Slight edgeDET
Detroit Lions
86.3PFM Team Score#6 NFL
Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills: PFM Team Comparison
The Detroit Lions hold a slight overall advantage over the Buffalo Bills in the current PFM ratings. Detroit separates itself through the stronger coaching operation and the clearer long-term football direction.
Current PFM Team Scores
BUF
Buffalo Bills
85.7PFM Team Score#7 NFL
WEEK 2 MATCHUP
Thursday, Sep. 17 8:15 PM ET
View on NFL Schedule
PFM CALL
Locks September 17th at 8:15 PM EDT
Who wins Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills?
Week 2 matchup
AwayDET1-0
HomeBUF1-0
Pick the winner.
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the Detroit Lions Higher
The Detroit Lions have the stronger coaching operation under Dan Campbell. The advantage shows up in preparation, adjustments and pressure situations. Buffalo's strongest counterargument is Explosiveness. The explosive-play advantage belongs to the Buffalo Bills. One chunk gain can rescue a drive that was otherwise going nowhere.
Detroit also brings the clearer long-term football direction. The Detroit Lions still deserves the higher PFM rating.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
Detroit vs. Buffalo Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
DETDetroit Lions
BUFBuffalo Bills
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
Buffalo Bills’ Best Argument
The Buffalo Bills are the bigger threat to change a game with one play. Detroit has less room for a coverage mistake or missed tackle. The explosiveness advantage is a real point in Buffalo's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Buffalo is that Detroit counters with the stronger coaching operation and the clearer long-term football direction.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
DET86.3
Detroit Lions 86.3BUF85.7
Buffalo Bills 85.7Overall NFL Rank
DET#6
Detroit Lions #6BUF#7
Buffalo Bills #7QB Stability
DET85.0
Detroit Lions 85.0BUF88.0
Buffalo Bills 88.0Roster Strength
DET84.0
Detroit Lions 84.0BUF82.7
Buffalo Bills 82.7Coaching Direction
DET85.7
Detroit Lions 85.7BUF72.8
Buffalo Bills 72.8Recent Performance
DET80.2
Detroit Lions 80.2BUF86.3
Buffalo Bills 86.3Offense
DET88.4
Detroit Lions 88.4BUF91.4
Buffalo Bills 91.4Defense
DET80.1
Detroit Lions 80.1BUF80.7
Buffalo Bills 80.7Franchise Direction
DET80.6
Detroit Lions 80.6BUF77.8
Buffalo Bills 77.8Explosiveness
DET83.8
Detroit Lions 83.8BUF90.7
Buffalo Bills 90.7Conference Rank
DET#5
Detroit Lions #5BUF#2
Buffalo Bills #2Division Rank
DET#1
Detroit Lions #1BUF#1
Buffalo Bills #1Outlook
DETSuper Bowl ContenderBUFPlayoff Contender
Stronger outlook: Detroit LionsSCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Detroit Lions
Remaining schedule rank: #25
Toughest stretch: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears
Strongest opponents: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears
Next five difficulty: 77.7
View Detroit Lions Road AheadBuffalo Bills
Remaining schedule rank: #9
Toughest stretch: Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers
Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions
Next five difficulty: 82.9
View Buffalo Bills Road AheadBuffalo has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 9. The strongest opponents include Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and the Detroit Lions. Detroit also has the more favorable road, which adds to the stronger coaching operation and the clearer long-term football direction.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated September 15, 2026. Schedule data updated September 14, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams