We begin the same as last week, pointing out that the Buffalo Bills remain undefeated — only now heading into a Week 5 matchup with the New England Patriots. The Bills are the only undefeated team in the AFC, and one of just two overall with the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles the other 4-0 squad.
Buffalo is once again among the NFL’s best teams, but they aren’t without flaws. A fair amount of Bills Mafia remain concerned about the defense, which has taken its lumps in playing a bend-but-don’t-break
style that’s also incorporating more man-cover looks than historically under head coach Sean McDermott.
With quarterback Josh Allen, elite play is a given. However, it’s running back James Cook and Buffalo’s run offense that’s really decimated teams in September. Of course, there’s room for improvement on offense too, which starts with avoiding mid-game lulls that allow opponents to remain close until late in regulation.
After starting right tackle Spencer Brown missed Week 4 due to injury, it’s clear that the offensive line is among the most important units to Buffalo’s season. Though many saw struggle by Allen and the Bills to pull away early from the New Orleans Saints, watching what unfolded along the line without Brown in action explains a lot of the surprising trouble. So, too, should be the case for Buffalo’s defensive line, which may see the return of defensive tackle Ed Oliver in Week 5.
What does all of that mean in terms of power rankings? Let’s dive in, first by taking a look at ESPN’s playoff odds for the Bills in four key metrics. There’s a change in two metrics, with slight decreases in Buffalo’s odds of making the playoffs (now 97%; was 98%), and odds of winning the division (now 89%; was 95%). Interestingly, the Bills saw their odds at winning a playoff bye increase (now 50%; was 48%).
Another thing I pointed out last week that still remains true is that “Buffalo has yet to put together a complete game, and it feels like their best is yet to come.” That should scare teams, knowing that they’re likely to face the best version of the Bills down the road.
Moving on to thoughts from national pundits about Buffalo’s win over the New Orleans Saints with a now tidy refrain in this space…
Let’s live in the present and dive into the latest NFL power rankings, passing the mic to heirachy experts around the country. This week, we’ll use a reverse pyramid, going from “worst” ranking on up. Ready?
ESPN: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Biggest issue on offense: Consistency in middle quarters”
“This is nitpicky, but consistency has been Buffalo’s biggest issue. Even though it has scored a touchdown on every opening possession this season, the offense has been noticeably worse in the middle of games. In the first and fourth quarters, the Bills have averaged 10.9 points and 112.3 yards. In the second and third quarters, those numbers drop to 5.8 and 89.8, respectively. There are other areas to grow, but led by quarterback Josh Allen and running back James Cook, the team has been strongest when opening and closing games.” — Alaina Getzenberg
Sports Illustrated: no submission
“… …” — Conor Orr
NFL.com: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Another week, another game that required more effort from the Bills than I anticipated they’d need to win. Buffalo might have been well-rested following the mini-bye, but the team looked more sloppy than anything else in a 31-19 victory over winless New Orleans. The Saints easily could have taken a fourth-quarter lead in a contest where the Bills committed a season-high 11 penalties and converted just three of their 10 third-down attempts. Defensively, Buffalo had way too many missed tackles (and sacks). Fortunately, Josh Allen wasn’t about to let his team lose this game, and James Cook had plenty to say about that, too. With upcoming games against New England and Atlanta, Buffalo has a chance to be 6-0 heading into the bye, but there is still a decent amount to clean up before we start counting those Ws.” — Eric Edholm
Pro Football Talk: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Another week, another double-digit win that feels less than satisfying.” — Mike Florio
CBS Sports: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“The Bills have slogged through the last two games, but the opposition seems to have brought them down. The schedule has been favorable.” — Pete Prisco
USA Today: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Come Sunday night for the conclusion of their three-game homestand − the AFC leaders won’t play again in Western New York until November. Stay for the debut of their “Cold Front” uniforms, Nike’s specially devised “Rivalries” alternates for Buffalo.” — Nate Davis
FOX Sports: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Buffalo is 4-0 even though Josh Allen hasn’t looked like the reigning MVP since Week 1. Then again, the way running back James Cook is playing — 401 yards (second in the NFL) with a league-best five rushing touchdowns — maybe Allen doesn’t have to.” — Ralph Vacchiano
Pressbox: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“I thought they were really good because they beat the Ravens but to be fair, maybe that was just one more game on the Big 12 schedule they’re playing this year.” — Glenn Clark
Bleacher Report: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“The Buffalo Bills are rolling.
