Each NFL team’s most important game in 2019

Buffalo Bills: Week 4 vs. New England Patriots

There’s been plenty of upheaval in upstate New York the last couple of offseasons. From a change at general manager shortly after the 2017 draft to the trading of a starting quarterback during the ’18 offseason that helped guide the team to the playoffs the previous year.

A year ago, the team took its lumps on more than one occasion. While there were some bright spots, the Bills finished 6-10 and in third place in the AFC East. It was a disappointing follow-up for a team that had reached the postseason for the first time since 1999.

In any case, Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills will once again have a lot of new looks this upcoming year. The club was extremely diligent the last few months, bolstering both the offensive and defensive lines via both veteran additions as well as during the first round of April’s draft. The former was the main focus of general manager Brandon Beane the last few months. The additions include center Mitch Morse, guards Spencer Long and Quinton Spain and rookie tackle Cody Ford. With the ninth overall pick in April, the Bills selected University of Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver.

So what will all of this mean when the team hosts the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots in early October? Buffalo has dropped five straight in this longtime rivalry and owns a 5-33 record in this series since Bill Belichick took over in Foxborough in 2000. A win would obviously be a huge stepping stone for the franchise.

Next: Carolina Panthers