2023 NFL Power Rankings: Buffalo Bills

Young riser: LB Terrel Bernard

After missing the entire preseason and a good portion of training camp with a hamstring injury, Bernard, 24, has started at middle linebacker from the start of the season and has more than held his own -- a good sign for the Bills' defense of the future. The 2022 third-round pick leads the team in fumbles recovered (three) and tackles (68) with 33 more than any other player, and he is now being tested by Matt Milano's absence. He is also tied for the most interceptions on the team (two) with Milano and safety Micah Hyde. -- Alaina Getzenberg

It's instinctive to ask what's wrong with the offense because we've come to expect Josh Allen and Co. to solve mid-game problems, or at least overwhelm them. But the Bills ultimately scored enough to beat a Patriots team that hadn't topped 17 points since mid-September. Buffalo's defense and special teams typically have been reliable more often than not. Sunday they were not. Taron Johnson's penalty wiped out a sack, then he allowed the go-ahead TD in Sunday's 29-25 loss. The pass rush was quiet against a bad Patriots O-line. Buffalo couldn't tackle Rhamondre Stevenson. The Bills just can't expect a unit missing Tre'Davious White, Matt Milano, Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones (and with Von Miller working back into form) to carry this team when the offense gets off to slow starts.

They suddenly don't look close to being a Super Bowl-type of team. The defense has been crippled by injuries -- and it shows.

They're 23-5 at Highmark Stadium in the regular season since the start of the 2020 season, the best home mark in the NFL over that stretch. Spending three of the next four in Orchard Park seems like fortuitous timing for a reeling herd.

One question: Where do they fit in the AFC East?

Buffalo has now beaten division leader Miami and lost to bottom dwellers New York and New England. The Bills have totaled 10 points in their last three first halves and have lost two of those games. They have the seventh-hardest remaining schedule in the league, according to Tankathon. This team is still fourth in the league in yards per play (5.9) so it's probably fine, but it can't afford to give away games to bad teams like it did Sunday.

The Bills' offense struggled for far too long in this matchup, but it's hard not to feel like the defensive injuries are showing up in a big way. The Patriots' offense has been a wreck for the past month, but you wouldn't know it from the way Mac Jones dissected Buffalo. There's plenty of soul-searching to be done on both sides of the ball, but how does the defense overcome injuries to so many quality starters?

The Bills will need more out of rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid. Dawson Knox needs wrist surgery, adding to the Bills' issues. But they drafted Kincaid in the first round for a reason. He had a promising game Sunday with eight catches for 75 yards.

The offense needs an intervention.

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