Tag: buffalo bills power rankings

Power rankings: SI puts Bills at No. 9, post-draft

Sports Illustrated power rankings and the Buffalo Bills.

Sports Illustrated pegged the Buffalo Bills as their No. 9 overall team is their power rankings released following the 2020 NFL Draft.

A solid standing for the Bills, but some outlets do have the team pushing the top-five in their rankings. The ‘what-ifs’ on Buffalo’s offense do them in here.

Nonetheless, here’s how SI explains Buffalo’s placement:

We know they have the defense, but it’ll be critical for Stefon Diggs to help Josh Allen take a big step forward like the Bills’ front office thinks he can.

While perhaps disheartening, it’s a realistic assessment. Until we see Diggs and the other additions in the Bills offensive with Allen, it’s a big-time question mark. But at least the defense is getting their well-deserved due as one of the best in the business.

Even at No. 9, the Bills are at least the best of the bunch in the AFC East, at least. The Patriots slide into second at No. 15, while the Jets and Dolphins are near the bottom at No. 27 and 27, respectively.

[lawrence-related id=60673,60621,60616,60608]

Bills land in top-10 of SI’s power rankings

In their latest power rankings released this week, S/I pegged the Bills as their No. 10 team in the NFL: 

Good news and bad news from Sports Illustrated.

In their latest power rankings released this week, SI pegged the Bills as their No. 10 team in the NFL:

The Bills have been trying to get a top receiver since they (very fortunately, in retrospect) missed on Antonio Brown last year. The trade for Stefon Diggs will help Josh Allen—though they paid a very steep price for a receiver who made no secret of the fact that he wanted out of Minnesota—and the Bills also made moves to beef up their defensive line and secondary. But the success of the Bills is contingent on whether or not Allen can take the next step, which is no certain thing.

The bad news comes in at nine. SI placed the Patriots there, stating they’re “not ready to send the Patriots plunging just yet.” Fair, but the writing seems to be on the wall that the Pats are finally going to take a step back. At least currently.

Without Tom Brady, the Patriots only have Jarrett Stidham as their quarterback. Now, if the Patriots signed a Cam Newton or traded up for a top prospect? This could make more sense. But as things sit now, not so much.

Having said that, the Jets and Dolphins are much further away at 24 and 26, respectively, in terms of the rest of the AFC East.

Leading the way in the power rankings for SI is the Chiefs. The defending champs are followed by the Ravens and Saints.

[lawrence-related id=58719,58705,58696,58503]

The Athletic slots Bills at No. 8 in power rankings

The Athletic gave the Buffalo Bills some of the biggest praise among all the national outlets who have recently been releasing their post-free agency power rankings. 

The Athletic gave the Buffalo Bills some of the biggest praise among all the national outlets who have recently been releasing their post-free agency power rankings.

Since their last power rankings following the conclusion of the 2019 regular season, the Bills moved up one slot, from nine to eight. With the numerous moves made around the NFL since then, including the Bills’ trade for Stefon Diggs, Buffalo is tabbed the divisional favorite by The Athletic in their recently released poll:

Dare we say the Bills are the early AFC East favorites? They have to be, right? We didn’t love the Stefon Diggs trade because of the compensation, but we’ll admit we are very excited to see what the Bills’ offense will look like with Diggs in it.

In terms of AFC East favorites, The Athletic doesn’t even in particularly think it’s close. The next closest team is the Patriots, but they’re all the way down in the No. 17 slot thanks to their loss of quarterback Tom Brady. But the Pats do edge out the Jets and Dolphins, who sit all the way back in the No. 26 and 27 spot, respectively.

Currently on paper, the Bills certainly look like the favorite. But Diggs is a massive piece to the puzzle. While his addition looks good on paper, much of his and the Bills’ future successes in 2020 depend on the improvement of quarterback Josh Allen in the third year of his career.

Currently in The Athletic’s rankings the Chiefs hold the top spot, edging the Ravens out for that honor. The Saints sit in third place.

[lawrence-related id=58338,58496,58488,58483]

NFL.com lands Bills at No. 8 in post-free agency power rankings

In NFL Media’s way-too-early offseason rankings, the Bills landed at No. 10. Now Buffalo sits at eight.

Whether or not Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane reads NFL.com’s power rankings is up for debate. What’s not is that Beane did exactly what they ordered, and because of that, the Bills are moving on up in their latest power rankings following free agency.

