Media Mashup: Buffalo Bills Week 6 Power Rankings

We’re going to like the power rankings this week, folks. The Buffalo Bills outdueled, outmaneuvered, outcoached, and outwitted the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday evening. From Josh Allen’s usual heroics to timely interceptions by Kaiir Elam and Taron Johnson, this team was a force to be reckoned with. The thing is, they might not have even played their best football yet. With Week 6 in the books and a much-needed break looming, here’s what the media has to say…

NFL.com: 1st

Author: Dan Hanzus

Last Week: 1st

“The Chiefs believed sending extra rushers at Josh Allen could neutralize the Bills’ superstar quarterback. They learned a hard lesson. Allen hung in the pocket and delivered touchdown strikes to Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs when facing the blitz, huge plays that helped secure a 24-20 ‘revenge’ win against the rival Chiefs at Arrowhead. While Allen was doing his MVP act on one side of the ball, Von Miller was again making Buffalo’s brass look like a genius collective by delivering a two-sack day and the QB pressure that led to Patrick Mahomes’ game-clinching interception in the fourth quarter. With the win, the Bills gain a tiebreaker advantage that could have major ramifications come January.”

theScore: 2nd

Author: theScore Staff

Last Week: 3rd

“Josh Allen might be the Chiefs’ kryptonite. After watching his season end in heartbreak at Arrowhead Stadium last campaign, Allen avenged the playoff loss with a flawless 300-plus-yard performance and three touchdowns.”

Bleacher Report: 2nd

Authors: Brent Sobleski, Maurice Moton, Gary Davenport

Last Week: 2nd

“The marquee matchup of Week 6 took place at Arrowhead Stadium, where Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen locked horns for the fifth time in a rematch of last year’s Divisional Round thriller. It wasn’t quite as high-scoring as that affair, but the game was a back-and-forth thriller. And this time, it was Allen and the Bills who came out ahead.

Allen won the battle of quarterbacks as well, throwing for 329 yards and three scores without an interception. While he admitted that this was a big win, Allen made it clear to reporters after the victory that this win had nothing to do with revenge for last year’s overtime loss in the playoffs.

‘Nothing we did last year translates to what we’re doing this year,’ Allen said. ‘What happened in the past, that’s where it is. All we can do is focus on the next one. Today was the next one.’

As well as Allen played, the real difference in this one may well have been the Bills defense, with Buffalo picking off Patrick Mahomes twice and Von Miller logging a pair of sacks. To Davenport, it’s that defense that separates these AFC powerhouses.

‘The Chiefs and Bills are undoubtedly the two best teams in the AFC,’ Davenport said. ‘They may be the two best teams in the entire NFL. But while both teams feature offenses capable of piling up yardage and points, the Bills pair that with an elite defense. That defense was the difference in Week 6—and it may be again in the playoffs.’”

The Ringer: 1st

Author: Austin Gayle

Last Week: 1st

“I said this two weeks ago and I’ll say it again: Josh Allen is the NFL’s best player and should be a runaway favorite for league MVP. After a stunning, otherworldly display in the Bills’ 24-20 win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Allen ranks first among all qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per dropback (0.30) and is tied for first in passing touchdowns (17). On Sunday, he was the best quarterback on a field that included Patrick Mahomes — a true alien.”

ESPN: 1st

Author: ESPN Staff

Last Week: 2nd

“The highest of expectations were set for the Buffalo Bills, and they have shown why many thought this team could be the best in the league. Quarterback Josh Allen is playing at an MVP-type level, and pass-rusher Von Miller is performing as the team hoped with six sacks. I’m not sure many thought the Bills would keep winning despite missing key players. Buffalo has dealt with injuries to several starters, including safety Micah Hyde suffering a season-ending neck injury. The team is getting healthier, but backups have largely been up to the task, showing just how well-rounded of a roster GM Brandon Beane has built.” — Alaina Getzenberg

The Athletic: 1st

Author: Bo Wulf

Last Week: 1st

“It can be beautiful when a plan comes together, as it did for the Bills on Sunday in the most anticipated game of the regular season. With an eye on avenging the playoff loss to Kansas City last season and proving themselves as the league’s big boss, Buffalo won thanks in large part to the player they added for the express purpose of putting them over the top. 

Von Miller finished with two sacks and four tackles and was instrumental in stopping each of the last three Chiefs drives, pressuring Patrick Mahomes early in the fourth quarter to force a field goal that put Kansas City up 20-17, sacking him to end the next drive, and then pressuring him before the game-sealing interception by Taron Johnson. The Bills rank No. 1 in both offensive and defensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average). Everything now is about securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC. 

