Looking ahead the potential 2026 Schedule

[SoCal Deek]

5 hours ago, May Day 10 said:

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

That’s the part of the overseas series I don’t understand. I thought you were more likely to play in Europe in a year where your conference has the extra HOME game. But, according to the OP, the Bills have an extra ROAD game next year. 

[boyst]

1 hour ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

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??

the league opportunity to alter divisions comes up in 2028 i believe.

 

I do not think the league could have an expansion team ready in that time so i don't see much changes. back in 2012 i think it came up - the opportunity to change the divisions and it was discussed that they were going to make new teams. the NFLPA is against that. strongly against that. i don't see the nfl increasing team size therefore i do not see them realigning.

[Alphadawg7]

19 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?

 

People thought our schedule was going to be brutal this year at this stage last season.  Then we found out its pretty cake - except we are blowing it as its us that is playing like dog 💩 and taking losses in games we should clearly win.  

 

So it is really hard to see if the schedule is hard or not hard this far out.  So I don't waste too much time thinking about it.  No one on that schedule scares me if we are playing good football.  What scares me is we are not playing good football.  

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

2 hours ago, boyst said:

the league opportunity to alter divisions comes up in 2028 i believe.

 

I do not think the league could have an expansion team ready in that time so i don't see much changes. back in 2012 i think it came up - the opportunity to change the divisions and it was discussed that they were going to make new teams. the NFLPA is against that. strongly against that. i don't see the nfl increasing team size therefore i do not see them realigning.

 

But Ralph wants us to be in the same division as Miami!

[DrBob806]

On 11/24/2025 at 7:01 PM, 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?

7-9-1

[Kirby Jackson]

5 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

People thought our schedule was going to be brutal this year at this stage last season.  Then we found out its pretty cake - except we are blowing it as its us that is playing like dog 💩 and taking losses in games we should clearly win.  

 

So it is really hard to see if the schedule is hard or not hard this far out.  So I don't waste too much time thinking about it.  No one on that schedule scares me if we are playing good football.  What scares me is we are not playing good football.  

No they didn’t. We played the NFC South which has been the worst division in football. We played the AFCN which had 1.5 good teams in Baltimore and Cincy. We played the toughest games at home (Philly, KC, Tampa, Baltimore, Cincy). It’s quite the opposite. People looked ahead to this year and said, “it doesn’t get any easier than this in the NFL.” The strength of schedule was near the easiest in the league. The only thing inflating it was that we had to play the other teams that finished in first. We got Philly and KC at home and had to go to Houston as the other crossover.
 

While I agree that things change year to year, absolutely no one was looking at this schedule last year saying how tough it was going to be. It was comparatively very easy.

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, Kirby Jackson said:

No they didn’t. We played the NFC South which has been the worst division in football. We played the AFCN which had 1.5 good teams in Baltimore and Cincy. We played the toughest games at home (Philly, KC, Tampa, Baltimore, Cincy). It’s quite the opposite. People looked ahead to this year and said, “it doesn’t get any easier than this in the NFL.” The strength of schedule was near the easiest in the league. The only thing inflating it was that we had to play the other teams that finished in first. We got Philly and KC at home and had to go to Houston as the other crossover.
 

While I agree that things change year to year, absolutely no one was looking at this schedule last year saying how tough it was going to be. It was comparatively very easy.

 

 

We knew they had 9 home games.   Then, when the schedule actually came out and we saw there was no international "home" game..........I mean, that looked like a best case scenario schedule for a reigning division champ.   They've blown it for want of a WR1.   And hell, if Kincaid stayed healthy they are probably the 1 seed.   

Edited 18 hours ago by BADOLBILZ

[Alphadawg7]

2 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

No they didn’t. We played the NFC South which has been the worst division in football. We played the AFCN which had 1.5 good teams in Baltimore and Cincy. We played the toughest games at home (Philly, KC, Tampa, Baltimore, Cincy). It’s quite the opposite. People looked ahead to this year and said, “it doesn’t get any easier than this in the NFL.” The strength of schedule was near the easiest in the league. The only thing inflating it was that we had to play the other teams that finished in first. We got Philly and KC at home and had to go to Houston as the other crossover.
 

While I agree that things change year to year, absolutely no one was looking at this schedule last year saying how tough it was going to be. It was comparatively very easy.

Yet that’s not what people were saying last year 

[boyst]

2 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

No they didn’t. We played the NFC South which has been the worst division in football. We played the AFCN which had 1.5 good teams in Baltimore and Cincy. We played the toughest games at home (Philly, KC, Tampa, Baltimore, Cincy). It’s quite the opposite. People looked ahead to this year and said, “it doesn’t get any easier than this in the NFL.” The strength of schedule was near the easiest in the league. The only thing inflating it was that we had to play the other teams that finished in first. We got Philly and KC at home and had to go to Houston as the other crossover.
 

While I agree that things change year to year, absolutely no one was looking at this schedule last year saying how tough it was going to be. It was comparatively very easy.

