Bills Receive Ultimate Break From NFL Schedule Makers

The Bills will only have three days of rest between their Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans and their Week 2 meeting with the Detroit Lions. But between the game against Detroit and Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo will enjoy an eight-day respite. Later in the year, following another Thursday Night Football affair with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, Buffalo will receive an additional eight days of rest before facing off with their heated rival, the New England Patriots, in Week 13.

So that’s two of the Bills’ most challenging matchups on their 2026 slate, both against playoff teams from last year, falling after extended periods of rest—a big win for Buffalo.

Comparing Bills’ rest differential to other AFC teams

When it comes to the other top teams in the AFC, such as the 2025 Super Bowl runner-ups, the New England Patriots, are fifth in rest differential [+8.5], while the team that beat Buffalo in last year’s divisional round, the Denver Broncos, are 13th in rest differential [+3].

Another 2025 playoff team, the Los Angeles Chargers, ranks dead last with 24 fewer rest days than their opponents. Other top teams, the Kansas City Chiefs [-1.5, 19th], Cincinnati Bengals [-3.5, 22nd] and Baltimore Ravens [-3.5, 23rd] are all in the bottom half of the league in rest differential.

So when you look at the Bills’ extensive travel included within their 2026 schedule, coupled with the many challenging matchups against formidable teams, it certainly seems as if Buffalo got a raw deal from the schedule makers. But when navigating their tough 2026 slate, at least the Bills will have the benefit of a rest advantage over all but one of their opponents, the Bears, who Buffalo will take on in Week 15.