The Bills Are at a Crossroads: Can 2026 Be the Year Buffalo Finally Breaks Through?
If there was ever a season where the stars aligned for the Buffalo Bills, it was 2025. Josh Allen was playing at an MVP level.
The usual AFC juggernauts-the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bengals-were all watching the playoffs from home. The road to the Super Bowl was wide open.
Buffalo just had to take it.
Instead, they stumbled-again. This time, it was the Denver Broncos who sent them packing in the Divisional Round.
Another promising season, another early exit. And now, as we look ahead to 2026, the question looms: is this team still built to contend?
According to CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo, the Bills are still in the mix. In a ranking of playoff-eliminated teams most likely to reach the Super Bowl next season, Buffalo landed at No. 5 out of 12.
That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it’s also not a dismissal. The talent is there.
The potential is real. But the path?
Anything but easy.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Sean McDermott is out. Despite a sparkling 72-27 record since 2020, the Bills made the surprising decision to move on from their head coach. That kind of move signals more than just frustration-it’s a franchise trying to reset the culture, shift the narrative, and finally get over the hump.
But it also adds uncertainty. A new coach brings new schemes, new voices, and likely a new offensive coordinator.
That means Josh Allen, as brilliant as he’s been, will be adjusting once again. And let’s be honest-so much of Buffalo’s success hinges on No.
- He’s the engine, the spark, and sometimes the entire offense.
That’s a lot to ask of any quarterback, even one playing at an MVP level.
This offseason, the Bills need to take some of that weight off Allen’s shoulders. Whether it’s bolstering the offensive line, adding more reliable weapons, or retooling the run game, the goal has to be balance. Because as we’ve seen across the league, one injury or one bad stretch can derail even the most promising season.
Buffalo’s 2026 schedule won’t do them any favors either. They’re set to face seven teams that made the playoffs this past year, plus the Vikings and Lions-two 9-8 squads that were tough outs all season. That’s a gauntlet, especially for a team in transition.
And don’t forget about the AFC East. The Patriots may not be the powerhouse they once were, but they’re not going quietly. Every divisional game is a battle, and there are no easy wins in this division.
Still, this is the NFL. We just watched both the Chiefs and Ravens miss the playoffs in 2025-something few saw coming.
The league is unpredictable. Injuries, momentum swings, coaching changes-they all play a role.
And while the Bills have their share of question marks, they also have one of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks and a roster that, on paper, can still compete with anyone.
So can Buffalo make a Super Bowl run in 2026? Absolutely.
But it won’t be handed to them. They’ll need a strong offseason, a smooth coaching transition, and maybe a little help from the football gods.
The window isn’t closed. But it’s definitely not wide open anymore.
The Bills are at a crossroads. What they do next will define the legacy of this era-and whether Josh Allen’s prime years are remembered for playoff heartbreak or championship glory.