Buffalo Bills rise in Week 5 NFL power rankings

[Woodman]

We’ll start over at ESPN, where their ranking committee has Buffalo at No. 3 overall (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38505927/nfl-week-5-power-rankings-poll-2023-plus-biggest-issues-defense). That makes them the AFC’s top team on the list, as only the San Francisco 49ers (https://www.ninersnation.com/) and the Philadelphia Eagles (https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/) are ahead of them. Alaina Getzenberg was tasked with writing about the team’s defense, listing their defensive efficiency and their biggest issue on the stop unit. Buffalo currently ranks fourth in the league in defensive efficiency, posting a 76.8 number per ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). Getzenberg notes that Buffalo’s biggest issue on defense is now the absence of All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White, who will miss the remainder of the season with a torn Achilles tendon.

Nate Davis at USA Today has the Bills ranked No. 2 overall this week (https://go.redirectingat.com/?xcust=___sb__p_23665251__t_w__r_buffalorumblings.com__d_&id=66960X1641776&xs=1&url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2023/10/03/nfl-power-rankings-cowboys-bills-steelers-week-5/71040409007/&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/10/3/23901210/buffalo-bills-rise-in-week-five-nfl-power-rankings-josh-allen-stefon-diggs-tredavious-white), training only the 49ers in his poll. Davis wrote that Sunday provided a “timely reminder that [Buffalo is] the NFL’s best home team (https://go.redirectingat.com/?xcust=___sb__p_23665251__t_w__r_buffalorumblings.com__d_&id=66960X1641776&xs=1&url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/bell/2023/10/01/buffalo-bills-rout-of-miami-dolphins-send-major-statement-around-nfl/71028401007/&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2023/10/3/23901210/buffalo-bills-rise-in-week-five-nfl-power-rankings-josh-allen-stefon-diggs-tredavious-white) (26-6) since 2020, and [Buffalo] could very well be at Highmark Stadium deep into January. He also notes that losing White is a huge blow to a defense that has looked every bit the elite unit that we’ve come to expect.

Dalton Miller over at Pro Football Network has the Bills ranked No. 3 overall (https://www.profootballnetwork.com/week-5-nfl-power-rankings-dalton-miller-2023/), trailing only the 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs (https://www.arrowheadpride.com/). He notes that Miami looked “unstoppable” offensively through the first three weeks, and the Bills proved that they are clearly stoppable on that side of the ball. He noted that people ignored Miami’s defensive flaws because they were “chasing lasers” down the field, but it was those defensive flaws that bit the Dolphins against an elite Buffalo offense.

[sahlensguy]

Should be #2 on the list. Philly almost lost to the Commies but Riverboat Ron chose to not go for 2 at the end of regulation.

[Woodman]

Should be #2 on the list. Philly almost lost to the Commies but Riverboat Ron chose to not go for 2 at the end of regulation.

I agree they just don't really look sharp ..... that may change down the road but right now they are not.

[Novacane]

I don't care about power rankings. KC is the AFC favorite until we or someone else knock them off IMO.

[Woodman]

I don't care about power rankings. KC is the AFC favorite until we or someone else knock them off IMO.
They just don't scare me at all if I'm being honest .... but you're right they need to be dealt with before anybody else can claim number 1 in the AFC right now.

[sahlensguy]

I don't care about power rankings. KC is the AFC favorite until we or someone else knock them off IMO.

Well it's kind of important in the sense that a higher ranking goes to teams with better records and the fact that Patrick Mahommes has never played an away game in the playoffs.

[Woodman]

Well it's kind of important in the sense that a higher ranking goes to teams with better records and the fact that Patrick Mahommes has never played an away game in the playoffs.

Very good point. :cheers:

[OpIv37]

Power rankings are just opinions. None of the highest ranked teams have played each other yet.

In Nov and Dec, we have 3 consecutive games against other teams at thr top pf the rankings: Philly, KC, and Dallas. We will know if these rankings mean anything after those games.

[Woodman]

4 or 5 more weeks will paint a clearer picture.

[notacon]

You really get a realistic feel of where the teams are after week 4.

There are only four elite teams in the NFL today....

Bills
KC
Philly
49ers.

Dallas and Baltimore are just outside this four. Cincy is NOT. They are not done for the year by any stretch, but right now, they are a mess.

Detroit and Miami are also within that ‘just barely outside elite’. All of these eight team have either no or one loss. The other two teams with only one loss, Tampa Bay and Seattle, are pretenders.

As the year progresses and the injuries pile up, that will change as well for sure.

As a dedicated Buffalo Bills fan, I don’t give a crap where the NFC teams stack up.....the only time that matters is in the Super Bowl.

But, out of all the AFC teams, BUFFALO is in the most enviable position. They have looked like the best team (in the AFC) through 4 games. After the Josh Allen debacle in NYC, they have been an unstoppable juggernaut. Keep on stacking wins is the mantra now.

[notacon]

Power rankings are just opinions. None of the highest ranked teams have played each other yet.

In Nov and Dec, we have 3 consecutive games against other teams at thr top pf the rankings: Philly, KC, and Dallas. We will know if these rankings mean anything after those games.

Ranking change every week dependent on performance up until the week they come out.

Today’s rankings have nothing to do with expected performance SEVEN to TEN weeks from now.

