The Buffalo Bills ended their 2018 season on a high note. A 42-17 victory over the imploding Miami Dolphins and a convincing performance from Josh Allen is enough to head into the off-season to feel confident for the future. Of all the power rankings to close out the season, most moved the Bills up in the rankings and stuffed the Dolphins further down the list.
ESPN moved the Bills up one spot to 27th overall while bumping the Dolphins down one spot to 19th. Clearly it’s no secret that getting Josh Allen some help on offense should be priority number one and two this off-season.
“Add young talent around Josh Allen. The Bills are encouraged with the progress Allen, the No. 7 overall draft pick, showed after returning in Week 12 from an elbow injury. Leading the Bills this season in both passing and rushing, Allen’s legs and arms accounted for 1,718 of the team’s 2,092 total yards over its final six games. Ideally, Buffalo can find help this offseason at running back, wide receiver and tight end to take some of the load off its quarterback. -- Mike Rodak”
NFL.com moved the Bills up two spots and they now sit at 18th in their rankings. Josh Allen received praise this week for his five total touchdowns and the defense for their pressure on Tannehill. The Dolphins were hammered down three spots to 29th overall.
Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback had nine of their writers vote on the power rankings for the last time this season. They are the one site that didn't move the Bills at all so they'll sit tight in 22nd until next season. One of the voters did vote for the Bills to crack the top 20 as the 19th-best team. The Dolphins moved down three spots to 20th overall.
CBS Sports moved the Bills up five spots, the most of any team on their list this week, and now they sit at 20. Credit continues to go to Buffalo’s head coach.
“Sean McDermott did a nice job with this team this season. They have money to spend to get better in 2019.”
The Dolphins were sent back one spot to 21st overall.
Bleacher Report moved the Bills up three spots to 25th overall and gives credit where it’s due—to Josh Allen and the coaching staff to let him run wild.
“By virtue of their blowout win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the Bills close out the 2018 campaign with six wins. That might not seem like a lot, but it’s actually pretty impressive when you consider how bad the team was offensively for much of the year.
That offense found its footing a bit by letting rookie quarterback Josh Allen be…Josh Allen. As he has so many times of late, Allen gashed the Dolphins with regularity on the ground, piling up 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns on nine carries.”
Gary Davenport also highlighted the fact that over the last seven games of the season, the Bills went 4-3.
The Dolphins dropped one spot to 22nd overall.