Media Mashup: Buffalo Bills Week 5 Power Rankings

Another week, another batch of Power Rankings! After last week’s nail-biter, it was smooth as silk for the Buffalo Bills as Josh Allen piloted this cruise ship to a comfortable Week 5 victory. His unrelenting first half performance set records, and the Bills once again look like the most dominant team in the league. Here’s what the media has to say in this week’s NFL Power Rankings:

NFL.com: 1st

Author: Dan Hanzus

Last Week: 2nd

“The Steelers showed up to Western New York with a rookie quarterback making his first start and a defense playing without T.J. Watt. The results were as one-sided as you might expect: a 38-3 Bills victory that put Buffalo back in sole possession of first place in the AFC East. Josh Allen cut through 20 mph winds with ease, connecting on a pair of long TD passes to Gabriel Davis in a first half that included an absurd 348 passing yards for the star QB. Buffalo coasted from there, but Allen still managed to set a franchise record for passing yardage in a game that ended in regulation (424). When the Bills start cooking, there’s not another team in the league that can handle the heat emanating from their kitchen.”

theScore: 3rd

Author: theScore Staff

Last Week: 3rd

“One tweet that sums up every team’s season after five games…”

Feet not even remotely set, just rips it 45 yards on the money. What is Josh Allen man. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/TjazZPa7dF

— Jacob Nierob (@jnierob7) October 10, 2022

Bleacher Report: 3rd

Author: NFL Staff

Last Week: 3rd

“So, um, the Buffalo Bills are pretty good.

When quarterback Josh Allen hit wide receiver Gabe Davis for a 98-yard touchdown on the first series of the game, it set the tone for what became an absolute dismemberment of a completely overmatched Steelers team.

When Allen hit Davis again in the first half for a 62-yard score, it kind of felt like piling on.

The only thing that stopped Buffalo’s offense in Week 5 was the Bills dialing things back in the second half. The team recorded a gaudy 552 total yards. Allen’s 424 passing yards were the second-most in a game in franchise history. His 348 passing yards in the first half tied for the second-most over the opening two quarters of an NFL game since 1991. The Bills also forced two turnovers and sacked rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett three times.

While speaking to reporters after the victory, veteran edge-rusher Von Miller applauded the team for keeping its foot on the gas until the game was well out of hand.

‘We came into this with the killer instinct, attitude, the mindset of domination,’ Miller said. ‘And I feel like that mindset really separates good teams from other good teams.’

Games like this separate the Bills, all right — from the rest of the teams in the AFC East.”

The Ringer: 1st

Author: Austin Gayle

Last Week: 1st

“Gabe Davis scored a 98-yard touchdown less than a minute into Sunday’s blowout win over the Steelers; it was the longest play of the NFL season, and it just about sums up how good Josh Allen and the Bills have been through five weeks. Allen ranks second in the league in EPA per dropback (0.31), and the team ranks first in point differential (+91). It’s the Bills’ Super Bowl to lose this year until proved otherwise. (And their biggest test yet comes this week at Kansas City.)”

ESPN: 2nd

Author: ESPN Staff

Last Week: 2nd

“It’s difficult to imagine a scenario that involves this team not making the postseason, but one area that the offense has struggled with is establishing the running game outside of quarterback Josh Allen. Much of that is due to the blocking up front (65.3% run block win rate, ranked 32nd), especially at guard. Only one running back has rushed for a touchdown (James Cook vs. Steelers), and Allen has led the team in rushing for four of the five games — the second quarterback to do so, joining Lamar Jackson (2021). The Bills offense is already operating at a high level led by Allen, an early MVP candidate, but getting the running backs going consistently would elevate Buffalo’s potential and could help prevent injury to Allen.” – Alaina Getzenberg

The Athletic: 1st

Author: Bo Wulf

Last Week: 2nd

“Trade idea: Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey

Would it be ideal for a team as loaded as the Bills to pay a premium for a player at a relatively fungible position after already using a second-round pick and two third-rounders on running backs in recent years? Of course not. But the Bills somehow rank 30th in rushing DVOA through five weeks, and McCaffrey could theoretically help in the slot, too, while absorbing some hits on behalf of Josh Allen.”

