Bills’ scariest pitfall to overcome on 2024 NFL schedule

After the Bills get done with the first Thursday Night Football game on their schedule, the team gets a one-game reprieve, hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football. After that comes arguably the most brutal stretch of not just the Bills’ but any NFL team’s schedule this season.

Following the Jaguars game on September 23, the Bills don’t return to the cozy confines of Orchard Park until October 20. And that month will not only be spent on the road but it will also put the team through a brutal gauntlet of games.

Coming off the MNF-induced short week, the Bills play the 2023 AFC North-winning Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. Then, they face an old friend, taking on Stefon Diggs and the 2023 AFC South-winning Houston Texans at their home stadium. Finally, the Bills return to Monday night going to MetLife Stadium to take on the AFC East rival New York Jets.

This is an incredibly tough stretch against three potentially (very) good teams all on the road. If Josh Allen can lead his squad to a 2-1 record in this stretch that will be a massive accomplishment.

Late-season trap games on the Bills schedule

A trap game is any matchup against a presumably weaker opponent that is either right before a big game or sandwiched in between two big games. Near the end of the 2024 Bills season, the team has two potential trap games on the docket.

In Weeks 9 and 11, the Bills host the Dolphins and Chiefs. Those are two huge division contests that could decide the AFC East or even the conference champions. However, in between those two games is a trip to play the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts could be an ascending team this season, but will likely not challenge for the AFC crown like the Bills, Dolphins, and Chiefs will.

If Buffalo is not careful, though, Indy could deal them a costly loss late in the season.

A few weeks later, after the Bills’ Week 12 bye, the team takes on the 49ers in Week 13 and the Lions in Week 15. While those aren’t conference games, they are matchups of three Super Bowl contenders.

Without Aaron Donald this season and with Matthew Stafford being a year older, the Los Angeles Rams are a top candidate to take a step back this season. Buffalo better take LA seriously, though, in Week 14 or Sean McDermott’s late-season NFC loss could come from Sean McVay, and not Dan Campbell or Kyle Shanahan.