Power rankings: Bills improve but have more proving to do

Sunday’s offensive revival was fantastic. But how about newly acquired CB Rasul Douglas picking off two passes – ending a seven-game drought for Buffalo − and recovering a fumble? Takeaway machine. Imagine if he played against Josh Allen …

Last Week: 11

Josh Allen yelled that he felt like he was back on the sideline against the Jets, and he sure looked like he was back, too. Also, great job by Joe Brady remembering the middle of the field existed, unlike Ken Dorsey.

Beating the Jets at home is one thing. Beating the Eagles in Philly will be quite another.

After a two-game skid and a stretch dating back even longer than that of poor defense, Buffalo found themselves a get-right matchup. Even though the Bills defense lost three more defensive backs DURING THE GAME, they allowed only six points to the Jets.

Unfortunately, things won’t get any easier for the Bills going forward. They still play the Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Dolphins before their season ends.

Last Week: 12

Week 11 Result: Won vs. New York Jets 32-6

It has been an up-and-down season for the Buffalo Bills—one that began with a stunning loss to the Jets in New York. Sunday in Buffalo, the Bills had their chance at revenge—and they took full advantage.

The Bills dominated the Jets in every facet of the game in a blowout win, but while Buffalo put the brakes on a two-game skid, Moton wrote that it’s a game that comes with a caveat.

“Don’t get carried away with the Bills’ 32-6 win over the Jets,” he said. “In that game, the Jets benched quarterback Zach Wilson, which is something they should’ve done weeks ago, and in some ways further self-destructed with Tim Boyle under center. Buffalo tipped over a team that only needed the slightest push to fall apart. Nonetheless, the Bills deserve credit for their highest-scoring output since Week 4.

“Last week, the Bills fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey after a 24-22 Monday night loss to the Denver Broncos, elevated quarterbacks coach Joe Brady and responded with a balanced performance against a top-10 defense in total yards and points. Buffalo racked up 130 yards on the ground, and Josh Allen threw for 275 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The Bills have to do more than beat a Jets team with a glaring quarterback issue on a downslide to get back in the Super Bowl discussion, though. In the next four weeks, they’ll play the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. If Buffalo comes out of that gauntlet 2-1, it would likely earn a spot near the top of our power rankings again.”

(Last week: 16)

Sunday: Beat New York Jets 32-6

Are they good? Yes

When they don’t turn the ball over. Buffalo is fifth in the league in turnovers (19) but fourth in the league in scoring margin (104) and third in yards per play (6). Here’s the problem: Buffalo’s next three games are against Philadelphia, Kansas City and Dallas. This might be a good team that’s watching the playoffs on TV.

Up next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

When a team takes a drastic measure, such as a midseason coordinator firing, what it can’t do is come out and look worse in the very next game. Thankfully, new offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s debut was a success, overseeing the Bills’ most impressive offensive showing in a few games. It wasn’t the potency we saw from Buffalo in Weeks 2 through 4, but very good overall, even if things warmed up slowly. The Bills certainly will take the 32-6 win over the Jets, as they’re still in the playoff race at 6-5, but the upcoming schedule is no joke. The true tests will come on the road against the Eagles and Chiefs over the next two games, with a Week 13 bye in between. Win those, and Buffalo can make a real statement. But that’s quite the ask from a team that hasn’t won a road game since Week 3 at the Commanders. A lot has changed since then.

Josh Allen and the offense looked much crisper with Joe Brady calling plays against the Jets. Allen was much more patient than in recent games.

Are the Bills back? Putting up 32 points on a Jets defense that has given elite quarterbacks fits all season is certainly a good sign. Maybe Ken Dorsey was the problem. (He wasn’t.)

Week 11 ranking: 14

Preseason hot seat: OT Spencer Brown
Current temperature of hot seat: Cold

The temperature has turned down 11 games into Brown’s third season, in part, because of inconsistency on offense overall. In only three games fewer than he played last year, Brown has been attributed two sacks compared to seven in 2022. His 89.9% pass block win rate is just under last year’s (91.4%) and the lowest among the team’s starting linemen, but he has a career-high 78.9% run block win rate, which leads the team. The offensive line is among the areas the Bills will evaluate in the offseason, and Brown needs to trend in a positive direction going into the final year of his rookie deal.