The Buffalo Bills didn’t make things easy on themselves in Week 1, but they did exactly what contenders are supposed to do when facing adversity.
Buffalo rallied on the road to defeat the Houston Texans 36-31 on Sunday, overcoming a late push from C.J. Stroud and the Texans to escape with a victory.
The performance has the Bills moving up the latest NFL power rankings, with ESPN going as far as placing Buffalo at No. 1 overall entering Week 2.
USA TODAY’s Nate Davis also remains high on the Bills, ranking them No. 3, up one spot from their preseason ranking of No. 4
Josh Allen puts together another MVP-caliber performance
It is difficult to talk about Buffalo’s Week 1 victory without starting with Josh Allen.
Allen was outstanding against Houston, throwing for 334 yards and two touchdowns while adding another two rushing touchdowns on 23 yards.
He also avoided turning the ball over and was sacked just twice.
Allen’s performance helped Buffalo overcome a defense that struggled for much of the afternoon. The Bills ultimately needed a late defensive stop to secure the victory, but their quarterback once again gave them enough opportunities to win the game.
Davis points out Allen’s historic start, noting that the Bills quarterback became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 300 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, doing so in 129 games.
If Allen continues playing at that level, Buffalo will have a chance to compete with any team in the league.
ESPN puts Buffalo at No. 1
ESPN’s decision to place Buffalo at No. 1 shows how much the Bills’ Week 1 performance impressed the national media.
The bills moved ahead of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Baltimroe Ravens, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in ESPN’s rankings. San Francisco, meanwhile, jumped from No. 9 to No. 5 after its dominant 27-7 victory over the Rams.
Buffalo’s ranking is particularly notable because the Bills didn’t dominate Houston from start to finish.
Instead, they had to survive a back-and-forth game against a talented Texans team.
That may actually make the victory more meaningful for Buffalo. The Bills showed they can win a shoutout and execute when the game is on the line.
Defense remains the biggest question
While Allen and the offense provided plenty of reasons for optimism, Buffalo’s defense wasn’t nearly as impressive.
Houston scored 31 points and moved the ball consistently throughout the afternoon. Stroud finished with 274 passing yards and two touchdowns, although his two lost fumbles proved costly for the Texans.
The Bills eventually made the critical play they needed, forcing Stroud to fumble during Houston’s final possession.
Still, giving up 31 points isn’t something Buffalo’s defense will want to make a habit of.
If the Bills are going to remain among the NFL’s elite, the defense will need to become more consistent as the progresses.
Bills have another major test waiting
Buffalo doesn’t have much time to celebrate.
The Bills return to action Thursday night against the Detroit Lions, who opened their season with a dramatic 31-30 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints. Detroit’s offense showed plenty of firepower, while its defense allowed 410 passing yards in the comeback before ultimately making enough plays to win.
That matchup could provide an early test for both teams.
For Buffalo, it will be another opportunity to show that the Week 1 victory wasn’t simply about Josh Allen bailing the team out.
For now, the latest power rankings suggest the Bills remain firmly in the Super Bowl conversation.
ESPN has Buffalo sitting at No. 1, while USA TODAY has the team at No. 3.
After escaping Houston with a 36-31 victory, Buffalo has already established itself as one of the teams everyone else will be chasing in the AFC.
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