2021 NFL Schedule leaks and rumors: Buffalo Bills featured prominently on national stage

The Buffalo Bills will be featured prominently on the national stage in the 2021 NFL season. If the leaks and rumors we are hearing are actually true—and we have no reason to believe they aren’t—Buffalo will have a multitude of nationally televised games on strange days and start times, rather than the traditional 1:00 pm Eastern time slot on Sunday.

As a reminder, there are only three preseason games in 2021 and a brand-spanking-new 17th regular season game in this year’s schedule, thanks to changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement from a year ago.

Now that we have the facts established, let’s get into some reports and rumors. If we’ve heard it from a single source, it’s listed here as an unconfirmed rumor. Typically, folks writing reports like this are supposed to confirm the news with multiple sources, not just one.

Week 1 - Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills, 1:00 PM
On Wednesday morning, CBS unveiled their lineup of games for the first week of the season. They have the Bills hosting the Steelers for a 1:00 game in that group.

Week 2 - Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

Week 3 - Washington Football Team at Buffalo Bills

Week 4 - Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills

Week 5 - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday Night Football
It’s a rematch of the AFC Championship game in Week 5. C.J. Caggiano had the news first and we were able to independently confirm it.

Week 6 - Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans, Monday Night Football
Bills at Titans for Monday Night Football. C.J. Caggiano had the news first and we have independently confirmed it.

Week 7 - BYE
Bills bye week. C.J. Caggiano had the news first. Everything else he says has been right, and now that we can confirm it independently, he nailed all of his rumors.

Week 8 - Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
We are hearing the rest of the AFC East home schedule is pretty fun, too; a Halloween costume party with the Miami Dolphins.

Week 9 - Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 10 - Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

Week 11 - Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills

Week 12 - Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints, Thursday Night Football
The Bills playing the New Orleans Saints in prime time on Thanksgiving would be a huge game for Buffalo travelers, I’d expect. That’s what’s being reported by Bleacher Report.

Week 13 - New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football
In primetime, the Bills will host the New England Patriots in Orchard Park on Monday Night Football according to a source. A December home game under the lights could be the first time we see rookie QB Mac Jones play Buffalo.

Week 14 - Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 PM
Rumors had been flying around that the Bills were the leading candidate for the season-opener on September 9, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers raise their Super Bowl Championship banner at Raymond James Stadium. Ryan Talbot at NYUP.com reports that Buffalo will face Tom Brady in Week 14 on December 12th at 4:25 start time, not the season opener.

Week 15 - Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills
A flex week, Buffalo could play on December 18 or 19 against the Carolina Panthers at home, according to our report.

Week 16 - Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

Week 17 - Atlanta Falcons at Buffalo Bills

Week 18 - New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Buffalo closes out the season against the Jets instead of opening it.

We will continue adding rumors and reports to this list until the full schedule is released and confirmed by the team. The table below includes our confirmed info.

2021 opponents

HOME

• Miami Dolphins
• New York Jets
• New England Patriots
• Indianapolis Colts
• Houston Texans
• Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North winner)
• Carolina Panthers
• Atlanta Falcons
• Washington Football Team (NFC East winner)

AWAY

• Miami Dolphins
• New York Jets
• New England Patriots
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Tennessee Titans
• Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West winner)
• New Orleans Saints
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers