Last Updated on September 15, 2026 11:02 am by Allen
Team Overview
The Bills are looking to bounce back after a gut-wrenching 12-5 finish in 2025 that ended in an overtime collapse to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round and cost Sean McDermott his job after nine seasons at the helm. New head coach Joe Brady, promoted from offensive coordinator, inherits a roster still built around reigning MVP-caliber quarterback Josh Allen and workhorse back James Cook, with new WR1 DJ Moore acquired via trade and pass rusher Bradley Chubb added in free agency to fix a defense that couldn’t stop the run or get after the quarterback last season.
With Allen’s offense intact under a new coaching staff and a retooled defensive identity taking shape under coordinator Jim Leonhard, Buffalo enters 2026 as the betting market’s pick to reclaim the AFC East after New England snapped the Bills’ run of division titles a year ago.
Offensive Line Analysis
Buffalo brings back the core of a line that ranked among the league’s best protecting Allen, with left tackle Dion Dawkins and right tackle Spencer Brown returning after Brown’s contract was restructured to clear cap space, and center Connor McGovern re-signed to a four-year, $52 million deal to anchor the interior. The only real question mark is left guard, where Alec Anderson and free-agent addition Austin Corbett are competing to replace David Edwards, who left for New Orleans in free agency, rounding out a group that gave up a league-low 14 sacks as recently as 2024.
Defensive Line Analysis
The Bills overhauled their pass rush by signing Bradley Chubb to a three-year, $43.5 million deal and drafting Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker, giving Buffalo two new options to pair with returning edge Greg Rousseau, who led the team with seven sacks last season, and interior lineman Ed Oliver, back after an injury-shortened 2025. If the newcomers hold up, they give new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s revamped scheme a real chance to fix a front that surrendered 5.0 yards per carry and finished outside the top half of the league in total sacks a year ago.
2026 NFL Games
Week 2
Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills | Thursday, September 17 | 8:15 PM ET | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Buffalo is favored in the first game at its new Highmark Stadium, priced at -166 on the moneyline against Detroit’s +140, with the Bills favored by 3 and the total set at a Week 2-high 53.5 points. Both teams needed late heroics to escape Week 1 with wins, Detroit in overtime against New Orleans and Buffalo on a last-minute touchdown against Houston, setting up a potential shootout to christen the new building.
Two of the league’s most explosive offenses open Buffalo’s new stadium on Thursday night, and neither defense did much in Week 1 to suggest this one stays low-scoring.
Week 1 Recap
Bills 36, Texans 31 | Sunday, September 13 | Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
Buffalo trailed for much of the game before Josh Allen found Joshua Palmer for a 34-yard touchdown with 1:36 left, then the defense sealed it when Greg Rousseau strip-sacked C.J. Stroud on the final snap. Allen threw for 334 yards and two scores and ran for two more, finally beating Houston on the road after losing his previous four trips to Reliant Stadium, giving new head coach Joe Brady his first win.
Week 1
Bills at Houston Texans | Sunday, September 13 | 1:00 PM ET | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Buffalo opens as a slight road favorite, priced at -112 on the moneyline against Houston’s -108, with the total set at 45.5 points. The Texans beat the Bills 23-19 the last time these teams met, in Week 12 last season, and head into the rematch fresh off locking up star pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. to a three-year, $150 million extension, the richest non-quarterback deal in NFL history.
A near pick’em number across sportsbooks and prediction markets shows just how evenly these two playoff teams are viewed, making it a strong early measuring stick for Joe Brady’s Bills in his debut as head coach.
Odds to Win Division and Super Bowl
Odds to Win AFC East: -130
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +1000
Predictions
Overall Record: The Bills are projected to finish with an 11-6 record, backed by one of the league’s most consistent quarterbacks and a retooled defense.
Playoff Chances: Among the safest bets in the conference to return to the postseason
Super Bowl Chances: A legitimate contender, though not the outright favorite
Buffalo still has Josh Allen, which alone keeps them in the conversation with any team in the AFC, but the loss of Sean McDermott and a first-time defensive coordinator add real uncertainty to a roster that has come up just short in back-to-back years. Expect the Bills to be in the thick of the AFC East race all season, with a real shot at a deep playoff run if Leonhard’s new-look defense comes together faster than expected.
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