Media Mashup: Buffalo Bills Week 8 Power Rankings

If we’d known before the season that the Buffalo Bills would be 6-1 after 7 games, would we be satisfied? This schedule was no joke, and we’ve tackled it phenomenally. The latest feat was knocking off the Green Bay Packers in prime time, and though some may be disappointed in the second-half slump, a two-score victory is nothing to turn our noses up at. But what does everyone else think? Here are the Week 8 Buffalo Bills Power Rankings from around the NFL media.

NFL.com: 1st

Author: Dan Hanzus

Last Week: 1st

“The Bills cruised past the Packers in prime time, and it was again Stefon Diggs leading the way on offense. The star wideout posted his third consecutive 100-yard game with a touchdown catch in a 27-17 win in Orchard Park. Buffalo is invincible when Diggs gets his: The Bills have won 11 straight when their No. 1 wideout crosses the receiving century mark. Diggs’ big day served as cover for an attack that struggled when the ball went in different directions on Sunday night: Josh Allen connected on just 7 of 17 attempts for a touchdown and two picks when not targeting Diggs.”

theScore: 2nd

Author: theScore Staff

Last Week: 2nd

“After defeating the Packers on Sunday Night Football, the Bills have now beaten three former NFL MVPs this season to go along with the reigning Super Bowl champions. Buffalo easily leads the league with a 105-point differential, miles ahead of the Eagles, who rank second with 78.”

Bleacher Report: 2nd

Authors: NFL Staff

Last Week: 2nd

“Given that the game itself was effectively never in question, the most exciting thing about Sunday night’s lopsided affair in Buffalo may well have been the war of words between Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander and Bills wideout Stefon Diggs. After hauling in six catches for 108 yards and a score in the victory, Diggs told reporters that, while Alexander started the jawing, he and the Bills finished it.”

“I don’t give a f–k who started it, I finished it. I got the win. I don’t deal with moral victories. I don’t deal with one-on-one battles because it’s not a one-on-one game… It’s a team effort, and I got a dub. I feel like, at the end of the day, there are no moral victories.”

Diggs on Jaire Alexander mouthing off (via Alaina Getzenberg/ESPN)

“Even on a night when Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw two interceptions and the Bills didn’t play their best, this one was never in doubt. After punting on their first series, Buffalo scored on five straight possessions, while the defense stymied Aaron Rodgers and the Packers until the game was already all but decided. The victory only solidified Buffalo’s claim to the title of the AFC’s best team, a claim it will have an opportunity to bolster that much more over the next two weeks. The team faces the surprising Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, followed by a home date with the 6-1 Vikings.”

The Ringer: 1st

Author: Austin Gayle

Last Week: 1st

“Josh Allen had some errant throws and two second-half interceptions against the Packers on Sunday Night Football, but it didn’t matter. The Packers trailed 24-7 after the first two quarters and never brought the game within one score after that. FanDuel’s confidence in Allen and the Bills has not wavered. The Bills are a near even money favorite to win the AFC at +125, and Allen has the same odds to win MVP.”

ESPN: 1st

Author: ESPN Staff

Last Week: 1st

“Reason for optimism: Playing like the best team in the league.”

“Let’s not make this complicated. There are so many reasons to be optimistic about this team. The Bills are beating some of the league’s best teams from last season (5-0 against 2021 playoff teams). Josh Allen is putting up an MVP campaign with 2,452 combined passing and rushing net yards, the second most through seven games in NFL history (Peyton Manning, 2013). Von Miller has made the impact the team hoped for, and the defense leads the league in interceptions (11) despite losing safety Micah Hyde (neck) for the season and dealing with a variety of other injuries in the secondary. Finding the positives about this team isn’t difficult.” — Alaina Getzenberg

The Athletic: 1st

Author: Bo Wulf

Last Week: 1st

“Fact: By EPA (expected points added) per dropback, Josh Allen’s second-half performance against the Packers Sunday night, when he lobbed a pair of lazy-looking interceptions, was his second-worst in any half since the start of 2021. Only a first half against the Dolphins in Week 2 last year rated lower, and the Bills won that game 35-0.”

“Opinion: Listen, when you’re the best team in football, you have to find things to complain about. For Buffalo, if it’s not Allen’s second-half on Sunday night, it’s the injury to safety Jordan Poyer, which continues an injury-plagued season for the secondary. If they’re going to make a deadline-day move, that might be the spot.”

NBC Sports: 2nd

Author: Josh Schrock

Last Week: 2nd

“2019 Josh Allen re-emerged at points Sunday against the Packers. It was weird, but no reason to panic.”

CBS Sports: 2nd

Author: Pete Prisco

Last Week: 2nd

“They just keep on rolling in all areas of the game. It’s time the defense starts getting its due as much as the offense.”

Fox Sports: 2nd

Author: David Helman

Last Week: 1st

“Look, we’re splitting hairs at this point. The Bills are one of the league’s best teams — perhaps even the league’s best team. But they played with their food against the Packers, failing to score a second-half touchdown and turning the ball over twice. It speaks to the Bills’ ability that they were able to beat Green Bay 27-17 despite those miscues. But it’s enough to push them down to the second spot on the board.”

Yahoo Sports:

Author: Frank Schwab

Last Week: 1st

“The Bills keep marching on. One issue could be staying focused, and we saw a bit of that on Sunday night. The Bills were blowing out the Packers and then got a bit sloppy. Josh Allen threw a couple turnovers. They weren’t quite as sharp. And they still won by 10. The Bills just need to lock in and avoid the weird losses that ultimately cost them dearly last season.”

USA Today: 2nd

Author: Nate Davis

Last Week: 1st

“Let’s not take away too much from Buffalo, but the team got a little loose in Sunday night’s win against Green Bay – QB Josh Allen with one of his worst outings of 2022 – while S Jordan Poyer and LB Matt Milano were beaten up. On the plus side, Pro Bowl CB Tre’Davious White’s return is imminent.”

Sporting News: 2nd

Author: Vinnie Iyer

Last Week: 2nd

“The Bills keep on rolling with their aggressive, attacking passing offense with Josh Allen and their strong swarming zone defense. There are little cracks in their armor as an AFC powerhouse as they stay on track for a collision course with the Eagles.”

WalterFootball.com: 1st

Author: Walter Cherepinsky

Last Week: 1st

“The Bills probably could have named the score against the Packers if they tried hard for 60 minutes. That said, they were gashed on the ground, so teams will be looking to exploit this liability.”

Sportsnaut: 1st

Author: Matt Johnson

Last Week: 1st

“The Buffalo Bills remain No. 1 in the NFL power rankings, with minimal consideration for the other top teams in the NFL. On Sunday Night Football, Buffalo used the Green Bay Packers’ defense to start establishing its ground attack. That’s exactly what you want to see from a Super Bowl contender.”

Athlon Sports: 1st

Author: Bryan Fischer

Last Week: 1st

“Second-half turnovers kept things a little closer than expected against the Packers on Sunday night but the best start since 1993 is still something to celebrate. Given the upcoming schedule, playing fellow NFC North contender Minnesota might be the only test left on the docket until the playoffs.”

Power Rankings Summary

Shockingly, despite their crushing performances, some believed the Buffalo Bills second half performance in Week 8 to be enough to drop them down on the Power Rankings. We stay in consensus first place, but it’s a thin line. Remove all doubt with another dominant run in New Jersey this weekend.

Sample Size	First	Second	Average
15	8	7	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 take on the AFC East-rival New York Jets. Have a “Power Rankings” that you think I should include? Reach out to @IestynTHarris on Twitter to let me know!

Featured Image: touchdownactu.com