The Buffalo Bills have been at the top of NFL national power rankings polls every week throughout the 2025 NFL season.
Is Week 9 going to be different? The Bills (5-2) are back in winning ways, beating the Carolina Panthers in a 40-9 final.
Here’s how the Bills fare in national media power rankings polls heading into Week 9:
USA Today
10. Buffalo Bills (9): RB James Cook’s 216-yard rushing performance Sunday was the most by a Buffalo player since O.J. Simpson had 273 in a game 49 years ago.
Pro Football Talk
11. Bills (No. 11; 5-2): It’s good that they remembered James Cook is on the team.
The Athletic
10. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Last week: 12
Sunday: Beat Panthers 40-9
Something scary: The wide receiver room
It didn’t matter Sunday because James Cook ran for 216 yards and the Bills were playing the Panthers. But this team’s ceiling is going to be limited if it doesn’t get more from its wide receivers. Khalil Shakir had 88 yards Sunday to finally pass tight end Dalton Kincaid in receiving yards. Meanwhile, Josh Palmer missed the game due to ankle and knee injuries. Keon Coleman is 71st in the league with 267 receiving yards.
Up next: vs. Chiefs, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Bleacher Report
7. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Last Week: 7
Week 8 Result: Won at Carolina 40-9
Granted, it came against a bad Carolina Panthers team playing a backup quarterback, but the Bills team we saw coming out of the bye week was the Super Bowl contender we expect.
The Bills dropped almost 250 rushing yards on Carolina—with 216 and over 11 yards a carry coming from James Cook. Josh Allen only attempted 19 passes, but he was efficient and avoided mistakes. Buffalo allowed fewer than 250 yards of offense and forced three turnovers.
Given the opponent the blowout win doesn’t erase all the concerns created by Buffalo’s back-to-back losses before the bye. But the emphatic victory gives the Bills a nice head of steam heading into next week’s massive home showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Win that game, and the Bills can reclaim their status as one of the favorites in the AFC.
CBS Sports
10. Bills (–)
They ran it and pressured the quarterback in beating the Panthers. But now here comes the Chiefs, the team that has been their nemesis in recent years. Losing Ed Oliver hurts.
FOX Sports
7. Bills (+1)
They ran through a pretty good Carolina defense for 245 yards on the ground thanks to 216 yards from James Cook. Josh Allen hasn’t been in MVP form of late, but maybe he doesn’t have to be.
Sports Illustrated
8. Buffalo Bills (5–2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 7Last week’s result: beat Panthers, 40–9This week: vs. Chiefs
One hundred and forty one of James Cooks’ 216 yards on Sunday came before first contact. That doesn’t mean James Cook doesn’t break tackles. It means that no one can touch James Cook.
ESPN
4. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Week 8 result: Beat the Panthers 40-9Week 8 ranking: 6
Best offseason addition: DT Deone Walker
The fourth-round pick has turned into a valuable player for the Bills, especially given the injuries that have hit their defensive tackle position. Playing time for Walker and other defensive rookies isn’t a surprise, but he has started six games and played 51.7% of defensive plays. He is tied for the team high in tackles for loss (seven) with Ed Oliver and is third leaguewide in run stop rate (8.2%). Since Oliver is out indefinitely with a torn left biceps, the Bills will need Walker to continue stepping up.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: NFL power rankings: Bills movement after Panthers win
Reporting by USA TODAY / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