Heard on NFL radio over the last 10 years the AFC South is the worst in the league. In that same time the Bills have the worst record to the AFC S than any other team. 

1 hour ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

We knew they had 9 home games.   Then, when the schedule actually came out and we saw there was no international "home" game..........I mean, that looked like a best case scenario schedule for a reigning division champ.   They've blown it for want of a WR1.   And hell, if Kincaid stayed healthy they are probably the 1 seed.   

I loathe the Kincaid pick even though I get it. This team didn't need a special TE. We needed that talent at WR a true pass catcher. Instead we got a "TE" with TE hands, no blocking, and health issues.

 

We traded up to get him, too.

[May Day 10]

8 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Yet that’s not what people were saying last year 

 

It was for sure.  I started a thread because their schedule was pretty calcified about this time.

 

It was easy.  Very minimal travel and all the difficult looking games were at home.  Fairly unanimous in those feelings

[Kirby Jackson]

9 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Yet that’s not what people were saying last year 

It is though. We can go back through the archives. That’s what everyone thought. When you look at “strength of schedule” it was among the easiest in the league even a year ago. It only got easier to @BADOLBILZ point when they didn’t have to give up a game to go International. The NFC South is/was the worst division in football. The AFCE was next. New England improving is the only thing that may change it a little. Miami and the Jets are still bottom feeders. The AFCN is probably the next easiest AFC division behind the east. Cleveland stinks. Pittsburgh is just okay and the Bengals have been bad for a few years. Baltimore is good but you got them at home. The 3 “extra” games that you got as a division winner were Houston, Philly and KC. 2 of those were going to be at home and one on the road. If you asked 100% of people which 2 of those opponents are hardest that you wanted home, you’d have gotten Philly and KC. 
 

This schedule was literally close to the best possible scenario. I suppose you could trade out the AFCS for the AFCN. They AFCS though with the Colts, Jags and Texans looks better now than it did a year ago. If you go back through posts about this schedule from a year ago, it will be overwhelmingly optimistic. This was the year that we all said was cleared for the 1 seed. I mean, New England playing virtually the same schedule (except the 4th place version) is on track for the 1 seed.

Edited 8 hours ago by Kirby Jackson

[NoSaint]

25 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

It is though. We can go back through the archives. That’s what everyone thought. When you look at “strength of schedule” it was among the easiest in the league even a year ago. It only got easier to @BADOLBILZ when they didn’t have to give up a game to go International. The NFC South is/was the worst division in football. The AFCE was next. New England improving is the only thing that may change it a little. Miami and the Jets are still bottom feeders. The AFCN is probably the next easiest AFC division behind the east. Cleveland stinks. Pittsburgh is just okay and the Bengals have been bad for a few years. Baltimore is good but you got them at home. The 3 “extra” games that you got as a division winner were Houston, Philly and KC. 2 of those were going to be at home and one on the road. If you asked 100% of people which 2 of those opponents are hardest that you wanted home, you’d have gotten Philly and KC. 
 

This schedule was literally close to the best possible scenario. I suppose you could trade out the AFCS for the AFCN. They AFCS though with the Colts, Jags and Texans looks better now than it did a year ago. If you go back through posts about this schedule from a year ago, it will be overwhelmingly optimistic. This was the year that we all said was cleared for the 1 seed. I mean, New England playing virtually the same schedule (except the 4th place version) is on track for the 1 seed.

the only people that were stressed on it are those that forget every team is in the nfl and seem to expect us to play southwest north Tennessee a&m tech 

 

it’s still an nfl schedule and few nfl teams are complete pushovers but as you note- a year ago if given the choice of which nfc division to play I think the answer would be unanimous on the south. And we rarely see blanket agreement. That should say a lot. 

Edited 8 hours ago by NoSaint

[boyst]

9 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Yet that’s not what people were saying last year 

I have a goldfish memory but last year we were all counting the wins. Even after week 1 and 2 this year we were whispering undefeated?

 

Many here looked at the schedule we had vs others and thought we have destiny at #1 seed 

[May Day 10]

51 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

It is though. We can go back through the archives.

 

Seems pretty optimistic

 

 

[Billsatlastin2018]

On 11/24/2025 at 7:01 PM, 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?

I looked at this after the Fish debacle.

I wanted to cry about the terrible lost opportunity this year by this combo of a milquetoast sked, but a stubborn, I am the only one who knows anything -GM, a clued out OC, a HC who can never seem to solve his no tackle, no blitz, no cover D, a WR room without talent and a significant roster made of glass!

[boyst]

25 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

 

Seems pretty optimistic

 

 

I can tell you 82% of the schedule for 2028...

@Baltimore

@arizona

@san fran

@cinci

 

Home

Steelers

Browns

Rams

Seahawks 

 

3 games in the air:

@ AFC West

@ NFC North

Home AFC South

 

So we know 14 of 17 games. 

[Nitro]

1 hour ago, boyst said:

I can tell you 82% of the schedule for 2028...

