Buffalo Bills 2026 Schedule [Plus Week by Week Pros and Cons]

The 2026 Buffalo Bills schedule is out and is filled with a lot of interesting nuances. The Bills are projected to travel 19,734 miles during the 2026 NFL regular season, the 13th most in the NFL. That’s not bad at all. However, with a murderers’ row of opponents in 2026, what are the pros and cons of the Bills’ schedule week by week? Let’s dig in.

View fullsize

Buffalo Bills 2026-2027 Schedule

Week 1: Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans, September 13, 1pm ET

The Buffalo Bills’ 2026 NFL season opener will take place on the road against the Houston Texans on Sunday, September 13, at 1pm ET. 

Pros:

• Not a very tough opponent. This may be good for a team with a new HC and DC.

• If Stroud continues his mediocre play, the defense should have time to settle in. 

• Fewer distractions on the road. 

Cons: 

• Facing a tough Houston defensive line. The O-line will be tested.

• Will the new-look offense and defense look good? There could be plenty of rust and learning curves.

Week 2: Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions (home opener), Thursday, September 17, 8:15pm (TNF)

The Buffalo Bills will open Highmark Stadium against the Detroit Lions on TNF on Thursday, September 17, at 8:15pm ET.

Pros:

• It’s a new stadium! What else could you want?

• A nighttime game gives the fans plenty of time to “get ready.” It’s going to be loud.

• This should be an offensive game. The fans should have plenty to cheer about, and Josh Allen will be the broadcast centerpiece.

• Getting a Thursday night game out of the way early in the season is a good thing. Extra rest and game planning heading into week 3 is great.

Cons:

• Coming off a short week with a new head coach and defensive coordinator could make it difficult to make adjustments.

• The rookie CBs will be tested early.

• It’s a tough game. A possible loss for a stadium opener is less than appealing.

Week 3: Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers, September 27, 4:25pm

The Los Angeles Chargers come to Highmark Stadium on Sunday, September 27, at 4:25pm. Justin Herbert, now equipped with a new, forward-thinking OC, may be a litmus test to reveal how Jim Leonhard plans for high-caliber quarterbacks.

Pros:

• Back-to-back home games in the new stadium while the weather is nice is a beautiful thing to see. 

• Josh Allen vs. Justin Herbert is a great QB matchup.

• The Chargers’ defense, while talented, has cracked against good offenses. Allen and the Bills can exploit them.

Cons:

• Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense can score from anywhere at any time. If Leonhard’s defense has not found its footing early, this could get ugly.

• The Chargers were streaky last year. If the new OC finds a rhythm, we could see another shootout.

• A loss here raises real questions about the Bills’ prospects in year one under Brady/Leonhard.

Week 4: Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots, October 4, 1pm ET

The Bills return home for a divisional matchup with the New England Patriots on Sunday, October 4, at 1:00 pm. Coming off a Super Bowl appearance and division championship, the Patriots will be looking to prove that last year was no fluke.

Pros:

• I think the Patriots were frauds last year. While they have improved, how will Drake Maye deal with an aggressive defense?

• The Bills will be fired up to reclaim their spot atop the AFC East.

• Still early in the season, so again, the weather should be nice.

Cons:

• Divisional games are always tough.

• If the Bills lose this game, it’ll be a long flight to LA.

• If Buffalo stumbles early, the pressure on Joe Brady may be high.

Week 5: Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams, Monday, October 12, 8pm ET (MNF)

The Bills hit the road to face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium for their first Monday night appearance of the year. 

Pros:

• Josh Allen loves the primetime spotlight. 

• The Bills could be rolling and wanting to prove they are the team to beat in the NFL.

• A healthy Bills team with the talent advantage should be able to get this done, even on a challenging road trip.

Cons:

• The Rams are one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL. This may be the Bills’ first true test of the year. 

• The DBs will be tested … again. 

• The Bills may be struggling, and trying to climb out of a hole against a great team will be a challenge.

Week 6: Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders, October 18, 4:05pm ET

The Bills travel to Allegiant Stadium to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, October 18, at 4:05 pm.  I wish I could say more, but what happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas. Let’s just hope this doesn’t become the theme song for the trip.

Pros:

• Mendoza may still be adapting to the NFL. The defense could have its first signature game of the year. 

• The Bills, flat out, have a better roster.

• It’s the Raiders.

Cons:

• Back-to-back cross-country trips are tough on the body, especially on a short week. Fatigue could slow Buffalo.

• Mendoza could look like a true top-tier quarterback.

Week 7: BYE 

Week 8: Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens, November 1, 1pm ET

The Baltimore Ravens come to Highmark Stadium on Sunday, November 1, at 1 pm. This is one of the signature home games on this schedule. Lamar Jackson versus Josh Allen, at the new stadium, in November? Sign me up!

