Evan Picks the 2020 Bills 5/8/2020

Photo courtesy of buffalobills.com

With the 2020 National Football League (NFL) schedule coming out on May 7, 2020 the Buffalo Bills are given something that hasn’t happened since 1996. The Bills will be playing in four Prime Time games! Since the Bills are a favorites to win the AFC East, why not pick their schedule, and see how many wins and losses they will have? This will be done at the end of training camp, the end of the preseason, as well as every week during the NFL season.

Week 1: Bills vs Jets

I am going to take a Bills win. Unlike the past two years where the Jets have beaten Buffalo at home, it’s opening day and fans, if there are any, will be fired up. Josh Allen will have a big day playing with his new weapon - Stephon Diggs. Plus the Buffalo defense doesn’t look like they’re slowing down. Even with Le’Veon Bell I don’t see the Jets coming out with a win.

Week 2: Dolphins vs Bills

I’ll take another win, even though Miami got Tua. I don’t see Tua starting until the end of the season, so Ryan Fitzpatrick will most likely be the starter. Plus, we saw what the Bills did to Miami twice last year.

Week 3: Bills vs Rams

I will take another win. The Rams defense took a big step down this year and I believe that Diggs will have a good day against Jaylen Ramsey, and it's a home game. So I’ll give the Bills the edge, but I expect a close game. I think it will be won on a last second field goal; with the Bills moving to 3-0 in back to back years.

Week 4: Raiders vs Bills

I might be feeling really good about this Bills team, more so than any other Bills team in my lifetime. I don’t think Derek Carr will beat the Bills defense. I see another win for the Bills in Vegas by six or seven points. The Bills go to 4-0 for the first time since 2008.

Week 5: Titans vs Bills

Even though the Titans made it to the AFC Championship game last year, I don’t trust Ryan Tannehill. He never looked good when he played against Buffalo with Miami. I think he will do the same when the Bills come into town. I am also expecting a "Bills Mafia" takeover in Nashville once again. I predict the Bills going 5-0.

Week 6: Bills vs Chiefs

The Bills host their first Thursday night game since 2016, and will be going up against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. On Thursday night the Bills will be taking their first loss of the season. As of right now the only way the Bills can beat the Chiefs is by outscoring them. The Bills only put up 30+ points twice last season. This loss will drop their record to 5-1.

Week 7: Jets vs Bills

I think this is another game where the Bills will silence quarterback Sam Darnold. The Bills will have a long week to prepare and sweep New York.

Week 8: Bills vs Patriots

For the first time in over 20 years (excluding the 2008 season when Brady was hurt) there will be a different quarterback starting for the New England Patriots. I didn’t see the Patriots do anything big in the drfaft or free agency to help Jarrett Stidham. Plus, the Bills should do better against the Patriots defense. Head Coach Sean McDermott will finally get his first win against Bill Belichick and improve to 7-1.

Week 9: Bills vs Seahawks

This will be a close one! Seattle played a lot of close games last year, and was a yard away from winning the NFC West. I think Russell Wilson will have a good game and the Seahawks will beat the Bills by a field goal dropping Buffalo to 7-2.

Week 10: Cardinals vs Bills

As of right now the Cardinals look really good on paper with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins. P think this game is a toss up. Since it’s in Arizona, I will give the Cardinals the benefit of the doubt, I predict they will win. Giving the Bills their second straight loss and dropping them to 7-3.

Week 11: Bye Week

Week 12: Bills vs Chargers

This will be Tyrod Taylor’s first trip to Buffalo since he was traded back in 2017. He will definitely get a standing ovation for helping the Bills end a 17-year playoff drought. By this time Justin Herbert could be the starter. No matter who’s under center, the Bills will win.

Week 13: 49ers vs Bills

Buffalo’s second prime time game. This time it will be against the Super Bowl LIV losers. Don’t be surprised if this turns into a defensive slug fest. As of right now, the 49ers will win on Monday Night against the Bills. I don’t think it will be a blowout this time. The Bills are 0-2 in their prime-time games and fall to 8-4.

Week 14: Bills vs Steelers

Last year the Bills played the Steelers on Sunday Night Football, which helped the Bills clinch a playoff spot last year. I see more of the same with the Bills winning against Pittsburgh. A good chance they will clinch a playoff spot with this win.

Week 15: Broncos vs Bills

I predict another win for the Bills. It will be the first time since 1998-99 that the Bills had back-to-back seasons with 10 plus wins. The Colorado altitude will not adversely affect the Bills. Josh Allen will throw the ball all over the field and the Bills will improve to 10-4.

Week 16: Patriots vs Bills

This game can possibly clinch the AFC East for the Bills for the first time since 1995. On Monday Night Football, with the whole country watching, the Bills will finally dethrone New England and get 11 wins for the first time since 1999.

Week 17: Bills vs Dolphins

In the regular season finale, I’m going to assume that the Bills will be playing their starters to earn a higher seed in the AFC playoffs. We may Tua under center. With that, the Bills will sweep the AFC East on May 8, 2020. They will finish with a 12-4 record for the first time since 1994.

The schedule this season will not be as easy as it was last year, but the Bills look a lot stronger this year. With the addition of Stefon Diggs, it gives the passing game a true number one wide receiver. This is the first time in a long time that Buffalo is considered to be the favorite to win the AFC East. If Josh Allen takes yet another step forward, the Bills could be a serious contender to reach Super Bowl LV (55).