In NFL Media’s way-too-early offseason rankings, the Bills landed at No. 10. Now Buffalo sits at eight and you might be able to guess who plays a big part in why. Stefon Diggs:

Last month, we wrote in this space that finding a premium wide receiver to line up across from John Brown should be the No. 1 priority of GM Brandon Beane. Clearly, Beane is a Power Rankings reader. Last week, the Bills sent four draft picks (including their 2020 first-rounder) to the Vikings to land Pro Bowl wideout Stefon Diggs and a seventh-rounder. Diggs, Brown and Cole Beasley now form an impressive Big 3 that should allow Josh Allen plenty of opportunity to take the next step as a passer. Buffalo also acted aggressively on defense by adding Mario Addison, Quinton Jefferson, Vernon Butler and Josh Norman. With Tom Brady finally out of the division, the Buffalo Bills are in line to enter 2020 as the AFC East favorites. It’s been decades since you could say that.

By no means do the Bills have a perfect roster following free agency, but they certainly have one that’s hard to find holes. Buffalo could use a complementary running back and perhaps a young pass-rushing option. But let’s face it, we still have the 2020 NFL Draft and seven draft picks for the Bills to come. Those needs could certainly be addressed with a solid pick or two.

In NFL.com’s power rankings, the Bills are the AFC East favorite, edging out the Patriots who slipped from the No. 8 position to 16 following the loss of Tom Brady. The Jets and Dolphins round out the division at No. 20 and 26, respectively.

Leading the power ranking are the defending champion Chiefs, with the 49ers and Ravens in the second and third slots.

[lawrence-related id=58034,58027,58021,58015]

Bills rise in ESPN power rankings following free agency

Their “way-too-early” power rankings released at the start of the offseason put Buffalo at No. 11. Now? No. 9.

Free agency technically isn’t over, but hey, when the Buffalo Bills are getting their due, it’s worth mentioning, right?

That’s exactly what happened in ESPN’s recent power rankings released on Monday. The world-wide leader moved the Bills up two slots in their latest poll.

Their “way-too-early” power rankings released at the start of the offseason put Buffalo at No. 11. Now? Nine.

ESPN’s latest “twist” they occasionally add to their power rankings was to sum up the team in three words. The three for the Bills have a nice ring to it:

Three words: AFC East front-runner. While the Jets focused on building their offensive line, the Dolphins spent big money on marquee free agents and the Patriots coped with the loss of quarterback Tom Brady, the Bills made one of their splashiest moves of the new league year, trading for wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The additions Buffalo made on defense should, on paper, make an already-stout group even better — vaulting the Bills to the top of the preseason AFC East totem pole.

While the Bills could be the AFC East front-runner, they aren’t actually there… yet. Early Las Vegas sportsbooks actually still have the Patriots there. But we have a long way to go until September, and with the loss of Tom Brady, it’s hard to imagine there being much of a gap at all once the 2020 NFL season kicks off.

The top dog in ESPN’s rankings comes in little surprise. It’s the defending champion Chiefs. The Ravens jumped to the No. 2 spot while the defending NFC champs, the 49ers, sit in third.

In terms of the “favorite” in ESPN’s poll, the Patriots land at the No. 13 spot. Then rounding out the AFC East are the Dolphins and Jets, who fall in at No. 25 and 26, respectively.

[lawrence-related id=58015,58010,58003,57959]

Power rankings: Bills show they can hang in loss to Pats

Buffalo Bills in power rankings polls heading into Week 17.

The Bills have said all season there’s no such thing as moral victories.

But apparently there’s power rankings victories.

Following their touchdown loss to the Patriots in Week 16, many national media polls viewed that Bills’ loss as one that showed that Buffalo can play with the big boys.

Here’s how the Bills fared in national power rankings polls heading into Week 17:

USA Today

9. Bills (10)

Led by newly minted Pro Bowl CB Tre’Davious White, who has yet to allow TD pass, argument to be made Buffalo sports league’s best secondary.

Touchdown Wire

8. Buffalo Bills

(10-5. Last week: 7)

There’s no such thing as a good loss, but Saturday’s defeat at New England was as close as it gets. The Bills went on the road and took the Patriots down to a last-minute drive. The Patriots, once again, are the kings of the AFC East. But the Bills have emerged as princes and may eventually overthrow the division dynasty. For now, the Bills are in the playoffs and locked in as the No. 5 seed. Despite the loss, they grew up some Saturday. Second-year quarterback Josh Allen went head to head with Tom Brady. Allen can make plays with his feet and his arms, and he’s only going to get better. So are the Bills. They’re a dangerous team entering this year’s playoffs. Coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have assembled a roster that’s going to be good for a long time.

