After their loss to the Bengals Sunday night, here’s where different publications have the Bills in their power rankings, along with a quick blurb for each.
USA Today Bills Rank: 9
They’ve only got one more road game (at Philadelphia) before December 10 – a good time to right the ship given the advantage Buffalo enjoys at Orchard Park … and maybe to try and evolve this offense beyond QB Josh Allen running or throwing to WR Stefon Diggs.
ESPN Bills Rank: 11
For all the inconsistencies that have plagued the Bills’ offense this season, it’s hard to imagine where the unit would be without Diggs. He is consistently making splash plays, such as a 34-yard gain on the opening drive against the Bengals that got the Bills moving downfield, and is arguably the most reliable performer on an offense that is dealing with its share of issues. Diggs leads the team in almost every receiving category (70 receptions for 834 yards and seven touchdowns), and getting Diggs the ball is a recipe for success.—Alaina Getzenberg
NFL.com Bills Rank: 11
You can convince yourself that Sunday’s loss was just a Bengals problem; it was clear last season Cincinnati had an edge against this Bills team, and perhaps that edge just carried over. But Buffalo is now 5-4, and the offense has arguably had as many issues as the defense, at least relative to expectation. The Bills put together an impressive 85-yard TD drive on their first possession, then gained just 108 yards in their next six drives. The offensive line wasn’t really an issue. The offensive personnel appears to be in decent shape. But the up-tempo pace and some of the four-wide formations they seemingly flourished with against Tampa were nowhere to be found against the Bengals. Can they secure five more victories somewhere against a really tough remaining schedule?
Fox News Bills Rank: 12
What is wrong with the Bills? Josh Allen is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with nine, as the offense looks out of sorts. The Bills have not scored 30 or more points since their win over the Dolphins. With the injuries on defense, the offense has to get back. That could begin with the Broncos on Sunday.
Bleacher Report Bills Rank: 9
There could be trouble brewing in Buffalo.
After surprisingly dropping the season opener to the New York Jets, the Bills peeled off three straight wins, including a blowout victory over the Miami Dolphins. But over the last month, the Bills have looked—average. The Bills are 2-3 over the past five, and even the wins weren’t all that impressive—single-digit victories over the Buccaneers and Giants.
Now, after falling in Cincinnati Sunday night, the Bills are just a game above .500, and while talking to the media after the game, quarterback Josh Allen said the offense has been far too inconsistent of late.
“Just finding a way to get into a rhythm,” Allen said. “Come out on an opening drive, had some success moving the ball and obviously hit a lull there and didn’t score until late in the fourth. We had our opportunities, [but] didn’t score before the half, didn’t get six on the first drive of the second half. That’s not complementary football.”
Add in a defense that continues to be beset by injuries (leading tackler Terrel Bernard went down with a head injury against the Bengals) and one of the NFL’s most difficult schedules the rest of the way, and there’s cause for some concern in Western New York at the season’s halfway point.
Yahoo Sports Bills Rank: 11
Von Miller’s whiff on Joe Mixon in the backfield, when the Bills needed a tackle on third down to get the ball back, sums up where the Bills are at. The power is there, but Buffalo is a step behind. Buffalo is about a coinflip to make the playoffs at this point. It seems like a decent bet that the Bills will make the postseason, but it’s surprising this conversation is taking place after 9 weeks.
CBS Bills Rank: 10
They have offensive issues in large part because of the play-calling. They need to let Josh Allen play fast because the defense has lost too many players.
