The Buffalo Bills spent five straight seasons sitting on top of the AFC East. That run ended in 2025, when Buffalo finished 12-5 and landed second in the division behind the 14-3 New England Patriots.
New England’s big year didn’t end the way it wanted. The Patriots rolled into Super Bowl LX and got handled by the Seattle Seahawks, 29-13.
Even so, the more interesting question now is whether Buffalo can wrest the division back in 2026. The answer, at least in this projection, comes with a slow burn. First-year head coach Joe Brady and new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard are expected to hit some early turbulence before the Bills settle in and surge late.
Brady steps into the top job after the team moved on from Sean McDermott last season, ending a nine-year run on the sideline. For Bills fans, that was a jolt. McDermott and Josh Allen helped push the franchise back into the national conversation, and Brady now inherits the task of guiding the whole operation after previously serving as offensive coordinator.
He’ll still be calling plays on offense, but the broader responsibility is the real shift. Buffalo also turned to Leonhard to reshape a defense that had been stuck in the middle - a unit that, at times, struggled to get after the quarterback and hold up against the run. The hope is that Leonhard, who came from Sean Payton’s former Denver Broncos staff as assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator, can bring a different edge and a cleaner scheme.
There’s reason to believe the long view could be promising. The short term, though, looks rocky.
Connor Orr of SI.com projects the Bills to start 2-3 through their first five games, then flip the script with Josh Allen’s experience and the team’s fast-paced practices and first-class conditioning carrying them to an 8-4 finish over the final 12 games. That would leave Buffalo at 10-7 over 17 games and back on top of the AFC East.
“As for the layout of the schedule itself, Buffalo's season has clear chapters. This is not a glorious start, and the Bills make up for a hard opening road with the gift of four games against the Jets and Dolphins after their bye week.
The tale-of-two-halves breakdown here (Buffalo begins the season 2-3) signals an all-new coaching staff that needs time to figure out its own personality.” Orr stated.
Orr also said Leonhard “is going to be one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL one day,” and noted that he liked the way Leonhard ran the RPO while coaching at Wisconsin.
The defense will be young and will operate out of a 3-4 look, but Buffalo still has a couple of veterans who should fit right in. C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Bradley Chubb are the names to watch as leaders in Year 1 of Leonhard’s system, and both are expected to help give the group some stability as it tries to grow into the new scheme.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Could Feel Orchard Parks New Game Day Parking Rules
With the new Bills stadium rising in Orchard Park, the town is already moving to tighten how game-day parking works around Highmark Stadium. Town officials are developing a permit process for commercial businesses and private residents who want to offer event parking within a one-mile radius, a step that would formalize a scene that has long been part of the gameday experience for fans heading to Bills home games.
The Orchard Park Town Board has also approved a moratorium on expanding private parking facilities near the stadium, signaling a more controlled approach as the area gets ready for the next era. For Bills fans, the changes could alter the familiar scramble for a spot and reshape some of the parking options that have been part of the tailgating routine for years. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Need To Prepare For A Very Different Game Day
The Bills first season in the new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium brings more than a fresh look on the field. It also changes the entire rhythm of a home game day, from how fans get in to where they park and which roads they can actually use once they arrive in the area. The team has already posted maps and other guidance on its website, a sign that this is the kind of transition that will take some getting used to even for longtime season-ticket holders.
For Buffalo supporters, the big adjustment is not just inside the stadium but around it, where entry points, parking patterns and road closures now matter as much as timing your arrival. The easiest move for fans planning a trip this year is to check the Bills information before leaving home, because the old routine is not necessarily the right one anymore. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Have A Backfield Battle Fans Should Be Watching Closely
Ian Wheeler is getting a real look at Bills training camp, and the former Howard standout has already found a way to stand out in a crowded backfield. A United Bowl MVP in June, Wheeler arrives in Buffalo with recent championship experience, and he has spent the opening days trying to show he can translate that momentum into a roster spot. Head coach Joe Brady has noticed the speed and the effort, both traits that matter when a player is fighting for his place at camp.
For Wheeler, the task now is less about flash and more about showing he can handle the details, from learning the playbook to making his mark on special teams. That kind of path is often what keeps an undrafted or lesser-known runner in the mix deep into camp, and it gives Buffalo another intriguing name to watch as the competition unfolds. Wheelers preparation has put him in position to keep pushing, and the next stretch will show whether he can turn that early attention into something lasting. [Read more 🡒]