Pros:

• A home game against one of the AFC’s best teams is a chance to make a genuine playoff statement. 

• Coming off a bye week, the Bills will be rested, and the staff will have had plenty of time to prepare for the game.

• A victory over Baltimore would carry serious weight in the AFC seeding race and validate everything Brady’s staff has been building.

Cons:

• Lamar Jackson is still capable of making defenses, especially aggressive ones, pay. Containing him is an entirely different challenge than what the Bills have faced so far.

• I think the Ravens are one of the best teams in the AFC. 

• After last year’s loss to Buffalo and playoff miss, Baltimore will be highly motivated. This game could swing on one play.

Week 9: Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings, Monday, November 9, 8pm ET (MNF)

The Bills hit the Twin Cities for their second Monday Night Football matchup of the year. This could be a massive game in the standings.

Pros:

• U.S. Bank Stadium is indoors. The Bills' offense has no excuses.

• Fewer distractions on the road.

• Minnesota has an average to less-than-average QB. Buffalo does not.

Cons:

• The Vikings’ indoor crowd is legitimately difficult to deal with. If they get into it, it may cause challenges.

• Hopefully not, but the Bills could still be struggling on defense (either due to players or scheme) 

• The Vikings have a capable head coach who will surely have his team prepared.

Week 10: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, November 15, 1pm ET

The Bills travel to MetLife Stadium for a divisional road game against the New York Jets on Sunday, November 15. The Jets are always looking to pull an upset here, and this one will be loud.

Pros:

• The Jets are still the Jets and have no real QB to speak of.

• The Bills have a better roster.

• The D-line should be able to do some work.

Cons:

• The turf. 

• Division games are never easy. 

• The weather could be terrible.

Week 11: Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins, November 22, 1pm ET

The Bills host the new-look Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium for the first time on Sunday, November 22, at 1:00. The fans will no doubt make their voice heard against this divisional rival. 

Pros:

• Josh Allen has historically performed well against Miami, and the Bills have largely controlled this series in recent years.

• Home in Buffalo against Miami is an enormous advantage. The weather, the crowd, and the environment all favor the Bills.

• Jim Leonhard may look to let Bradley Chubb loose on his former team.

• The Dolphins may be mentally checked out by now. 

Cons:

• While Malik Willis isn’t all that good, he’s probably better than Tua.

• Divisional games are usually closer than records suggest. 

• Achane may be an X-factor that can give the Dolphins life. 

• On an impending short week, the Bills may be looking ahead to the Chiefs.

Week 12: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 8:20pm ET (TNF)

The Buffalo Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving night on Thursday, November 26, 2026. This heated rivalry between the two teams will again feature Josh Allen versus Patrick Mahomes in Primetime. Get your pumpkin pie ready!

Pros:

• Allen vs. Mahomes. What else is there to say?

• Don’t need to travel on a short week. 

• A nighttime game gives the crowd plenty of time to get ready.

• Jim Leonhard is familiar with KC. Maybe they can crack the Reid/Spagnuolo code 

Cons:

• Playing on short rest. Another short week to prepare for a tough opponent.

• Lots of sleepy and full bellies.

• It’s Mahomes and Kelce. These games are never easy!

Week 13: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, December 6, 4:25pm ET

The Bills travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Patriots on Sunday, December 6. This game promises to have significant playoff and divisional implications. The winner of this game may just be the division winner.

Pros:

• The Bills should be well settled into both sides of the ball. No excuses.  

• Josh Allen > Drake Maye

• The Bills have more offensive weapons than the Pats have defensive counterpunches. 

Cons:

• Never comfortable going into Gillette Stadium, especially in December.

• The Patriots will know what’s at stake and may give this game their all.

• The Patriots like to cheat. 

Week 14: Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers, December 13 at 8:20pm ET (SNF)

The Bills make another Sunday Night Football appearance when they travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers. Lambeau in December is as classic as it gets in the NFL. How many times will they compare Green Bay's cold to Buffalo's snow? The over/under is 58.5.

Pros:

• Josh Allen shows up in Primetime! Not to mention, he will love playing in Lambeau at night.

• The Packers will likely be fighting for playoff positioning. This game will be meaningful for them.

• Bucket list trip for Bills fans.

Cons:

• It’s going to be cold.

• Green Bay’s offense can find rhythm quickly at home, and its defensive front will test the Bills in the cold.

• Third straight game versus a tough opponent. The Bills could be mentally tired by this game. 

Week 15: Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears, Saturday, December 19, 8:20pm ET

The Bills return home to Highmark Stadium to host the Chicago Bears on Saturday night (8:20 pm ET). A late-season home game, the Bills need to win to stay on track for a top playoff seed.

