The Buffalo Bills are heading into 2026 with a fresh face on the sideline and a familiar expectation hanging over everything: win big.
Jacob Robinson of The Athletic has the Bills taking the AFC East at 12-5, a forecast that would put Buffalo right back on top of the division. Robinson’s prediction also hinges on the New England Patriots slipping to 10-7, a sharp drop from the 14-3 finish that would have otherwise kept Buffalo from the crown.
That projection comes after a busy offseason for the Bills, who turned the page following a disappointing Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos. Sean McDermott was fired after that defeat, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady was elevated to head coach.
The move keeps a lot of continuity in place for Josh Allen and an offense that has already proven it can hum. Brady has helped run an elite unit for years, and now he gets the keys with Allen still in his prime.
Allen just put together another huge season, completing 69.3 percent of his passes for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also did plenty of damage on the ground, piling up 579 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 112 carries.
James Cook remains a major part of the attack as well, but Buffalo also made a clear move to bolster the passing game by acquiring DJ Moore in a trade with the Chicago Bears to be the top receiver.
Moore is coming off a quieter year by his standards, finishing with 50 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns while also adding 79 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Still, he has topped 1,000 receiving yards in four of his eight seasons, and the Bills will be counting on Brady and the offense to help him get back to that level.
There are obvious questions with Brady stepping in for McDermott, but the roster still has the kind of top-end talent that keeps Buffalo in the Super Bowl conversation. With Allen leading the way, the Bills are being viewed as a team capable of staying in the mix and maybe finishing the job in 2026.
In Other News...
Bills Camp Tension Is Becoming A Problem Buffalo Can't Ignore
Training camp is supposed to sharpen a team, but sometimes it also exposes how close to the edge things already are. During a Buffalo Bills session, wide receiver Joshua Palmer and rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun got into a physical altercation during a one-on-one drill, turning a routine competitive rep into the kind of sideline moment that gets everyones attention. Quarterback Shane Buechele and other teammates stepped in to break it up, keeping the scuffle from spilling any further.
For Buffalo, it is another reminder that camp intensity can be useful right up until it starts becoming a distraction. One-on-ones are built for pride and edge, especially with a young defensive back trying to make his mark against a veteran receiver, but the Bills will want the competition to stay pointed toward football. Tim Graham of The Athletic reported the incident, which adds to the sense that this camp is already demanding a little more composure than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Left Guard Battle Is Suddenly One To Watch In Camp
The Bills entered camp with one of their more important interior jobs suddenly worth watching after losing David Edwards in free agency and bringing in Austin Corbett to compete at left guard. Corbett brings the kind of versatility teams value along the offensive line, with experience at multiple interior spots, and he has already been getting reps at left guard as Buffalo sorts through its options.
For a team with several players listed at interior line positions, the competition is still very much open, and Corbetts exact role for the upcoming season has yet to be defined. That uncertainty makes this a camp battle worth tracking, because the Bills are not just looking for depth here, they are trying to settle one of the more important protection questions before the season gets moving. [Read more 🡒]