rating) against a defense that put him on the ground six times and recovered one of his two fumbles, but none of his receivers got open often enough to generate more than 37 individual yards.
ESPN
10. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
Week 14 ranking: 10
Offense: 22nd
Defense: 8th
Special teams: 24thOn several occasions this season, the Bills’ defense held down the fort while Buffalo’s offense found its rhythm. Thanks to an improved pass rush and one of the NFL’s top secondaries, Buffalo is difficult to throw the ball against, allowing just 195 passing yards per game. The latest feather in its cap came this past week, when it held the Ravens’ league-best offense to just 225 yards in a 24-17 loss. Without its defense playing at an elite level, Buffalo would not be 9-4 with a shot at an AFC East title, given its struggles on offense and special teams.
Yahoo! Sports
9. Buffalo Bills (9-4, LW: 8)
The Bills still seem like a sure bet for the No. 5 seed, and they should probably be rooting for the Texans to get the No. 4 seed. Houston seems like an easier matchup than the Chiefs or Titans.
NBC Sports
12. Bills (9-4; No. 9):
A playoff berth could hinge on a Week 17 win against the Jets.
Bleacher Report
12. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
High: 10
Low: 13
Last Week: 10
Week 14 Result: Lost vs. Baltimore 24-17There’s no shame in losing to the Baltimore Ravens. Over the past two-plus months, that’s all teams have done when facing the Ravens.
But the Bills had a chance to silence some doubters Sunday—and they failed. In fact, they may have amplified the doubts that swirled around the team.
There were doubts as to whether Josh Allen could step up his game against a quality opponent. Against the Ravens, he did the opposite—managing just 17 completions on 39 attempts for 146 yards.
There were doubts as to whether the Bills could beat one of the league’s best teams. The Bills have now played only three teams that presently sport winning records—games in which Buffalo sits at 1-2.
The Bills are a good team. Barring a collapse in Week 17 against the New York Jets, Buffalo will win at least 10 games and probably make the playoffs. But Buffalo plays winning teams in each of the next two weeks in the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
If the team can’t at least get a split there, it will be awfully hard to see the Bills as more than a one-and-done team in the postseason.
Sporting News
9. Buffalo Bills, 9-4 (10)
The Bills move up because of their strong effort against the Ravens. Their defense contained Lamar Jackson, and unfortunately, Josh Allen couldn’t lift their offense enough in a tough matchup. They should have more confidence now, though, in their own chances to steal the division from the Patriots.
CBS Sports
9. Bills (9-4) -1
The offense wasn’t close to being good enough against the Ravens. But the defense showed it could play with any offense in limiting the Ravens.
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