The Buffalo Bills are a powerhouse with a streaky defense, a strong run game, and the reigning MVP at quarterback. It's a long season, and they've got plenty of reasons to celebrate already. Unfortunately, all is not perfect. There are holes in the ship, and with the Baltimore Ravens visiting in Week 1, they might need to be addressed, if they even can.
3 big concerns for Bills going into their season opener
The kicker issue
Tyler Bass is a solid kicker 90% of the time. His fair share of misses have come at inopportune moments, it's true, but Bass has come through for the Bills time and time again. Alas, we love a cliche, and the meat of the matter is that 'the best ability is availability'.
Tyler Bass has hardly kicked all August, and is still struggling to make it onto the field. He's been dealing with a pelvic injury for some time. The Bills worked out a few kickers last week per Jordan Schultz, and will need to bring one in if Bass isn't ready to go for Sunday Night Football.
Even if he is good to go, the problems persist. Those misses may be surmountable, but they won't always be. Against many opponents these last few seasons, a Bass field goal has cost the team points, not added.
When playing a team like the New York Jets, that miss may not cost you; The Baltimore Ravens will punish any mistake. He was an inconsistent kicker last season. If Tyler Bass plays, or if he doesn't: The Buffalo Bills might still have a kicker problem.
The secondary problem
Buffalo has issues at cornerback. Buffalo has issues at safety. Transparently, they've invested substantially in this group for their defense this season, but remain incredibly unfortunate. Their expectation at safety, that the sophomore Cole Bishop would grow into his role, is hampered by his missing a large chunk of this offseason, per Alex Brasky.
No longer are they sure of their plan for starters. Taylor Rapp also missed time and was average at best in 2024. The backup issue is also prevalent, with Damar Hamlin re-signing as an emergency valve. They drafted Jordan Hancock out of Ohio State as a utility DB, and he's shown promise, but also was injured in preseason. If he's able to step up this season, it will be to Buffalo's credit. The team brought back Jordan Poyer to the practice squad, just in case.
The other side of this coin is the Buffalo Bills concerns at cornerback. The team returned toDane Jackson and Tre'Davious White for a sense of veteran stability, then drafted Maxwell Hairston and Dorian Strong with their first and sixth-round picks respectively. Clearly, they felt the problem that Rasul Douglas' departure created was resolved.
Then, Maxwell Hairston was injured at the beginning of camp. He will miss a minimum of four games, with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens leading off. Tre'Davious White surprised everyone, with an excellent camp and preseason, before being carted off the field, per Sal Capaccio.
Now, with deep uncertainty about both White's status and also the readiness of their depth outside of him, the Bills may be set up to fail in the secondary. The team may have to start their sixth-round rookie, or former undrafted free agent Ja'Marcus Ingram. Lamar Jackson will take advantage of that matchup on Sunday Night Football.
No. 1 receiver issue
The 2025 Buffalo Bills have more of the same problems the 2024 Bills did. Their lack of a true WR1 may not be a huge blow - Josh Allen just won MVP despite not having one - but it is still an issue. Without a go-to guy who can be expected to win in any situation, Buffalo has to be more creative when it comes to getting production out of their receiving core.
Khalil Shakir was the Bills leading receiver last year, and had a career-best 821 receiving yards, with only four touchdowns. Returning alongside him are Keon Coleman (556yds, 4TDs), and Curtis Samuel (253yds, 1TD). They've added former LA Chargers receiver Joshua Palmer, but the team is still without a clear top target.
The team dominated much of the opposition last season, but no individual came through in the playoffs. In their defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs, the top receiver was Mack Hollins, now on the New England Patriots. Their second receiver, with 49 yards, was RB James Cook. The team needed help, and they got some in Josh Palmer; It may not be enough. With a team like the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, does Josh Allen have the weapons needed to win a potential high-scoring affair?