The Buffalo Bills play football in five days. I repeat, the Buffalo Bills play football in five days. That mean’s its time for NFL power rankings. For Bills fans there is some give and take in this season’s first iteration.
First and foremost, the team came in at number three on Eric Edholm’s list. This is one spot above the thorn in the side of the city of Buffalo that is the Kansas City Chiefs. The visual of the charging Buffalo sitting atop the arrowhead is enough to bring a sheepish grin to the faces of Bills Mafia.
Now for the bad side. Just as the Bills sit atop the Chiefs, the Bills’ Week 1 opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, sit one above them.
A haunting omen for what is shaping up to be one of the most fantastic Week 1 matchups in Sunday Night Football history.
Why Buffalo Earned The Third Spot
First and foremost, Edholm isn’t worried about the rest of the East quite yet. The Patriots will be competitive, the Jets have a new coach, and the Dolphins have their problems, but Edholm says it will be no sweat off the MVP’s back.
Also, looking ahead at the Bills’ schedule, the team’s four toughest games are all at home.
“The Bills face some tough games, but they’re mostly in Orchard Park, in the final season before they open a new stadium,” says NFL.com’s lead writer. “They’d love nothing more than to send their current home off with a few playoff wins, followed by a trip to the Super Bowl.”
It is kind of insane how the schedule cracked out for Buffalo. The team has the Ravens, the Chiefs, the Bengals, and the Eagles on the ledger, but all four games will take place at Highmark Stadium. Even more noteworthy, the games against Cincy and Philly will take place during the frigid Western New York December.
He goes on to say the team is a defense away, and the steps taken during this offseason should inspire hope.
“What likely will determine if that is possible — after years of postseason disappointment — is how the defense fares. Its reconstruction has nearly been as busy as the stadium-building efforts, addressing all three levels. Even incremental improvement could be the difference,” Edholm concludes.
Why Kansas City Starts At Four
At this point in time, the Buffalo Kansas City rivalry is real and palpable. The AFC has never been more stout than it is right now with Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes all fighting over one spot on the world’s biggest stage.
But Mahomes’ crew is going to be hobbled for the first few weeks with the team’s wide receiver one serving a suspension.
“Rashee Rice’s status was up in the air last time I power ranked. Now that he’s been suspended for the first six games, I’m pushing the Chiefs down a notch,” Edholm explains. “Having the wideout miss games against the Chargers, Eagles, Ravens and Lions will hurt Kansas City. I still think the defense remains one of the better units in the NFL, and Patrick Mahomes remains on the roster.”
Fret not Bills Mafia, he should be back and ready for Week 9 when KC makes the trip to Buffalo.
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