Buffalo Bills fans are still haunted by the unlucky overtime elimination from last season's playoffs at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
But the franchise has not dwelt on the disappointment with some clever moves in free agency and the draft to potentially make Sean McDermott's roster even better in 2022.
It could be the start of something super for the Bills but, as with all title contenders, many things need to fall into place over the course of the months ahead.
| What | NFL, 2022/23 season |
| Where | Across the United States, games also scheduled for London, Munich and Mexico City |
| When | September 8th 2022 - February 12th 2023 |
| How to watch | NFL Game Pass, ESPN, CBS, FOX, NBC, NFL Network |
| Odds | BUF Bills +600, TB Buccaneers +700, KC Chiefs +1000, LA Rams +1000, GB Packers +1200 |
What are the Buffalo Bills' hopes for the season?
After back-to-back division titles, three straight playoff seasons and two harrowing - but very different - postseason defeats to the Chiefs, expectations are sky high in upstate New York.
At -225 for the AFC East title, only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a bigger favorite to win their division, while the Bills go into the season at +350 for the Conference title.
Allen proved in the postseason that he is operating on a level equal to the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and it feels like the third part of their playoff trilogy awaits at the start of next year.
The Bills can give themselves a greater edge in any rematch if they can claim home-field advantage by clinching the AFC's top playoff seed. In order to do that they must surely improve on last season's 11-game regular season win total.
Who are the Buffalo Bills' opening opponents?
The Bills take on the reigning world champion Los Angeles Rams in the big kickoff game on September 8th, with much of the pre-game focus falling on Von Miller.
The two-time Super Bowl winner spurned the chance to return with the Rams in 2022 after his half-season in Hollywood and instead signed a lucrative six-year deal in Buffalo.
The linebacker probably won't be the headline act when it comes to the actual game, however, with a quarterback duel between Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen to savour, as well as two great wide receivers facing off in Cooper Kupp and Stefon Diggs.
The Bills, who are -120 on the Money Line, won the last clash between them in 2020 in the dying seconds when Allen found Tyler Kroft in the end zone and the +100 Rams are sure to be out for revenge at SoFi Stadium.
When are the Buffalo Bills' key matchups?
The Bills go into a huge AFC battle with the Tennessee Titans in Week 2's Monday Night Football matchup with revenge on their mind.
McDermott's men have lost their last two meetings with the Titans - last time in excruciating fashion when Allen slipped while attempting to sneak into the end zone for the go-ahead score as time expired.
The game was played on a tricky surface in Memphis after torrential rain, but it didn't stop Derrick Henry from running in three TDs in a 34-31 Tennessee win.
Buffalo face two more Thursday night games back-to-back midway through the season when the Detroit Lions host them for Thanksgiving, before they return east for a key divisional matchup with the New England Patriots.
The Week 17 clash with the Cincinnati Bengals feels like it could be a huge one for both teams and may help decide home-field advantage in the postseason.
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Who is the Buffalo Bills' head coach?
Entering his sixth season with the Bills, Sean McDermott has made a case to be considered the second-best head coach in franchise history behind only Marv Levy.
He halted a 17-year playoff drought in his first season and has gone on to deliver three more playoff berths, two AFC East titles and double-digit win totals in each of the past three seasons to extend his win rate to a healthy .605.
Which players have the Buffalo Bills signed?
LB Von Miller (Los Angeles Rams)
OG Rodger Saffold (Tennessee Titans)
OG David Quessenberry (Tennessee Titans)
DL Jordan Phillips (Arizona Cardinals)
QB Case Keenum (Cleveland Browns)
WR Jamison Crowder and OG Greg Van Roten (New York Jets)
DL DaQuan Jones (Carolina Panthers)
DL Tim Settle (Washington Commanders)
C Greg Mancz and RB Duke Johnson (Miami Dolphins)
Which players have left the Buffalo Bills?
EDGE Jerry Hughes (Houston Texans)
WR Cole Beasley
WR Emmanuel Sanders
QB Mitch Trubisky (Pittsburgh Steelers)
CB Levi Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers)
EDGE Efe Obada
DL Vernon Butler (Las Vegas Raiders)
Who are the Buffalo Bills' key players?
Offensive MVP | Josh Allen |
Defensive MVP | Von Miller |
Top rookie | Faiir Elam (1st round) |
Breakout star | Dawson Knox |
Allen has improved season-on-season so far and played lights out in the postseason last year, so he's the undisputed star of the franchise now.
Miller's move to Buffalo will bring some big-time playmaking ability to the defense and he has the leadership skills to raise the levels of those around him.
Top draft pick Elam can contend for a starting role right off the bat and tight end Knox should improve further as he enters a contract year, having tied for the NFL lead in touchdown catches by a tight end (9) last season.
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