2026 NFL schedule release: Which team is your ideal Week 1 opponent for the Bills?

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills waves to fans after a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Highmark Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images Sounds like we might get the 2026 NFL schedule released at its normal, mid-May date , sometime next week, instead of having to wait another seven days leading into Memorial Day weekend. Which got me thinking (you’re going to read that sentence from me a lot here)… who is your ideal opponent for the Bills in Week 1?

Do you want an “easy” opponent? Would you like a primetime challenge for Josh Allen and Co. Everyone wants the start of the regular season at the new Highmark Stadium, right?

And what exactly are you factoring in your decision? Do you want the strongest likelihood of a 1-0 start for the Bills? Or are you more of the belief that a litmus test early is a good thing — and gets a “difficult” opponent out of the way?

Is it better to “catch” a high-caliber team before it figures things out? I have a clear favorite — the Chicago Bears at 4:25pm. Now, I don’t necessarily care when the game is, which is its own layer, and I can explain.