Media Mashup: Buffalo Bills Week 13 Power Rankings

For the second consecutive Thursday, the Buffalo Bills head back to Orchard Park with a ‘W’. A dominant victory against a good opponent is in the books, and a division win has finally been secured. Not only that, but our main competition took hits this weekend that placed us back on top of the AFC. Despite injury concerns, the Bills have found new ways to win and the return of Tre’Davious White bodes well for the secondary through the end of the season. But what does the media have to say after a beatdown of the New England Patriots? Let’s check out the weekly Power Rankings.

NFL.com: 4th

Author: Dan Hanzus

Last Week: 5th

“Life without Von Miller started off in encouraging form for the Bills, who shut down a tepid Patriots attack during a prime-time win in Foxborough. Buffalo pressured Mac Jones on 39.5 percent of his dropbacks (the second-highest rate of the QB’s career, according to ESPN) and surrendered just 242 yards of total offense in the 24-10 conquest. With Miller’s availability in doubt after his move to IR, it’s essential that Buffalo gets impact play from its remaining pass rushers; Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa both made an impact in their return to the lineup in Week 13. The victory, coupled with Sunday losses by the Dolphins and Chiefs, moved Buffalo from the fifth seed all the way to No. 1 in the AFC with five games to play. Nice little weekend!”

theScore: 5th

Author: theScore Staff

Last Week: 6th

“Buffalo will need its entire group of young pass-rushers – including A.J. Epenesa – to deliver with Von Miller sidelined for at least three more games. Epenesa registered the team’s only sack in Thursday’s win over New England.”

Bleacher Report: 2nd

Authors: NFL Staff

Last Week: 4th

“The Buffalo Bills were an 8-3 team tied for first place in the AFC East. They had wins over three first-place teams in Kansas City, Baltimore and Tennessee and were considered one of the leading contenders to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVII. But before Thursday night, the Bills had yet to win a game in their division. That oddity was rectified.

The victory over the Patriots in Foxborough wasn’t flawless. But Buffalo handled New England with relative ease, outgaining the Pats by more than 100 yards and holding them to less than 250 yards. Quarterback Josh Allen told reporters that it was a big hurdle to clear.

“We know these games that are coming up, they matter. The ones in December and January, they matter. We’ve got to find ways to go win some football games.”

Josh Allen on Divisional games (via ESPN)

That isn’t just jockspeak. The Bills’ next two games are at home against the 7-5 Jets and 8-4 Dolphins — and will go a long way toward determining who wins the AFC East. A rematch with the Patriots in Buffalo looms for the final game of the season. The Bills need to make good use of their extra rest. Get as healthy as they can. Because the stretch run isn’t going to be easy.”

The Ringer: 2nd

Author: Austin Gayle

Last Week: 3rd

“Josh Allen is an alien, and his touchdown pass to Gabe Davis while running out of bounds in the Bills’ Week 13 win over the Pats was just another example of that. But can we also tip our (big) cap to the surrounding talent? New offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has lived up to the offseason hype as Brian Daboll’s successor as the play caller for Allen; Stefon Diggs is one of the eight best receivers in football; Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano are arguably the league’s top linebacker tandem and lead a defense that has constantly overperformed through multiple injuries. This is one of the NFL’s most complete teams, and it has an alien at quarterback, so it was an easy call to move them back ahead of Kansas City as the top-ranked AFC team after Week 13.”

ESPN: 3rd

Author: ESPN Staff

Last Week: 3rd

We’re No. 1 in… the AFC.

“After beating the Patriots on Thursday, the Bills sat on their couches Sunday and watched the Dolphins and Chiefs lose, moving Buffalo to the top spot in the AFC with five weeks to go. Wins over the Chiefs (with whom they share the same record), Ravens and Titans could prove to be key for the Bills as the three teams are behind them in the standings. Securing home-field advantage has been a priority after consecutive trips to Kansas City in the playoffs. With the Bills in charge of their own destiny, back-to-back home games against the Jets and Dolphins will be crucial, along with “Monday Night Football” at Cincinnati.” – Alaina Getzenberg

The Athletic: 3rd

Author: Bo Wulf

Last Week: 5th

“The No. 1 seed would be nice, but Buffalo’s top priority ahead of the playoffs is to get healthy. Tre’Davious White settled in by playing 61 percent of the snaps against the Patriots while the Bills figure out the plan opposite him. The absence of left tackle Dion Dawkins was felt in a big way, and it’s hard to imagine the offensive line holding up without him come playoff time. Meanwhile, Gregory Rousseau’s return helped Buffalo’s pass rush deal with Von Miller being on injured reserve. Letting Miller recover until playoff time makes plenty of sense, since that’s what he was signed for.