Pros:

• December at Highmark Stadium is legitimately one of the toughest environments in the NFL. Nobody wants to play in Buffalo in winter.

• DJ Moore revenge game. Let him loose!

• We may see the overhang tested for the first time. Plus, wind probably won’t be a factor.  

Cons:

• Fourth tough game in a row. If the team wasn’t drained before the last one, this one could do it.

• Injuries could be a real concern by this point. The Bills’ newly drafted depth may be genuinely tested.

• The Bills could try to force the ball to Moore, throwing off their offense. 

Week 16:  Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos, Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 4:30pm ET

The Bills head west to take on the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day at 4:30 pm. A cross-conference AFC West road trip and legitimate altitude challenge await.

Pros:

• Joe Brady will have a sour taste in his mouth from the playoff loss. He’ll want to prove a few things.

• Jim Leonhard knows Denver, and he should know how to attack them. 

• The Bills may be in playoff mode by this time, making their entire focus on winning.

Cons:

• Playing a meaningful road game on Christmas Day requires exceptional focus, especially for first-time fathers (looking at you #17). Josh’s mind could be elsewhere. 

• The Broncos know Jim Leonhard and may know how to take advantage of his aggressiveness.

• Denver’s defensive front is built to be disruptive, and the crowd at Empower Field creates real noise issues for the offensive line.

• The second short week in a row, and a long cross-country flight, can be physically draining.

Week 17: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins, Saturday, January 3, 2027, at 1pm ET

The Bills head south to take on the Miami Dolphins for a Saturday slate on January 3. Miami in January is better than Buffalo in January. Bring on the sun.

Pros:

• Being a late January game, the intense afternoon sun shouldn’t be too much of an issue. 

• The sunshine may be seen more as a wanted escape than a road game.

• Dolphins’ players, who know they are in full rebuild mode, may still be slow from the New Year’s celebration in South Beach.

• Likely a road home game.

Cons:

• Divisional games are still usually close. 

• Achane may be an X-factor that can give the Dolphins life. 

• Both teams could be banged up heading into this game after 16 weeks. The injury report will matter more than usual.

• A loss here could flip the AFC East and significantly complicate the Bills’ path to not only a top seed but maybe even a playoff spot.

Week 18:  Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets, either Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10, 2027

The Bills close out the 2-026-2027 regular season by hosting the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Win this, build momentum, and let the crowd get fully fired up for, hopefully, a long playoff run.

Pros:

• The Jets will certainly be checked out by this game.

• This game will likely be meaningful for the Bills’ playoff path. Going against an already-defeated team will be the breather they need.

• If the Bills don’t need the game, it’s a perfect time to rest some players, since a Jets win likely won’t impact other AFC playoff seeding. 

Cons:

• Potential to look past the Jets could lead to a devastating trap game.

• Needing to win exposes the team to injuries. With the Bills’ bye week coming early (week 7), they will need some rest by this point. 

• Get off to a slow start in a big game, and the boo birds could be out.  

FAQs:

Who do the Buffalo Bills open with to start the 2026 season?

The Buffalo Bills will open the 2026 NFL regular season at the Houston Texans on Sunday, September 13 at 1pm ET. 

When is the home opener for the Buffalo Bills?

The Buffalo Bills will play their home opener and first-ever game at Highmark Stadium on Thursday, September 17, at 8pm, against the Detroit Lions. 

Do the Buffalo Bills play on Thanksgiving Day?

Yes. The Buffalo Bills will play the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Night on Thursday Night Football, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15pm ET.

How many primetime games do the Buffalo Bills have in 2026?

The Bills have seven primetime games in the 2026-2027 NFL season, in addition to two 4:25pm games. 

First-Time Coaching Flag Football: How It’s Going & What I’ve Learned

Well, I’ve taken my inaugural turn at coaching 5th/6th-grade flag football. Though I’ve never coached flag football, I watched my older son play a few seasons and got a sense of what I thought was important to succeed at the sport and things I thought were always game killers. 

So, when the opportunity arose, I figured it was time to put my money where my mouth is. 

If you are a first-time coach looking for some pointers, you can see what I’ve done,  improve upon it, and adapt it for your own situation. Let’s run through a quick breakdown of the team, the league, my philosophy, and the fun stuff: the plays.

Team and league background

The team

Our team this season is a random collection of friends. While this makes it fun for the kids, it also presents challenges I needed to plan around (more on this below). After all, there is no random superstar athlete assigned to my team.

League format

This league is different in that it is either 6v6 or 5v5, based on roster size and available subs. This season, the league has decided we will play 5v5. This format fits my overall philosophy well, but also challenges me on defense.