NBC Sports: 2nd

Author: Josh Schrock

Last Week: 3rd

“Tony Romo likened Josh Allen to Michael Jordan. You can’t miss a moment. That’s hyperbole but might not be far off in terms of the must-see factor. Allen threw for 424 yards without four weapons Sunday. Now, the Chiefs are on deck.”

CBS Sports: 2nd

Author: Pete Prisco

Last Week: 2nd

“Now that Gabe Davis is back putting up numbers, can this offense be stopped? They have the big one this week with the Chiefs. That will be fun.”

Sports Illustrated: 1st

Author: Conor Orr

Last Week: 2nd

“As we mentioned on this week’s MMQB podcast, the Bills are one of those teams that can play a horrendous game but ultimately still whip an opponent by 30 points. Even on a day when a pedantic quarterback analyzer would take to Twitter and say Josh Allen was pedestrian, Allen is still big and tough and fearless and difficult to bring down. He also plays with one of the deepest offenses in the NFL, and the whole thing is incredibly well-schemed. They may lose a silly game in the playoffs, but that doesn’t change the fact that everyone is looking for the next Josh Allen, and that everyone is going to keep hiring Bills coaches and executives.”

Yahoo Sports: 1st

Author: Frank Schwab

Last Week: 1st

“The Bills’ top gear is pretty amazing. But if they go to Kansas City in Week 6 and lose to the Chiefs next week, blowout wins over the Rams, Titans and Steelers won’t matter as much. They want to make sure they’re not playing a postseason game at Arrowhead Stadium for a third straight year, and it’ll be hard to avoid that if they lose Sunday.”

USA Today: 2nd

Author: Nate Davis

Last Week: 2nd

“Their league-best +91 point differential is nearly double the next-most dominant teams (Eagles, 49ers both at +47). Next up, a trip to Kansas City, where Buffalo won by 18 last season… in the regular season anyway.”

Sporting News: 2nd

Author: Vinnie Iyer

Last Week: 2nd

“The Bills have unleashed the full fury of Josh Allen without worrying about forcing a weak traditional running game and to make sure any defensive injuries don’t allow an opponent to think they have a chance keeping up with Allen. He got red-hot again at the right time for the epic playoff matchup with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.”

WalterFootball.com: 1st

Author: Walter Cherepinsky

Last Week: 1st

“The Bills demolished the Steelers, 38-3, and they averaged more than 10 yards per play. And yet, Josh Allen made some mistakes, missing out on two potential touchdowns.”

Sportsnaut: 1st

Author: Matt Johnson

Last Week: 2nd

“The Buffalo Bills are No. 1 in the NFL power rankings, reclaiming their title as the best team in the NFL. Even in Buffalo’s lone defeat, it overwhelmingly dominated in total yardage, time of possession and third-down conversions. Sunday’s offensive explosion highlights why this is the best offense in the NFL. Get your popcorn ready, Bills vs Chiefs in Week 6 will be phenomenal.”

Athlon Sports: 1st

Author: Bryan Fischer

Last Week: 1st

“You almost thought that the Bills would have been a little conservative playing a team like Pittsburgh the week prior to that revenge match against the Chiefs. But nope. Josh Allen finishing as the team’s leading rusher might be the only thing to nitpick but when he’s launching bombs to Gabe Davis, it doesn’t really matter.”

Power Rankings Summary

After that dominating performance, it looks like the Buffalo Bills are back on top. Most of the power rankings we’ve seen have this team as number one. If we’re not on top, we’re as close as close gets after an entertaining Week 5.

Sample Size	First	Second	Third	Average
15	8	5	2	First

For last week’s rankings, click here, and come back next week for a fresh round of power rankings after the Buffalo Bills revisit the Kansas City Chiefs, with the uncontested AFC conference lead on the line. Have a “Power Rankings” that you think I should include? Reach out to @IestynTHarris on Twitter to let me know!

Featured Image: Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images