One week after looking lost against a lowly Miami Dolphins squad, the Buffalo Bills came out firing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Being at home certainly helps. Buffalo is a different team in Orchard Park and it showed in the team’s 44-32 win. Offensively, everything was clicking. Josh Allen led the way with six total touchdowns (three rushing, three passing) in the win. Allen picked apart Tampa Bay when they were in zone and took full advantage of their blitzes.
The defense did not fare nearly as well. Buffalo’s defense gave up plenty of yards and points to Baker Mayfield and company. Late in the game, the Bills’ defense was able to make stops when it mattered most, but the unit has plenty of room for improvement.
Following the Bills’ seventh win of the season, here’s a look at where Buffalo stands on various power rankings.
ESPN: No. 6 (Up 1)
Who’s under the most pressure: Wide receiver Keon Coleman
Coleman, the 33rd pick in the 2024 draft, was a healthy scratch for Week 11 after being late to a meeting. The benching marked the third instance of Coleman, 22, missing game time for disciplinary reasons. On the field, he hasn’t popped outside of Week 1, with 24 receptions, 27.3 receiving yards per game and two receiving touchdowns from Weeks 2 to 10. Wide receiver is already a huge need for the Bills, and the rest of the season will go a long way in determining the team’s plan for Coleman in 2026.
Sports Illustrated: No. 5 (Up 3)
Column on the Bills Sunday: Josh Allen cannot be contained by an offensive system. Let’s stop trying to hire, fire and rearrange. Let’s just be.
USA Today: No. 6 (Up 1)
Six from seven? Anyone? It’s no surprise this team goes as QB Josh Allen goes, and he was epic Sunday against the Bucs. But hard to envision the Bills, who have only one more home game before Christmas, catching the Pats for the AFC East lead.
Pro Football Talk: No. 8 (Up 4)
Can they move the ball and score points against Houston’s defense?
Yahoo: No. 8 (Up 1)
Keon Coleman showing up late to meetings and getting himself suspended overshadowed another monster Josh Allen performance. The Bills need help at receiver and Coleman has been disappointing on and off the field. Patience might be running out, even in just his second season.
Bleacher Report: No. 6 (Up 2)
The Bills had a much better afternoon on Sunday than they had a week ago. Buffalo bounced back from that blowout loss in Miami to defeat a very good Buccaneers team.
However, the Bills’ latest win isn’t likely to settle fans’ nerves. While Josh Allen’s six-touchdown day was remarkable, the defense was tough to watch for much of Week 11.
The defense did make a couple of critical plays, including a late strip sack that secured the win. However, Buffalo is looking up at a far more balanced New England Patriots team in the AFC East—and the Bills can’t expect Allen to play Superman every week.
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