Goal No. 2 is getting Josh Allen to be a little more careful with the football without sapping him of the creativity that makes him special. Only Matt Ryan and Justin Fields have more combined interceptions and fumbles than Allen’s 21.”

NBC Sports: 3rd

Author: Josh Schrock

Last Week: 3rd

“Josh Allen is a special talent, but the Bills’ trade for Stefon Diggs is what really sparked his ascent. It’s something the Bears should keep in mind as they look to build around Justin Fields.”

CBS Sports: 2nd

Author: Pete Prisco

Last Week: 4th

“They would be the top seed in the AFC if the playoffs started today. They have righted things after a lull a few weeks ago.”

Fox Sports: 5th

Author: David Helman

Last Week: 6th

“It still didn’t look as fun as we’d probably prefer on Thursday night, but let’s not be too critical of a dominant road win against a division rival. The Bills also climbed back into the AFC’s top spot during their weekend off, so it’ll be fun to see how they respond to being the leader of the pack once again.”

Yahoo Sports: 4th

Author: Frank Schwab

Last Week: 5th

“The Bills had a great week. They won at New England and then saw Miami and Kansas City lose. Now the Bills have it all in front of them. If they win out, they’re the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That’s a lot to ask, but that might be what the Bills have to do, given the Chiefs’ easy remaining schedule.”

USA Today: 3rd

Author: Nate Davis

Last Week: 4th

“They began Week 13 in the AFC wild-card chase… and ended it as the conference’s projected No. 1 playoff seed. Buffalo can put a vise grip on the AFC East with the NYJ and Miami headed to Western New York the next two weekends.”

Sporting News: 2nd

Author: Vinnie Iyer

Last Week: 4th

“The Bills also enjoyed a dominant get-right game on the road in New England to open Week 13 on Thursday night. Josh Allen looks more like himself and the running game and defense are finding their late 2021 form again.”

WalterFootball.com: 1st

Author: Walter Cherepinsky

Last Week: 1st

“The Bills definitely found something with James Cook, who had a breakout performance against the Patriots. Buffalo hasn’t possessed a dynamic threat in the backfield, but that has apparently changed in the wake of Cook emerging.”

Sportsnaut: 3rd

Author: Matt Johnson

Last Week: 4th

“It’s hard to imagine the week unfolding more perfectly than this for the Buffalo Bills. Losses by New England, Miami and Kansas City shift the Bills back on top of the AFC. Von Miller’s long-term absence still weighs heavily on our playoff forecast for the defense and Josh Allen isn’t quite right since the UCL injury, but the parity in the NFL gives Buffalo a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.”

Athlon Sports: 2nd

Author: Bryan Fischer

Last Week: 4th

“Heck of a Sunday at home for Bills Mafia as they got some extra rest, saw their team move into the top seed again and watched Miami take a loss. Toss in that Thursday thumping of New England and productive is putting it mildly for Buffalo’s Week 13.”

Buffalo Bills Power Rankings Summary

Well, that just about covers it. The Bills dominated the Patriots en route to their takeover of the AFC. It’ll be a lot of work to hold that position, but we’re capable of controlling our destiny from here on out. Things are looking up considerably.

Sample Size	First	Second	Third	Fourth	Fifth	Average
15	1	5	5	2	2	Third

For last week’s power rankings, click here, and come back next week for a fresh round of Power Rankings as the Buffalo Bills look to get revenge on the New York Jets in Orchard Park. Have a “Power Ranking” that you think I should include? Reach out to @IestynTHarris on Twitter to let me know!

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