We DO know that what the rankings mean TODAY. And they are very close to spot on in respect that the top six or so teams are pretty much a consensus.

[sukie]

You really get a realistic feel of where the teams are after week 4.

There are only four elite teams in the NFL today....

Bills
KC
Philly
49ers.

Dallas and Baltimore are just outside this four. Cincy is NOT. They are not done for the year by any stretch, but right now, they are a mess.

Detroit and Miami are also within that ‘just barely outside elite’. All of these eight team have either no or one loss. The other two teams with only one loss, Tampa Bay and Seattle, are pretenders.

As the year progresses and the injuries pile up, that will change as well for sure.

As a dedicated Buffalo Bills fan, I don’t give a crap where the NFC teams stack up.....the only time that matters is in the Super Bowl.

But, out of all the AFC teams, BUFFALO is in the most enviable position. They have looked like the best team (in the AFC) through 4 games. After the Josh Allen debacle in NYC, they have been an unstoppable juggernaut. Keep on stacking wins is the mantra now.
KC and Philly haven’t looked as dominant and 1 could argue Miami is better than KC…if the defending champ afterglow is not in the equation.

[Woodman]

KC and Philly haven’t looked as dominant and 1 could argue Miami is better than KC…if the defending champ afterglow is not in the equation.
I think Miami would beat the crap out of KC or Philly jmho.

[sahlensguy]

I think Miami would beat the crap out of KC or Philly jmho.

If Philly is anything like last year, they would abuse Miami in the trenches. Not sure about this year but I think Philly takes them.

[Woodman]

If Philly is anything like last year, they would abuse Miami in the trenches. Not sure about this year but I think Philly takes them.
When I watch the Eagles I see that strength you mention in the trenches. I just don't see the scary offense at all ... and when the Dolphins I should say if the Dolphins get Phillips back that defense is different and would be effective against the Eagles IMO.

Hurts is not Allen not even close ..... so in a shootout I'd favor the fish .... I would love seeing them (the fish) get crushed of course every week .....

[Chet]

If Philly is anything like last year, they would abuse Miami in the trenches. Not sure about this year but I think Philly takes them.

Gotta agree with this. Especially if Liam Eichenberg sees game action against the Eagles, then you can bet Tua will be eating his food through a straw the rest of his days

[notacon]

KC and Philly haven’t looked as dominant and 1 could argue Miami is better than KC…if the defending champ afterglow is not in the equation.

Yep.

KC struggled to get past NY Jets. Mahomes had one of his worst games as a pro in NJ and is starting this season the worst of his career. Of course, the level he has maintained is above every other QB in the NFL, so his "starting this season the worst of his career” is still pretty damn good.

Larry Holder of The Athletic, published “QB EPA ranking” every week (https://theathletic.com/4919774/2023/10/04/nfl-qb-rankings-patrick-mahomes-brock-purdy/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983). This is what he observed from Mahomes....


The New York Jets (https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/jets/) gave Mahomes more fits than perhaps he anticipated. His 63.6 passer rating in Week 4 was the fifth-lowest single-game rate of his career with one touchdown and two interceptions. Yes, the bar set for Mahomes breaks through the roof. Still, he’s off to the worst start of his NFL career in EPA rate and passer rating:

Mahomes EPA per dropback (Weeks 1-4)


2018: 0.41
2019: 0.42
2020: 0.31
2021: 0.44
2022: 0.30
2023: 0.16

Mahomes Passer rating (Weeks 1-4)


2018: 126.5
2019: 120.4
2020: 114.1
2021: 119.6
2022: 108.4
2023: 92.0



This is what he observed about Josh Allen....


Josh Allen (https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/josh-allen-u9Ir75uJrUbmuoqn/) played the best game of his NFL career in Week 4 in terms of EPA rate, passer rating and completion percentage. He compiled the 34th perfect passer rating since 2000 during the Bills’ throttling of the Dolphins. So it makes sense that his 0.67 EPA rate and 84.0 completion percentage stand as single-game career highs. It’s the second time Allen completed more than 80 percent of his throws this season (83.8 percent, Week 2 vs. Raiders (https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/raiders/)), which has led to him leading the NFL in this stat through four weeks.

This is what Alan Getzenberg of ESPN, observed of the Bills offense....

Bills offense chasing history behind Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs (https://www.espn.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/38305/bills-offense-chasing-history-behind-josh-allen-stefon-diggs)


The Buffalo Bills (https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/buf/buffalo-bills)' season started with a mistake-filled overtime loss to the New York Jets (https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets) where the offense scored just 16 points.

How things have changed. After the team’s 48-20 win over the Miami Dolphins (https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/mia/miami-dolphins) in Week 4, the Bills have won three in a row and now have the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL (33 points per game) -- making some history along the way.



….snip…

Despite the subpar Week 1 performance, the Bills became just the sixth team to score at least 135 points and allow fewer than 60 points through the first four games of a season. The previous five teams to do it all went on to play in the Super Bowl. Quarterback Josh Allen (https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3918298/josh-allen) is leading the offensive explosion with the team scoring 35 or more points in three straight games -- one more would tie the franchise record set in 2004 and 2021.


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[Woodman]

Rank us after we hoist the Lombardi.