After a big win over the rival Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11, the Bills schedule hits the all-important bye week in Week 12. The timing couldn’t be better as Buffalo will be able to regroup, assess the roster with injuries, and let the emotional high of beating the Super Bowl Champions wear off.
A 9-2 mark currently slots Buffalo in as the second seed in the AFC. If the playoffs started today, the Bills would host the Denver Broncos in the Wildcard Round. Here’s how the rest of the Bills schedule plays out:
- Week 13 – vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-5)
- Week 14 – @ Los Angeles Rams (5-5)
- Week 15 – @ Detroit Lions (9-1)
- Week 16 – vs. New England Patriots (3-8)
- Week 17 – vs. New York Jets (3-8)
- Week 18 – @ New England Patriots (3-8)
The final six-game slate features a mix of games against potential NFC playoff teams and the NFC’s best team the Detroit Lions. The final three contests are AFC East games that Buffalo should easily win. Stranger things have happened over the years and divisional games are always closer than normal showdowns.
Predicting the Rest of the Bills Schedule at the Bye Week
NFC teams put Buffalo to the test right away
The Bills host the San Francisco 49ers in Buffalo off the bye week. The 49ers were a pre-season favorite to make the Super Bowl again this year but have struggled to a 5-5 record. Much of that struggle has involved injuries across the board.
Christian McCaffrey, one of the best players in the league, missed much of the first half of the year. Despite that, Jordan Mason led the league in rushing for several weeks. McCaffrey is now back in the lineup.
The defense also took a step back in 2024, ranking 16th in points per game allowed (22.2) after finishing 2024 ranked third at 17.9 points per game. Fred Warner still has the team ranked in the top 10 in rushing and passing yards allowed as well as interceptions and total yards allowed. When the two cross-conference squads meet up in Week 13, Buffalo will keep the train rolling.
Prediction: Buffalo Beats San Francisco.
After tangling with Kyle Shanahan’s squad, Buffalo heads across the country to face the Los Angeles Rams. Like the 49ers, Los Angeles has endured an up-and-down season affected by injuries. Top receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both missed significant time but are both back in the lineup.
The Rams opened the season at 1-4 but have won four of their last five games. The young defense is also building momentum each week despite allowing nearly 24 points per game. Five defenders have at least three sacks each. The offense is much more explosive with Kupp and Nacua opening things up downfield. Even with those factors, Buffalo should be able to exploit the Rams’ defense.
Prediction: Buffalo Beats Los Angeles
The Second Biggest Test on the Bills Schedule
While Buffalo should roll against the NFC West opponents, the same cannot be said about the Lions. Unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, the Lions are blowing teams out. Detroit has put up over 40 points four times and scored 50+ points twice.
The Bills defense will be put to the test against one of the league’s top offenses as well. Instead of a low-scoring affair, Buffalo could potentially put up 35 or more points against a potential Super Bowl team.
Prediction: Detroit Beats Buffalo.
The remedy to a huge game against one of the NFL’s best teams is usually having the next game against a team handing around the bottom of the league. After three games against the NFC, the Bills schedule focuses on AFC East action.
A home date with the New England Patriots has been a double-edged sword over the last two years. The Patriots split with the Bills in 2021 and last year. Despite that, the two teams are completely different even if rookie quarterback Drake Maye has shown signs of being the future of the Patriots franchise.
Prediction: Buffalo Beats New England.
AFC East Showdowns, Part II
The last two games of the regular season see Buffalo revisiting AFC East rivalries. The New York Jets lost by only a field goal in the first meeting but are still as inept as before firing former head coach Robert Saleh. With the two teams heading in completely different directions, the Bills should handle business with the Jets.
Prediction: Buffalo Beats the New York Jets
Since Tom Brady left and Josh Allen joined the division, the Bills have owned the Patriots. However, New England caught Buffalo sleeping last year with a 29-25 win in Week 7. They also did so in 2021 where Mac Jones had two completions and only 19 yards passing in a 14-10 win.
A Week 18 game can either be a situation to rest starters or one that determines playoff seeding. With the Pittsburgh Steelers right behind the Bills, Buffalo may have to play its starters to fight for one of the AFC’s top two seeds.
New England may have finally figured things out by then and could be a difficult out. After beating New England 28-22, Rams head coach Sean McVay praised Maye. With the stakes likely higher, Buffalo may pick up one of its last wins before the Patriots become formidable again.
Prediction: Buffalo Beats New England
Final Record: 14-3, 2nd in AFC
Main Photo: Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images