Bills game-by-game predictions after 2026 NFL Schedule release

The Buffalo Bills’ 2026 NFL schedule release came with a giant chrysalis video and an unrelenting 17-game slate. Outside of being blessed with the New York Jets in their division, there aren’t going to be many pushovers. If Josh Allen, Joe Brady, and the rest of the 2026 Bills hope to end the franchise’s 32-year Super Bowl drought, they are going to have to run a schedule gauntlet this season.

So, without further ado, let’s go through our Bills game-by-game predictions after the 2026 NFL schedule release.

Week 1 at Houston Texans (Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 pm, CBS): Win

Last season, the Bills had no answers for the Texans’ defense. The unit punished Allen all night, and the offense couldn’t move the ball at all. That is, until (then OC) Brady started reaching deep into his bag of tricks and pulling out a drive that included a wild hook-and-lateral and almost won the game for Buffalo.

With all offseason to prepare and the pressure of having to prove that he’s the right man for the job, Brady will have some special wrinkles for Houston in Week 1. This game may not be pretty, but it will be a Bills win.

Week 2 vs. Detroit Lions (Thursday, Sept. 17, 8:15 pm, Prime Video): Win

The home opener for the Bills’ new stadium on Thursday night should be electric. With the Lions coming to town, though, it won’t be an easy one. These two teams had a 90-point shootout last time they met, so there should be as many fireworks on the field as there will be in the pregame for this one. Once again, the Bills will prevail.

Week 3 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, Sept. 27, 1 pm, FOX): Win

The good vibes from the home opener should carry over to the Bills’ first Sunday afternoon tilt in their new stadium. Plus, it’s always tough for a team traveling west to east to play a 1 pm kickoff.

There are a lot of comparisons between Justin Herbert and Josh Allen, but Bills Mafia knows that one of these things is not like the other. Allen will show that he is a class above the Chargers QB and outduel Herbert in this big-time AFC clash.

Week 4 vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 pm, CBS): Loss

If the Patriots can get past the Mike Vrabel-Diana Russini drama, they will still be one of the best teams in the AFC. Drake Maye is a worthy adversary for Allen, and the team may have figured out some of the offensive line problems that dogged them at the end of last season.

There is little chance that the Bills will sweep the entire AFCE East this season, and the new stadium will have to see its first loss at some point. It’s unfortunately appropriate that the Pats will be the team to do that.

Week 5 at Los Angeles Rams (Monday, Oct. 12, 8:15 pm, ESPN): Loss

Is this a preview of Super Bowl 61? These two teams certainly hope so. The Rams have one of the best and most complete rosters in the NFL this season, so traveling to LA will be a tough task for the Bills in Week 5. They’d love to get back on track after their (predicted) loss to the Patriots, but instead will lose back-to-back games — cue the “What’s wrong with the Bills?!” segments.

Week 6 at Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, Oct. 18, 4:25 pm, CBS): Win 

There’s nothing better to help get back on track than facing a rookie quarterback (or Kirk Cousins). The Raiders had a great draft, Fernando Mendoza is a franchise QB, and Vegas seems like it’s finally on the right track as an organization. However, they are probably a year away from being back in contention for a playoff spot. Buffalo should make this fact abundantly clear with a solid win here.

Week 7 — BYE

Enjoy the weekend off, Bills Mafia!

Week 8 vs. Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, Nov. 1, 1 pm, CBS): Win 

The Ravens are always a tough matchup for the Bills, and the defense always has problems stopping Derrick Henry. However, Buffalo has repeatedly found ways to win against Baltimore in recent years, and this game at home should be no different. Coming off a bye, this is an even better attack for the new-look D.

Week 9 at Minnesota Vikings (Monday, Nov. 9, 8:15 pm, ESPN): Win

On the road for a Monday night clash in Minnesota won’t be easy, but—after going back and forth—we’ll mark this one in the win column for the Bills. Yes, the Brian Flores defense will be tough on Allen and company, but we’re still not sold on Kyler Murray as a savior.

This game will likely be closer than some think, but Buffalo can still leave the Midwest with a W.

Week 10 at New York Jets (Sunday, Nov. 15, 1 pm, CBS): Win

While the Bills’ schedule is tough this year, they do have four easy ones on the schedule, thanks to the AFC East. Two of those cakewalks come in Weeks 10 and 11 and then again to end the season in Weeks 17 and 18. The first of those is a trip to New Jersey to play the Jets. This won’t be much of a contest.

Week 11 vs. Miami Dolphins (Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 pm, FOX): Win

The Bills’ second gimme on the schedule is against the Dolphins. This team took the biggest dead cap hit in NFL history this year and will be looking to get the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. This will be a good chance for the Bills to reset and prepare for the toughest five-game stretch of the season, which includes games on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Week 12 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday, Nov. 26, 8:20 pm, NBC): Win

With Patrick Mahomes coming back from injury and the team’s biggest stars—Travis Kelce, Chris Jones—getting up there in age, this will be a transition year for the Chiefs. They will still get up for big games, and it doesn’t get bigger than the Prime Time spot on Thanksgiving night.

Allen and the Bills are still at their peak for at least another year or two, though, so while the Chiefs figure out their second act, the Bills will chalk this up as a win.

Week 13 at New England Patriots (Sunday, Dec. 6, 4:25 pm, CBS): Win

After the Week 4 loss to the Patriots, the Bills will head to Foxborough with revenge on their minds. Buffalo will be infazed by whatever the New England weather dishes out, and they will find a way to win this game. A Bills-Patriots split seems likely this year, and there’s also a good chance we see the rubber match in the AFC playoffs.

Week 14 at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Dec. 13, 8:20 pm, NBC): Loss

This will be a soft spot in the schedule for the Bills, coming off a Thanksgiving matchup with the Chiefs and a huge AFC East tilt with the Pats. There is a good chance that Buffalo drops a game to at least one NFC North opponent in this two-week stretch, and a Prime Time night game at Lambeau seems like a spot to do it.

Week 15 vs. Chicago Bears (Saturday, Dec. 19, 8:20 pm CBS): Loss

The Bills’ 2026 NFL schedule gets really tough here, as the team becomes a prisoner of its own success. This is a short week for the team, with a Sunday-night-to-Saturday turnaround and two potential playoff teams on either end. Leave it to the Bills to ruin a bunch of holiday parties by taking the L and putting up a second two-game losing streak of the season.

Week 16 at Denver Broncos (Friday, Dec. 25, 4:30 pm, Netflix): Win

The Bills have a habit of beating teams in the regular season that they lose to in the playoffs. After the Broncos ended the Bills’ 2025 campaign, this will be a revenge game. It also marks new defensive coordinator Jin Leonhard’s first trip back to play his old team, so there will be extra motivation there as well.

Allen and Cook likely can’t play worse than they did in that playoff game, so Buffalo will take this one in Denver.

Week 17 at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, 1 pm, CBS): Win

There will probably be a foot or more of snow on the ground in Buffalo to start the new year, so a trip to Miami will be a welcome reprieve for the Bills. As long as they don’t get too wild on South Beach the night before, this should be an easy Bills win.

Week 18 vs. New York Jets (Time and date TBD): Win 

Even if the Bills have their playoff seed wrapped up at this point, their backups will be trying to get in reps for the playoffs, while the Jets will be checking their flight statuses for Cancun. Buffalo wins this one easily, even if it doesn’t matter.

2026 Bills record: 13-4

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