Buffalo gets a break in Week 10 against the Dolphins, a team they’ve beaten 13 times in their last 14 matchups, but face the NFC South champion Buccaneers in Week 11. Only two teams averaged more yards per game (399.5) and only three teams scored more points per game (29.5) than Tampa Bay last season.
Four days later the Bills travel to Houston for a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Texans, a team coming off back-to-back AFC South championships and a pair of 10-win seasons. Tucked between road games against the Titans and Colts, Houston may have this game circled on the calendar.
Easiest stretch | Week 4 through Week 8
Buffalo won’t face a team with a winning record from late-September through October. Collectively, the Saints (Week 4), Patriots (Week 5), Falcons (Week 6) and Panthers (Week 8) won 22 of 68 games last season. The Bills also have a Week 7 bye.
Best game | Week 1 @ Baltimore Ravens
The Bills defense forced three turnovers to beat the Ravens by two points in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs. This year, both teams will pick up where they left off with a Week 1 matchup, this time at M&T Bank Stadium.
Worst game | Week 16 @ Cleveland Browns
The Browns were one of three teams (Giants, Titans) to win three games last season. Of the five quarterbacks on their roster, 40-year-old Joe Flacco is their best option. Of course, by the time the Bills come to town, Cleveland is likely to start third-round pick Dillon Gabriel or fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders.
Also noteworthy | Week 17 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Buffalo fell three points short of facing Philadelphia in Super Bowl LIX last year. Bills coach Sean McDermott spent 10 years as an assistant coach with the Eagles before taking over in Buffalo.
In a game where playoff seeding could be on the line, fans can expect a shootout between two of the NFL’s best teams in what could be a preview pf Super Bowl LX.
