Buffalo Bills power rankings in NFL heading into Week 14.
The Bills earned a win in front of everyone, a nationally televised ‘W’ over the Dallas Cowboys, in Week 13.
Heading into Week 14 and a meeting with the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills are on the doorstep of top-five status across national power rankings polls.
With that, here’s how the Bills fared in various power ranking polls across national meeting outlets this week:
9. Bills (12)
Could they actually win AFC East for first time since 1995? Buffalo must go through Ravens and Steelers before next shot at Patriots.
7. Buffalo Bills
(9-3. Last week: 9)
It is now officially time to stop ignoring the Bills as the products of an easy schedule — when you have a 9-3 record, you have done enough right to be taken seriously. Yes, Buffalo had by far the NFL’s worst slate of opponents coming into their Thanksgiving matchup in Dallas, but going out of Big D with a 26-15 win that was far more dominant than the score might indicate? That was the very definition of a statement win.
Josh Allen completed 79% of his passes for 231 yards and a touchdown. John Brown, perhaps the NFL’s most underrated receiver, threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to running back Devin Singletary. Allen added 43 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. And a defense that has flown under the radar most of the season sacked Dak Prescott four times, limited him to two touchdown passes on 49 attempts, and racked up nine passes defended and three forced fumbles.
Now, it comes time for Buffalo to prove it on a different level — with games against the Ravens, Steelers, Patriots and Jets in the next four weeks, Sean McDermott’s team faces the toughest remaining slate. That’s skewed to a large degree by the Ravens and Patriots, but the point still stands. There’s a lot more to prove here, but this is a team capable of proving it.
10. Bills (9-3)
Previous rank: No. 10
We see you, Bills. We all see you now. Sean McDermott’s squad went to Dallas and laid a Thanksgiving whooping on the supposedly superior Cowboys, putting themselves on the map as a legitimate contender in the AFC. At 9-3, the Bills have a stranglehold on a wild-card spot and remain within striking distance of the hardly invincible Patriots in the AFC East. There were standout performances up and down the roster against the Cowboys, but this game could be a flashpoint for Josh Allen, who played like a franchise quarterback in front of a huge national audience. Allen led six consecutive scoring drives against Dallas and dished out some punishment on a third-quarter touchdown run that might be the highlight of his young career to date. Now the Bills get extra time to prepare for their biggest challenge of the season: a home game against the surging Ravens. Dismiss the Bills at your own risk.
9. Buffalo Bills (9-3)
There you go, Bills! That’s a Thanksgiving day win with some substance behind it, as the Buffalo D kept Dak and a potent Cowboys attack off the scoreboard from the 10:39 mark of the first quarter until 4:06 in the fourth. Josh Allen has played quite well since the Week 4 stinker, going 19-of-24 for 231 yards a TD and a 120.7 rating to boot on Sunday while the Cole Beasley revenge game took effect to the tune of six catches, 110 yards and a touchdown.
10. Buffalo Bills (9-3)
Week 13 ranking: 10
Who’s under fire: Stephen Hauschka, K
The Bills are rolling, but Hauschka has struggled this season, connecting on a career-low 71% of his field goals. After he missed two field goals in a three-point loss to the Browns in Week 10 and a field goal and an extra point last week, Hauschka’s margin for error is rapidly shrinking.
8. Buffalo Bills (9-3, LW: 9)
Josh Allen looked really good carving up the Cowboys. In eight games since a disastrous start against New England, Allen has 1,688 yards, 13 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 98.7 passer rating. And he’s dangerous with his legs. I’m not sure the Texans or Chiefs want to see the Bills on wild-card weekend.
9. Bills (9-3; No. 10)
Yes, No. 9 may be too low; beat the Ravens and Buffalo will crash the top five.
10. Buffalo Bills (9-3)
High: 10
Low: 10
Last Week: 11
Week 13 Result: Won at Dallas 26-15
For most of this season, many folks have been sleeping on the Bills. Despite the third-best record in the AFC, there wasn’t much talk of the Bills as a legitimate force in the conference.
That may be about to change after the Bills hammered the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving—in front of the largest television audience for any program since Super Bowl LIII.
After putting on a showcase in his first nationally televised appearance, Bills quarterback Josh Allen downplayed the significance of the win while speaking with reporters.
“Just No. 9,” Allen told reporters, referring to the Bills’ win total this season.
However, Davenport thinks this was more than just another win.
“The thoroughness and ease with which Buffalo dismantled the Cowboys was an eye-opener,” he said. “The Bills are stout defensively and can run the ball, and Allen is playing light-years better than his rookie season. I don’t know that the Bills will beat Baltimore next week. Or that they can go into Foxborough and slay their archenemies. But assuming that the Bills wind up the AFC’s No. 5 seed, there isn’t a team in the conference that wants any part of being No. 4.”
Gagnon, on the other hand, is still a tad skeptical…but coming around.
“I’m not ready to declare the Bills a contender because Dallas was overrated to begin with,” he said. “Still, it’s a heck of a good sign that the stout defense is now starting to make splash plays, and the sky is the limit for Josh Allen. It’s important to keep in mind that the offense underwent major changes in the offseason. Are they finally starting to click?”
10. Buffalo Bills, 9-3 (10)
The Bills got their signature win with their dominance of the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Josh Allen keeps improving with his revamped weapons, and the defense is making it difficult on opponents with its toughness and aggressiveness. They get their shot to take it up a few notches in the AFC against the Ravens in Week 14.
8. Bills (9-3)
It’s time to believe in this team. Josh Allen has really elevated his game. Now comes a big one with the Ravens.
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