Looking ahead the potential 2026 Schedule

[stlbills13]

Who will we open with in the new stadium? Predictions?

[Kirby Jackson]

31 minutes ago, stlbills13 said:

Who will we open with in the new stadium? Predictions?

Patriots on Sunday Night

[Metal Man]

37 minutes ago, stlbills13 said:

Who will we open with in the new stadium? Predictions?

 

I feel like it has to be the Jets to keep with tradition.

[bills6969]

52 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Patriots on Sunday Night

Super Bowl champs open up on TNF at home

[mjt328]

I'm thinking the Bills need a #1 WR, two edge rushers, two linebackers, a free safety, and new coordinators/schemes on both sides of the ball.  And that's just to get back into the conversation for the AFC East title.

 

This team needs a rebuild, and needs new people in charge of doing it.  

 

If the Pegulas stand pat (which most expect them to do), the list of opponents is going to be irrelevant.  

 

[May Day 10]

Ihave a feeling either Jacksonville in London, or the Vikings in some zany place like Germany.

[dorquemada]

We'll beat some teams we shouldnt and lose to teams we should beat and be in a fight for a wild card down to the wire

[The Red King]

As to why KC is a yearly thing...

 

First, we rotate AFC divisions we play.  We get the West next season, just as we did two seasons ago, and so on.

 

However...

 

For the two AFC divisions we don't play in a given season, we play the teams that finished in the same spot we did.  We finished first in the East year after year, and KC finished first in the West, assuring that even if we didn't have the entire AFC West that season, we still had Kansas City.  It's why we had them last season and this season.

 

This also explains the TBDs on the OP.  Those will depend on the final standngs.

Edited 5 hours ago by The Red King

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

14 hours ago, Nitro said:

2026 opponents

 

 

 

 

The Bills face a daunting schedule next season.   Things change (retirements, trades and draft picks) but here is a schedule that will really test the Bills.

 

Home

Miami
New England
NY Jets
Kansas City
LA Chargers
Chicago
Detroit
AFC North TBD
(Pittsburgh)

Away

Miami
New England
NY Jets
Denver
Las Vegas
Green Bay 
Minnesota
AFC South TBD
(Jacksonville)
NFC West TBD
(Seattle)

TBD - current standings show it may be.

 

 I am curious.  What are the thoughts and opinions on this?

 

The. Season. Is. Not. Over. Yet. 

 

80% of teams would swap positions with the Bills in a heartbeat. 

 

IDK how you people will cope when Allen eventually retires. 

 

As ***** as it is to not have a SB, i’m personally enjoying being a yearly contender. We just made the AFCC last season and our regular season trajectory looks surprisingly similar to then. Have faith. We know the team can put up amazing efforts. We just need to have a few of those when it matters most. Allen/Cook/Bishop are all elite players that give us a legit shot. The ultimate X-factor is Big Ed’s availability at the end of the year. 

 

So much can happen. Injuries, suspensions, arrests, etc. People throwing in the towel so early. The Steelers and Bengals are very winnable. McDermott’s knows how to play pocket QBs. Please have faith, Bills fans. 

 

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

my thoughts are just win the division. As tough as our second-place schedule looks on paper next year, the Patriots first place schedule looks far more daunting subbing Baltimore for Pittsburgh, Indy for Jacksonville and LA Rams for Seattle. Could be one of those years where 10-7 wins the division. 

[Ned Flanders]

39 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

Ihave a feeling either Jacksonville in London, or the Vikings in some zany place like Germany.

Agree, the Bills are due for a game overseas...will most likely be a road game, because they'll want to get the most out of the new stadium.

[The Red King]

20 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

 

The. Season. Is. Not. Over. Yet. 

 

80% of teams would swap positions with the Bills in a heartbeat. 

 

IDK how you people will cope when Allen eventually retires. 

 

As ***** as it is to not have a SB, i’m personally enjoying being a yearly contender. We just made the AFCC last season and our regular season trajectory looks surprisingly similar to then. Have faith. We know the team can put up amazing efforts. We just need to have a few of those when it matters most. Allen/Cook/Bishop are all elite players that give us a legit shot. The ultimate X-factor is Big Ed’s availability at the end of the year. 

 

So much can happen. Injuries, suspensions, arrests, etc. People throwing in the towel so early. The Steelers and Bengals are very winnable. McDermott’s knows how to play pocket QBs. Please have faith, Bills fans. 

 

 

Oh, I haven't given up.  All the AFC East teams share 14/17 games.  It's why the Bills and Pats have soft schedules.

 

The Bills are good enough and experienced enough that if they can just make it in they can beat anyone.  Key is, *can*.

 

I don't think they're favorites anymore, but I haven't given up.

 

This thread, however, is for next season, which is an interesting discussion regardless of how this one ends.  Barring a miracle or complete collapse, it looks like we're nabbing second place, leaving us to play some second place teams, while NE will be stuck with more first place teams.

[May Day 10]

Basically, if things finish the way the stand.  The differences with a 2nd place schedule are:

 

You get Pitt instead of Balt

Jax instead of Colts

Seattle instead of the Rams

 

AFC West is a tough division to play through.  Not sure what to make of the NFC North.  Seems like kind of a mess, but every team is dangerous.

 

Possibly 3 trips out west.

 

Edited 4 hours ago by May Day 10

[bigK14094]

I thought a second place schedule was easier than a first place schedule.

[Captain Hindsight]

13 hours ago, Just Jack said:

 

Actually, I don't think it will be. Home opener in a new stadium, they'll pick an AFC East team. Home Opener is typically a sellout already, no matter who the opponent is. 

My bet is NE on MNF

[Augie]

16 hours ago, BfloBillsFan said:

Some good road trips in that schedule!

 

I’m looking at Denver and Minneapolis as places I’ve never seen a game but would love to. I’ll have to wait for the dates to come out, because even with a dome Minneapolis can be brutal in the winter. It was the site of the only Super Bowl I’ve attended, but their new(ish) stadium is something I’d like to experience. I don’t love the overseas games, but if it gives me an excuse to see a great city, that will be on the table as well. 

 

I’m sure Vegas and Miami will look attractive to folks in WNY looking for a break in the cold.

[boyst]

9 minutes ago, Captain Hindsight said:

My bet is NE on MNF

i'd say this or the Jets on SNF.

[Metal Man]

Too early to start the 2026 Who's going to Vegas thread?

 

[RiotAct]

3 hours ago, bills6969 said:

Super Bowl champs open up on TNF at home

yes, and…?

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

16 hours ago, PonyBoy said:

We're doomed if this is the schedule. 

 

 

There's not much "IF" in this.  Doubtful the Bills are going to win the division or fall all the way to 3rd.  So the only games that could change yet are could the Pitt game at home instead become Bengals and road games against Jax could change to Houston and Seattle could become San Fran or a low chance of LA.  Not likely any of those changes will dramatically change things.

 

As someone else posted, the sche3duled is pretty much pre-determined with the exception of 3 games out of 17, soon to be 18.

 

Now that would be a good question, when they go to 18, how will that 18th game be determined?  My guess is another game against opposite conference with team that finished in same position in standings.  In the case of the Bills 2026 schedule would be a home game likely against either Dallas or Atlanta/Carolina??  Other thoughts??