BUFFALO BILLS (11-6)
OPEN CAMP: July 23, St. John Fisher University, Rochester, N.Y.
LAST YEAR: A flip of the switch seemingly sparked a late-season run, with the Bills taking six consecutive games — including the Week 18 division-title decider at Miami and a wild-card defeat of Pittsburgh — to set up a divisional playoff matchup with Kansas City on Buffalo’s home turf. But the painful outcome — a 27-24 loss — was all too familiar, watching Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs move on to more meaningful games as the Bills went back to the drawing board.
KEY ADDITIONS: S Cole Bishop, WR Keon Coleman, OT La’el Collins, RB Day Davis, S Mike Edwards, LB Deion Jones, WR Mack Hollins, WR Curtis Samuel, QB Mitch Trubisky, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
KEY LOSSES: WR Gabe Davis, WR Stefon Diggs, Edge Leonard Floyd, S Micah Hyde, C Mitch Morse, DL Jordan Phillips, S Jordan Poyer, CB Tre’Davious White
CAMP CHECKLIST: Introductions are out of the way, but the chemistry between Pro Bowl QB Josh Allen and the array of new faces in the wide receiver room will be closely watched and scrutinized. Allen’s No. 1 WR the past four seasons, Diggs, and the No. 2 last season, Davis, are gone and head coach Sean McDermott made clear more is expected from Allen as a leader while the Bills establish their offensive identity with a fresh cast. The new-look secondary is a close second on the list of camp concerns until proven otherwise. Safeties Hyde and Poyer played huge roles in McDermott’s scheme.
2024 EXPECTATIONS: Winning in the regular season to get back to the trophy round is the expectation for the Bills. Since advancing to the AFC Championship game in 2020 (38-24 loss at Kansas City), the Bills have played multiple playoff games each year but fallen short of the Super Bowl. The schedule is relentless with eight total games out of 17 in the regular season against 2023 playoff teams.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE:
Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET, Sat., Aug. 10
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 7 p.m. ET, Sat., Aug. 17
Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, Sat., Aug. 24
–Field Level Media
