New England Patriots move up ESPN NFL Power Rankings

The New England Patriots moved up ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings. Were they able to claim the top spot?

The New England Patriots continued rolling in Week 13. They were facing an ACF East rival for the second consecutive week and beginning a three-game road trip. None of it mattered as the Patriots rolled past the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, 23-3.

The Patriots are the hottest team in the NFL. They are riding an eight-game winning streak, tied for the longest currently with the Minnesota Vikings. They are atop the AFC East by four games and tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the AFC.

Both of those top spots could be wrapped up in the coming weeks. If the Patriots are able to defeat the Miami Dolphins for the second time in three weeks, or the Bills lose, the Patriots will have clinched the AFC East. In Week 15 the Patriots finish their road trip with a visit to the Steelers in what will likely decide home-field advantage for the postseason.

The Patriots are not a team anyone wants to face. They have overcome injuries all over the roster and keep on rolling. Against the Bills they were without defensive end Trey Flowers and linebacker Trevor Rielly. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy was also limited by injury, but it didn’t matter.

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The Patriots defense stifled the Bills offense. Eric Lee, who was signed off the Bills practice squad last week, dominated his former team. He stepped up and has earned a bigger role going forward.

Offensively, the Patriots leaned on their running game. Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead both tore up a poor Bills rushing defense that has gotten worse since the trade of Marcell Dareus. Lewis led the team with 92 yards while Burkhead added 78 of his own. Burkhead scored both touchdowns for the Patriots in the game.

Tom Brady had a relatively quiet game, completing 21-of-30 passes for 258 yards and one interception. It was his first game without a touchdown since the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rob Gronkowski was the main recipient of his passes. Gronkowski was responsible for over half of Brady’s passing yards, hauling in nine passes for 147 yards.

That performance was overshadowed by Gronkowski’s late hit, which concussed Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White and earned Gronkowski a one-game suspension. He is lucky that he did not get a longer suspension as the hit was uncalled for an injured another player after the whistle.

Despite the dumb play from Gronkowski, it was another dominant performance by the Patriots. So dominant, they have moved up in ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings.

With the Philadelphia Eagles losing this weekend on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots have assumed the top spot in the rankings. This is the first time since the Week 9 power rankings that the Patriots have taken over the top spot.

Here is what they had to say about the Patriots move up the rankings:

"The Patriots have only two rookies with at least 100 snaps this season: Deatrich Wise and Adam Butler. Wise has been the better of the two, recording 3.0 sacks, the third-most on the team."

Deatrich Wise Jr. has had his role increased with the injuries decimating the defense. He has performed well when called upon and become an integral part of the Patriots pass rush. Butler provides depth in the middle of the defensive line and helps in the run game. The Patriots must trust him enough as they cut veteran Ricky Jean-Francois this week to open up roster spots.

Next: Patriots Full Team Grades vs Bills Week 13

The Patriots could conceivably be in the top spot for the remainder of the season. It all begins this week with another matchup against the Dolphins. If they can defeat Miami on Monday Night Football without Gronkowski, it will set up a huge game, essentially winner takes all, against the Steelers in Week 15.

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