Granted, the winless New Orleans Saints gave them more of a game than many expected. But thanks to a combination of timely defensive plays (including a Cole Bishop interception deep in Bills territory) and a relentless Bills offense, Buffalo is 4-0 and in firm control of the AFC East.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was efficient, accounting for three total scores and posting a passer rating over 110. Running back James Cook surpassed 100 rushing yards and found the end zone—again. The defense allowed under 300 yards of offense and held its opponent under 20 points for the second time in three weeks.
The Bills are the best team in their division by a wide margin. And after the first month of the 2025 campaign, calling them the team to beat in the AFC isn’t a stretch.” — Gary Davenport
The Athletic: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Rookie spotlight: Jackson Hawes”
“The Bills have a couple of defensive tackles — T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker — who are contributing, but it’s Hawes, a fifth-round tight end, who is turning heads. Hawes, who played collegiately at Yale and Georgia Tech, has already proved he’s an NFL-ready blocker, and he has four catches for 54 yards, including a 15-yarder Sunday.” — Josh Kendall / Chad Graff
Sportsnaut: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“The Saints kept it close for a little while, at one point making it look like one of the best NFL teams in 2025 would become the next to lose to an undefeated club. Unlike the Packers and Chargers, though, Buffalo overcame some early missed opportunities by putting it away in the fourth quarter. The Bills are the unquestioned top team in the AFC right now, and their schedule provides a path to keep piling up victories.” — Matt Johnson
The Sporting News: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“The Bills toyed with the Saints a little when they knew going into overdrive with Josh Allen and James Cook would happen at any time once their defense came up with a few inspired stops. They get a better test vs. the rising Patriots in Week 5.” — Vinnie Iyer
Touchdown Wire: 2 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Like I say each week. It is nothing short of amazing what Josh Allen has been able to do with this Bills offense without a true superstar weapon. Depending on who you ask. Running back James Cook could fit the mold for superstar status before long. On this team, everyone has a role to play and plays it beautifully on gamedays!” — Josh Petry
New York Post: 1 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Josh Allen put a tougher-than-expected victory on ice with a 27-yard run followed by a 28-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid in the fourth quarter of a 31-19 victory against the winless Saints. The Bills have won 14 straight regular-season games at home — one shy of tying a franchise record. James Cook rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.” — Ryan Dunleavy
NFL Spin Zone: 1 (unchanged from Week 4)
“Defensively, the Buffalo Bills are still a work in progress. The Bills have a much higher standard set for them than the defensive performance we’ve seen through the first month of the season, but in the NFL, style points don’t matter. You are what your record says you are.
Right now, the Bills are 4-0 and on top of the AFC. They’ve obviously got the reigning MVP of the league in Josh Allen, and one of the best offensive weapons in the league in James Cook. Both of those guys are playing lights out, but Buffalo needs their defense to figure things out quickly.
You don’t see many Super Bowl-winning teams benching starting corners in the middle of the year. Again, the Bills are the best team in the league right now, but they’ve got to turn things up defensively rather quickly. ” — Sayre Bedinger
Yahoo! Sports: 1 (unchanged from Week 4)
“The Bills didn’t blow out the Dolphins or Saints, but worrying about that is a stretch. It’s tough to get up for each game in a long season. The Bills won both games by double digits. There’s no need to drum up unnecessary drama; the Bills are the best team in the NFL.” — Frank Schwab
FanDuel Research: 1 (unchanged from Week 4)
(All NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook.)
— Annie Nader
“The Rich Eisen Show”: 2
Computer Cowboy: 1 (up from 3 last week)
Discussed at the outset, the challenge for these Bills may be putting together and playing a full game before the postseason is at their doorstep.
