Buffalo Bills heading into Week 7 after Week 6 power rankings in NFL.
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The Buffalo Bills are facing one of their biggest challenge of the 20202 NFL season to date. The team has lost back-to-back games against AFC playoff contenders in the Titans and Chiefs, respectively, after starting the year with four-straight wins.
Considering the Bills’ quick rise among power ranking polls with their wining streak, the team and its leaders recognize the need to improve now. But as mentioned, the Bills did, in fact, lose to two pretty promising squads. Because of that, the most recent rankings actually aren’t too harsh to the Bills. Even with consecutive losses, it appears the national media, like the team’s players, aren’t going to panic just yet. Buffalo remained in many top-10s across the NFL landscape.
With that, here’s a look at where the Bills sit among national power rankings polls following Week 6:
10. Bills (11)
Welp, apparently not ready for prime time. But that’s OK. They remain atop AFC East – although barely – and aren’t scheduled for their next showcase under the lights until December.
9. Buffalo Bills (4-2. Last week: 8)
The Buffalo Bills and their fans were riding high coming into Week 5 of the NFL season. Josh Allen was playing like an MVP, and the offense was doing its part to allow a defense that many expected to be good again in 2020 to work out some inconsistencies on that side of the football.
The past two weeks have certainly changed the script.
After suffering a blowout loss at the hands of the Tennessee Titans last Tuesday night, the Bills lost to another top AFC team, falling to the Kansas City Chiefs by a final score of 26-17. Allen was not at his best for the second-straight week, completing 14 of 27 passes for just 122 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and an interception. Weather might have played a role, as it was rainy and raw in Buffalo on Monday night.
But more concerning than the weather is the defense. The Bills struggled against Patrick Mahomes – as teams tend to do – but they also struggled to stop the run. Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire ripped off 161 yards rushing on just 26 carries, keeping the Bills defense on the field for over 37 minutes of game time.
That unit, the Bills defense, has become a true concern for Buffalo. They entered Week 6 giving up an average of 28.4 points per game, 12th most in the league. Worse still is what they have done in terms of Total Defense DVOA, as the Bills entered Week 6 ranked just 27th. Continued play like that is going to force Josh Allen to be perfect for the Bills to win games, and when he is not like he was not against Kansas City, they are going to struggle.
8. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Last Week: Loss vs. Kansas City Chiefs 26-17
Next week: at New York Jets
That’s two straight losses for the Bills now, but I wouldn’t say it’s knocked their season off course. They are the best team in their division but seem to be a cut below the top-tier teams in the conference. They are dangerous enough to beat anyone on any given day, but come January they’ll likely have to do it on the road.
8. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous rank: No. 7
“There’s no panic, but there is a sense of urgency.” Josh Allen said the right things after Monday night’s 26-17 loss to the Chiefs in Orchard Park, but there’s cause for concern after a pair of losses to elite AFC teams in the past seven days. Playing in rainy conditions, Allen never looked comfortable in another outing that recalled memories of his bumpy rookie year. Meanwhile, the defense is now officially A Problem. Andy Reid surprised all by unleashing a relentless run-based attack that bowled over the Buffalo defense for 245 yards on a whopping 46 attempts. With one last shot at redemption in the final minutes, the Bills’ defense was unable to get off the field, leading to a clinching Chiefs field goal. Just a disappointing night all the way around.
8. Buffalo Bills 4-2 (5)
The Bills’ defense got exposed badly because of injuries in Week 5 at the Titans. That requires Josh Allen to keep leading with clean offensive play even if the running continues to sputter. He won’t be curbed in trying to show off his bigger arm on the other side of Mahomes.
I’ve been high on the Bills, and I’m not bailing on them now. But that was ugly. The Chiefs were miles ahead of Buffalo in a big spot for the Bills. The offense flailed around in the rain, and the defense continued a very unimpressive start to the season. They’ll get it fixed. I think.
9. Bills (-1)
They have lost two straight games and the offense has sputtered. They have to get back on track, and the Jets are the perfect team to make that happen this week.
8. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
High: 7
Low: 12
Last Week: 8
Week 6 Result: Lost 26-17 vs. Kansas City
The shine is coming off Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Over the first month of the 2020 season, Allen completed over 70 percent of his passes as the Bills peeled off four straight wins. But over the last two weeks, he has looked a lot more like the erratic passer who couldn’t hit 60 percent his first two seasons in the league.
The numbers against the Kansas City Chiefs were ugly: 14-of-27 passing for 122 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. The Bills allowed more yards to Kansas City on the ground than Buffalo gained as a team.
It wasn’t just Allen, either. Buffalo’s run game continued to struggle with Devin Singletary and Zack Moss combining for 42 yards on 15 carries. Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire peeled off 161 yards on 26 carries against a Bills run defense that had no answers all night long.
That’s two straight games against postseason teams from last season—two straight opportunities to measure just how good these Bills really are.
And two straight times, they came up short.
10. Bills (No. 8; 4-2)
When the Chiefs decide to run all day long, you know you have a really bad run defense.
Week 6 ranking: 5
Most impactful injury: LB Matt Milano
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and cornerback Tre’Davious White have each missed a game to injury, but Milano has already been lost for three games in the first six weeks. When Milano doesn’t play, the middle of the Bills’ defense is exposed, especially in the passing game. Now in a contract year, Milano presents a conundrum for Buffalo’s front office: He is too valuable to let walk in free agency, but his injury history might put a cap on what type of salary he can command.
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