Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills head into Week 4 of NFL action undefeated, now set to face a rather downtrodden team in the New Orleans Saints. The last things the Bills should do is treat an opponent they rare see as an afterthought, but the truth is these are two teams headed in opposite directions at the moment.
Currently, almost every print and digital outlet sees Buffalo among the very best in the NFL. That makes it difficult to look anywhere but down the road if you’re a fan, especially when ESPN gives the Bills the best playoff odds in their four key metrics — and ones far better than any other team (and improved from last week at this time).
Okay, yes, I said last week that it was too early to start talking about the playoffs. That’s still mostly true.
Back on track… The wildest part? Buffalo has yet to put together a complete game, and it feels like their best is yet to come. Hopefully that means playoffs in 2025, and playing their best football at the perfect moment. What do national pundits from some well-known publications (and others off the beaten path) say about the Bills following their Week 3 win over the Miami Dolphins?
In what’s likely to become a tidy refrain in this space, let’s live in the present and dive into the latest NFL power rankings, passing the mic to rankings experts around the country. This week, we’ll use a reverse pyramid, going from “worst” ranking on up. Ready?
“Biggest issue on defense: Getting off the field”
“The Bills’ defense was incredibly effective against the Jets in Week 2, but Buffalo struggled to end drives versus Baltimore and Miami. Third downs were a specific issue against the Dolphins, who converted 10 of 15 attempts to keep that game close. The Bills also have given up five touchdowns in the red zone this season. Buffalo hopes linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle Ed Oliver will solve this issue when they return after being injured.” — Alaina Getzenberg
“Letting the Miami Dolphins get too close for comfort costs the Bills just enough in my hidden, unspoken fractional scoring system, which I do not disclose or speak about other than to say that I wield my power joyfully but also sometimes irresponsibly and harshly. Please let the Eagles and Bills play in the Super Bowl as I predicted. It’s the only satisfying outcome.” — Conor Orr
“The offense was methodical and effective against the Dolphins but really lacked a big-play element in the passing game, something that lingered a bit from the Jets game. Defensively, Buffalo also kept the door open for Miami to steal a win by allowing 10-of-15 third-down conversions. In the end, the Bills made enough plays and are earning a reputation as closers, having grown...
