We're officially halfway through the regular season and the Bills stand at 6-2 on top of the AFC.
Here's a list of statistical milestones and rankings achieved by the team through eight games of the 2022 NFL season:
- The Bills offense is No. 1 in Yards/Game (416.4) and second in total yards (3,331) in the NFL
- Amongst those who've played eight games, WR Stefon Diggs ranks first in the AFC in receiving yards (857).
- After Sunday's game against the NY Jets, Diggs now has 60 receptions this season, which is a new club record for most receptions in a season's first eight games.
- Josh Allen ranks third in the AFC and fourth in the NFL with 2,403 passing yards
- WR Gabe Davis has the longest reception (98 yards) in the NFL.
And even after their 20-17 loss to the Jets in Week 9, national analysts look at what the team has accomplished in these first eight games and still have faith in the Bills team who entered the season in the Super Bowl conversation.
Here's what they're saying about the Bills at the midway point of the season.
NFL.com: Most Valuable Player
1) Josh Allen (10 votes: Battista, Blair, Chadiha, Edholm, Filice, Grant, Parr, Patra, Reuter, Zierlein)
T-2) Jalen Hurts(+250) | 6 votes: Baldinger, Cersosimo, Gonzales, Kownack, Ross, Shook
T-2) Patrick Mahomes(+200) | 6 votes: Baca, Bhanpuri, Carr, Gordon, Rank, Sessler
T-4) Joe Burrow(+2000) | 1 vote: Bergman
T-4) Lamar Jackson (+900) | 1 vote: Hall
Why Judy Battista chose Josh Allen: Allen is the best player on the league's most complete team/Super Bowl favorite, a physical marvel who continues to astound with his arm and legs. Less than halfway through the season, he has 2,403 passing yards and nearly 400 rushing yards, and he has already led victories over three likely AFC playoff teams (the Titans, Ravens, and Chiefs). His elbow injury could change the trajectory of the season, but assuming Allen doesn't miss much time, if any, he's a prime candidate to nab the MVP trophy and hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Arizona this February.
Doug Farrar | USA Today Touchdown Wire: Josh Allen as NFL MVP at midseason
I'll go with Josh Allen of the Bills. When you factor in his impossible abilities as a passer, and what he brings to the team as a rusher, who gives his team more overall value? Allen didn't have his best game on Sunday in a loss to the Jets, but let's set recency bias aside and look at the whole season. Allen is still capable of the occasional exasperating decision, but you name me a coach who wouldn't trade that for what Allen does bring, and I'll name you a coach who needs to be replaced. - Farrar
Tim Daniels | Bleacher Report: NFL executives predict Bills to go to the Super Bowl
In a midseason ESPN poll, NFL executives predicted the Buffalo Bills to face off against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVII.
An AFC executive said, "This feels like their time," about Buffalo. But Bleacher Report journalist, Tim Daniels, feels the only thing that could change that outcome is injuries to the Bills roster.
"At full strength, the Bills have a strong case as the NFL's most complete team, ranking first in total offense (416.4 yards per game) and fourth in total defense (299.6 yards allowed per game)." - Daniels
Brad Spielberger | PFF: Bills remain in the top spot
The Bills were ranked No. 1 in PFF's preseason rankings, and they still hold that top spot in their midseason rankings. The dominant connection between QB Josh Allen and WR Stefon Diggs, as well as the team's elite defensive line unit, is why Brad Spielberger, PFF analyst, feels the Bills remain No.1 eight games into the season.
Biggest strength: "Quarterback Josh Allen and superstar wide receiver Stefon Diggs are the obvious answers, but the addition of edge defender Von Miller and a breakout for second-year edge defender Gregory Rousseau have turned the Bills' defensive line into one of the most formidable units in the NFL. Buffalo has a 63.2% team-wide pass rush win rate on non-blitzing plays, second-best in the NFL." – Spielberger
Bill Barnwell | ESPN: Allen + Diggs are candidates for NFL midseason awards
MVP: QB Josh Allen at No. 3
As good as Allen has been throughout the season, turnovers and sloppy play are legitimate concerns for the Buffalo offense in the eyes of ESPN Staff Writer, Bill Barnwell.
"Allen has eight interceptions and seven fumbles this season. The latter mark is the fifth most of any quarterback. The former means Allen's interception rate ranks 26th out of 35 passers. He has thrown interceptions more often this season than the likes of Baker Mayfield and Carson Wentz. It's not a problem in the broader sense, since any coach would obviously trade a few interceptions for what he can do as a player, but it does inspire negative comparisons between Allen and the other players in this stratosphere.
