Buffalo Bills: Breaking down each game in the 2019 schedule

The Buffalo Bills will look to bounce back from a 6-10 season in 2018 as they look to get back to the post-season.

It feels like the 2019 season that could go one of two ways for the Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Josh Allen could get hot, the defence could continue its quiet dominance and the Bills could find themselves back in the playoffs.

Or, the offence could struggle again, the defence could show its age and the Bills could find themselves on the outside looking in. With the right combination of Josh Allen magic and the circling of the wagons, however, the Bills could easily take the league by surprise in 2019.

Let’s take a look at how the 2019 schedule breaks down.

Weeks 1-3: at New York Jets, at New York Giants, vs Cincinnati

Right out of the gate, the Bills are thrown into the fire. Every game in the NFL is critical, but it feels like if the Bills can’t go at least 2-1 over this stretch (with one of those wins coming over the Jets for divisional purposes) then the playoffs aren’t likely.

The Bills were the second best overall defence in football last season, but only sixteenth league-wide in defending the run. That and the retirement of run-stuffer extraordinaire Kyle Williams could make facing Le’Veon Bell, Saquon Barkley and Joe Mixon in consecutive weeks a real challenge.

Fortunately, Williams’ massive shoes will be filled by Ed Oliver, who was widely regarded as a steal when he was selected by the Bills ninth overall in the first round. How Oliver and fellow DT Star Lotulelei work together could be indicative of whether or not the Bills come out of this stretch with a winning record.

The Jets’ defence improved over the offseason, adding C.J. Mosley and Brian Poole, but the Giants couldn’t defend the pass with Landon Collins (he’s since moved on) and the Bengals were dead last in total defence last year. 3-0 is very possible, but 2-1 seems more likely.