Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills finish up the 2025 NFL regular season with a home game against the New York Jets in Week 18. It’s also very likely set to become the final game in their current stadium, Highmark Stadium — which is also lovingly referred to as “The Ralph” after late founding Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr.
To mark the occasion, One Bills Drive will welcome Bills Mafia and those otherwise for kickoff at 4:05 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 4, 2026. With much of Buffalo’s playoff options already in place, there’s little more to play for in Week 18 than perhaps a move up from their current status as the seven seed in the AFC playoff bracket. With a win, they could improve to the six seed if things go their way elsewhere on the scoreboard in Week 18.
Should that happen, and if the Bills manage to go on a healthy winning streak in the postseason, it’s possible Buffalo could make its way back to hosting one more game to send their home for the last 52 seasons off into a proper playoff-tinged sunset.
Next weekend’s regular-season finale once held lots of potential drama, with the Bills still in contention to win the AFC East until coming up short at the end of regulation against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. A win would have given Buffalo plenty of reason to focus on defeating the Jets in hopes of claiming the AFC East division crown. Instead, with the division title headed to Foxborough, MA, the team may choose to rest key starters for most of or the entirety of next Sunday’s game.
There are certain players who may still suit up in an effort to hit certain performance-based incentives, while others look to continue streaks and build toward franchise and/or NFL records. Yet, it’s possible this game features more backups than typical as the Bills turn their attention to the playoffs.
To celebrate the history of what began architectural life as Rich Stadium, the Bills unveiled alternate red helmets in homage to the Super Bowl teams that dominated the NFL in the 1990s. Buffalo is set to wear those helmets against the Jets on Sunday in what could be the last game in Orchard Park, NY before the new Highmark Stadium opens late in the summer of 2026.
