The Buffalo Bills (13-3) head into Week 17 fresh off a win over the New York Jets.
Coming into the year, many were all over the place when ranking how the Bills stacked up against the rest of the league. But now it’s clear that they are one of the league’s best.
Here’s how the Bills fare in national media power rankings polls heading into Week 18:
USA Today
USA Today Sports
It would be a copout to cluster a half-dozen teams as tied for first place here, though certainly not difficult to make compelling cases that that many clubs – at minimum – should be viewed as bona fide Super Bowl contenders. But the Bills have had a special season, winning all their home games for the first time in 34 years, establishing franchise records for total touchdowns (63) and points (509) all while being led by the possible league MVP in QB Josh Allen. Could this be the year they finally break through for their first Lombardi Trophy?
Pro Football Talk
USA Today Sports
Bleacher Report
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Sunday, the Bills clinched the AFC’s No. 2 seed, which is huge for a team that’s undefeated at home this season. They would go on the road for an AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs, but this Buffalo team seems equipped to get over the Kansas City playoff hump. The Bills beat the Chiefs in November, and they’ve scored 30-plus points in nine of their last 10 games.
The Athletic
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The last time the Bills won a championship, Lou Saban was their head coach. That was the 1965 AFL title. Since then, it has been a painful history of almosts — four straight Super Bowl losses from 1990 to 1993 and an active streak of five straight playoff appearances that have ended in defeat. The way Josh Allen is playing, this team has a chance to change everything. He was 16-for-27 passing for 182 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown Sunday to keep pace with Lamar Jackson in the MVP race.
ESPN
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Biggest offseason contract situation to watch: Wide receiver Amari Cooper
There are big decisions to be made, including with linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Rasul Douglas, but the wide receiver room will be intriguing. That’s heightened by the success the team has had spreading the ball around. After trading for Cooper midseason, he’s set to become a free agent. He has impacted the offense but has just 20 receptions for 297 yards and two touchdowns and is playing the fewest snaps of his career (45.9%). Will heavily investing in a wide receiver make sense for Buffalo with a player like Cooper? Whether he takes on a bigger role in the playoffs could be telling. — Alaina Getzenberg