"Obviously, Allen is capable of generating obscene amounts of value through his arm and legs. With the Jets slowing down the passing attack Sunday, he ran for seven first downs, including both of Buffalo's touchdowns. Nobody in the league has his upside, and he realizes that upside more often than ever before these days. It's also fair to note that turnovers have been an issue, they cost the Bills a victory in Week 9." –Barnwell
Offensive Player of the Year: WR Stefon Diggs at No. 3
Diggs, who once held the second spot, is now coming in at No. 3 behind Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson and Tennesee Titans WR A.J. Brown.
"There's nothing wrong with being ahead of stars, of course, and Diggs continues to be incredible. While Sunday was a frustrating game for the Bills, he helped create Buffalo's first scoring opportunity of the day by beating Sauce Gardner on a double move for 42 yards. (Josh Allen then threw an interception to eliminate that scoring opportunity.
"The scary thing is that a five-catch, 93-yard performance might qualify as a down afternoon from Diggs, who already has five 100-yard games under his belt through the first eight games of the season. In an offense which throws the ball as much as anybody in the league and hasn't seen secondary players such as Gabe Davis and Dawson Knox take another step forward into stardom, Diggs is often asked to be the solution for Allen. He comes through more often than not." - Barnwell
Nate Davis | USA Today: NFL MVP AT 2022 MIDSEASON
1. Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen (30 points, four first-place votes)
The MVP runner-up to Rodgers in 2020, Allen's got a good shot at securing the hardware for the first time. He's averaging 314 passing yards per game, tops in the league and a pace that gives him a shot at breaking Peyton Manning's single-season record (5,477). Allen has also accounted for 21 TDs (19 passing, 2 rushing), also the most this season (and he's played only seven games). Allen's 306 rushing yards are 7 off the team lead, and his 43.7 per game are actually more than Hurts (40.8). Most important, Buffalo is off to a 6-1 start, its best since the 1990s Super Bowl teams. If selected, Allen would become the first Bills quarterback to win MVP honors.
Next Gen Stats | NFL.com: Top 10 off-ball linebackers
No. 9 - Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills
- Tackling score: 75
- Coverage score: 89
- Pass rush score: 75
- OVERALL SCORE: 80
How do the Bills lead the NFL in scoring defense with the likes of Tre'Davious White, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, and Ed Oliver missing multiple games so far? The steady play of Milano is definitely a critical factor. The 28-year-old Boston College product simply has no holes in his game, as he joins Demario Davis as the only members of this list to have scores of 75 or better in tackling, pass coverage and pass rushing. Pass coverage is where Milano shines the most, though, as his 54.9 passer rating allowed when targeted as the nearest defender ranks third among off-ball linebackers with at least 20 targets. As an already scary Bills defense continues to claw its way closer to full strength, Milano is a force to be reckoned with.
Albert Breer | Sports Illustrated: Breer picks Allen as midseason MVP
Following the Bills' Week 9 win over the Green Back Packers, the midseason MVP pick came easy for Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated journalist.
"Joshua Patrick Allen. Watching the game on Sunday night, it was so clear the margin for error he's given the Bills—it almost looks like Buffalo's playing on a smaller field than everyone else with Allen. And it was proven in that the Bills took their foot off the gas in the second half, and Allen turned the ball over a couple times, and they still won by 10 against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. If the Bills stay healthy, and refocus a little, I don't think running the table is out of the question. And I mean all the way through February because of Allen." – Breer
Peter King | NBC Sports: Allen as MVP + Bills are Super Bowl favorites
Peter King of NBC Sports handed out NFL midseason report cards after Week 8 and he had Buffalo at No. 1 in "The best" category, as well as QB Josh Allen as the league's MVP.
"Buffalo played, arguably, the toughest slate so far and beat the Rams, Baltimore and Kansas City on the road. The Bills have five games remaining in a better-than-expected AFC East, but they're the clear Super Bowl favorites as November dawns." – King
"Allen, best player on the best team having his best season, beat the former MVP and Super Bowl winner (Mahomes) on his turn if in week six ("Josh Allen feels impossible to play against," the former KC tackle Mitchell Schwartz, tweeted Sunday right. Schwartz is right.)" – King
King also ranked Matt Milano (3) and Von Miller (5) in the top five defensive players, as well as Brandon Beane (5) in the top five team executives.
