BUFFALO, N.Y. — There’s always a lot to dive into once the Bills schedule is released.
As of right now for myself it’s not worth it to try and pick the winner of each game at this point because so much can and will change.
Instead, here are a few quick thoughts on each matchup for what might be in store each week.
Week 1
Cardinals at Bills, Sunday @ 1pm (CBS)
Finally the Bills get to open the season at home! We all know how awesome the weather in Orchard Park usually is in September. On the field, our first look at a new-look Bills team, from the wide receiver position to key spots on the defense. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray now in that timeframe where players start to feel and play like themselves again following a torn ACL. Murray has a new top target in 4th overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. Outside of those two, the Arizona roster still a work in progress. While I’m not picking winners during this exercise, I will say this should be a W for the home team.
Week 2
Bills at Dolphins, Thursday Night Football @ 8:15pm (Amazon Prime)
Short week out the gate certainly isn’t ideal. Luckily, have to imagine most bodies are still pretty fresh this early in the season. Plus, game-planning for a divisional opponent easier than someone else.
Still, Miami was the Bills biggest threat in the AFC East last season and there’s no reason to believe that won’t be the case again this one. The Dolphins offense has added Odell Beckham Jr. as their 3rd WR and Jonnu Smith as their main tight end. Defensively, both pass-rushers Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb are coming off major season-ending injuries, so exactly where their game is at remains to be seen. Their secondary getting a bit retooled, with the addition of Kendall Fuller at CB and then adding former Bills All-Pro and captain Jordan Poyer to the back end.
Week 3
Jaguars at Bills, Monday Night Football @ 7:30pm (ESPN)
An early reunion affair back in OP. Gabe Davis and Mitch Morse return to Highmark Stadium as the Bills have their second-straight primetime game (We can throw Ronald Darby in there too if you’d like as a former Bills back in town). Extra-extra rest coming off a Thursday night game into a Monday night should help any potential injuries through the first two games. Jacksonville is an interesting team. There is talent, but they didn’t push forward last season as many believed they would. Of course they beat the Bills in London, with the now departed Calvin Ridley really being the difference. For those who were on the Brian Thomas Jr. train during the draft, you’ll get an up-close look at the rookie with the Jags.
Week 4
Bills at Ravens, Sunday Night Football @ 8:20pm (NBC – Channel 2)
Baltimore was one of the best teams in football a year ago, with Lamar Jackson winning his 2nd MVP award. While we’ll see how Zay Flowers performs in year 2, the real focus will be on free agent addition Derrick Henry to the Ravens backfield. We know Baltimore likes to run the football and Henry’s sustained production even as he’s now 30 years old. There’s also to 2-TE look with now-healthy Mark Andrews paired with Isaiah Likely, who definitely flashed in Andrews’ absence last season. Weather oddly seems to always be a factor when the Bills travel to Baltimore around this time of year, with rain usually an issue.
Week 5
Bills at Texans, Sunday @ 1pm (CBS)
Bills get a break from primetime, but surprisingly coming against Houston. We know the story of this one – Stefon Diggs. Don’t expect to learn anything enlightening leading into this one regarding what happened between Diggs and the Bills, but it’ll still be quite the talking point. Beyond that, this is still an absolutely monster match-up. Can C.J. Stroud follow up a sensational rookie season in year 2? The weapons around him are loaded beyond Diggs, with Tank Dell and Nico Collins rounding out the WR trio as well as Dalton Schultz a very good tight end. Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson headlines the Houston defense. Another measuring stick game for the Bills right out the gate.
Week 6
Bills at Jets, Monday Night Football @ 8:15pm (ESPN)
Third road game in a row for the Bills, one of just four teams in the entire NFL to have to do that this season. I call this ESPN’s Aaron Rodgers mulligan game after the Jets QB played just four plays in the MNF opener against the Bills last season before suffering a torn
Achilles. Five games for Rodgers to knock off the rust and get in the flow with his still new team. Even without Rodgers, the Jets have been an issue for the Bills the last few years. That’s largely because of their defense, which has produced some of the worst Josh Allen performances I can remember. The Jets pass rush getting a nice boost this offseason with the addition of Haason Reddick. Will absolutely be another test as a grueling five week stretch this early in the season comes to a close.
Week 7
Titans at Bills, Sunday @ 1pm (CBS)
You might think this a game the Bills can finally take a breath, but I’m not so sure of that. The Titans adding some key players to their offense, signing Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd as well as running back Tony Pollard. That trio joining DeAndre Hopkins, who definitely showed to still be one of the best WRs in football last season. Like with any team, it all comes down to the quarterback. Will Levis had moments, but a lot of inconsistencies that naturally come with a rookie QB. He has a big and can run, but can he stay mistake free? L’Jarius Sneed the big add on defense for Tennessee, someone who certainly is familiar with taking on Josh Allen and the Bills.
Week 8
Bills at Seahawks, Sunday @ 4:05pm (FOX)
First of 2 west coast trips this season for the Bills. Seattle an interesting team. Pete Carroll out as head coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald takes over. The cast on offense remains the same, with Geno Smith surrounded by D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and 2nd year WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. You’ll see a familiar face manning the middle of the Seattle defense, with Tyrel Dodson signing with the Hawks in the offseason. Cross-country trips can bring about weird results, but you’d have to think this game paired with facing Tennessee pears to be one of the few “softer” stretches on the Bills schedule.