If there is a move coming for the Bills as they look to push in their chips, one would think it will have something to do with improving their running game, whether that’s a running back or not. It’s not as if the Bills’ run game is holding back the offense, but they rank 28th in rushing DVOA and 30th in EPA (expected points added) per rush. If only to keep some of the pressure off Josh Allen until the playoffs, they could use some help.”

NBC Sports: 2nd

Author: Josh Schrock

Last Week: 2nd

“Buffalo’s offseason acquisition of Von Miller might be the piece that finally gets them past the Chiefs. Miller closed out Sunday’s win in K.C., but the Bills know they’ll see Patrick Mahomes again.”

CBS Sports: 2nd

Author: Pete Prisco

Last Week: 2nd

“Going to Kansas City and winning is big for down the road come playoff time. Von Miller made a big difference, which is why they paid him.”

Fox Sports: 1st

Author: David Helman

Last Week: 2nd

“No, the Bills are not the last unbeaten team in the NFL. But, for my money, this is currently the most dangerous team in the league, and it just added one of the best wins of the season to its résumé. This was everything we hoped to see from Buffalo in 2022: Josh Allen playing like an MVP, making plays with his arm and his legs while that Bills defense closes things down on Patrick Mahomes when it matters most. Sign me up for a January rematch.”

Yahoo Sports: 1st

Author: Frank Schwab

Last Week: 1st

“The Bills have no excuse to not get the AFC’s No. 1 seed. They won at Kansas City last season and somehow didn’t get the first or second seed. This time they have the win over the Chiefs (and the tiebreaker) and no other team in the conference has fewer than two losses. It is all set up for the Bills to get the all-important top seed.”

USA Today: 1st

Author: Nate Davis

Last Week: 2nd

“You picking anyone to beat them on a neutral field? Sunday’s win at Arrowhead Stadium mapped a path to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. QB Josh Allen is arguably the league MVP through six weeks, and there are already rumblings Buffalo could get better – Odell Beckham? Christian McCaffrey? Throw in a sense of accountability and brotherhood that led S Jordan Poyer – he wasn’t medically cleared to fly – to endure a 15-hour drive to and from Kansas City, where he played all 67 snaps, and it’s tough to not consider the Bills prohibitive Super Bowl favorites.”

Sporting News: 2nd

Author: Vinnie Iyer

Last Week: 2nd

“The Bills made their share of offensive mistakes with Josh Allen against a game Chiefs defense, but in the end, Von Miller’s pass rush and their active secondary made the difference against Patrick Mahomes. There’s no doubt they are heavy AFC championship favorites now.”

WalterFootball.com: 1st

Author: Walter Cherepinsky

Last Week: 1st

“The Bills beat the Chiefs, yet they didn’t even play their ‘A’ game. They made a number of mistakes, yet were able to overcome them and prevail. The difference at the end was Von Miller forcing an interception because of pressure. That’s exactly why Buffalo acquired him.”

Sportsnaut: 1st

Author: Matt Johnson

Last Week: 1st

“The No. 1 defense in the NFL, an elite offense, and the NFL MVP front-runner. If all of that wasn’t enough to put the Buffalo Bills No. 1 in the NFL power rankings, a road victory at Arrowhead Stadium will get it done. This is the best NFL team right now and it will get even better with Tre’Davious White likely returning after the bye week.”

Athlon Sports: 1st

Author: Bryan Fischer

Last Week: 1st

“You could tell when the clock hit zeroes that there was a cathartic celebration on the Bills’ sideline to win that one against the Chiefs after everything that happened in last year’s playoffs. Still a lot of football left to be played but the path to Glendale sure looks like it runs through Western New York now.”

Power Rankings Summary

There we have it. Per the Week 6 Power Rankings, the Buffalo Bills are the consensus leaders of the NFL today. Ranking no lower than 2nd, and only held out of first by the Eagles’ unbeaten record, things seem to be well summarized. The Buffalo Bills are Super Bowl favorites, and they deserve to be.

Sample Size	First	Second	Average
15	10	5	First

For last week’s power rankings, click here, and come back next week for a fresh round of power rankings as the Buffalo Bills get a much-needed rest during their bye week. Have a “Power Rankings” that you think I should include? Reach out to @IestynTHarris on Twitter to let me know!

Featured Image: NFL.com