Two games in the first five days of their season. Back-to-back-to-back games against quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud and Aaron Rodgers … all on the road. And a late-November/early-December gauntlet of home games against Kansas City and San Francisco, followed by trips to the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit. The Buffalo Bills’ season, which begins Sunday against Arizona, is full of potential potholes and speed bumps to navigate if they are to win a franchise-record fifth consecutive AFC East title. Here is a game-by-game forecast:
Week 1
SEPT. 8 VS. ARIZONA 1 p.m. (CBS)
The Bills lost 6 of their 8 captains from last year. Where will the leadership come from?
As the Bills prepare for a new season, still intent on pushing for playoff berths and championships, a new wave of leaders must emerge.
Memo to the Bills: Don’t let this game come down to a Hail Mary throw by Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. It didn’t work last time (November 2020), remember? It is ultra-critical for the Bills to storm out of the gates because of the short turnaround to Week 2. The Bills keep Murray and should-be-terrific rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. under wraps to improve to 5-3 in Sean McDermott openers.
People are also reading…
PICK: Bills 27-17.
Week 2
SEPT. 12 AT MIAMI
8:15 p.m. (Prime)
Jeff Bezos is paying $1 billion per year to broadcast the NFL on Amazon Prime, so he might as well get a premium opener. Bills-Dolphins checks that box and then some. Two dynamic offenses who played in the January 2023 wild-card round and January 2024 for the division title (both won by the Bills). The best football play-by-play announcer ever (Al Michaels) gets a thriller won by Miami.
PICK: Dolphins 31-28.
Week 3
SEPT. 23 VS. JACKSONVILLE
7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Wanted: Somebody in Western New York who can help the Bills solve the Jaguars. In 2021, the Jaguars won 9-6 as a 14½-point underdog; it was Urban Meyer’s final win. Last year, the Jaguars were in full control during a 25-20 win in London. Staring at three-game road trip after this one, the Bills need to show up, respect the Jaguars and play with urgency.
PICK: Bills 34-24.
Week 4
SEPT. 29 AT BALTIMORE)
8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Crab cakes and football; that’s what Maryland does! Or at least that’s what the character “Flip” in “Wedding Crashers” declared, so I’ll agree. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has two MVP awards, but in a head-to-head matchup with Josh Allen, we’ll always go with Allen. The Ravens have scored 24, 20 and three points in Jackson’s three starts against the Bills (1-2 record). Allen will rush and pass for two touchdowns apiece.
PICK: Bills 28-24.
Week 5
OCT. 6 AT HOUSTON
1 p.m. (CBS)
Is the Bills' roster strong enough? Mark Gaughan breaks down the team, position by position
A lot must go right for the Bills to win the AFC East. The new WRs must produce. The new safeties must not flop. The edge rushers must feast. Here's a look at the Bills' depth chart, from top to bottom.
The Stefon Diggs Bowl. Everybody will say glowing things about each other leading into the game. McDermott-Diggs. Allen-Diggs. Diggs-Bills front office, Bills locker room-Diggs … you get the idea. But Stef isn’t the main issue for the Bills. That would be quarterback C.J. Stroud, who will be facing them for the first time. Stroud extends enough plays to throw three touchdowns (none to Diggs, by the way) in a potential playoff preview.
PICK: Texans 26-23.
Week 6
OCT. 14 AT N.Y. JETS
8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
The New Jersey swamp has been a horror house the last two years for Allen– a combined five interceptions and 10 sacks in two losses. ESPN likely requested and received the do-over after it had Bills-Jets to open last season and saw Aaron Rodgers tear his Achilles on the first drive. The Bills wrap up their first three-game road swing in nine years with a win, and Allen plays turnover-free.
PICK: Bills 17-13.
Week 7
OCT. 20 VS. TENNESSEE
1 p.m. (CBS)
The past few years, Titans coach Brian Callahan was Cincinnati’s non-play-calling offensive coordinator and watched Joe Burrow beat the Bills’ defense. Good news for the Bills is that Callahan couldn’t take Burrow with him to Tennessee. The Bills can’t let two terrific defensive players, tackle Jeffery Simmons and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, ruin the game. No let-up time for the Bills in this schedule trap game.
PICK: Bills 27-9.
Week 8
OCT. 27 AT SEATTLE
4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Exhibit A that Allen is still in the first half of his career: The Bills’ trip to Seattle will be the first for Allen and the club’s first since 2016. When the Seahawks are good, you can literally feel the stadium shaking. A terrific environment. Not that I’m getting old, but as a college student, I covered Seattle receiver Tyler Lockett’s dad, Aaron, at Kansas State. Tyler catches the game-winning touchdown.