Week 9
Dolphins at Bills, Sunday @ 1pm (CBS)
Second and final game against the likely biggest challenger in the division coming just as the calendar turns to November. We all know the weather is a wild card that time of year,
but certainly not to the point of what could be should this game be played in its usual late-season slot. Have to imagine the Bills need to at least split with Miami to have any shot at winning the AFC East again, so depending on how week 2 goes, this could fall in the early must-win category. While teams aren’t fully solidified by this point in the season, the midway point should provide a pretty good idea of where not only the Bills, but also the Dolphins sit in the true AFC (and NFL) hierarchy.
Week 10
Bills at Colts, Sunday @ 1pm (CBS)
I’ll start here – Lucas Oil Stadium is one of the best stadiums in the NFL and Indianapolis is highly underrated as a great city to spend a weekend for a game. As for that game, Anthony Richardson the headliner. He’s the latest young QB to have the Josh Allen comp thrown their way. We saw some pops, but Richardson lost for the season early his rookie campaign. A new target for the Colts QB will be rookie Adonai Mitchell, another hot name for those on the Bills wide receiver train through the draft season. The defense seems to be what always holds Indy back. By this point in the year we will know if that remains true in 2024.
Week 11
Chiefs at Bills, Sunday @ 4:25pm (CBS)
The Xavier Worthy game! I’m only sort of kidding. The rivalry continues between these two and for the 2nd-straight meeting, will take place in Orchard Park. It’s a weird dynamic looking at this game. On one hand, it’s the Chiefs. Anytime these two play it’s a big deal and whoever wins thrusts the other into a different place in the contender conversation. However, the Bills have been the victors in the regular season recently only for that not to matter come playoff time. What’s beneficial is the timing of this. We should know who the Bills are by week 11 and we should know who the Chiefs are as well. If forecasting down the line for yet another postseason meeting, how this game plays out should be a good measuring stick.
Week 12
BYE WEEK
Perfect timing for the bye. Later in the season is ideal to get your roster healthy for the home stretch. Also kind of acts as a 2nd bye week with the earlier extended gap between TNF week 2 and MNF week 3. Oh, and sandwiched between arguably the two toughest games of the season.
Week 13
49ers at Bills, Sunday Night Football @ 8:15pm (NBC – Channel 2)
The reigning NFC champions coming to Orchard Park in December. Bills usually play very well coming off of a bye week, so the stars aligning well in that way. Still, stars the name of the game with San Francisco. One of their bigger moves this offseason was the addition of Leonard Floyd, who was arguably the Bills best pass rusher in 2023. Depending on where the Bills are at this point, the outcome of this game could be something that solidifies them as contenders, puts them really behind the 8 ball to even make the playoffs, or certainly something in between.
Week 14
Bills at Rams, Sunday @ 4:25pm (FOX)
Los Angeles in December sure sounds good to me! Second-straight season that’s happening for the Bills and 3rd-straight they’ll play a game inside SoFi Stadium. Rams offense definitely has some serious horses to worry about, from Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nakua and breakout RB Kyren Williams. Defensively, we find out what they look like without future first ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. LA made a great push to make the postseason a year ago. Maybe both teams will be in that position again this time around.
Week 15
Bills at Lions, Sunday @ 4:25pm (CBS)
I’ll start off like I did with the Colts game – Ford Field another one of the best stadiums in the league. The team that plays their home games there also might be one of the best in the league. How does Detroit follow up their breakout 2023 season? There isn’t a whole lot of change to the key pieces to their success a year ago, simply young players getting older. Bills battled with this team on Thanksgiving a few years ago when each was believed to be at different points of their builds. The schedule makers clearly think it’ll be marquee still at this point of the season, sliding into that 4:25 window where most of the country will be watching.
Week 16
Patriots at Bills, Sunday @ 1pm (CBS)
Bills end with two games against New England in the final three weeks. If they’re in “must win” mode coming down the stretch, this is how you want the schedule to shake out. I think you could make a strong case that the Patriots will be the worst team the Bills face all season… and they get them twice. What will Drake Maye look like by this point is likely the biggest factor. Even still, the overall New England roster still leaves a lot to be desired. First time that team will roll into OP without Bill Belichick manning the sidelines. A true next chapter – one the Bills should continue their dominance during.
Week 17
Jets at Bills, Sunday @ 1pm (CBS)
Could this be a critical divisional or even wild card game? The schedule makers putting New York at this point over Miami lends me to believe maybe they think the Jets and Bills are closer to each other than to the Dolphins. Long time since these two first play in week 6. What remains is how tight these games have been recently, regardless of the standings or who was playing QB for the Gang Green.
Week 18
Bills at Patriots, TBD
Not much more to say about facing the Patriots beyond reiterating that if there’s one team on the Bills schedule you’d prefer to land as the opponent the final week of the regular season it’s New England. I’d find it hard to believe the Bills don’t have anything to play for at this point, so a lighter test is just what could push this team to the postseason again.
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