The Buffalo Bills are like any NFL team right now and trying to put the best possible team on the field for the coming season. The Bills do know what kind of schedule they are set to face, and it is one of the toughest in football. Here’s how we view that schedule, ranking all 14 opponents from worst to best.
Ranking the 14 Bills opponents in 2026
14.) Miami Dolphins (Weeks 11, 17)
The Dolphins should be the worst team in football. With all due respect to Malik Willis, he is an average quarterback who enters a system with no discernable weapons aside from De’Von Achane. The Bills need to make these two easy wins to help with the rest of the schedule.
13.) New York Jets (Weeks 10, 18)
The Jets continue to be the Jets. They drafted a lot of potentially strong pieces in the draft, but they now need to develop them. Geno Smith should improve their QB play, but how much? There is more talent on the roster but the direct of the team still feels unclear.
12.) Las Vegas Raiders (Week 6)
The Raiders, on paper, seem hugely improved. But does that mean they are actually a good team? I wouldn’t go that far just yet. They have some talented pieces and did a lot to shore up their issues, but this season will likely be about introducing first overall pick QB Fernando Mendoza and allowing him to grow.
11.) Minnesota Vikings (Week 9)
The Vikings have always been a solid team, but they appear severely hindered by cap challenges. Jonathan Greenard is gone, significantly hurting their defense. That said, the biggest question is whether J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray will be quarterback to open the season.
10.) Detroit Lions (Week 2)
The Lions can still put points up with the best of them thanks to Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Can the defense stay healthy and improve in 2026? These teams have produced some fun games in years past and there should be fireworks once again.
9.) Houston Texans (Week1)
The Texans were a very one-dimensional team in 2025 and don’t seem to have done much to change that notion. That said, their defense is as nasty as it gets, and their pass rush gave the Bills a rough time last season. If C.J. Stroud can even get close to this rookie numbers, the Texans are going to be a force.
8.) Chicago Bears (Week 15)
The Bears were one of the upstarts in a very tough NFC North thanks largely to the development of QB Caleb Williams. They have a ton of weapons on offense and just need to get the pass rush up to speed to be truly dangerous. The arm talent on display when Williams and Josh Allen face off will be out of this world.
7.) Baltimore Ravens (Week 8)
The Ravens are intriguing in a lot of ways. They have a new coach and a few key pieces - like center Tyler Linderbaum - have moved on. They signed Trey Hendrickson and hope that a return to health is all they need from guys like Lamar Jackson. Unless they have another injury-plagued season, expect a bounce back from the Ravens in 2026.
6.) Green Bay Packers (Week 14)
The Packers are tough to really get a read on. They have the potential to be a dangerous team, especially when Jordan Love and the offense are clicking. Pass rusher Micah Parsons should be back by Week 14, making the Packers even tougher draw than they would have otherwise been.
5.) Los Angeles Chargers (Week 3)
The Chargers, as demonstrated in 2025, will be dependent on key pieces being healthy. With tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back in the mix, the Chargers appear to have all the pieces required to make a run. Playing with the Jim Harbaugh mentality made them tougher, now they have the talent to compete with anyone.
4.) New England Patriots (Weeks 4, 13)
The Patriots will have to prove that their 2025 season wasn’t the result of an easy schedule. Still, they have MVP runner-up Drake Maye back and brought in All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown as well. The Patriots should be just as tough once again in 2026.
3.) Kansas City Chiefs (Week 12)
The Chiefs are easily the Bills’ biggest rivals, and their draft efforts show that they still need someone who can effectively get to Patrick Mahomes in big moments. The legendary quarterback should easily be back when the two sides meet, leading to what should be yet another classic in the rivalry.
2.) Denver Broncos (Week 16)
The Broncos feel like they would have been AFC champions if not for an injury to QB Bo Nix in their defeat of the Bills in the AFC Divisional round. With Nix and the impressive defense back, plus Jaylen Waddle in the fold, the Broncos should be as formidable as anyone.
1.) Los Angeles Rams (Week 5)
On paper, the Rams are a superpower. They were already Super Bowl contenders, then added a pair of exceptional cornerbacks to their ranks. If that weren’t enough, they added all-world pass rusher Myles Garrett as well. The Bills should be underdogs here and will have their hands full with a star-studded Rams lineup.
An absolute gauntlet
Even with as tough as the schedule looks, the Bills still have a chance to get over the hump and do something special. They have a plethora of offensive talent and the hope is that new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard can help them get a few more stops when they need them most. In any event, the Bills will have their hands full in 2026 and the margin for error will be slim.
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