Leading up to kickoff of the 2026 NFL season, TeamFB7 went in-depth on each team from its strengths and weaknesses to breakout players, intriguing rookies and overall predictions. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the Buffalo Bills.
Perhaps some small part of the reason why last season was the tipping point for the Sean McDermott Era in Buffalo is that the Buffalo Bills finally had a path to the Super Bowl that didn’t involve the familiar obstacle that had denied them so many times before.
The Kansas City Chiefs, who had knocked the Bills out of the playoffs in four of the past five seasons and usually in gut-punching fashion, had missed the postseason entirely after wouldn’t be standing in the way this time.
But after narrowly slipping past the Jacksonville Jaguars in the wildcard round (27-24), Buffalo was bounced in the divisional round in a 33-30 overtime loss at the Denver Broncos.
Another year of superstar quarterback Josh Allen‘s prime had been spent without yet reaching the Super Bowl.
So, despite a solid baseline of success with a 98-50 record and eight playoff appearances over nine seasons, McDermott was fired.
The directive was clear. It’s time to win a Super Bowl before it’s too late.
The Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, both maintaining continuity for Allen while giving the locker room, practice fields and sideline a younger, infinitely more outgoing lead voice than that of the soft-spoken, reserved, football-conservative McDermott.
Many questioned both McDermott’s firing and Brady’s promotion, and yet it made all the sense in the world after too many postseason letdowns.
The Bills needed a new aura and personality.
Buffalo Bills Reset
2025 Finish: 12-5, lost 33-30 in overtime to Broncos in the divisional round
Head Coach: Joe Brady, first season (promoted from offensive coordinator)
Hot Seat Meter (0-10): 1
Offensive Coordinator: Pete Carmichael Jr., first season (former Saints OC; Brady continues to call the offensive plays)
Defensive Coordinator: Jim Leonhard, first season (former Wisconsin DC, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator last two seasons)
Best Offseason Move: Trading for WR DJ Moore
Some pundits felt the Bills overpaid for DJ Moore in trading a second-round pick to the Bears for the WR (and a fifth-round pick in return), but that will prove to be a bargain.
Yes, Moore got usurped in Chicago by the Bears’ young pass-catchers last season while playing for a new coaching staff, but he didn’t suddenly become a dud after averaging 84 catches and 1,124 yards over the prior six seasons.
Moore is the first two WR1 that Allen has had since Stefon Diggs and elevates the potential for an already prolific offense even further.
Update: Moore had 5 catches for 100 yards and a TD in the Bills’ season-opening win over the Texans.
Worst Offseason Move: Replacing LG David Edwards with Alec Anderson
David Edwards was one of the higher-graded guards in the league last year by PFF with an excellent 75.0 pass-blocking grade. He signed a four-year, $61-million deal with the Saints, and instead of bringing in an established player to replace him, the Bills turned to third-year former-undrafted-free agent Alec Anderson to take over at left guard.
Anderson had played just 542 snaps over his first two seasons.
While PFF grades aren’t an exact science, Anderson was the Bills’ third-lowest-graded player from the season-opening win at 52.4. Anderson had some nice reps too, but he did allow a sack and was flagged for a holding penalty.
Buffalo Bills Roster Breakdown
Biggest Strength(s): QB Josh Allen and RB James Cook
Over the last six seasons, Allen has MVP finishes of 1st (2024), 2nd (2020), 3rd (2022 and 2025) and 5th (2023).
He bears as heavy a burden for his team’s success as any QB in the league and has averaged 590 rushing yards a season through his first eight years on top of having one of the best passing arms in the NFL.
Look no further than that season-opening win at Houston as a reminder of Allen’s prowess, as he completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs while also rushing for 2 scores.
Meanwhile, James Cook is the reigning NFL rushing yards leader after putting 1,621 yards and 12 TDs on 5.2 yards per carry in 2025.
There’s reason to think Brady might be more aggressive as a play-caller this season without McDermott over his shoulder, but the rushing attack (co-led by Cook and Allen) remains the identity of this offense.
Biggest Weakness: Inside linebacker
The Bills’ starting linebackers are Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard.
Williams has started 22 games over his first three seasons but was in a more limited role last year while totaling 63 tackles.
Bernard had 143 tackles, 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and 3 INTs in his second NFL season back in 2023, but he has been limited to 13 and 12 games the last two seasons.
His injury history makes the lack of depth behind him of notable concern, as the Bills’ second-teamers are rookie fourth-round pick Kaleb Elarms-Orr (from TCU) and third-year former undrafted free agent Joe Andreessen.
Most Intriguing Rookie: EDGE T.J. Parker
T.J. Parker was Buffalo’s top draft pick, No. 35 overall out of Clemson, and should get plenty of opportunity as the season goes along to rotate in behind veterans Bradley Chubb and Gregory Rousseau.
Breakout Player: CB Maxwell Hairston
Maxwell Hairston, the Bills first-round pick in 2025 out of Kentucky, played in just 11 games with 3 starts as a rookie. He still managed to nab 2 interceptions and now he’s locked into a starting role opposite Christian Benford.
He sure talks a big game …
MVP Pick: QB Josh Allen
No question here — in fact, he’s the preseason betting favorite to win his second NFL MVP award.
2026 Buffalo Bills Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| Week 1, Sept. 13 | at Houston Texans | 1 p.m. |
| Week 2, Sept. 17 (Thursday) | vs. Detroit Lions | 8:15 p.m. |
| Week 3, Sept. 27 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers | 1 p.m. |
| Week 4, Oct. 4 | vs. New England Patriots | 1 p.m. |
| Week 5, Oct. 12 (Monday) | at Los Angeles Rams | 8:15 p.m. |
| Week 6, Oct. 18 | at Las Vegas Raiders | 4:25 p.m. |
| Week 7 | BYE WEEK | |
| Week 8, Nov. 1 | vs. Baltimore Ravens | 1 p.m. |
| Week 9, Nov. 9 (Monday) | at Minnesota Vikings | 8:15 p.m. |
| Week 10, Nov. 15 | at New York Jets | 1 p.m. |
| Week 11, Nov. 22 | vs. Miami Dolphins | 1 p.m. |
| Week 12, Nov. 26 (Thursday) | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 8:20 p.m. |
| Week 13, Dec. 6 | at New England Patriots | 4:25 p.m. |
| Week 14, Dec. 13 | at Green Bay Packers | 8:20 p.m. |
| Week 15, Dec. 19 (Saturday) | vs. Chicago Bears | 8:20 p.m. |
| Week 16, Dec. 24 (Friday) | at Denver Broncos | 4:30 p.m. |
| Week 17, Jan. 3 | at Miami Dolphins | 1 p.m. |
| Week 18, TBD (Flex Game) | vs. New York Jets | TBD |
2026 Season Prediction And Parting Thoughts
Season Prediction: 13-4
We seemed to be in the minority in absolutely loving the move to replace the stodgy McDermott with the young, energetic Brady, with hopes that he’d open up the passing game more for Allen, who had four straight seasons with at least 4,283 passing yards before dipping to 3,731 and 3,668 the last two years.
The addition of Moore will help that, as Allen has a nice collection of targets now with slot weapon Khalil Shakir and the tight end tandem of Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox.
The Bills’ defense is question mark with new leadership and some moving pieces.
Ultimately, though, Allen is the great equalizer and also our preseason pick to win MVP this year.
