Chiefs, Bills face each other in titanic showdown. What NFL power rankings expert say

Posted by Admin November 12, 2024 NFL

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For several weeks now, the Buffalo Bills have been stuck right around No. 3 in NFL power rankings as they piled up wins in their drive to clinch a playoff spot.

Regardless of what happens Sunday when the Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo nearly has a playoff spot locked down — they have a 99% probability of making it.

This week, though, Josh Allen and the Bills have a chance to do something more. With a victory — no small task against the Super Bowl champion who hasn’t lost a game this season — Buffalo can not only make their best argument for being considered No. 1, but also exorcise some of the team’s demons.

This is what NFL power ranking experts are saying about both teams ahead of the clash between two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Bills’ average rank this week: 3.66 (last week: 3.33)

Bills ranking: 3 (No change)

Chiefs ranking: 1 (No change)

Bills: Can the Bills get their sixth straight win on Sunday? They do host the Chiefs, and Buffalo is 4-0 at Highmark Stadium this season.

Chiefs: The Chiefs have now won 15 straight games, dating back to last year (and including a Super Bowl). Their latest win was on a blocked field goal as time expired against the Broncos. The streak could be tested again against the Bills in a must-see game this week.

Bills ranking: 4 (⬇ one spot)

Chiefs ranking: 1 (No change)

Bills: The Bills keep smashing teams offensively by running the ball and spreading it around downfield well. Josh Allen is executing at a high level, even overcoming some rare mistakes. The defense, however, is developing a few more holes of late.

Chiefs: The Chiefs are a complete team on offense, defense, and special teams. When one phase is letting them down or has a tough matchup, the others tend to come through. The more close games they win in comeback fashion, the more difficult they become to beat, not easier.

Bill Wolcott is a producer who helps cover the Buffalo Bills, high school and Rochester sports in general. The lifelong New Yorker has been a journalist for 30 years.

Bills ranking: 4 (No change)

Chiefs ranking: 2 (No change)

Bills: The best NFL teams find ways to win even when a few things go wrong. That’s precisely what happened with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, who overcame two Josh Allen interceptions and 8 total team penalties, all with Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper out, to beat the Colts by two scores. Buffalo’s record arguably warrants being higher in the NFL power rankings. If they can pull off the upset next Sunday at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, the No. 2 spot is theirs.

Chiefs: Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, the Kansas City Chiefs are both. Sunday’s win over the Broncos — preserved by a blocked field goal as time expired — won’t do anything to shake the skepticism that the Chiefs aren’t quite as good as they used to be. With that said, let’s also acknowledge that the Chiefs and Broncos played plenty of close games in previous years when Kansas City went on to win the Super Bowl. What matters the most for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, the Chiefs are undefeated and hold a two-game lead for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.