PICK: Seahawks 30-27.
Week 9
NOV. 3 VS. MIAMI
1 p.m. (CBS)
Two days before the presidential election and three days before the trade deadline, the Bills make a final statement that general manager Brandon Beane should be a buyer, adding a reinforcement like Nyheim Hines in 2022 and Rasul Douglas in 2023. Douglas intercepts Tua Tagovailoa in the red zone with less than three minutes remaining and the Bills hit the kinda-halfway mark at 6-3.
PICK: Bills 37-33.
Week 10
NOV. 10 AT INDIANAPOLIS
1 p.m. (CBS)
A great road-trip possibility for Bills fans. Downtown Indianapolis is convenient. Fly in, take a ride to the hotel and have a walk-around weekend — you won’t need a rental car. Plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from, and Lucas Oil Stadium is a fine venue. The Bills sack second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson four times to roll into next week’s game against Kansas City.
PICK: Bills 17-7.
Week 11
NOV. 17 VS. KANSAS CITY
4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Beating the Chiefs in the regular season hasn’t been the Bills’ issue, as Allen is 3-1 with 11 total touchdowns. The playoffs, as you know, has been gutting — 0-3 with nine total touchdowns for Allen. If they finish in the same spot of their respective divisions, the Chiefs come back to Orchard Park next year. The Chiefs win this one on Patrick Mahomes’ fourth touchdown pass and send the Bills to their bye.
PICK: Chiefs 28-24.
Week 13
DEC. 1 VS. SAN FRANCISCO
8:20 p.m. (NBC)
The Bills should seize this bit of schedule luck: The Bills are coming off their bye and San Francisco plays the previous week at Green Bay. The Bills turned around their season last year after their later break (5-0 post-bye), and now they get their first look at 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. The Bills’ Dalton Kincaid wins the matchup of premiere tight ends over George Kittle, catching six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
PICK: Bills 27-26.
Week 14
DEC. 8 AT L.A. RAMS
4:25 p.m. (FOX)
The Rams are my pick to win the NFC West and reach the conference title game, even after defensive tackle Aaron Donald retired. After his early March release by the Bills, cornerback Tre’Davious White signed with the Rams. Allen vs. Matthew Stafford is a duel of elite passers, and Stafford’s winning score to receiver Puka Nacua sends the Bills home with a second West Coast defeat.
PICK: Rams 31-28.
Week 15
DEC. 15 AT DETROIT
4:25 p.m. (CBS)
On the afternoon of the NFL draft in April, I ran into many Bills fans from western Ontario who made the short drive into downtown Detroit. Expect a stampede of fans from all parts of the region for this CBS showcase game. The Lions’ star power is eye-popping from receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta to pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold. Great matchup.
PICK: Lions 35-30.
Week 16
DEC. 22 VS. NEW ENGLAND
1 p.m. (CBS)
Two comfortable predictions: By this point, the Patriots will be vying for the top draft pick, and rookie quarterback Drake Maye will be their starter. Allen is 7-2 against the Patriots since Tom Brady left after the 2019 season. The Bills beat the Patriots to take a one-game lead over the Jets in the AFC East and clinch a playoff spot for the sixth consecutive year.
PICK: Bills 24-13.
Week 17
DEC. 29 VS. N.Y. JETS
1 p.m. (CBS)
If this Jets season falls apart — and I have them making the playoffs as a wild card — what next for Gang Green? New general manager, new coach and new quarterback? Possibly all. But trading for and building around Aaron Rodgers was worth the swing, and he has two dynamic receivers in Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams. The Bills clinch their fifth consecutive division title by holding of a late Jets rally.
PICK: Bills 23-21.
Week 18
JAN. 5 AT NEW ENGLAND
Time, TV network TBD
The Patriots’ best chance would be to sign Celtics star Jayson Tatum to a one-day contract and throw jump balls to him downfield, hoping for a catch or a penalty. Sweeping the Patriots will be critical in a tight division race against the Dolphins and Jets. The Bills win over New England to wrap up the third seed in the AFC behind Kansas City and Cincinnati.
PICK: Bills 31-14.
FINAL RECORD: 11-6 (first, AFC East).
0 Comments
'); var s = document.createElement('script'); s.setAttribute('src', 'https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js'); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); __tnt.log('Load Rev Content'); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); }
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
Ryan O'Halloran
Sports Reporter
- Author email
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
