The best time to strike in terms of the national power rankings polls is in primetime. That’s when all the eye are upon you.
On Monday Night Football in Week 13, the Bills (9-3) ceased on that opportunity. A 34-24 win over the 49ers (5-7), Buffalo’s first Monday win since 1999, gave fans and national analysts the same feeling, it appears.
This team is good.
Following their latest win, Buffalo sits securely in the top-five of pretty much every power ranking poll across the national NFL landscape.
Here’s a look at where the Bills sit among the national polls as they head into Week 14:
Touchdown Wire
5. Buffalo Bills
(9-3. Last Week: 5)
If nothing else, the second part of the Monday Night Football doubleheader gave us this memory to cherish forever.
It also gave us a solid win for the Buffalo Bills, who as ESPN’s graphics department illustrated for us remain alone in first place in the AFC East for the first time in a long time. Josh Allen delivered a few trademark highlight-reel moments, including this rocket shot of a throw while on the move to his right.
Buffalo also got short-yardage touchdowns from Cole Beasley, on this throw from Allen.
The offense celebrated with a nice little “rock-a-bye-baby” routine in the end zone.
And this plunge into the end zone from tight end Dawson Knox, with a little help from Stefon Diggs with a textbook, cut block in space.
The offense stayed hot into the second half as the Bills pulled away. Brian Daboll, another offensive coordinator who is going to get head coaching looks, dialed up this design to get wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie wide open off of jet motion for a touchdown.
Sporting News
5. Buffalo Bills 9-3 (6)
The Bills made another trip to Arizona for a very tough interconference game against the 49ers, but this time won in the desert. The pressure remains on to try to win their first division title in 25 years with the Dolphins and Patriots not relenting.
Yahoo! Sports
5. Buffalo Bills (9-3, LW: 7)
The Bills looked great on Monday night. That team we saw beat the 49ers can make a playoff run. They’ll get a nice test next week against a Steelers team coming off a loss. If Buffalo beats Pittsburgh, everyone will take notice of the Bills.
Bleacher Report
5. Buffalo Bills (9-3)
High: 5
Low: 5
Last Week: 5
Week 13 Result: Won at San Francisco 34-24
Pro Football Talk
4. Bills (No. 4; 9-3)
The Bills are definitely ready for prime time.
ESPN
5. Buffalo Bills (9-3)
Week 13 ranking: 5
Person with most at stake: TE Dawson Knox
The Bills’ second-year tight end has underwhelmed in 2020. Part of that is due to injuries and COVID-19, but he hasn’t done much to build on an inspiring rookie season. With John Brown out at least the next two weeks, there are more targets to go around in Buffalo’s offense — and Knox will have an opportunity to show the front office it doesn’t need to look for other options at the position this upcoming offseason.
Note: Due to the NFL’s delay of Week 13’s Cowboys-Ravens meeting to Tuesday, not every power ranking poll was made available at time of publishing.
[lawrence-related id=74120,74229,74196,74186]
