The Buffalo Bills aren't missing a beat despite an offseason full of upheaval at One Bills Drive in Orchard Park.
Several way-too-early 2026 NFL power rankings are already out, and some experts have Buffalo listed as high as the third-best team in the league. That seems incredible after the Bills fired one of the team's most successful head coaches, Sean McDermott, and replaced him with Joe Brady, who has zero experience as an NFL head coach.
Yet the early votes suggest analysts don’t expect the Bills to take a step back, even after a near-total overhaul of the coaching staff. It’s also a testament to the continued belief in quarterback Josh Allen’s ability to carry his team to the postseason.
Let's take a look at the early 2026 NFL power rankings.
So far, the Bills' average ranking is 5.17. Their median ranking is 5.
Ralph Vacchiano, FOX SPORTS
Bills ranking: 8
As long as they have Josh Allen, they should be considered a top-10 team, no matter how inexperienced and young their head coach is. Get Allen a true No. 1 WR in the offseason, though, and look out above!
Alaina Getzenberg, ESPN
Ranking: 5
Offseason in three words:Pressure is on
With Sean McDermott's firing after the team's overtime loss in the divisional round, the expectations are high for what new coach Joe Brady and president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane can do to help quarterback Josh Allen reach and win a Super Bowl. That starts right now, as the decisions made this offseason in the draft and free agency will go a long way in determining how successful Allen is for years to come.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
Ranking: 3
The Bills moved on from Sean McDermott but kept the key offensive continuity for their MVP QB, Josh Allen, by promoting Joe Brady. Buffalo is still very close to its big breakthrough to a Super Bowl ring.
Jack McKessy, USA Today
Ranking: 3
Odds of making Super Bowl 2027: +1000
The Bills followed close behind the Rams in offensive efficiency metrics like EPA/play (0.145, third in the NFL) and success rate (48.8%, second). If not for quarterback Josh Allen's shaky performance in the AFC divisional round, Buffalo would have made the AFC championship game for a third time in Allen's career. Defensively, the Bills remained stagnant compared to last year, again failing to reach the heights of their outstanding units in the early 2020s. With a new head coach and Allen returning for his ninth season, perhaps next year is when Buffalo breaks its 32-year Super Bowl hiatus.
Next year starts NOW.#GoBills | #BillsMafiapic.twitter.com/JRQoyQ8rzy
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) February 9, 2026
Jacob Infante, Pro Football Network
Ranking: 5
Joe Brady is the new head coach of the Buffalo Bills, as the team parted ways with longtime coach Sean McDermott and promoted their OC to the position. Brady will immediately be expected to win and get the Bills over the hump they’ve come close to so many times and have fallen short of each time: a Super Bowl victory.
As long as the Bills have a healthy Josh Allen, they’ll be fine in the regular season. They have a dynamic offense and a defense that holds its own against top teams around the NFL. Buffalo feels like it’s a star weapon and an impact edge rusher away from a perfect roster. It’s unlikely they find both, but if they get one this offseason, look out.
Michael O'Hara, TWSN
Ranking: 7
The Buffalo Bills still can’t get over the hump. Even with the big, bad Chiefs out of the picture, Buffalo still fell short.
Now, Joe Brady will be tasked with rewriting the narrative surrounding the Bills.
Let’s get Josh Allen a WR1 and see what happens.
Bill Wolcott is a producer who helps cover the Buffalo Bills, high school and Rochester sports in general. The lifelong New Yorker has been a journalist for 31 years.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Early Buffalo Bills power rankings for 2026 NFL season