This is a recap of some of the latest power rankings and where the Buffalo Bills rank.
The Buffalo Bills went into Gillette Stadium and left little doubt in who the better team was. However, after a week where the Bills moved into the Top 3 in most power rankings, there wasn’t much change in their ranking this week.
ESPN: Buffalo Bills drop one spot after win
Last Week: 2
Even with a dominating performance against the New England Patriots, the Bills dropped one spot to number three. Marcel Louis-Jacques wrote about the team moving from being an underdog to team’s now targeting them:
"There will be raised expectations for the Bills once the calendar turns; they’ll need to be as comfortable with a target on their backs as they were with a chip on their shoulders."
There is no question that expectations have changed and the mindset needs to change for this team. In the past, it was just a good story to see the Bills make the playoffs but this team is too good to settle for just making it to the postseason.
NFL.com: Bills remain at number two
Last Week: 2
Dan Hanzus of NFL.com has the Bills at number two and while the win didn’t move them up in the power rankings, there was some symbolism to the team’s win on Monday night that he notes:
"This is the same Buffalo franchise that served as a relentless punching bag for New England during the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady reign of terror over the previous two decades. Those days are over now, and you can understand if the Bills saw Monday night as payback for 20 years of misery."
While the win keeps the Bills at number two, this was an important win for a franchise that has been focused on changing the culture since Sean McDermott took over as head coach. This season the Bills won the AFC East for the first time since 1995 but also swept the New England Patriots, which is something hard to fathom after how this rivalry has gone over the past two decades.
Bleacher Report: Bills stay at number three
Last Week: 3
The power rankings on Bleacher Report didn’t change after the Patriots win as they remain number three behind the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers.
"The Bills destroyed an overmatched team at Gillette Stadium. Josh Allen had all day in the pocket and made the most of it with 320 passing yards and four scores in just over three quarters of work. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs set a new franchise record for receiving yards (and helped more than a few folks win fantasy championships) with nine catches for 145 yards and three scores."
There likely won’t be another Bills team like the ones from the 1990s. Even though they didn’t win a Super Bowl, the fact they made it there four straight years is something likely to never be replicated.
However, the fact that this team, specifically Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, is smashing records and the Bills have a chance to tie the franchise record in wins in a season with a win over the Miami Dolphins shows just how good this team is and how special this regular season has been.
CBS Sports: Bills remain at three
Last Week: 3
Similar to some of the other power rankings the Buffalo Bills didn’t see a change with a win over the Patriots. Pete Prisco wrote:
"That offense will carry them a long way in the postseason. Josh Allen is playing a high level."
Entering this season the hope was that the offense would improve to the point where the pressure isn’t on the defense to carry them to wins. This season though the offense has not only improved but surpassed the defense in terms of the strength of this team.
It is hard to imagine that the Buffalo Bills will only go as far as Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and this offense can carry them.