Unique rules

1. Only one run (screen pass counts as a run) per drive on each side of the field. No runs inside the 10 or within 5 yards of the first down.

2. No rushing the passer unless there is a play behind the line of scrimmage (run, fake handoff, screen pass).

3. Must have at least one offensive player on each side of the center (can’t overload one side).

My flag football philosophy

After watching a couple of seasons with my other son, I believe youth flag football is won with speed, space, and purpose. If you give players space, they can use their speed to their advantage, regardless of how fast they are. And, of course, everything we do needs to be done with purpose. We run routes, throw, pull flags, and attack the ball carrier with purpose. 

Let’s spend a second talking about game-killers. I’ve seen it in just about every game: consistent deep throws lose more games than they win. It may be fun for players to throw and catch deep, but they get picked and returned for TDs way too often.  

Finally, it is youth sports, and sportsmanship matters. We conduct ourselves like we should. When we pull flags, we don’t drop them or spike them. We hand them back to the player. We celebrate wins and each other, pick each other up when things are tough, acknowledge mistakes will happen, and learn from them without hanging our heads. We shake hands, congratulate the other team when they make a good play, and show respect.  

So, here’s how it all looks. 

Team challenges and limitations

1. No true QB

   Our two QBs are reluctant QBs and prefer other positions. Neither is a natural thrower. Neither wanted (or wants) to play QB, but they are our best option. We try to rotate them so they get turns playing other positions, but they are our two best at the position (I think they are beginning to enjoy it though). While this can be good for limiting deep passes, the ones we scheme open need to be done almost to perfection. I also recognize I need to make it easy for them to snap, read, and throw comfortably.

2. Lack of experience

   Just about every player has zero experience playing organized flag football. Teaching both sides of the ball gets complicated because of this. 

3. No superstar athletes

   Most players are good athletes, but they’re not the fastest or most natural football players. This isn’t to say we don’t have quick players or players who can catch, but we don’t have elite speed or a superstar who can carry the team. I’d say half of our team is of average speed. We need to be a collective.  

4. Players are independent

   Coaches are not allowed on the field during play, meaning players need to call their own plays. It’s critical they know what they're doing and take ownership of the play-by-play. While this can make it fun for the players, when things don’t go as planned, it can go sideways real quick. 

My plan and playbook

1. Create plays that match my philosophy and enable players to maximize their skills.

2. Make plays “simple” with terminology the players can understand.

3. Build upon concepts as the season progresses. 

4. Understand that our best defense will be a good offense.

Flag football playbook for 5th and 6th-graders

For games 1 and 2, we installed four plays. We initially called the “Triple-stack” formation for 6v6, but since we are now 5v5, it is simply STACK (if you want to see 6v6 formation, just contact me). It should be obvious why it is called “stack,” but this is easy for the kids to remember. Let’s walk through them.

Note: For us, the X WR is a less important designation due to the roster makeup. It serves more of an identifier when teaching the plays than assigning a player as a typical X.

View fullsize

Here is Stack LEFT (we “stack” players, routes go left: easy for kids to understand). The play design provides the QB two short throws where, if we move with quickness, the WRs should be open. The streak route gives us a look deep if we want/have a mismatch, knowing the safety will cheat to the Y WR at 10 yards. I included the gray ovals to show that the goal here is to create space for WRs to catch and run. 

View fullsize

Our next play, Stack “LEFT RIGHT” takes this same concept, but the Z receiver jukes left and cuts right. This player is open 95% of the time, and, because defenders are all drawn to the opposite side of the field, it’s often a huge chunk play. The kids LOVE this play!

Our final two plays, Stack “MOTION” and Stack “BREAK,” incorporate motion, one being a run and the other a pass. Why “Break?” It’s like a jail break: we run as fast as possible. The route for the motion play is the same as “Left.”

The cadence is for the Z to move on the first “hut.” The only nuance to MOTION is that the player in motion has the option to run a wheel route to the sideline or cut inside the X receiver, based on either what he sees or if he gets a late start to his motion. Most times, it’s a wide-open wheel route, but it does require an accurate throw. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

One formation, easy routes, obvious terminology. 

We focused on these concepts exclusively for the first two games. This helped them settle into calling plays in the huddle without a delay of game, run the right routes (mostly), and go through the motions of play. 

Game results:

Game 1: Tie, 44-44 (had a two TD lead late, giving way to a pick-six, punt, and quick drive). Not bad considering we haven’t really talked about defense yet. 

Game 2: Win, 44-24

Adding in new plays

Our next evolution was to incorporate a different formation called FLAT. This should be obvious, but it lines players up “flat” along the line of scrimmage, although this time we make the left side our strong side. These plays have the WRs run different routes to keep the defense honest and, hopefully, confused. 

