The Buffalo Bills would conclude the 2020 NFL season in the most unprecedented fashion, emerging as AFC East Champions for the first time since 1995. Granted, the New England Patriots seemed to crumble with the absence of now 7x Super Bowl Champion, Tom Brady. Nevertheless, the blue, red and white had to put in their own graft to gain the second-best record last season in the league, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs and tied only to the Green Bay Packers. The big question though is will the Bills build off of the momentum of last season or fall under pressure? With the release of the 2021 schedule, five particular matchups will be their greatest tests.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Bills begin the regular season with no easy opener as they’re lined up to face the 2020 AFC North Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only do the Steelers have defense on lock, but also now have added to their offensive front, clinching the best rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft, Najee Harris. Although the Bills have owned this matchup the past two years, it will be interesting to see what additional threat Harris might pose.
New Orleans Saints
The Bills have structure on their side in this matchup against the now Drew Brees-less Saints. However, with a Top 5 defense, returning league-leading skills players, and the addition of Jameis Winston, Saints shouldn’t be counted out. Taysom Hill could potentially be a double threat, being one of the only QBs that can acutely play both under center as well as at the tight end position. The Bills shouldn’t’ enter the meeting too comfortable.
Tennessee Titans
As a result, being blown out by the Titans in their last meeting, the Buffalo Bills will have something to prove. And after the way Derrick Henry embarrassed Josh Norman in his stiff-arm play, the matchup might be even more personal.
Kansas City Chiefs
After the Bucs exposed what it’s like to extinguish a lit Patrick Mahomes in last year’s Super Bowl, Chiefs will be coming back with a starkly different offensive line, even attaining former Ravens tackle Orlando Brown Jr. With new added depth covering Mahomes, Kansas City won’t have anything to hold back. The 2019 Super Bowl Champions featuring a Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Tyrann Mathieu squad will be understandably tough for the Bills to answer to.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last but not least, the reigning Super Bowl Champions featuring Tom Brady. Not only will Brady be returning as a much more comfortable, confident piece to Tampa Bay’s puzzle, but also so will their entire 22-player starting unit. That’s all 11 Super Bowl starters on both offense and defense with the Super Bowl King leading them at the helm! Brady has managed to put together a band of brothers of once deemed misfits, and turned them into a current league superpower! Josh Allen no doubt rose as an elite leader and passer holding streaks and rushing TD records in the league last season, but to say this game could go 50/50 is a far mark.
