The Bills fell from the top spot with their loss to the Tennessee Titans but remained in several outlets' top fives entering the bye week. Here's your weekly roundup.
2. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 1
Week 1 confidence rating: 6.3
How it's going now: 7.8
With the way the Bills played against the Steelers to start the season, the initial rating seemed spot-on. Since then, Buffalo has played like one of the best teams in the NFL, winning every game outside of Monday night's loss to the Titans. Honestly, Buffalo's rating could be higher, especially after the way the win in Kansas City went. This team has an incredibly high ceiling, and the confidence will only increase as it fixes the issues that were on display in Tennessee. The Bills still have the potential to be the best team in the AFC, if not the league. -- Alaina Getzenberg
2. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 1
Sean McDermott might receive criticism for his decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 rather than kick the chip-shot field goal late in the closing seconds against the Titans, but he won't deserve it. The coaches who matter in today's NFL eschew conservative decision-making in favor of trust in their best players. On Monday night, with the game hanging in the balance, McDermott put his faith in Josh Allen to secure the win. The disastrous outcome -- Buffalo's offensive line was compromised by Titans bodies and Allen lost his footing short of the marker -- is unfortunate, but the Bills likely went to the locker room knowing that's a game they win nine out of 10 times.
4. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 3
Wonder what they'll be talking about on the radio in Buffalo on Monday?
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott's decision to eschew a short field goal and overtime for a Josh Allen sneak (that was unsuccessful) late in Monday night's tilt in Nashville will be dissected. Criticized. Bemoaned, even.
It's not why the Bills lost the game.
The Bills lost because they had no answer for Derrick Henry, who rolled for 143 yards and three touchdowns. The Bills lost because a defense that had been playing lights-out allowed the Titans to score on six consecutive drives (not counting a one-play "drive" at the end of the first half).
Maybe it was a bit of a letdown after last week's massive win in Kansas City. Looking ahead a bit to next week's bye. Or maybe the Bills just caught an angry Titans team that wanted to send a message.
Whatever the reason, the Bills now have two weeks to think about what went wrong. And to remedy it.
4. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 3
The Bills' Week 1 misstep against the Steelers doesn't look so bad now with multiple big wins since, topped by toppling Kansas City. They better hope the letdown at Tennessee doesn't cost them later.
6. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 2
It's not like losing in the final seconds at Tennessee is that bad. But for a team that has Super Bowl hopes, every loss is going to sting. The No. 1 seed is incredibly important because only one team gets a bye in each conference with the expanded playoffs. That failed fourth-down quarterback sneak, while the right call, is going to loom in the AFC playoff picture all season.
6. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 2
There's no shame in getting steamrolled by Derrick Henry—Monday night's loss came down to that, plus some red-zone issues for an offense that really should be better on a short field (four trips inside the Titans' 10 and only 14 points to show for it). And the quarterback slipping on a game-deciding fourth-and-inches sneak, that's also no good.
7. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 2
What happened to the defense Monday night? Even Josh Allen couldn't bail them out. The decision to go for the touchdown late was the right call.
8. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 1
Coach Sean McDermott opted against a game-tying field goal in the final seconds Monday night at Tennessee and put the ball in QB Josh Allen's hands for a fourth-down attempt. It didn't work. The Bills had looked practically unbeatable during their four-game winning streak. But the Titans showed that, while the Bills are very good, they certainly can be beaten.
8. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Their four-game streak with at least 35 points came to an end in Nashville as did their status as prohibitive AFC favorites, Buffalo is now projected as the conference's fourth playoff seed through six weeks.
