Buffalo Rumblings
There are some big dogs on the schedule this year.
The NFL regular season is approaching fast and the Buffalo Bills are coming in with lofty expectations. After falling to the Kansas City Chiefs once again in the postseason, fans are left asking themselves if this will be the year Buffalo gets over the hump. The difference this season is that they have the reigning MVP in Josh Allen. However, looking at the schedule it will not be an easy task. Especially if you are looking at the quarterbacks the team will be facing.
You can make an argument that the top five quarterbacks in the league will all be playing at Highmark Stadium this season. Of course, we have Allen under center but on the opposite side of the field the Bills will be playing host to Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Super Bowl champion Jalen Hurts, and Joe Burrow. That alone is a star-studded lineup where hopefully the home crowd gives Buffalo an advantage.
When you look at the numbers from last season, it does not get any better. They are facing the top three quarterbacks in touchdowns thrown last season (Burrow, Jackson, and Baker Mayfield) while facing seven quarterbacks who completed at least 65% of their passes.
A bright spot looking at the teams Buffalo is facing is that there is a portion of teams who will be rolling out new quarterbacks this season. The New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers will all have new faces under center compared to their week 1 starter from last season.
With Bobby Babich in charge of the defense for his second year now, it will be interesting to see how the defense handles facing these high caliber quarterbacks. Especially since the key to beating them will be getting pressure up front, which is the area of weakness for the Bills in the past.
Lamar Jackson was named first-team All-Pro and finished second in the MVP voting in 2024. He’s a two-time NFL MVP, three-time first-team All-Pro, and a four-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in passer rating in 2024.
Justin Fields was the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He went 4-2 as the starter for the Steelers in 2024, with a 65.8% completion percentage, five passing touchdowns and one interception, five rushing touchdowns, while averaging 184 yards passing per start.
Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards in 2023 and passer rating in 2022. He had the highest completion percentage in the NFL in 2024. The former fifth overall pick also deals with injuries, but an early season matchup means they are likely to see him.
