When you look at the schedule for the Buffalo Bills this season, it doesn’t look easy whatsoever. Even though they didn’t win the AFC East last year, and will be playing a second place schedule, their opponents are some of the best in the league. At the same time, we know that the Bills are one of the best as well.
In the first five weeks, the Bills will face four playoff teams from last season. The one team that didn’t make the playoffs is the Detroit Lions, who still finished at 9-8 last season and should have more success on offense under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
It’s a bit of a gauntlet to start out the season, but everyone knows that what happens in November and December means much more than what happens in September/early October.
Bills have tough first 5 games (but the biggest ones are later in the season)
The Bills will face Houston, Detroit, both Los Angeles teams, and New England. That’s not exactly the great opening schedule that you want to see, but those teams also have to worry about the Bills. Once late November and December come around, that’s when the serious playoff push goes into effect.
Later on in the season, the Bills will face teams like the Kansas City, New England (in Foxborough), Green Bay, Chicago, and Denver. The only team that wasn't in the playoffs last season was Kansas City.
While the Bills get a bit of a break the last two weeks with the Dolphins and Jets, two of their games late in the season could play a role into their playoff push for not just the AFC East, but the AFC as a whole.
2 late season Bills games marked down potential season-defining matchups
Bryan DeArdo from CBS Sports listed 10 games "that will define the 2026 season" and the Buffalo's Thanksgiving matchup against Kansas City and Christmas Day game against Denver were featured.
DeArdo about Bills vs. Chiefs:
"From a team standpoint, this game will surely have playoff implications. For the Bills, this game is a chance to reinforce their status as one of the AFC's best teams. For the Chiefs, it's a chance to show that they are still a team to be reckoned with following last year's 6-11 slog. It'll also be another chance to showcase their new running back, Walker." said DeArdo.
Any Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes game is one worth seeing no matter who you are a fan of. Every one of their games essentially comes down to the wire. With this matchup taking place in late November, this is the big start for the playoff push for both teams.
DeArdo about Bills vs. Broncos:
"Beyond the playoff and seeding implications, this is a showdown between a former league MVP in Allen and an aspiring MVP in Nix, who outplayed Allen in Denver's 33-30 win back in January. Allen out-gained Nix that day, but his four turnovers proved costly." said DeArdo.
Everyone remembers the Divisional Round matchup from last season between Buffalo and Denver. The infamous "interception" that went in the favor of the Broncos ultimately was the deciding factor that pushed Denver into the AFC Championship game. However, the Bills didn't play their best football either.
This game comes in Week 16 when playoff seedings could start to be solidified. Whoever comes out as the loser of this game could pay a big price, if both are going into the postseason.
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