The 2020 NFL schedule usually doesn’t get announced until mid-April. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t look forward to it in February. With the Buffalo Bills coming off of a 10-6 season—their best since 1999—you’d like to expect one, if not multiple prime-time games for the team in 2020. Here are the top five teams you possibly could see the Bills play under the lights in 2020.
1.) Kansas City Chiefs
This one just seems to make sense. The defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs coming into a great football environment at New Era Field. The first in what possibly could be many more between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen for years to come. All of the stars on that loaded Kansas City offense like Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Damien Williams, and even the return of Sammy Watkins to Orchard Park going up against a Buffalo defense with enough star power on their side of the ball as well. That sounds like plenty of storylines for a very interesting showcase of two young teams—maybe even a Sunday Night Football game.
2.) Tennessee Titans
Why not? It may not be the most sexy match-up, but I honestly can see a Thursday Night Football game where the Bills travel to play a Titans team that did just make it to the AFC Championship Game the season prior. It will be interesting to see if the Bills bring Shaq Lawson back for next year, as his possible bad blood with Titans tackle Taylor Lewan would make for another great storyline. You also have Derrick Henry, this year’s rushing champion, getting another shot at a Bills defense that, for the most part, bottled him up when they met back in Week 5 of the 2019 season.
3.) Pittsburgh Steelers
Some teams, no matter their record, always seem destined to get at least two or three night games per year. The Steelers are one of them. Ben Roethlisberger is a future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, I believe Mike Tomlin is still one of the best coaches in the league today, and the popularity of the Steelers makes this an intriguing candidate for a night game. It also doesn’t hurt that when these two teams played on Sunday Night Football in Week 15 last season, it was one of the best games in terms of ratings. It makes you wonder...
4.) Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson vs Josh Allen? Sign me up. Having star power at the quarterback position for these night games is what the NFL covets. This match-up definitely brings that. Two of the most mobile quarterbacks going toe to toe at New Era Field may be able to draw some eyeballs to the TV. These two teams did meet in 2016 on Monday Night Football in Seattle and it was a pretty entertaining game for the most part. Will we get round two in prime time for the 2020 season?
5.) New England Patriots
Given the history of this match up being so one-sided for the better part of almost two decades, Bills fans might hate to see their team lose again to the Patriots on the big stage. But who knows, maybe this will be the year the Bills get over that Patriots hump and slay the dragon. The division race this year could be as tight as it ever has been between these two teams, and the NFL would be wise to possibly put one of the games against New England on prime time. And it’s not like they haven’t done it before. The last “scheduled” Bills night game (I say “scheduled” because the Bills technically had no scheduled night games when the schedule for last year released) was at home against the Patriots, so who knows. Maybe Tom Brady pays New Era Field one last visit before he leaves the division or retires.