NFL.com

10. Buffalo Bills

Previous rank: No. 10

The Bills are Good. This is their gift … and this is their curse. Because they are Good, they can defeat Terrible Teams and Bad Teams and Average Teams — and, on occasion — other Good Teams. But when given the assignment of beating a team that resides at that next level? The Bills have fallen consistently short. The latest example came Saturday in Foxborough, where the Patriots used a fourth-quarter surge to secure a 24-17 win and another division title. As they always do, the Bills fought hard against a Super Bowl contender but were ultimately turned away come money time. Two close losses to the Patriots this season has to be frustrating, but the bright side is obvious: The gap between Buffalo and New England has narrowed considerably. The Bills are Good … soon, they could be Great.

Sports Illustrated 

9. BUFFALO BILLS (10-5)
Previous rank: 9
Points in poll: 173
Highest-place vote: 8 (5 voters)
Lowest-place vote: 9 (2 voters)
Last week’s result: Lost to New England, 24-17 (Sat.)
This week: vs. N.Y. Jets

The upstarts will have to wait another year to dethrone their AFC East counterparts, but it was a valiant effort from the Bills as they clinched a wild-card spot. The defense surrendered their second-most yards and points this season while the offense struggling to run the ball (46 rush yards for Devin Singletary, 43 for Josh Allen). Cole Beasley led the team with seven receptions for 108 yards, but not many would put money on him reeling in a jump ball like this.

ESPN

Week 16 ranking: 9

Team MVP: Tre’Davious White, CB

On a Bills team that seems greater than the sum of its parts, White stands out as its clear-cut best player. Buffalo’s lone Pro Bowler has established himself as a top-three cornerback in the league with a strong case for being the best player at the position. His six interceptions are tied for the league lead and he has yet to give up a touchdown despite lining up against the opposition’s best receiver. White will likely reset the market when he signs his next contract, although he is eligible for a fifth-year option this offseason.

Yahoo! Sports

8. Buffalo Bills (10-5, LW: 9)

The Bills didn’t win on Saturday, but everyone (but Patriots fans, it seems) could see that Buffalo is getting a lot better. Who knows if they’ll win the AFC East in 2020, but for the first time in a really long time there will be a legitimate challenger for New England.

NBC Sports

8. Bills (10-5; No. 9):

If/when this team learns how to win big games, this team will win everything.

CBS Sports

9. Bills

They showed in the loss to the Patriots that they could be a tough out in the playoffs. The defense is legit.

Bleacher Report

10. Buffalo Bills (10-5)

High: 10
Low: 10
Last Week: 10
Week 16 Result: Lost at New England 24-17

The Buffalo Bills had a golden opportunity Saturday afternoon. They had the chance to send a message that the New England Patriots are no longer the unquestioned kings of the AFC East. A chance to show that they are a legitimate contender in the AFC playoffs.

As has been the case in a staggering 32 of the 35 times the Bills have faced Tom Brady, they failed.

The loss doesn’t take away all that the Bills have accomplished in 2019. A Buffalo team that had one postseason appearance this century entering the season has now made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. Buffalo’s defense is stout. Second-year quarterback Josh Allen has made substantial strides.

But while the Bills are good, they aren’t great. They might be able to win on Wild Card Weekend, but they aren’t going into Foxborough, Kansas City or Baltimore and coming away with a win.

Buffalo is headed in the right direction, but it still has a way to go.

“The Bills couldn’t get the job done when things mattered the most,” Sobleski said. “Buffalo had an opportunity to knock a King Kong-sized gorilla off its back by beating New England and taking control of the AFC East. However, it squandered a 17-13 fourth-quarter lead. The Bills are a playoff team, but they’ve yet to take the next crucial step to become actual contenders.”

Sporting News

8. Buffalo Bills, 10-5 (8)

The Bills fought hard and played well in New England, but for a second time this season, they couldn’t generate enough offense and made the greater mistakes. They’re a strong playoff team while still learning how to win, and all the credit goes to Sean McDermott and his staff.

[lawrence-related id=52003,51989,51913,51972]