Buffalo Rumblings
We begin the same as last week, pointing out that the Buffalo Bills remain undefeated — only now heading into a Week 5 matchup with the New England Patriots. The Bills are the only undefeated team in the AFC, and one of just two overall with the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles the other 4-0 squad.
Buffalo is once again among the NFL’s best teams, but they aren’t without flaws. A fair amount of Bills Mafia remain concerned about the defense, which has taken its lumps in playing a bend-but-don’t-break style that’s also incorporating more man-cover looks than historically under head coach Sean McDermott.
With quarterback Josh Allen, elite play is a given. However, it’s running back James Cook and Buffalo’s run offense that’s really decimated teams in September. Of course, there’s room for improvement on offense too, which starts with avoiding mid-game lulls that allow opponents to remain close until late in regulation.
After starting right tackle Spencer Brown missed Week 4 due to injury, it’s clear that the offensive line is among the most important units to Buffalo’s season. Though many saw struggle by Allen and the Bills to pull away early from the New Orleans Saints, watching what unfolded along the line without Brown in action explains a lot of the surprising trouble. So, too, should be the case for Buffalo’s defensive line, which may see the return of defensive tackle Ed Oliver in Week 5.
What does all of that mean in terms of power rankings? Let’s dive in, first by taking a look at ESPN’s playoff odds for the Bills in four key metrics. There’s a change in two metrics, with slight decreases in Buffalo’s odds of making the playoffs (now 97%; was 98%), and odds of winning the division (now 89%; was 95%). Interestingly, the Bills saw their odds at winning a playoff bye increase (now 50%; was 48%).
Another thing I pointed out last week that still remains true is that “Buffalo has yet to put together a complete game, and it feels like their best is yet to come.” That should scare teams, knowing that they’re likely to face the best version of the Bills down the road.
Moving on to thoughts from national pundits about Buffalo’s win over the New Orleans Saints with a now tidy refrain in this space…
Let’s live in the present and dive into the latest NFL power rankings, passing the mic to heirachy experts around the country. Ready?
“Biggest issue on offense: Consistency in middle quarters”
“This is nitpicky, but consistency has been Buffalo’s biggest issue. Even though it has scored a touchdown on every opening possession this season, the offense has been noticeably worse in the middle of games. In the first and fourth quarters, the Bills have averaged 10.9 points and 112.3 yards. In the second and third quarters, those numbers drop to 5.8 and 89.8, respectively. There are other areas to...
