Power rankings: Bills stay near top after beating Chargers

Given their season-ending charge, his 40 TDs produced (27 passing, 13 rushing), and the apparent front runners mostly stuck in reverse, is QB Josh Allen going to wind up as the league MVP?

Last Week: 3

Buffalo has won three straight games, and one more win will all but lock up a playoff spot. If they win next week, and if the Ravens defeat the Dolphins, Week 18 in Miami is for the division.

Week 18 could still be for the AFC East crown, and possibly the No. 2 seed.

The NFL is a funny place. Just a week ago the Bills were throttling the Dallas Cowboys at home. However, a flight across the nation to a five-win Chargers team with their backup quarterback and an interim head coach nearly beat them.

Any team can beat anybody, but if there is one roster that the division winners (if Buffalo does not win the AFC East) don’t want to face in the Wild Card Round, it’s these Bills.

Last Week: 8

Week 16 Result: Won at Los Angeles Chargers 24-22

The Buffalo Bills went into Week 16 trying to keep their playoff hopes alive against a Chargers team short its starting quarterback and with an interim head coach—so of course Buffalo fell behind 10-0.

However, the Bills rallied, and by virtue of losses by the Colts and Texans on Sunday, the Bills control their own destiny with two games to play.

To quarterback Josh Allen, who accounted for all three Bills touchdowns, the postseason has already started—he told reporters that now every week is simply a matter of survive and advance.

“It’s tough because when you’re playing a team with nothing to lose, that’s a dangerous team. We gutted it out and we found a way,” said Allen. “This is our playoffs. It didn’t matter how we get them done, just get them done.”

Head coach Sean McDermott credited the Chargers for throwing the Bills an early curveball.

“(The Chargers) were doing some things that they hadn’t shown (this season). They came in well-prepared,” McDermott said. “I thought our guys settled in and responded. We did a good job in the red zone and had some big plays on third down to help us out.”

The Bills will he heavy favorites in Week 17 against the Patriots. But come Week 18, Buffalo travels to Miami to face the Dolphins in what could be a “win-and-in” scenario.

(Last week: 3)

Saturday: Beat Los Angeles Chargers 24-22

MVP: Josh Allen

Sure, he leads the NFL in turnovers (18), but with plus-1,000 odds at BetMGM, Allen might be the most sensible bet in the field for league MVP. On Saturday, Allen became the first player in NFL history to post four straight seasons of 40-plus touchdowns. He had two rushing scores and one passing touchdown. If he leads Buffalo to the playoffs, no one wants to play this team.

Up next: vs. New England Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

I hedged a bit last week, placing the Bills in the No. 8 spot — and boy, did I hear about it. Some readers wanted them at No. 2! I wasn’t about to do that, and Saturday’s struggle against the Chargers was a reminder of how off they’ve been at various times this season. It might not be the start of a trend, but it’s not exactly the kind of performance that boosts confidence in the big picture. Second-year back James Cook went from season-saving hero to fumble-prone concern in the span of a week. Buffalo’s defense came up with timely plays from Ed Oliver, Rasul Douglas and Taron Johnson. And when he needed to be, Josh Allen was money. But it’s like I tell my kids all the time: It doesn’t have to be that difficult. That said, the Bills are never boring! With the playoffs still hanging in the balance, expect a few more plot twists before it’s all said and done.

They didn’t look great against the Chargers, but they found a way late. They have worked themselves back into being a playoff team right now.

I’m willing to excuse a bad Bills performance on Saturday. It was a letdown spot after big games against the Eagles, Chiefs and Cowboys, and they did win. But that performance is also why it’s tough to trust Buffalo.