With the release of their schedule, it is no secret that the Buffalo Bills have tough sledding ahead of them in 2026. When you’re a good team - a contending team - it doesn’t matter who you play, you simply need to get the job done.
Though the Bills will cause trouble for some teams, they definitely face challenges in other areas. The Bills have one of the best offensive line units in the league, but they are going to face more than a few pass rushers along the way that are going to become major issues.
The 5 defensive linemen Bills should be most concerned with
5.) Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders (Week 6)
Crosby has had an interesting offseason, getting traded to the Baltimore Ravens before they backed out following a physical. Crosby had his knee worked on but is expected to be ready for Week 1 after racking up 10 sacks a season ago.
The ultimate motor guy, Crosby never gives up on plays. He works relentlessly to be the best at his position, and that is the kind of effort that gives offensive linemen headache. He also likes to get his hands on the quarterback, letting them know he’s there even when he doesn’t get a sack.
4.) Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions (Week 2)
The second overall pick in 2022 has already become a premier force in this league. After an injury-shortened 2024 season, he rebounded with a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2025. That was good enough to earn him Second-Team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.
Hutchinson has the size and skill to be dangerous, but it is his motor that really sets him apart. With 43 sacks in 56 career games, he tends to get to the quarterback more often than not. The offensive line will have their hands full against Hutchinson and quarterback Josh Allen will need to make quick decisions.
3.) Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers (Week 14)
If the Bills played the Packers earlier in the season, this might not be a concern. Parsons, who had 12.5 sacks in 14 games with the Packers last season, tore his ACL in December. He will almost certainly begin the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list but should be back well before the Bills game.
That is a nightmare for Allen and the Bills offensive line. Parsons is a game-wrecker in every sense of the word, the kind of guy you scheme around. It will likely take him some time to get back to 100% but even a partially healthy Parsons will be difficult to deal with.
2.) Will Anderson, Houston Texans (Week 1)
If you knew nothing of Anderson, the three-year, $150 million contract should tell you everything. Even the 12 sacks and First-Team All-Pro selection don’t tell the full story of just how much of a problem he is for opposing offenses.
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year runner-up is just hitting his prime and is poised for a massive season in 2026. The Texans defense is nasty enough, but Anderson is a beast all on his own. He’s going to do damage against the Bills; it’s just a matter of how much.
1.) Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams (Week 5)
Though the Bills don’t have the Cleveland Browns on their schedule, they will have to face Garrett after the massive June 1 trade. The Rams were loaded previously but now get even better with the addition of the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
There aren’t enough words to describe Garrett’s impact. He set the NFL single-season sack record a year ago with 23 sacks. He is usually double-teamed and regularly triple-teamed. Like Anderson, there is no stopping Garrett. More often than not, there is no containing him, either.
A stacked schedule of defensive stalwarts
The Bills have a plethora of challenges ahead of them, especially with the New England Patriots making a major upgrade at receiver. The Bills have a few important questions to answer but having Allen at the helm gives them a fighting chance more often than not. He is going to have to be his playmaking best against this who’s who of defensive studs.
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