Note: after some in-game trial and error, we wound up scaling back new plays. We kept three: Flat BREAK, Flat MOTION, and Flat MOTION 2.

MOTION and BREAK are identical and mimic the operation from the stack. However, for MOTION, we introduce a subtle crossing concept over center. MOTION 2 sends the Y instead of the Z in motion and opens us up for deep routes (when we need) while giving the QB an outlet to the center or Y player — all with space. The kids love MOTION 2 the most of the three.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

For MOTION 2, the center is often the most dangerous WR option, although we’ve successfully hit on a few deep passes to the X lately. The trick with the deep pass is to see the mismatch quickly and throw it in a roughly 1.5-count. This keeps the safety far enough away and the CB from making up ground on a floating ball.    

View fullsize

Because we had to cut some plays from our Flat package, we added a screen pass to our Stack concept, simply called “Stack SCREEN.” Remember, screen passes count as a run play. Here’s how it looks. 

Adding the new plays and formation, our next three games went as such:

Game 3: Win, 58-12

Game 4: Win, 44-32

Game 5: 52-40

These concepts and plays have done exactly what I hoped they would. Our slowest player has multiple TDs, a ton of receptions, and can use space to his advantage. Every player touches the ball multiple times each game. Every player has scored a TD. 

What we need to work on 

Players, especially young ones, tend to become lax when thighs go well. The attention to detail dropped. It’s not the way we are going to finish the season like we want.  

Route running:

Last week, we spent the first half of practice talking about route running. During the previous game, the team was not consistently moving with purpose. They rounded their breaks, ran the wrong routes far too often, and drifted backward when they were inevitably covered. There were times when four receivers were deep. (and yes, we threw INTs because of it). This is not a good recipe, especially without having a pinpoint QB.  

We rehearsed jukes, crisp cuts, and staying at the proper depth. Five yards does not mean 10. We talked about being covered and how to react (work back to where you came from, or, if deeper, run toward the QB). Because of our situation, it is critically important that the QB knows where he will throw the ball, how to recognize whether someone is open, and release it within the allotted time (a 4-one-thousand count). 

We combined this with rehearsing our core plays with a mix of walk-throughs and then at full speed. We demonstrated how easy it was to cover someone when they round routes and drift backward. We ran routes until everyone nailed it. The extra step you take and the extra space it creates make all the difference. 

And boy, did it pay dividends during our game. The first play the kids chose was Stack LEFT RIGHT. They ran crisp routes. The Z (“right-cutting”) WR juked and ran the route like he was supposed to. Defenders were pulled away, the juke created extra space, and the WR was wide open, quickly turning it up the field for a TD. 

That’s how you execute with speed, space, and purpose! 

Defense:

Knowing we don’t have the most athletic, fastest, and tallest players, I knew our defense would suffer. However, we’ve been making defensive coaching a focus of each practice and in-game learning, hoping to improve a little with each snap. We play man-to-man with a free safety monitoring the field, helping cheat to height and speed mismatches. This is important because teams like to throw deep (not always a bad option when their WR is a foot taller).

But hey, I’ll invite deep passes because we’ll get our picks 🙂 

The safety is really the glue that holds it together. They need to alert the team to runs, help in pass defense, and attack flags when shorter passes are completed. For someone who hasn’t played organized football before, the improvement in recognizing where the QB is looking and sacrificing possible plays to one side in favor of helping out the mismatch has been remarkable. My tip: find a strong safety! 

Individually, at this age, footwork and smooth movement with purpose are key to defensive proficiency. We struggle with CBs waiting for WRs to get to them before they react, and they get burned, putting the safety in a tough position. We work on backpeddling, how to turn to follow WRs, and how to position themselves to allow a catch but immediately pull flags. This keeps plays small, limits TDs, and forces the opposing offense to continue executing. 

We’ve reinforced to keep the WR in front of them and not go for the interception unless it’s an easy one. Knock it down if you are in front of the WR, otherwise, allow the catch and immediately pull their flags. Giving up a positive pay is part of the game, but by immediately tackling them, we remove their speed and space, and force them to continue executing. This has been challenging, but we are making small improvements each week.

Our biggest challenge is chasing down defenders after a play is made or a flag pull is missed. It’s common for players to feel they are too far away to make a difference, but in flag football, you’re never out of a play. Players tend to turn backward or sideways to avoid pulls, giving defenders time to make up their lost ground. Moving with purpose until the whistle takes effort and we’re improving.

Finishing the season strong

I’ve really enjoyed my time so far, and it’s been rewarding watching the kids improve each week. Is there anything better than watching a group of young kids with no experience walk into a huddle and call out, “Stack Left Right … Stack Left Right?” The parents consistently tell me how much fun they’re having (winning helps, I’m sure), and that’s great to hear. Sports should be fun.  

