Few teams would have been more disappointed in their 2022 result than the Buffalo Bills. Making a Bills schedule analysis shows they were one of the favorites to win the AFC. However, a few regular-season losses relegated Buffalo to the Wild Card round. That made the Buffalo Bills schedule much more difficult for the NFL playoffs.
After beating a feisty Miami team in the first round, the Bills got stopped by the Cincinnati Bengals. The loss to the Bengals sent panic through Buffalo’s fanbase. Quarterback Josh Allen struggled with turnovers last season, and there were questions about his decision-making. The Bills also had to navigate through Damar Hamlin’s near-fatal injury.
Here’s a look if the 2023 season can be better for Buffalo than 2022 was.
Ready for Rodgers
The New York Jets acquired former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a trade and sent the division notice they were in contention for the title. Buffalo, which has won the division for three consecutive years, will need to continue growing to keep up. The Buffalo Bills record has been excellent over the last three seasons, as the Bills have won 11 or more games in the past three seasons.
New York has the longest playoff drought in the NFL. Anyone doing a Bills schedule analysis shows this week-opening matchup could be important for both sides. New York is trying to prove it is legitimate, while the Bills will want to try and take advantage of the Jets before Rodgers gets settled in.
Soft opening
While the Jets are supposed to be much-improved, the first three Buffalo Bills games don’t look bad on paper. In addition to New York, the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders will be breaking in new quarterbacks. Two of the three games will be on the road, but having new quarterbacks in place should give the Bills an edge as long as Allen is healthy.
Revenge game
Many people setting NFL odds still have Buffalo behind Cincinnati to win the AFC. The Bills will travel to Paycor Stadium to take on the Bengals in Week 9. Last season, Buffalo’s regular season game against the Bengals was stopped and later canceled due to Hamlin’s injury.
When the two NFL teams met in the playoffs, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow led Cincinnati into snowy Buffalo to spring the upset. Making a Bills schedule analysis shows this game comes at a good time for Buffalo.
The Bills will be in the middle of a stretch of three of four games at home, with their only road trip being to Cincinnati.
Expectations remain high
While the Bills showed some flaws last season, people making NFL odds have them tied for the fourth-best odds to win the Super Bowl a +900, tied with Cincinnati. Only the Chiefs have better odds at +650. Buffalo has an over/under of 11.5 games.
- The Bills are -455 to make the playoffs.
Prediction
It would have been difficult for Buffalo to make the division’s biggest splash of the offseason because of what the Jets did by acquiring Rodgers. However, anyone who saw what happened to the Denver Broncos after they traded for an aging star quarterback in Russell Wilson, should be wary of thinking adding a veteran means automatic success.
When making NFL picks, Buffalo still seems like a safe choice to win the division again.
The Bills have a strong coaching staff in place and plenty of experienced players who have the confidence to get into the playoffs. Buffalo is just hoping to find a way to bring their long-suffering fanbase a championship for the first time.
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