Week 2 Power Rankings: Where Are The Buffalo Bills?

After a stunning loss to the hobbled New York Jets in Week 1, the Buffalo Bills rebounded in Week 2 with a resounding win against the Las Vegas Raiders. The weekly Power Rankings are here, so let’s take a look at what the media has to say about the Buffalo Bills after their home opener.

NFL.com: 6th

Last Week: 8th

Author: Eric Edholm

The win over the Raiders was exactly the kind of performance Bills fans wanted to see after the meltdown in Week 1. Josh Allen made his standard share of freewheeling plays (the TD pass to Khalil Shakir, my goodness), but he didn’t play fast and loosely like he did against the Jets. Allen avoided the facepalm turnovers and mostly took the little gains the Raiders gave him, which allowed those moments of pure improvisational beauty — later, the third-and-6 connection with Gabe Davis for 40 yards — to arrive more organically. And even with inconsistent pressure, the defense was more than up to the challenge, holding Las Vegas to 10 points and forcing three turnovers. That is more like what I expected from Buffalo coming into the season.

theScore: 7th

Last Week: 7th

Author: theScore Staff

The Bills gave the answer their fans were expecting with a blowout win over the Raiders after a disappointing season-opening loss. Buffalo now visits the Commanders before hosting the Dolphins in a game that should give us a good idea of how competitive this team will be.

Bleacher Report: 6th

Last Week: 6th

Authors: NFL Staff

In Week 1, the Buffalo Bills were stunned by the Zach Wilson-led New York Jets — largely because Bills quarterback Josh Allen turned the ball over four times.

In their home opener in Week 2, Allen and the Bills took out their frustrations on the Las Vegas Raiders.

There isn’t much that didn’t go right for the Bills on Sunday. Running back James Cook gouged the Raiders for 123 rushing yards and averaged over seven yards a carry. Allen played a mistake-free game, passing for 274 yards and three touchdowns. And the Buffalo defense put the clamps on Vegas, allowing just 240 yards of offense, forcing three turnovers and holding the Raiders to less than 20 minutes of time of possession.

Allen told reporters after the victory that he used last week’s frustration and disappointment as fuel for this week’s performance.

“I love feeling how I felt last week. I really do, because it makes the good feel that much better. I take the bad with the good, I understand it, and I’m just trying to let it fuel me and use it to my benefit.”

Josh Allen on using Week 1’s loss as motivation (via Bleacher Report)

“This was the Bills team we all expected to see this season,” Davenport said. “The offense was explosive. The defense was smothering. These Bills looked like a team more than capable of making it to Vegas and Super Bowl LVIII. It just goes to show that at the end of the day, the biggest threat to Buffalo making a deep playoff run is Buffalo. Turnovers and mistakes are as big a threat as the Chiefs or Bengals.”

ESPN: 7th

Last Week: 9th

Author: ESPN Staff

Player [To Monitor]: WR Gabe Davis

Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Davis is playing on the final year of his rookie deal after the Bills drafted him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. He suffered a high ankle sprain prior to Week 2 last season and finished with 48 catches for 836 yards and seven touchdowns but was often targeted on throws downfield and had nine drops. Davis is a strong run-blocker, was named a team captain for the first time in 2023 and has eight catches for 124 yards and a score so far this season. His future in Buffalo will depend on what he wants in a contract and if the Bills think he is the best option to pair with Stefon Diggs going forward. — Alaina Getzenberg

The Athletic: 10th

Last Week: 19th

Author: Josh Kendall

Good Josh Allen showed up Sunday. After his season-opening meltdown, Allen was 31-for-37 for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Raiders. It was his fifth career game with three or more touchdowns and a completion percentage above 80, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

NBC Sports: 7th

Last Week: 14th

Author: Josh Schrock

Maybe Week 1 was too early to bury Josh Allen. Just maybe.

CBS Sports: 7th

Last Week: 12th

Author: Pete Prisco

So much for the idea that Josh Allen can’t play anymore after the Jets debacle. He responded in a big way against the Raiders.

Fox Sports: 7th

Last Week: 7th

Author: David Helman

Good Josh Allen showed up, which was guaranteed to mean bad things for the Raiders. I expected Buffalo to cover the large point spread of -8.5, but they obliterated it. More impressive than anything Allen and his offense did in the 38-10 win: the Bills defense held Josh Jacobs to -2 yards on nine carries.

Yahoo Sports: 5th

Last Week: 5th

Author: Frank Schwab

The Bills might have found something out with James Cook on Sunday. He had 123 yards on 17 carries. Can he be a true No. 1 back and much-needed offensive weapon around Josh Allen? It looked like it against the Raiders.

USA Today: 5th

Last Week: 8th

Author: Nate Davis

A clean turnover sheet for QB Josh Allen is great. But how encouraging is the offensive balance, RB James Cook setting career highs Sunday with 17 carries and 123 yards?

Sporting News: 6th

Last Week: 8th

Author: Vinnie Iyer

The Bills took full advantage offensively and defensively as a teed-up get well game at home agains the Raiders to settle Josh Allen and their most talented principals. They can’t look past the Commanders before a Dolphins clash.

WalterFootball.com: 3rd

Last Week: 5th

Author: Walter Cherepinsky

I saw some known football people on Twitter opine that “Josh Allen sucks” after the Bills lost to the Jets in the opener. As it turns out, this was an overreaction, as the Bills absolutely dominated the Raiders, with Allen going 31-of-37.

Sportsnaut: 7th

Last Week: 10th

Author: Matt Johnson

That’s more like it. Josh Allen still played a little too reckless on Sunday, exposing himself to hits that have long-term consequences, but the performance was impressive. What really stood out was the Bills’ defense, holding All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs to negative yardage and erasing the Raiders’ offense after a touchdown on the opening drive.

Buffalo Bills Power Rankings Summary

The Buffalo Bills haven’t yet returned to their league-darling status of yesteryear, but they shot back up the Power Rankings for Week 2. They put on a masterclass against the Las Vegas Raiders to highlight that they are in fact still the team to beat in the AFC East this season. Josh Allen was without flaws, and the defense hummed along in mind season form.

Sample Size	Third	Fifth	Sixth	Seventh	Tenth	Average
13	1	2	3	6	1	6th/7th

Check out last week’s rankings, and come back next week for a fresh round of Power Rankings after the Buffalo Bills visit the Washington Commanders. Have a “Power Ranking” that you think I should include? Reach out to @IestynTHarris on Twitter to let me know!

Featured Image Credit: Jamie Germano/USA TODAY NETWORK