Bills take over title as NFL's best team after statement win over Lions 

The Buffalo Bills didn't enter the day on Sunday as the NFL's best team, but they did end the night with the title. Buffalo's 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions made a major statement to the rest of the NFL and now makes the Bills deserving of being labeled the NFL's top team. 

The Bills, now 11-3 and in firm control of the AFC East, picked up another statement win by knocking off the 12-2 Lions, who are still poised to be the NFC's No. 1 seed. This victory over the Lions added to Buffalo holding the distinction as the only team to beat the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs, and it's clear the Bills are up for any test sent their way this season. 

Josh Allen and the Bills also once again showed they have the most potent offense in football. Buffalo surpassed 40 points for the second straight week and scored at least 30 for the eighth consecutive game. 

Allen was 23-of-34 while throwing for 362 yards. He also ran for 68 yards, giving him over 400 total yards for the second straight week. Allen accounted for four touchdowns, two through the air and two more on the ground. 

James Cook kept the Buffalo offensive attack balanced, running for 105 yards on 14 carries and punching in a pair of scores on his own. The Bills ran for 197 yards as a team out of their 559 yards overall. 

After another disappointing exit early in the playoffs, Allen and head coach Sean McDermott entered the 2024 season facing pressure to finally get the franchise over the hump and into a Super Bowl for the first time since the 1993 season. That pressure only intensified after the departure of Stefon Diggs, Allen's former top wide receiver target, via a trade in the offseason.  

But Allen has met that pressure head-on and is making a strong case as the NFL's MVP. Even though it came in a loss, Allen scored six total touchdowns against the Rams in Week 14. 

So far this season, Allen has 3,395 passing yards, 484 rushing yards, 36 total touchdowns and only five interceptions. 

The Bills should end the regular season rolling over the rest of their schedule — they have two matchups left with New England and one game against the Jets. With that said, allowing 42 points a week after giving up 44 in a loss does create concerns about Buffalo’s defense.