The Buffalo Bills will get to know what their 2024 NFL regular season schedule looks like exactly at some point in May.
In the meantime, I put together a guide on what we know so far about the Bills' schedule, including my predictions for primetime games, must-watch matchups, strength of schedule, revenge games, and much more.
When digging into the strength of schedule, however, I thought it noteworthy that the Bills have a significant disadvantage opposed to the other two contenders in the division.
Although many insist on using last year's win-loss record to determine strength of schedule, things change so quickly in the NFL that is always a better idea to use Las Vegas' win total projections for the upcoming season. Although the betting world doesn't get everything right, they're usually pretty darn close in the grand scheme of things.
Using this method, popularized by Warren Sharp from Sharp Football, the Bills' schedule ranks 23rd in the league (32nd being the toughest). Meanwhile, both the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have two of the eight very easiest schedules in the league! (Jets 4th, Dolphins 8th).
The Bills play against the following top NFL contenders: Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Detroit Lions. These were all conference championship teams last year and all display top-notch continuity going into 2024.
The Jets and the Dolphins avoid all of those while drawing weaker opponents out of the NFC (Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, respectively).
In what is expected to be one of the closest divisions in the NFL this year, such a disadvantage is no small thing, and will make the Bills' path to the Super Bowl much harder. To need to overcome one team with a significantly easier schedule is one thing but two? That's almost unfair.
The good news? Buffalo still has the best quarterback in the division these days in Josh Allen. Buckle up, Bills Mafia, every single game will matter in 2024.
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