The Buffalo Bills enter the 2026 NFL season carrying a familiar kind of weight, only this time it feels heavier than ever. In the AFC, no team appears to be under more pressure to win than Buffalo.
That burden starts with the change on the sideline. Sean McDermott is gone after years of playoff disappointment, and Joe Brady has been promoted into the job. With Brady now running the show, expectations around the Bills have only climbed.
Josh Allen remains the face of the franchise, and Buffalo has given him another major weapon by trading for star wide receiver D.J. Moore this offseason. The move should help lighten Allen’s load and make the offense more balanced, something the Bills have needed after too often leaning on their quarterback to carry too much by himself.
Around the league, the Bills are still viewed as one of the elite teams. Most people have them in the top three at worst, and that kind of respect comes with a price. In 2026, Buffalo is being treated like a Super Bowl-or-bust team.
That view showed up in a ranking of AFC teams compiled by multiple NFL executives working with Mike Sando of The Athletic. The Bills landed at No. 1, edging out the Denver Broncos. Still, not everyone saw the top spot as settled.
"My hardest choice was Houston-Buffalo (for the top spot)," another exec said. "The defensive change (under new coordinator Jim Leonhard) helps, they're a little more violent defensively, a little more athletic defensively. And then it's a top-flight offensive line, and then DJ Moore is going to make an impact."
Allen has already matched the hype in plenty of ways, but Buffalo still needs more than quarterback brilliance to finally get over the hump. The star signal-caller gives the Bills a chance every week, yet the team knows it cannot rest on his shoulders alone.
"Josh Allen is the best player in the league," one exec said.
If Buffalo performs the way it expects to, it should remain one of the league’s best teams. The Bills also have the AFC East on their mind after falling short of the division title last season.
In Other News...
Josh Allen Just Gave Bills Fans A New Way To Join In
Josh Allen has found another way to make Bills home games feel personal this season. Working with children at Golisano Childrens Hospital of Buffalo, he helped create eight one-of-a-kind Buffalo Bills hats that blend his hand-drawn logo with artwork from the kids, turning a simple accessory into a shared piece of team identity.
Allen will wear one of the hats before each of Buffalos eight regular-season home games, and fans can buy them too, with the proceeds going to the Patricia Allen Fund at the hospital. The project, part of his partnership with New Era, carries forward a charitable effort he began last season and gives Bills supporters a direct way to take part in it. [Read more 🡒]
Bills May Have Quietly Added A Receiver Skill They Still Needed
The Bills kept tinkering with their receiver mix this week by adding Greg Dortch to the practice squad, a move that goes beyond special teams insurance. Dortch brings a long track record as a punt returner, but the appeal here is his versatility as a receiver and the chance he gives Buffalo to add another small, quick target who can help stress coverage underneath.
What makes the signing interesting is the fit. Buffalo has spent the offseason trying to upgrade the receiver room, and Dortchs film-based profile suggests he can create separation against man coverage, which is a useful trait in an offense that can never really have too many reliable options. Whether he becomes more than depth will depend on opportunity, but the Bills clearly saw a skill set worth keeping in the building. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allens Top Target Suddenly Puts Buffalos Week 1 Stability In Doubt
Khalil Shakirs availability has become one of the quieter concerns hanging over the Bills as they head toward their season opener against the Texans. Buffalos top target has missed recent practices because of an undisclosed injury, and while the team remains optimistic about his status, the lack of detail and the cautious approach to his recovery have made this worth watching closely.
The Bills still expect Shakir to be ready for Week 1, and there is some relief in the fact that DJ Moore, who had his own preseason injury scare, is also projected to be available. Even so, Buffalos passing game has a different feel when one of Josh Allens most trusted receivers is sidelined, even briefly, and the final practice reports should tell a lot about how settled the offense really is entering the opener. [Read more 🡒]