Now that the 53 is set, predict the Bills win total (2026 Edition)

[Cash]

Now that we know the initial 53-man roster, and the practice squad is set, it's prediction time.  This is the time every year that I make my one (1) prediction for the Bills regular season.  My track record is pretty good - I'm generally +/- 1 win from the Bills' actual total.  (Last year I hit it exact.)

 

I don't go game-by-game; instead I try to look holistically at the Bills as a team for the full season.  I do take overall strength of schedule into account, but upsets happen both ways, so I think it's futile to predict the results of each week well in advance.  Likewise, injuries happen, guys have big games here and there, etc.  There's some averaging out, but overall a really good team tends to win more than a fairly good team, which tends to win more than a mediocre team, and so on.

 

So with that preamble aside, I'll go on record:  I'm predicting 12 wins from the Bills this year.  I have way better vibes going in to this season, but the new players and schemes will need some time to gel, and the schedule is very tough.  

[Gregg]

11-6 AFCE champs. Will that be enough for the #1 seed is the question.

[eball]

17-0, BABYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!

 

Love ya, @The Senator. You are missed. 
 

[Buffalo Boy]

   With the 53 and Practice squad put together 11-13 has changed to 12-14.

   A ton of health caveats implied but Josh and the O should take a step forward.

   Nothing but hopes and dreams for the D.  My guess is they have some good and bad in the first two thirds of the season but eventually are whoever they are by week 12 ish. Hopefully Leonhard can give us more in the playoffs than Mr.WillneverwinaSupetbowl.

    Everything is the preseason until the postseason and I firmly have no doubt we get there.

Edited September 5 by Buffalo Boy

[notpolian]

I'm going to try it this way for 2026.  To me, this is the toughest schedule I remember, but it seems like that many years.

 

Division games:

NE 1-1

Miami, NY should be 4-0 but we usually end up dropping one off these.

 

Home games against good teams: DET, LAC, BAL, KC, CHI.  It could be 5-0, but I'll be optimistic and say 4-1.

 

Away games against good teams: HOU, LAR, MIN, GB, DEN.  Is Minnesota a good team?  Much depends on QB.  2-3

 

Away games against bad teams: LV

Recall the Falcons game last year, but this has to be 1-0.

 

12 is the number.  I'd be VERY happy with 12 with a new coach and new defensive scheme.  The whole year all comes down to whether we can generate a consistent pass rush IMO.

Edited September 1 by notpolian

[BigPegasus]

8 minutes ago, Cash said:

So with that preamble aside, I'll go on record:  I'm predicting 12 wins from the Bills this year.  I have way better vibes going in to this season, but the new players and schemes will need some time to gel, and the schedule is very tough.  

 

That's a fair prediction, although there is an advantage early to not having much on tape for opponents to prepare for, especially on defense.

[frostbitmic]

12 - 5 ... Back atop of the AFC East.

 

I think this team will have a more aggressive tone about them both Offensively and Defensively.

 

Get your popcorn or whatever ready, this will be fun.

[Scott7975]

I wanted to be really ambitious and pick 14, but I just couldn't pull that trigger. I'll be slightly less ambitious and pick 13. I have confidence in our offense. What I am still not sure about is our defense. Different coach. Different systems. Different players. Some younger guys in there. All those things have pros and cons that could happen. I am sure Leonhard doesn't even have all the pieces he wants yet.

 

It will take some time for this defense to get up to speed with what is asked. At the same time, no team has tape on it either.

 

Yes, the schedule on paper is tougher. Show me a year where that hasn't been said though. I think we win our division again. Whether we win enough games to finally get the 1 seed, I have no idea. One thing I do hate is that even though the Pats had the easiest schedule in forever last season and made the SB, they still have an easier schedule this year than we do. At least on paper.

Edited September 1 by Scott7975

[Admiral Sean]

11-6 and the season ends with a Super Bowl championship.

[TheBrownBear]

13.

 

I'm usually pretty conservative, but I've got a good feeling about this team (if we stay relatively healthy).

[RiotAct]

3 hours ago, Gregg said:

11-6 AFCE champs. Will that be enough for the #1 seed is the question.

No it will not.

[wjag]

Ridiculously hard schedule.  I'm going with more wins than last year.  

[Captain Murica]

13 wins

[Sojourner]

Think they improve… 13-4. 
 

Losses: 

vs. Detroit

@Rams

@Vikings

@Chiefs

 

 

[BeyondTheProcess]

11-6.  IR-type injuries to key starters (which trashes everything) aside, I see a rough start, then planing out to a good run in the second half.   Won't be nearly good enough for a high seed, so the tournament will be a complete crap shoot, just like the last few, and who knows who comes out of it.  

[dollars 2 donuts]

18 hours ago, notpolian said:

I'm going to try it this way for 2026.  To me, this is the toughest schedule I remember, but it seems like that many years.

 

Division games:

NE 1-1

Miami, NY should be 4-0 but we usually end up dropping one off these.

 

Home games against good teams: DET, LAC, BAL, KC, CHI.  It could be 5-0, but I'll be optimistic and say 4-1.

 

Away games against good teams: HOU, LAR, MIN, GB, DEN.  Is Minnesota a good team?  Much depends on QB.  2-3

 

Away games against bad teams: LV

Recall the Falcons game last year, but this has to be 1-0.

 

12 is the number.  I'd be VERY happy with 12 with a new coach and new defensive scheme.  The whole year all comes down to whether we can generate a consistent pass rush IMO.

 

 

NP, I love this breakdown and I have thought about this way before, as well.

 

I agree on the 12-5 and voted as such, but won't rule out a stray bullet that might bring them down to 11-6, but still wining the division.

 

[GunnerBill]

13 minutes ago, BeyondTheProcess said:

11-6.  IR-type injuries to key starters (which trashes everything) aside, I see a rough start, then planing out to a good run in the second half.   Won't be nearly good enough for a high seed, so the tournament will be a complete crap shoot, just like the last few, and who knows who comes out of it.  

 

That's sort of my expectation too. I have said I could easily see us being 5-6 through 11 games, then 6-0 down the stretch. I think 11-6 would win the division this year. But then beyond the wildcard who knows what it means in terms of the bracket. 

[Augie]

I went with 11-6, so tied for our worst season record in the last 6 years. 

[13 Seconds to Mars]

This team is winning more than 11 games. Most pumped for this season than any other since we’ve had Allen. The roster around him is finally adequate enough to bring one home. 

[papazoid]

i like 11 wins regular season

 

but win the conference