Josh Allen keeps breaking records. The Buffalo Bills keep piling up wins. And the Bills keep spinning their wheels in the weekly power rankings.
Somehow, incongruously, all three of those statements about the Bills are true. Week 18 reflects this perfectly.
Despite blowing out the New York Jets 40-14 and clinching the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, the Bills inexplicably fell slightly in it’s average weekly ranking.
While it’s still early — most power rankings don’t come out until Tuesday — one site took the Bills’ knees out by dropping them two spots in spite of their dominating win Sunday.
There wasn’t a reason given, just a peculiar change in rankings.
It goes without saying that power rankings aren’t scientific. They are just the weekly opinions of journalists who regularly cover the NFL.
But that change left me scratching my head.
Bills’ average rank this week: 3.16 (last week: 2.8).
Bills ranking: 4 (⬇ two spots)
Patriots ranking: 32 (⬇ one spot)
Bills: The Buffalo Bills lost out on home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the AFC, but Josh Allen certainly gives this team its best Super Bowl hopes in years. Regardless of who people think should ultimately be NFL MVP, Allen has carried this Bills offense like no one else this season. We do tend to believe Buffalo is the third-best team in the AFC right now, but the playoff field has never been more wide-open. Each of these clubs has a weakness and for Buffalo, it’s this defense and how it will fare against the Ravens or Chiefs.
Patriots: We have to think New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has seen enough of Jerod Mayo as head coach. New England’s defense has taken an alarming step backward in Mayo’s first year at the helm and, even with the excuse of a weak roster, this team just isn’t being coached well. There needs to be a legitimate Patriots coaching search this year and that starts with firing Mayo after Week 18.
Bills ranking: 3 (↔)
Patriots ranking: 30 (⬇ one spot)
Bills: Buffalo locked up the No. 2 seed in the AFC with a dominant showing against the New York Jets. Josh Allen (-300) is the favorite to win the MVP.
Patriots: With a blowout loss in Week 17, the Patriots now are in position for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bills ranking: 4 (⬆ one spot)
Patriots ranking: 32 (⬇ three spots)
Bills: My not-so-bold prediction: If Buffalo’s defense can carry over Sunday’s performance into January, the Bills are winning the Super Bowl. No question about it.
Patriots: With the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select …
Bills ranking: 2 (↔)
Patriots ranking: 32 (⬇ four spots)
Bills: Josh Allen has thrown for 3,731 yards with 28 touchdowns this season. He has had six passes intercepted. Is he the MVP?
Patriots: The Patriots have now lost six straight games. They only had 181 total yards against the Chargers.
Bills ranking: 2 (↔)
Patriots ranking: 32 (⬇ five spots)
Bills: The Bills had a smashing tuneup, with the defense getting sharp to rip the Jets. Josh Allen did plenty more to pad his MVP campaign, as they are the best threat in either conference to stop the Chiefs’ run.
Patriots: The Patriots have seen some good things from Drake Maye that will keep getting better, but the defense needs some real overhauling for Jerod Mayo.
Bills ranking: 4 (↔)
Patriots ranking: 32 (⬇ two spots)
Bills: Josh Allen is second in ESPN’s QBR metric.
Patriots: The Patriots are 30th in the NFL in total offense.
