Buffalo Bills schedule and 2021 season predictions

Here’s a game that should see Buffalo’s questionable pass rush be able to do work against an immobile quarterback. Pittsburgh refused to address its issues along the offensive line throughout the offseason, leading to the belief that this is now a second- or third-tier team in the AFC. And even with what we expect to be a decent defense, it won’t be enough to take out Buffalo on the road.

Prediction: Bills 24, Steelers 17

Week 2 — @ Miami Dolphins

If teams like the Dolphins and Patriots are going to have a chance to compete with Buffalo in the AFC East, they will at least have to split. That means coming away with wins at home. Look for this to come to fruition in Week 2. During a surprising 10-win 2020 season, these Fins won five of their final six home games. That’s part of the process of head coach Brian Flores building a contender. Vastly improved heading into 2021, expect this to be taken to a whole new level.

Prediction: Dolphins 27, Bills 24

Week 3 — vs. Washington Football Team

Josh Allen and the Bills could very well be a good barometer of where the WFT is at this season. In fact, Buffalo’s trajectory is something that a defensive-minded Ron Rivera envisions with his squad. Unfortunately, Washington is a year away from being able to go into a hostile environment in Buffalo and come out on top.

Prediction: Bills 20, Washington 14

Week 4 — vs. Houston Texans

We may see the legitimate self-actualization of Allen as a football player in this one. The Buffalo Bills QB is going to have darn near a perfect 158.3 passer rating as he carves up Houston at home. These Texans are the worst team in the NFL and could be looking at an 0-17 season. That’s not hyperbole.

Prediction: Bills 45, Texans 10 

Week 5 — @ Kansas City Chiefs

A rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game, we’re pretty darn sure Buffalo is going to want to make a statement in Arrowhead come Week 5. Unfortunately, I am just not seeing how its defense is going to be able to stop Patrick Mahomes and Co. The Chiefs improved their offensive line big-time during the offseason after that unit failed them in the Super Bowl. That will be the biggest difference in this high-scoring affair and potential championship game preview.

Prediction: Chiefs 35, Bills 31

Week 6 — @ Tennessee Titans

If you’re looking for a high-scoring affair, this season’s matchup between the Bills and Titans should deliver. Both teams don’t have an elite pass rush, which is dangerous against offenses like the ones they will each face. Playing in front of a big crowd might give Tennessee a boost, but the better team and top talent usually comes out on top.

Prediction: Bills 28, Titans 24

WEEK 7 BYE

Week 8 — vs. Miami Dolphins

These division rival’s two games a season ago could not have been any different. Buffalo came out on top during a Week 2 game in South Beach by the score of 31-28. Then in Week 17, the Bills absolutely dominated their counterparts by the score of 56-26 in Western New York. Regardless of how much Miami has improved from a speed standpoint on offense, it still doesn’t have the talent to take out the Bills in Buffalo.

Prediction: Bills 31, Dolphins 27 

Week 9 — @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Two players named Josh Allen will be in this contest, but the Bills have the better, more valuable one at quarterback. Allen should dismantle the Jaguars, and a seasoned defensive coach in McDermott will scheme up too many exotic looks for Jacksonville’s offense to keep pace in a shootout.

Prediction: Bills 31, Jaguars 24

Week 10 — @ New York Jets

Competitive ball. That’s going to be the name of the game for Robert Saleh in his first season as the Jets head coach. Narrow losses. That should also be the name of the game given New York’s issues on defense and the fact that it will be relying on a rookie quarterback. With the ascension we’ve seen from Allen and the presence of Stefon Diggs, this should be enough for Buffalo to come out on top in a narrow affair.

Prediction: Bills 28, Jets 23

Week 11 — vs. Indianapolis Colts

We might not see the Colts get into a ton of shootouts in 2021, but this might be one of those matchups. Buffalo couldn’t generate pressure last season and did very little to improve the secondary, a way to offset the issue. The Bills do have one of the NFL’s best offenses, and in a matchup between these two quarterbacks, give us Allen.

Prediction: Bills 27, Colts 24

Week 12 — @ New Orleans Saints

Expect a different iteration of the Saints without Drew Brees in the mix. Also expect some major growing pains under center regardless of whether Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill is starting. That will be magnified heading into Western New York for this Week 12 matchup. New Orleans might be able to contain Allen and Co. to an extent, but it won’t score enough to come out on top.

Prediction: Bills 28, Saints 24

Week 13 — vs. New England Patriots

In winning their first division title since 1995, the Bills swept New England during the 2020 season. It culminated in a 38-9 blowout win on the road in Week 16. The Pats improved big-time on offense during free agency and added a potential franchise guy under center in Mac Jones in the draft. Will that be enough to narrow the gap? At least initially, I am not seeing it on the road. Allen and Co. should prove to be too much for these Patriots in this Week 13 affair.

Prediction: Bills 24, Patriots 13

Week 14 — @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another potential pitfall in the Bucs’ pursuit of the best record in football. Allen is a handful even for Tampa Bay’s loaded defense. However, if it comes down to the final minutes, who better to deliver the goods than the GOAT QB himself? Tom Brady will lead Tampa to a statement win here.

Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Bills 23

Week 15 — vs. Carolina Panthers

The McDermott game. Carolina’s former defensive coordinator going up against a team that has high expectations heading into the 2021 season. As has been the case since Cam Newton was in his heyday, it’s about the quarterback position in Carolina. Sam Darnold heads to the Panthers after a disastrous three-season stint with the New York Jets that saw him boast a 2-3 record while throwing all of four touchdowns in five games against the Bills. You can do the math here.

Prediction: Bills 24, Panthers 20

Week 16 — @ New England Patriots

Whether it’s rookie Jones or struggling veteran Newton under center, the expectation is that New England’s offense will still have a hard time scoring points to keep pace with the better teams on their schedule. Sure the Bills have their own issues on defense. But that will be masked in this Week 16 matchup.

Prediction: Bills 27, Patriots 23

Week 17 — vs. Atlanta Falcons

If Julio Jones is not traded, Atlanta’s offense is going to be good in 2021. At the very least, it should help the Falcons stay in games against better competition. Unfortunately for new head coach Arthur Smith, their defense remains talentless after giving up nearly 25 points per game a season ago. We fully expect a shootout with Allen and Co. doing enough against this embattled defense to come away with a home win.

Prediction: Bills 34, Falcons 27

Week 18 — vs. New York Jets

Saleh is a better coach than Adam Gase ever was. The Jets have a shiny new quarterback in Zach Wilson taking over for the struggling Darnold and should be exciting on offense. Even then, New York is at least a year away from actually competing with other AFC East squads. Primarily, I am not sold on its makeshift defense being able to stop Allen, Diggs and Co.

Prediction: Bills 35, Jets 23

Buffalo Bills projected record: 14-3

The Bills might have some issues from a pass-rush perspective. Their secondary was torn to shreds by Mahomes and Co. in the AFC Championship Game a season ago.

Even then, there’s too much talent on both sides of the ball for McDermott’s squad to see major regression after a 13-win 2020 season. In fact, I am predicting one more win for the Bills as they attempt to unseat the Chiefs in the AFC and earn their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994.