Buffalo Bills schedule 2020: Picks, predictions for every game
Week 1: Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets
The Bills get the same opponent they did to start last season, albeit in a different venue. We didn’t really get a comprehensive look at how the Bills-Jets rivalry unfolded last season. In their first matchup, the Bills started out incredibly slow and fell behind 16-0; they then scored 17 unanswered points and won their season opener. In the last game of the season, the team rested their starters in a rainy, uninspiring matchup.
In this tilt, we should see an improved Jets offense battle an incredible Bills defense. I’m going to give Buffalo the loss here, as I think they’ll split their series with New York this season. Sam Darnold is incredibly talented, and he’s finally gotten improved weapons. The Bills fall to their rival at home in a tight game to open the season.
Score: Jets 20, Bills 17
Week 2: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Playing in South Beach isn’t as easy as it sounds, but the Bills have had success in Miami over the past several years. Buffalo is 2-1 versus the Dolphins in Hard Rock Stadium in the Sean McDermott era, averaging a score of 25-19.
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Miami is not going to be a pushover with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm, however, so this game could be a lot closer than Bills fans would like. Nonetheless, the Bills should be able to overcome Miami in this one by pressuring a rebuilding offensive line and taking advantage of a young Dolphins defense.
Score: Bills 27, Dolphins 13
Week 3: Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams
This Rams team may not be the one we saw in the Super Bowl nearly 18 months ago, but they are still dangerous. Los Angeles ranked seventh in total yards and eleventh in points scored in 2019; they may have lost Brandin Cooks and Todd Gurley, but Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods were both 1,000-yard receivers last season and will present tough mismatches for the Buffalo cornerbacks.
Luckily for the Bills, they brought in reinforcements to their front-seven this offseason and can get in the face of Jared Goff. Goff was extremely poor when under pressure last season, ranking 24th among passers in completion percentage while under pressure. Given the Rams failed to address the offensive line this offseason, I can see this defense holding Goff and company.
After the Rams’ loss of Dante Fowler, Cory Littleton and Nickell Robey-Coleman, the Buffalo offense should be able to score points so long as Josh Allen avoids Jalen Ramsey and can stay away from Aaron Donald.
Score: Bills 26, Rams 23
Week 4: Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders
This game has the potential to be a trap game, as the Raiders are much improved this offseason. Las Vegas has surrounded Derek Carr with multiple weapons such as Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards; they add to a unit that already featured impressive skill position players like Josh Jacobs, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller. Carr is highly accurate and gets the ball out of his hands quickly, so this may be more of a challenge for the Bills defense than most think.
However, there are few playmakers on the Raiders defense that Josh Allen needs to worry about. Only Maxx Crosby and Cory Littleton are proven players on the defensive side of the ball; despite a few other additions, this is still the same Raiders unit that ranked 24th in points allowed. Playing on the West Coast is tough, but given that this will also be the Raiders’ first year in a new stadium, I’ll take the more proven football team.
Score: Bills 21, Raiders 17