I’m looking forward to seeing how the players commit to improving during the rest of the season. I hope I have provided enough tools and coaching to put them in a position to earn their league title. As the other teams improve each week, it’ll be tough, but I’ll take my group of kids any day.

Stack LEFT RIGHT. Now let’s finish this thing!

[UPDATE] How The Season Ended

Heading into the final week of the regular season undefeated, the team’s confidence was sky high. In fact, too high. Practice was a mess. The kids were mostly uninterested in review and skill development. They were focused on touchdown celebrations.

We took the opening drive for a TD, but something wasn’t right. Half of the team ran the wrong route. Then, our defense quickly gave up a tying score. Speed, space, purpose? More like, half-speed and little purpose. 

Our offense routinely lined up in incorrect formations on almost every play. We had players on the wrong side of the field, receivers bunched close to the center (bye bye space), and the wrong routes being run … all. Game. Long.

We scored a TD late, but it was mostly garbage time. We lost our first game 36-32. I was kind of glad we did. The kids were not. This was an opportunity to reinforce that we needed to pay attention to details. We needed to practice like we play (with purpose). The QB needed to take ownership of calling plays and lining up people correctly.  

Championship Game

We headed into the championship game feeling good. Our practice was solid! The kids were dialed in. They hated losing, and it became all too real that they may not win. They knew they were, in fact, not unstoppable. 

We won the toss and took the ball. We always take the ball because we want to exert pressure. Two quick plays, with routes run perfectly, creating space, and we were up 6-0. Our defense went lights out, batting passes and pulling flags as I’ve never seen them do. They played with purpose! 

We got a stop, took the ball, and, wouldn’t you know it, ran routes so clean it opened up some deeper sideline throws. It was quickly 13-0. We kept our foot on the gas. 13-6, then 20-6, 26-6, and 32-6. On the final play before half, the opposing team had the ball at the 2-yard line. One play to cut into the lead. An unsung hero, who played lights out defensively, recovered and broke up a pass.  Halftime.

We started the second half on defense, and the team, while still playing well, began to feel it a little too much. They started moving a bit slower (or, as I say, not with purpose). 32-12. But we responded on a sustained drive, pushing our lead to 38-12.  

We then got lax, and they took advantage. 38-18, then 38-25. The kids got it, felt a little pressure, and they continued to do what they did all season: dialed in.

FLAT-MOTION … TD! 44-25. Game, set, match.

I am incredibly proud of how the kids learned the purpose of running routes: how each one is important to the success of the play. For how they commanded the field on their own. How they didn’t run from adversity or sulk when they made a mistake. They were coached up, nodded, focused on the next play, and got better with each snap. How they took one of their greatest weaknesses, flag pulling, and were so good at it in the final game that it took the opponent’s best plays and shut them down. 

Until next season, T-BONE LEFT.

QBs in the NFL Draft and Should Your Team Draft Them (Updated 2026)

Which QBs should teams take in this year’s NFL Draft? The experts will tell you who is good and not, but they’re kind of bad at it. Same with NFL GMs. Heck, even Tom Brady was a late-round pick, meaning not even the Patriots knew he’d be good.

So, am I better at predicting the success of NFL QBs?

All I know is I wanted Josh Allen (good call) and Baker Mayfield (OK call, I guess), and wanted nothing to do with Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold. I would’ve taken Jayden Daniels over Caleb Williams, and I would have drafted Jaxson Dart over Cam Ward. I also would’ve drafted Richardson (though not #1 overall) if I needed a QB, and completely passed on Bryce Young and CJ Stroud.

So, maybe I am. Then again, maybe I’m not. Either way, here’s what I think of the QBs in this year’s NFL Draft, along with results from previous years, as I casually posted them. No deep-dives, video breakdowns, or gobbledygook: Just a simple prediction based on how I see them play the game.

QBs in the 2026 NFL Draft: Pick or Pass?

Not a star-studded draft class, with Fernando Mendoza (#1) my only tier-1 QB. Tier-2+ (all non-starters out of the gate) includes, in order, Luke Altmyer, Ty Simpson, Cole Payton, and Joe Fagnano.

• Fernando Mendoza: Good touch on the ball, and his legs are a great asset. I don’t see him throwing people open that often, which is concerning, but he puts contested balls in the right place, and he seems to understand what he wants to do with each play. He’s not a slam dunk, but if I am picking #1, I’m taking him.

• Ty Simpson: Backup. Lacks the arm strength to make some NFL throws.

• Garrett Nussmeier: No thanks. Low-end backup.

• Carson Beck: Doesn’t throw WRs open. Makes too many throws that get picked in the NFL. Maybe an OK backup.

