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          NFL Nation

          Buffalo Bills schedule 2023: Takeaways, predictions

          • Alaina Getzenberg, ESPNMay 12, 2023, 12:30 AM
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              Alaina Getzenberg is a staff writer who covers the Buffalo Bills and the NFL. She joined ESPN in 2021. Alaina was previously a beat reporter for the Charlotte Observer and has also worked for CBS Sports and the Dallas Morning News. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. You can follow her via Twitter @agetzenberg.

          BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills' 2023 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate Thursday.

          The Bills will get an early opportunity against the newest quarterback in the division -- Aaron Rodgers -- with the season opener at the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. Looking for a fourth-straight AFC East title this season, the Bills’ competition only got tougher with Rodgers entering the division and the Miami Dolphins adding to their roster with the likes of cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

          This year’s schedule will be a true test for the Bills with trips to visit the team’s opponents in the last three playoff losses -- the Chiefs and Bengals -- in addition to the divisional challenges. There will also be several long journeys, with a trip to Los Angeles for the second-straight season (this time against the Chargers) and the home game in London against the Jaguars in Week 5.

          There will be reunions throughout the calendar, especially in Week 6 when the Giants and their coach -- former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll -- make a visit.

          Here's what's in store for the Bills:

          Schedule

          Sept. 11: at New York Jets (MNF)

          Sept. 17: vs. Las Vegas

          Sept. 24: at Washington

          Oct. 1: vs. Miami

          Oct. 8: vs. Jacksonville (London)

          Oct. 15: vs. New York Giants (SNF)

          Oct. 22: at New England

          Oct. 26: vs. Tampa Bay (TNF)

          Nov. 5: at Cincinnati (SNF)

          Nov. 13: vs. Denver (MNF)

          Nov. 19: vs. New York Jets

          Nov. 26: at Philadelphia

          Bye

          Dec. 10: at Kansas City

          Dec. 17: vs. Dallas

          Dec. 23: at Los Angeles Chargers

          Dec. 31: vs. New England

          Jan. 7: at Miami

          Strength of schedule: .542, ranked seventh

          Over/under: 10.5

          Biggest takeaway

          This schedule was always going to be tough, but that is going to be some stretch from the middle of November to the end of the season. The bye will come at an opportune time, right between matchups against last year’s Super Bowl participants and give the Bills a needed break before facing the Chiefs. Being on the road for four of the last six games is also a twist for a team that has had success taking advantage of the familiarity with wintery conditions in Orchard Park (8-1 in December and January in home regular season games since 2020).

          Revenge game

          The order of the schedule wasn’t needed to pick this one out. In years past for the Bills it would have been the game at Kansas City, which comes in a close second here, but it’s the Week 9 game against the Bengals. Cincinnati ended the Bills' season at home in an embarrassing way in the divisional playoff round. The 27-10 loss was by far Buffalo’s worst performance of the season and ended a roller-coaster 2022 season on a bad note. The Bills will be looking to prove that was a fluke performance and that they can compete with this Bengals team.

          Bold prediction

          What a prime-time bonanza the Bills have from Week 6 to Week 10, four in five games, and that’s not even including the game against the Jaguars in London that will be broadcast to a national audience in Week 5. This will be an interesting stretch and Buffalo will take advantage and win all four of those prime-time games, including that rematch in Cincinnati. Overall, the Bills do not play at 1 p.m. between Week 8 and Week 16, taking Buffalo from Oct. 23 to Dec. 30 without a 1 p.m. game