Were Bills punished for narrow win over Patriots?
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Were Bills punished for narrow win over Patriots?

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

The Buffalo Bills entered Week 16 against the New England Patriots as clear favorites, but in the end the Patriots gave Buffalo a run for their money as the Bills narrowly defeated their division rival 24-21.

The only conclusion you can draw from this matchup is that it’s hard to win in the NFL, even for a really good team against a really bad team. Getting even more excited about the win and making a big deal about it is silly.

When it comes to the Bills’ playoff position, they are currently ranked No. 2, but could end up at either No. 1 or No. 3 depending on what happens in the next two weeks.

To reach No. 1, the Bills would have to win their last two games and the Kansas City Chiefs would have to lose theirs. That means a Bills loss or a Chiefs win in Week 17 puts the defending Super Bowl champions in the lead.

Now, a look at where the Bills stand in the experts’ NFL power rankings heading into Week 17.

Vinnie Iyer, Sports News: 2 (+1)

Iyer: “The Bills made their divisional game against the Patriots a little too interesting and almost let up after the Lions’ epic loss. They will try to continue to prepare well for the playoffs and finish the season with the Jets and the Patriots.”

Taylor Wirth, NBC Sports: 5 (no change)

Wirth: “It’s not exactly what you would expect from one of the top teams in the league to narrowly squeak out a win over a bottom team this late in the season. Oh wait, yes, it is. That’s what Kansas City does on an almost weekly basis. A win is a win.

Lou Scataglia, NFL Spin Zone: 1 (no change)

Scataglia: “Buffalo is clearly the best team in the AFC, and while the Chiefs are atop the table with 14 wins, they are clearly not nearly as good as their record suggests. In fact, the Chiefs’ only one loss this season comes from the Buffalo Bills, so it’s worth noting that Josh Allen could still be in the lead for NFL MVP this year, but this Week 16 performance definitely helps him not.

Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: 2 (no change)

Johnson: “The Buffalo Bills faced surprising adversity in Week 16, trailing the Patriots 14-0 at home. On a day when Josh Allen didn’t play like the NFL MVP, running back James Cook saved the Bills with his two-touchdown performance.” This is another example of why Buffalo is one of the best NFL teams right now, too when the strategy is unconventional has turned a 14 point deficit into a win. The Bills are currently the best team in the AFC.

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