• Drew Allar: Nope. Stares down his WRs too often. Doesn’t put contested balls in a great spot.

• Cole Payton: Late-round flyer. Has legs, decent touch on the ball, and puts it in a good position. Needs to develop a quicker release to realize NFL potential.

• Taylen Green: Mid- to late-round flyer. His legs are definitely an asset, and he has decent touch on the ball (not great), but he doesn’t drive the ball downfield very well. This won’t be favorable in the NFL. Likely a backup.

• Luke Altmyer: If I am searching for a QB, I’m taking him (round 3+, depending on team need). He can run, has quick decision-making, can drive the ball fairly well, and has good touch.

• Cade Klubnik: Backup. He can run and has decent touch on the ball, but tends to hold it a bit long. Not great at throwing into tight windows. Nothing that screams NFL QB.

• Sawyer Robertson: Backup at best. Inconsistent ball placement, not great speed, and can hold the ball too long at times.

• Joe Fagnano: Later-round QB with upside. Throws a decent ball, but more of a short-to-intermediate range thrower. Can move decently and sees the field relatively well. Tends to stare down his receiver at times. Likely higher-end backup with fringe, starter potential.

• Diego Pavia: Sorry, but no. Decent thrower with a clean pocket, but he tends to hold the ball too long to process the field (likely a result of his height). Not scared to rip it in windows, but delays will cause too many INTs in the NFL.

QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft: Pick or Pass?

TL:DR: Jaxson Dart is my number 1. Ward and Shough are equal. I might like the risk of Shough more.

View fullsize

Cam Ward. Mid-to-low tier starter. Can find a guy, but tends to hold the ball long and rarely throws guys open. Has upside, worth drafting if you need a QB. Don’t see superstar status, but could be “good enough” status.

Shedeur Sanders. Nope. Total bust.

Jaxson Dart. Draft. Has legs. Puts it in tight window and drops them in. Doesn’t hold it long. Draft if you need a QB. Might struggle at first with progressions. I like him more than Cam Ward.

Jalen Milroe. Good backup. Legs will keep him in the league. Decent passer, but looks at his receivers too much.

Will Howard. This guy could be a decent QB. Reminds me of a mix of Herbert and Maye. Might be a good spot for a QB-pergatory team. Likely a low-end starter with some upside, nothing better than a mid-level starter.

Quinn Ewers. Second/third stringer.

Kyle McCord. Can make a living as a backup. As a starter, he’d be best under a west coast/timing system, like Shannahan or … hello Dolphins.

Riley Leonard. Hello UFL.

Tyler Shough. Might be a decent starter. If you need a backup to develop or to challenge a low-tier starter, he’s your man. He’s probably as good as Cam Ward with more upside.

Dillion Gabriel. Can throw and run it but I think he’s a backup.

QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft: Pick or Pass?

View fullsize

Jayden Daniels: Yes, he's my first overall.

Caleb Williams: Yes. He needs quicker decision-making. Otherwise, he'll take too many sacks. I think he can make that switch.

Drake Maye: Decent backup QB, maybe a bottom-tier starter.

JJ McCarthy: Hated watching him live, but looking at the tape, he makes NFL throws and turned me slightly. Stares his WRs down too much. 3rd rounder. Will be boom or bust. If I had to bet, I'd say bust.

Bo Nix: Eh. No thanks. Backup at best.

Michael Penix Jr. The MOST intriguing QB in the draft. Most accurate college QB I’ve seen, and had an incredibly awful championship game. Multiple injuries in his career. I think he's a starter in the league. Massive upside, and massive downside. I'd take him in the 2nd round if I needed a QB within two years.

Austin Reed: Draft the dude. "Short" for the typical NFL QB (6'1", same as Lamar), but this guy can make throws.

Spencer Rattler: Backup QB

Michael Pratt: Nope. Hello UFL.

Jordan Travis: No thanks. Backup at best.

QBs in the 2023 NFL Draft: Pick or Pass?

View fullsize

Draft: The only QB I am taking in this draft is Richardson. I like his throws, and he has some serious upside.

Notable NOs:

• Levis

• Hooker

• Stroud

• Young

QBs in the 2022 & Earlier NFL Drafts

Definitely Draft:

• Mayfield

• Allen

• Burrow

• Lawrence

• Mahommes

Worth Drafting ("think" he'll be good, not great, but also not entirely confident):

• Watson
  

• Jackson (more upside than Watson)

• Herbert (Chad Pennington-esque)

View fullsize

Notable NOs:

Rosen, Darnold, Murray, Pickett, Willis, Jones, Wilson, Lance, Fields, Tua, Love, Haskins, Love, Jones, Trubisky, Kizer, Newton.

Need someone to evaluate QBs for your team? I’m available for hire.