@Baltimore

@arizona

@san fran

@cinci

 

Home

Steelers

Browns

Rams

Seahawks 

 

3 games in the air:

@ AFC West

@ NFC North

Home AFC South

 

So we know 14 of 17 games. 

I like that this formula shows years out the potential schedule.  30 years ago it was a crap shoot to guess after the season who they would play.

[Alphadawg7]

5 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

It is though. We can go back through the archives. That’s what everyone thought. When you look at “strength of schedule” it was among the easiest in the league even a year ago. It only got easier to @BADOLBILZ point when they didn’t have to give up a game to go International. The NFC South is/was the worst division in football. The AFCE was next. New England improving is the only thing that may change it a little. Miami and the Jets are still bottom feeders. The AFCN is probably the next easiest AFC division behind the east. Cleveland stinks. Pittsburgh is just okay and the Bengals have been bad for a few years. Baltimore is good but you got them at home. The 3 “extra” games that you got as a division winner were Houston, Philly and KC. 2 of those were going to be at home and one on the road. If you asked 100% of people which 2 of those opponents are hardest that you wanted home, you’d have gotten Philly and KC. 
 

This schedule was literally close to the best possible scenario. I suppose you could trade out the AFCS for the AFCN. They AFCS though with the Colts, Jags and Texans looks better now than it did a year ago. If you go back through posts about this schedule from a year ago, it will be overwhelmingly optimistic. This was the year that we all said was cleared for the 1 seed. I mean, New England playing virtually the same schedule (except the 4th place version) is on track for the 1 seed.

All good, I just remember arguing with people about the schedule last year who were freaking out about the how we had all the top SB contenders on our schedule.  
 

Point was, which has now been lost, is that it’s pointless to look so far ahead in the NFL at the schedule.  Teams can change so much year to year in this league.  
 

I mean look at our 4 losses - no one had us losing 4 games to those teams, but there we are.  Who had Bears as leading the division right now without key injuries in Det and GB?  Not many had Rams as top team in NFL right now either.  And no one could have seen KC, Balt, and Buf all battling to get back into the playoff picture this late in the season.  
 

Anyway, the entire point was it’s unnecessary to get up or down on the schedule next at this stage of the season.  

[Kirby Jackson]

27 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

All good, I just remember arguing with people about the schedule last year who were freaking out about the how we had all the top SB contenders on our schedule.  
 

Point was, which has now been lost, is that it’s pointless to look so far ahead in the NFL at the schedule.  Teams can change so much year to year in this league.  
 

I mean look at our 4 losses - no one had us losing 4 games to those teams, but there we are.  Who had Bears as leading the division right now without key injuries in Det and GB?  Not many had Rams as top team in NFL right now either.  And no one could have seen KC, Balt, and Buf all battling to get back into the playoff picture this late in the season.  
 

Anyway, the entire point was it’s unnecessary to get up or down on the schedule next at this stage of the season.  

We lost these four games but not because those teams are drastically different than who we thought they were. It’s not like the Commanders going from pick 2 to the NFC Championship game. New England improved. I still think we split with them which wasn’t a crazy thought. The Texans are a little easier than they’ve been and they’ve been good. At Houston was always a coin flip. Atlanta and Miami are bad teams that you lost to. When you looked at the schedule last year those should have been wins. They aren’t losses because those teams are better than we thought. The Bills played poorly. 
 

The schedule look ahead isn’t pointless imo. The majority of teams aren’t drastically different from what you expect. Next year’s schedule is significantly tougher. If you go through those 2 threads that @May Day 10 posted, people were spot on a year ago. Next year is a lot harder. That doesn’t mean that the Bills will have a worse record (or a better one). This year, the Bills had as easy of a path as they could possibly ask for with the exception of Burrow missing a couple more weeks. The seas parted for them and they peed down their leg.

Edited 3 hours ago by Kirby Jackson

[Alphadawg7]

1 hour ago, Kirby Jackson said:

We lost these four games but not because those teams are drastically different than who we thought they were. It’s not like the Commanders going from pick 2 to the NFC Championship game. New England improved. I still think we split with them which wasn’t a crazy thought. The Texans are a little easier than they’ve been and they’ve been good. At Houston was always a coin flip. Atlanta and Miami are bad teams that you lost to. When you looked at the schedule last year those should have been wins. They aren’t losses because those teams are better than we thought. The Bills played poorly. 
 

The schedule look ahead isn’t pointless imo. The majority of teams aren’t drastically different from what you expect. Next year’s schedule is significantly tougher. If you go through those 2 threads that @May Day 10 posted, people were spot on a year ago. Next year is a lot harder. That doesn’t mean that the Bills will have a worse record (or a better one). This year, the Bills had as easy of a path as they could possibly ask for with the exception of Burrow missing a couple more weeks. The seas parted for them and they peed down their leg.

I mean you are more making my point than anything.  Looking ahead and penciling in those wins was pretty pointless given we lost those games.  
 

All good, agree to disagree on the looking ahead way too early thing