Buffalo Bills continue to climb in this week’s power rankings

This is a recap of where the Buffalo Bills rank in some of the power rankings around the NFL.

The Buffalo Bills move to 4-0 for the first time since 2008 after a 30-23 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. This was another good game from Josh Allen and the offense while the defense doesn’t have their best performance.

This is where the Buffalo Bills are ranked in some of the power rankings around the internet.

ESPN: Buffalo Bills remain fifth in the NFL

Last Week: 5

The Buffalo Bills remain at fifth in the NFL in this week’s edition of the power rankings on ESPN. This week, they discussed playoff chances which have the Bills over 90%. Marcel Louis-Jacques wrote:

"The Bills have the seventh-hardest remaining schedule according to FPI, but if this defense can return to the top-three form we’ve seen from it each of the past two seasons, Buffalo will be contending for an AFC title — and possibly a Super Bowl."

This is going to be a theme throughout the power rankings that the Buffalo Bills are no longer just playoff contenders but actually Super Bowl contenders. However, Louis-Jacques accurately points out that it isn’t the offense but the defense and their performance that a chance at a Super Bowl is going to hinge on.

NFL.com: Buffalo Bills jump into the Top 5

Last Week: 6

One week after the Buffalo Bills were just outside the Top 5, they jump two spots to fourth overall. Similar to ESPN, Dan Hanzus discusses the concerns about the defense:

"Lost amidst the buzz over Josh Allen’s huge Year 3 leap: A suspect start by Buffalo’s defense, one of the league’s strongest units in 2018 and ’19. The defense struggled again early against the Raiders on Sunday before delivering a vintage second half — forcing a punt and two turnovers in an eventual 30-23 win."

This was the third straight week that the Buffalo Bills defense has allowed a quarterback to throw for over 300 yards. Last season, the Bills only allowed quarterbacks to break this mark twice. The question is does the addition of Josh Norman help turn this group around. The veteran should be the starter for the foreseeable future.

Bleacher Report: Buffalo Bills remain at six

Last Week: 6

Bleacher Report has been the least optimistic about the Bills this year as they started out the year outside of the Top 10 and are the only ones in these power rankings to not have them in the Top 5. However, they also discuss the Bills chances at being a Super Bowl contender:

"It’s been a long time since the Buffalo Bills were a legitimate Super Bowl contender.But after watching them peel off four straight wins to open the 2020 season, it’s hard to view the Bills as anything else."

They certainly aren’t wrong about the Bills being legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The fast starts the Bills have had in the past have seemed to be more luck or being beneficiaries of easy schedules, like last year.

The last time the Bills were 4-0 was in 2008 when Trent Edwards was under center and suffered a concussion in Week 4 and the Bills struggled the rest of the year. This year doesn’t feel like anything more than the Bills being a good team and playing good football.

CBS Sports: Bills remain at four

While Bleacher Report remains more pessimistic, CBS Sports has been regularly on the higher end in terms of rankings for the Buffalo Bills. Pete Prisco once again has the Bills fourth in the NFL:

"Winning on the road the way they did at Las Vegas shows how good they are this season. Now they face another tough road test at Tennessee against the undefeated Titans."

This was certainly a tough team against a Raiders team that did beat the New Orleans Saints just two weeks ago. However, the test this week against the Titans could have much bigger implications as the Titans are undefeated but if a conference record tie-breaker is needed for seeding, this game could loom large.