The long awaited 2023 NFL schedule has finally been revealed. With the league no longer obligated to give every team a prime-time game, most assumed this would allow the flashier teams more time in the spotlight. This theory was confirmed when the schedule was released, revealing the Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, and Bills all have six prime-time games. After years of irrelevancy, the Buffalo Bills have earned a place among some of the most electric teams in the league. As impressive as this team has been, this 2023 Bills record prediction prepares fans for slight regression due to a brutal schedule.
Bills Record Prediction For 2023
Week 1: @Jets (MNF) – W
Week 2: Raiders – W
Week 3: @Commanders – W
Week 4: Dolphins – W
Week 5: Jaguars (London) – W
Week 6: Giants (SNF) – L
Week 7: @Patriots – W
Week 8: Buccaneers (TNF) – W
Week 9: @Bengals (SNF) – L
Week 10: Broncos (MNF) – W
Week 11: Jets – L
Week 12: @Eagles – L
Week 13: BYE
Week 14: @Chiefs – W
Week 15: Cowboys – W
Week 16: @Chargers – W
Week 17: Patriots – W
Week 18: @Dolphins – L
Prediction: 12-5
Stuck in arguably the toughest division in football, its no surprise the Bills have a difficult road ahead of them. They have a .542 strength of schedule, ranking seventh among the league, however their season will be more toilsome than its ranking due to the improvement several of their opponents underwent during the offseason. The New York Jets now have Aaron Rodgers. The New England Patriots strengthened their defense, and the Giants, Jaguars, and Cowboys have all bulked up as well. Vegas has the over/under at 10.5 wins. The over is a good prediction at 12 wins. It would still be a regression from their 2022 season, which should be expected due to a more treacherous schedule.
Hot Take: Dalton Kincaid Wins Offensive Rookie of the Year
Dawson Knox has been one good season away from being an elite tight end for a little while now. With the Bills drafting Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the 2023 draft, it looks like the Bills are ready to move on. People will be quick to point out the sizeable four year contract Knox signed in 2022, but you don’t draft a guy like Kincaid to block. Kincaid was the most complete receiving tight end coming out of college. Allen was able to do some pretty good things with Knox, but imagine the potential of a Kincaid/Allen connection. After seeing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce run circles around the league unchallenged, maybe the Bills decided it was time they give Allen a Kelce of his own.
What makes this a hot take is the competition for the award. This is an early prediction so there is still time for some other players to come out of the woodwork, but there already a few rookies that should be considered potential candidates for the award. Bijan Robinson, the rookie running back for Atlanta, and Bryce Young, the first overall pick, are current favorites, but there are other players who may be in the running as well. Despite this, one could easily throw Kincaid into the mix with similar odds as Jahmyr Gibbs, Anthony Richardson, and CJ Stroud. If he develops chemistry with Allen resembling Kelce and Mahomes, he would be an obvious choice for the award.
Does Josh Allen Win MVP?
A heavily discussed potential candidate for the award the past two years, Josh Allen has come close to the treasured title, but has never actually won it. There have been a few things holding him back. His division has main thing holding him back has been the one dimensional nature of his offense, with Stefon Diggs being Allen’s only consistent target on the team. While Gabriel Davis and Dawson Knox have had their moments, Allen has never had a true number two target. If Dalton Kincaid is able to step up and fill that role, Allen will become a much more dangerous quarterback. With a fresh set of weapons, the duel threat player could light up the stat sheet in a way he hasn’t been able to before.
Division Rankings Prediction: Bills – Jets – Dolphins – Patriots
This is a tough division to predict because of how competitive it is. Even with the Jets’ acquisition of Rodgers the Bills should still be the favorites to win their division. They will most likely split with the Dolphins and Jets, but they should be able to sweep the Patriots. If the Bills win the games they need to, they should finish first out of the four teams. Rodgers on the Jets is starting to feel more and more like Wilson on the Broncos, but they should still be able to finish at least second in the division, sliding into a wild card spot.
As long as Tua manages to stay healthy, the Dolphins have enough weapons to hang onto third place. The Patriots, while improved, just don’t have enough weapons to compete in such a stacked division. It should be another competitive season of football, especially in the AFC East. Luckily, early indications have the Bills coming out on top yet again.
Main Photo by Adam Glanzman, Getty Images
