Power Rankings: Unless you’re the Chiefs, you’re (probably) below the Bills

Power rankings polls following the Buffalo Bills in Week 14.

The Buffalo Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 26-15, on Sunday Night Football, during the Week 14 slate of NFL games and are now 10-3. The Bills inched closer to clinching a playoff spot. 

But really the focus isn’t on the Bills and Steelers in this week’s power rankings. Instead, it’s on the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. 

Aside from Buffalo, there’s only one team in the league that’s consistently ranked higher and it’s the Chiefs… and hey, that’s a conversation the Bills will gladly accept. You vs. the defending champ? What more could one want?

With that, here’s exactly how some of the national power ranking polls break down the Bills after Week 14: 

USA Today

4. Bills (5)

What a year from WR Stefon Diggs, who leads the league with 100 grabs and will set Buffalo record for one season – he currently shares it with Eric Moulds – with his next reception.

Touchdown Wire

3. Buffalo Bills

(10-3. Last Week: 5)

Don’t look now, but the Buffalo Bills might be the second-best team in the AFC.

They made such a case on Sunday night, dispatching the Pittsburgh Steelers and showing strength on both sides of the football. In the first half it was their defense. While Josh Allen and company were struggling the Bills notched a defensive touchdown on this Pick-Six.

In the second half, the offense made their mark. Buffalo scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter, and on their second such touchdown drive Allen hit on three big passing plays, including a rocket shot for a touchdown to Gabriel Davis.

With the win, the Bills ensured that for the first time since 2008 a team outside of New England will win the AFC East. Buffalo can lock the division up next Saturday with a win over the Denver Broncos. But with how they are playing right now – on both sides of the ball – their eyes should be aimed higher.

Sports Illustrated

3. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

Last week: Win vs. Pittsburgh 26–15
Next week: at Denver

Washington ruined Buffalo’s chance to hand Pittsburgh its first defeat of the season, but this was nonetheless a statement win for the Bills, who are closing in on what would be their first AFC East crown since 1995.

Sporting News

3. Buffalo Bills 10-3 (5)

Josh Allen is red-hot again and the Bills are showing all kinds of offensive swag, led by Stefon Diggs. Their defense is also starting to come up with big plays. Taking down the 49ers and Steelers back to back in a short week is impressive.

Yahoo! Sports

3. Buffalo Bills (10-3, LW: 5)

The Bills defense played its best game of the season on Sunday night. We all know that side of the ball has talent, and has probably underachieved a bit this season. If the performance against the Steelers was a sign that the Bills can play like a top-10 defense the rest of the way, look out.

Bleacher Report

3. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

High: 3

Low: 4

Last Week: 5

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Pittsburgh 26-15

At 10-3, the Buffalo Bills are on the verge of their first AFC East title in a quarter-century.

Sunday night’s statement win over the Pittsburgh Steelers established the Bills as perhaps the biggest threat to Kansas City in the AFC. The Bills are riding as high as they have since the 1990s.

It’s funny how that coincided with the arrival of Stefon Diggs in western New York.

With 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers, Diggs has already tallied 1,167 receiving yards on 100 catches for the season. After the game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen raved about the impact Diggs has made for the team.

“All he wants to do is help his team win football games,” Allen told reporters. “He’s a competitor, and we have very similar mindsets. I love the guy. He goes out there and competes his tail off and I’m just super blessed that we traded for him.”

The tests aren’t over yet for the Bills, who face New England and Miami over the final two weeks of the regular season. But in Gagnon’s opinion, it’s well past time to take the Bills seriously as a Super Bowl threat.

“For a while, I was afraid to trust the Bills because they lack experience and their so-so scoring margin was concerning,” he said. “But they’ve now won four of their last five games by double-digit margins, and their only loss since Week 7 came on a Hail Mary on the road against a playoff-caliber team. It’s time to admit they’re a true contender.”

Pro Football Talk

2. Bills (No. 4; 10-3)

Some teams step up in December. Some teams don’t. The Bills are.

ESPN

3. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

Offense: 9

Defense: 15

Special Teams: 18

The Bills’ offense is a complete turnaround from last season’s anemic unit, as Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs have combined to form one of the most potent QB-WR duos in the NFL. Although their defense began the season hemorrhaging yards, it has regained its 2018 and 2019 form over the past few weeks. Mix in a special-teams unit that features the league’s most efficient returner in Andre Roberts, and you’ve got a team ready to make a deep playoff run.

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