With the build-up the NFL Draft that is ready to take place on April 23rd, another date that should be circled on the calendar is the release of 2020 NFL schedule. The schedule is projected to be released on April 16th, one week before the draft. The Buffalo Bills are coming off a 2019 schedule where they finished 10-6 with a playoff appearance. Their 2020 opponents present a challenge to the Bills to take the next step.

Here are the opponents that the Bills will meet in 2020:

Our 2020 opponents are set. 👀#BillsMafia | #GoBills pic.twitter.com/eh5DKmJF9v

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 30, 2019

If you break down the teams’ opponents, the Bills have a tough road ahead of themselves.

• They will face both Kansas City and San Francisco, who represented their conferences in this past Super Bowl.
• Five of their opponents made the playoffs last season (Kansas City, San Francisco, Seattle, New England and Tennessee).
• Eight of their opponents has eight-plus wins (four of them with 11 or more wins).

The Bills need to remain humble and hungry, despite having a great offseason. Continue to have the role as the underdog and never count out any opponent, even if they display a high school performance.

These five games that the Bills will play in look to be the toughest games for them based on 2019 team success, a specific player or past history.

 

5.) Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are led by their magician quarterback Russell Wilson. Considered to be a top three quarterback in the league, he is the backbone for Seattle and he makes plays for four quarters straight. Pressure does not phase him and he can make a play in crucial moments to advance the Seahawks.

Before the Seahawks were hit with an injury plague in Week 16 that took out both of their running backs in Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise, the rushing attack stepped up for Wilson and took some of the pressure off the offense. The team finished fourth in rushing yards per game at 137 yds/game.

The defense may not be the “Legion of Boom” anymore but they are still a ferocious unit finished as the fourth best defense when it came to turnovers at +12.

The Seahawks always present a challenge for any team across the field of them. While they will come to the home of Buffalo and their 12th man, Wilson and the Seahawks will show up, ready to compete and silence the crowd.

 

4.) @ New England Patriots

Yes, Tom Brady is gone. The Patriots are a grandpa team with their roster, but until the Bills beat a Bill Belichick led Patriots team, the AFC East still goes through New England. The Bills have not won in Foxborough since 2016 (Jacoby Brissett was the starter). Even though Belichick is not the quarterback, he knows how to coach a defense.

The Patriots were able to maintain their secondary in this offseason, led by shutdown corner Stephon Gilmore. Josh Allen and the offense will need to drive the Patriots’ defense up into the wall to give themselves a chance come the fourth quarter.

Since 2017, the Bills have played the Patriots three times in Foxborough. In those three meetings, the Patriots are averaging over 200 rushing yards against the Bills’ defense. Even with this unit being among the top teams, the Bills still struggle against the run throughout the season. Whoever is taking snaps in New England next season may look for the running game to get going to beat the Bills.

The Bills are the favorite to take this division in 2020, but to be the best you have to beat the best and right now, the Patriots are the best.

 

3.) @ Tennessee Titans

This will be the fourth straight year that the Bills will take on the Titans. For the third time in this four-year span, the Bills will travel down to Nashville. The Bills have won the last three meetings in low-scoring affairs by a combined score of 41-32.

The Titans and the Bills both have slowly arising offensive squads but a defense that can win a game late in the game. The main focus on this game is seeing who makes the least amount of mistakes on defense.

Tennessee made an important investment in re-signing quarterback Ryan Tannehill and they will also have their main power back Derrick Henry back for 2020. This offense looks to start trending upwards, but so are the Bills.

Expect yet another low-scoring game between these two, and keeping an eye on who makes the crucial mistakes.

 

2.) @ San Francisco 49ers

The defending NFC champs will be hosting the Bills and are in a reloading year after falling short in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. With a shutdown defense who can bullrush the entire time and an offense who has a great run attack, the 49ers could be the best defense and run attack team the Bills will face.

This offense finished fourth in total yards per game at 381 yds/game. The running game cemented their way to finish second overall in rushing yards per game at 144 yds/game.

The defense finished sixth in total sacks at 48 total and the pass rush was led by their game-dominating edge-rusher Nick Bosa. Arik Armstead re-signed with the team, solidifying their pass rush on both sides. Dion Dawkins and Cody Ford will have their work cut out for them.

This 49ers team dominated a Chiefs’ high attacking offense for three quarters in the Super Bowl, but then fell apart in the biggest moment. They are reloading for 2020 and looking to make another Super Bowl run.

 

1.) Kansas City Chiefs

Please tell me you were able to guess this one.

The Chiefs are coming off a Super Bowl winning season, riding high on their star quarterback in Patrick Mahomes. This lethal offense can literally light up the scoreboard at any moment they choose to (right Houston?).

With Brady out the door, the Bills now look to take on what seems to be the quarterback in the AFC in Mahomes. The man who makes no-look passes and can launch the ball 50 yards down the field for a touchdown.

The Bills defense will certainly be tested by this pass attack with Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman and Travis Kelce. Plus, if he does indeed play in 2020, Sammy Watkins will make his return to Buffalo after he was traded just before the 2017 season.

The Chiefs’ defense may not be a top unit, but they are serviceable and if they are able to contain Allen and the Bills, Mahomes will be set up to take his time and lead this offense down the field for six.

 

-Brandon Ray is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the Buffalo Bills. Make sure to follow Brandon on Twitter at @brandon_ray79 and @FPC_Bills for all Bills coverage and analysis.