The Buffalo Bills are heading into the stretch run with no shortage of spotlight games ahead. Their second half is loaded with primetime matchups, and every one of the five opponents currently owns a winning record.
That run begins Monday night, when Buffalo opens one of its final 10 regular-season games in a setting that should feel familiar and intense at the same time. The Bills have been getting better defensively each week, and the close games they’ve already played have given them a useful dress rehearsal for what’s coming next.
The first test comes in Week 9 at Minnesota on Monday Night Football. For the first time since 2018, Josh Allen and the Bills will return to U.S.
Bank Stadium, where Allen had that rookie-year moment when he hurdled former Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr in a welcome-to-the-NFL sequence that still stands out. Both teams are 6-1 entering the game, though Minnesota’s unbeaten start ended last Sunday in a 19-15 loss to the Lions.
Buffalo, meanwhile, rolled past the Baltimore Ravens 36-10 for its first blowout win of the season.
Thanksgiving Night brings another heavyweight matchup, this one at home against the Chiefs in Week 12. It will be the first time the Bills host a Thanksgiving Night game at their new Highmark Stadium, and it arrives with Buffalo looking to keep its regular-season winning streak against Kansas City alive.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will meet a Bills team that looks different on defense this year, especially with Jim Leonhard’s unit becoming more aggressive. Right now, this game could help decide the AFC’s top seed and the first-round bye that comes with it.
Week 14 sends Buffalo to Green Bay for Sunday Night Football, and that trip carries its own layer of familiarity. It will be Allen’s first game at Lambeau Field since his rookie season in 2018, when he faced Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. This time, both teams are in the playoff mix, and the Bills will have to deal with Josh Jacobs on the ground while also trying to get pressure on Jordan Love.
Then comes a rare Saturday night spotlight in Week 15, when the Bears visit the new Highmark Stadium for the first time. Caleb Williams will be on the other side, and both defenses are built to attack. The Bills and Bears are each led by Sean Payton’s assistants - Dennis Allen in Chicago and Jim Leonhard in Buffalo - which gives the matchup an extra layer of familiarity on the sidelines.
The final primetime stop on the schedule sends Buffalo to Denver for a Christmas Day trip against the Broncos. Joe Brady and the Bills will face Sean Payton, Brady’s former boss, in a game that pairs multiple offenses with aggressive defenses. And if Buffalo can finish that one the right way, the hope is simple: a Christmas Day victory so the whole team can be available to report back.
In Other News...
Bills Move On From C.J. Gardner-Johnson As Secondary Questions Grow
The Bills moved on from C.J. Gardner-Johnson after his one-game suspension ended, a decision that adds another layer to a secondary already under the microscope. Head coach Joe Brady said the move was difficult because of Gardner-Johnsons edge and personality, but the team ultimately made the call after taking a hard look at what it needed coming out of the Baltimore game.
With that spot now open, Buffalo is turning to Damar Hamlin and Geno Stone as it tries to steady the defensive backfield. The release leaves the Bills with another personnel question to answer on a defense that has been asked to adjust quickly, and it puts even more attention on how the back end holds up in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Suddenly Have A Bad Timing Problem Before Vikings Game
The Bills offensive line got a little wobbly at just the wrong time this week, with their Week 9 prep for the Vikings opening under a cloud of injury concerns. Buffalo is already staring at a difficult matchup against a Minnesota defense known for bringing pressure and mixing in blitzes, so the health of the front five suddenly matters even more than usual.
Dion Dawkins and Alec Anderson both sat out practice, while Spencer Brown was limited as the Bills tried to sort through the early-week workload. With three key linemen showing up on the report, Buffalos protection plans are worth watching closely as the game approaches, especially against a defense that can make life uncomfortable in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Have A Playoff Reason To Watch Baltimore Tonight
The ripple effect from Buffalos win over Baltimore is still being felt, and Bills fans have a fresh reason to keep an eye on the Ravens tonight. Baltimore has had to reshuffle its quarterback room after injuries in the loss to the Bills, leaving the offense in a far different spot than it was just a week ago and creating a new layer of intrigue for a team trying to stay afloat in the AFC race.
Now the Ravens have to navigate Thursday Night Football against Jacksonville with a patchwork plan under center, and the matchup is not exactly forgiving. The Jaguars bring enough pressure and overall strength to make life difficult even for a stable offense, which is why Baltimores quarterback depth is suddenly such a central storyline for anyone watching from Buffalos side of the ledger. [Read more 🡒]