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The Buffalo Bills are officially at the top of the mountain.
At least according to one national power ranking poll this week.
The Bills (12-3) defeated the New England Patriots in convincing fashion, 38-9, on Monday Night Football. The team is, of course, much more worried about playoff seeding than what a power ranking says about them.
The Bills will be no less than the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoff picture, but could very likely hold as the No. 2 seed with things are all said and done in the regular season. But nonetheless, it’s the type of thing that few ever imagined seeing and it happened.
As the team rides a five game-winning streak, here’s where they rank among national power ranking polls after Week 16:
USA Today
3. Bills (3)
AFC field shaping up so Josh Allen might face Patrick Mahomes in conference title game. How much fun would that gunslinger showdown be?
Touchdown Wire
3. Buffalo Bills
(12-3. Last Week: 3)
It’s like when Happy Gilmore learned to putt. But this season Josh Allen is starting to deliver some moments that leave you scratching your head and wondering how in the word you defend him. Whether it was a seam route throw to Dawson Knox against a spot-drop Cover 3 look that he fit in over the dropping linebacker and in front of the safety, or a scramble drill throw late into the front corner of the end zone that should have been a touchdown, or his touchdown late in the first half to Stefon Diggs that was put on the money, with perfect velocity while the QB had a defender in his face. Those moments where you just throw your notepad across the room and mutter “this freakin’ guy.”
Which is exactly what I did during the touchdown from Diggs.
Prior to the year the biggest question mark facing the Bills was the quarterback. Now? Now that might be their biggest strength.
Sports Illustrated
4. Buffalo Bills (12-3)
Last week: Win at New England 38–9
Next week: vs. MiamiSome say they had already clinched the AFC East, but it really took that pantsing of the Patriots in Foxboro, before a national audience, to really make it official.
Sporting News
3. Buffalo Bills 12-3 (3)
The Bills have taken care of the AFC East title and now need to tune up so they position themselves well between the Chiefs and Steelers to stay longer in the playoffs with Josh Allen.
Yahoo! Sports
2. Buffalo Bills (12-3, LW: 2)
Anyone else getting excited for a Bills-Chiefs AFC championship game? That could be a lot of fun.
Bleacher Report
3. Buffalo Bills 12-3
High: 3
Low: 3
Last Week: 3
Week 16 Result: Won vs. New England 38-9
Pro Football Talk
1. Bills (last week No. 2, 12-3)
Four resounding wins in four straight nationally-televised games shows that the Bills are ready to win multiple games in January.
ESPN
3. Buffalo Bills 12-3
Week 16 ranking: 2
New Year’s resolution: Get comfortable with a target on their back.
The Bills are a tough team to find a resolution for — they’re doing almost everything well as the regular season rounds out. But after winning the AFC East for the first time in 25 years, it’ll be hard to play the underdog card that Buffalo has often played the past two seasons. There will be raised expectations for the Bills once the calendar turns; they’ll need to be as comfortable with a target on their backs as they were with a chip on their shoulders.
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