Buffalo Bills Hire Joe Brady. Really?

Today, the Bills hired Joe Brady as their new head coach, and I can’t believe it. I really can’t.

The owner fired Sean McDermott because he felt they could not get past the “proverbial playoff wall.” I agree, and while not specifically calling for McD’s head, I am OK with the decision. However, my biggest concern was less on the head coach and more on the OC. I don’t believe Brady has what it takes to be an elite playcaller. Man, I hope I’m wrong, but I fear the Bills are going to run it back with mostly the same staff in place — and that IS the issue.

When I think about it, was this the interview process?

I wanted to turn the page from Brady before the season even started. Over the past two-plus years, I have taken issue with his play-calling from several areas. Watching it unfold made me double down. Here are my gripes.

My issues with Joe Brady’s offense

1. Bubble screens, and more specifically, throws to the line of scrimmage. The Bills have a cheat-code QB, and yet Brady decides the best way to use him is to have him throw the ball to the line of scrimmage the moment he touches it. You might as well put me back there throwing the ball!

With a chance to close out the game, he did this on 3rd down in the fourth quarter inside the red zone during the Bills-Broncos playoff game. In fact, he did it on second down as well — although he held the ball for a full 1.5 seconds while waiting for Samuel to come out of the backfield. Both plays went nowhere — much like nearly every bubble screen for the past two seasons. Oh, and let’s not forget the bubble screen on third down on the final drive in the KC playoff game the year before.

Repeatedly, he ran these bubble screens with very limited success. Unless McDermott specifically called for those plays, he was repeatedly willing to take the ball out of the best player’s hands. This is an OC issue, and a serious one.

2. Running up the middle on first and goal from outside the five. What a waste. These plays routinely go nowhere and are practically a waste of down. Heck, look at the same series of red zone plays in the Bills-Broncos game. First down, run to the outside for 1 yard (I know, not up the middle, but you got the same predictable run and result).

Add running it up the middle on second down to my list of grievances. Oh, and running it on 2&1 instead of taking a shot, and you have yourself a conservative run party. This is an OC issue. But what if you don’t make it? Well, not knowing you have two plays for a near-guaranteed Allen sneak/tush push on third and fourth down is an OC issue.

3. This part I don’t know, but what involvement did Brady have in the Bills’ deciding to build an incredibly weak WR room? We’re about to find out. I am led to believe Brady wasn’t opposed to the WRs they had. If so, I imagine, since Beane apparently trusts him so much, they would’ve made a move to improve it at the trade deadline. Instead, I have GMBB defending the assets he assembled while grasping at straws throughout the season.

4. My 13-year-old calls out the Bills plays before they happen, and he’s right most of the time — and he’s not even a Bills fan! If he and I can do it so easily, what makes me think he’s fooling a defensive coordinator?

What I need from Joe Brady as the Bills’ coach

1. Bring in an established defensive coordinator — or someone who is considered to “know their stuff.” We can’t run it back with the same crew. Getting past the proverbial playoff wall means getting better at what you do. The defense was a consistent letdown. Be better, and that starts with the top of the pyramid. If not an established playcaller, the hire needs to have some pedigree behind them, having studied under some of the brightest minds. While some is OK, I can’t have significant learning on the job. A veteran D assistant to serve as a sounding board would be helpful with a younger guy.

2. Be a serious playcaller. The same-old same-old is not going to get it done. I do not want Josh Allen to have to make up for your game plan and playcalling. I’ve watched it too often. What I want is for Josh Allen to make his great playcalling unstoppable. He shouldn’t have to be Superman to win games. He should be Superman to demoralize and bury the opponent. I want to win when he’s average.

3. Advocate for solid WRs. Make it clear that the lack of WRs was the previous regime’s decision. Your job as OC is to make your QB’s job as easy as possible. Do it.

4. Do NOT make the season come down to giving Josh Allen the ball, trailing, and a chance to win the game. This is not getting past the wall. Build a team that gets him a two-score lead and the luxury of sitting on the sideline while the defense goes to work with a scheme that doesn’t give 9-yard cushions on a third-and-seven.

Will Joe Brady succeed?

I have not seen evidence that Joe Brady can accomplish these things. In fact, I’ve seen a stubbornness to continually run plays with little to no success while simultaneously taking the ball out of the NFL’s best QBs’ hands. To me, this is not a good indication of someone able to evolve.

I hope he makes the right staffing decisions that improve this team. I hope he advocates for better players on offense. I hope he learns how to be a better placaller.

I’m not holding my breath.

Would one of the other hot-shot young OCs in the league have been a better fit? I don’t know. It would have all been a gamble. I just don’t think Joe Brady is the guy to smash through the wall, and I’ve never wanted to be so wrong in my life. Good luck Joe!