Soon after the NFL released its 2016 schedule Thursday evening, ESPN's NFL Nation reporters published their first predictions for the upcoming season. My guess at the Bills' record is 9-7, and I broke down game-by-game how I believe Buffalo will arrive at that record.
As I've done for the past few years now, I took a swing around other ESPN NFL Nation reporters' predictions -- which are made independently of one another -- and created a composite of their predictions for how the teams they cover will fare against the Bills this season.
The Bills' expected record? 6-10.
Before Bills fans take to the streets to protest that prediction, keep in mind that our reporters nailed it last season. Though their composite prediction for the Bills last April was 5-11, that improved to 8-8 in our revised preseason prediction -- and that's exactly the record with which the Bills finished the 2015 season.
Here's how our reporters' predictions break down:
Week 1 at Baltimore Ravens
My prediction: Ravens win (0-1)
Jamison Hensley's prediction: Ravens win (0-1)
Hensley's comment: The Ravens kick off the 2016 season against the Bills and some old friends: coach Rex Ryan, quarterback Tyrod Taylor and new assistant coach Ed Reed. Baltimore is 3-0 against Ryan, outscoring him 53-20 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens are also 4-1 under (John) Harbaugh when starting the season at home. And remember Doug Flutie? Not from "Dancing With The Stars." Flutie was the last Buffalo Bills starting quarterback to win in Baltimore. That was 17 years ago.
Week 2 vs. New York Jets
My prediction: Bills win (1-1)
Rich Cimini's prediction: Jets win (0-2)
Cimini's comment: It's back to the scene of the nightmare for the Jets, who shriveled up under the weight of a do-or-die game in Week 17 last season. It was so devastating that some players were crying in the locker room, knowing they kicked away a playoff berth. This time, they won’t self-destruct.
Week 3 vs. Arizona Cardinals
My prediction: Bills win (2-1)
Josh Weinfuss' prediction: Cardinals win (0-3)
Weinfuss' comment: Arizona’s first East Coast trip of the season will be cross-country to Buffalo. Luck struck the Cardinals with the game this early in the season: They won’t be playing in frigid weather or on a snow-covered field.
Week 4 at New England Patriots
My prediction: Bills win (3-1)
Mike Reiss' prediction: Patriots win (0-4)
Reiss' comment: The Bills have a tough opening to the season -- at Baltimore, then a Thursday night home game against the Jets, followed by a home game against the Cardinals. Then they come to Foxborough, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they are licking some wounds at that point. Tom Brady is 25-3 against Buffalo in his career and needs one more victory to tie Brett Favre (26 wins vs. Detroit) for most wins by a starting quarterback against a single opponent. Win.
Week 5 at Los Angeles Rams
My prediction: Rams win (3-2)
Nick Wagoner's prediction: Rams win (0-5)
Wagoner's comment: The Rams and Bills don't play often, and lack of familiarity has been a problem for the Rams in recent seasons. But the Rams should have enough to outlast Buffalo this time as they embrace being back home.
Week 6 vs. San Francisco 49ers
My prediction: Bills win (4-2)
Paul Gutierrez's prediction: Bills win (1-5)
Gutierrez's comment: The Eastern time zone has not been kind to the 49ers of late. The Bills, having taken a gut punch last year as well as a shot to the ego of Rex Ryan, simply have a better defense.
Week 7 at Miami Dolphins
My prediction: Bills win (5-2)
James Walker's prediction: Dolphins win (1-6)
Walker's comment: The Mario Williams revenge tour starts during this week. The former Bills defensive end will be fired up to play his former team, and expect the Dolphins to rally around Williams to pick up another win at home.
Week 8 vs. New England Patriots
My prediction: Patriots win (5-3)
Reiss' prediction: Bills win (2-6)
Reiss' comment: This will mark the Bills’ fourth AFC East game of the season, and they will be coming off a three-game set at Los Angeles, home against San Francisco and a road date against Miami. There is always a surprise loss somewhere in the schedule, and we’ll throw a dart at this one in 2016. Loss.
Week 9 at Seattle Seahawks
My prediction: Seahawks win (5-4)
Sheil Kapadia's prediction: Seahawks win (2-7)
Kapadia's comment: This is the Seahawks' only Monday night game. It's tough to predict what kind of team Rex Ryan will field in his second season in Buffalo, but the Seahawks have a good shot to finish the first half of their schedule with a win.
Week 11 at Cincinnati Bengals
My prediction: Bengals win (5-5)
Coley Harvey's prediction: Bengals win (2-8)
Harvey's comment: After a game overseas and a night game, it could take the Bengals a couple games to get used to playing in the customary 1 p.m. ET slot. Then there's Buffalo's commitment to developing the triumvirate of Tyrod Taylor, LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins. The combination of McCoy and Watkins really tested the Bengals early in Cincinnati's win last season in Buffalo.
Week 12 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
My prediction: Bills win (6-5)
Mike DiRocco's prediction: Jaguars win (2-9)
DiRocco's comment: This is a rematch of the Jaguars’ best victory of 2015, in which they blew a 24-point lead but came back to win on (Blake) Bortles' 31-yard touchdown pass to Allen Hurns with 2:16 to play. Is anyone completely convinced that QB Tyrod Taylor is the Bills’ franchise quarterback?
Week 13 at Oakland Raiders
My prediction: Bills win (7-5)
Gutierrez's prediction: Raiders win (2-10)
Gutierrez's comment: The Raiders beat the Bills for one of their three victories in 2014. Oakland has improved since then, but Buffalo?
Week 14 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
My prediction: Steelers win (7-6)
Jeremy Fowler's prediction: Bills win (3-10)
Fowler's comment: Things can get weird in Buffalo. Sometimes Rex Ryan's defense plays out of its mind and the game is over before it starts. The Steelers channel their 2015 Baltimore performance and struggle mightily on this below-freezing day. Tyrod Taylor doesn't pass for much yardage, but makes things happen with his legs.
Week 15 vs. Cleveland Browns
My prediction: Bills win (8-6)
Pat McManamon's prediction: Bills win (4-10)
McManamon's comment: This game seems winnable for the Browns, on the road against a team with quarterback concerns. Rex Ryan's defense, though, will prove to be too much.
Week 16 vs. Miami Dolphins
My prediction: Bills win (9-6)
Walker's prediction: Bills win (5-10)
Walker's comment: The Dolphins have had many ugly losses late in the year at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills will earn the split in the season series at home with their defensive line, as usual, punishing Miami's offensive line.
Week 17 at New York Jets
My prediction: Jets win (9-7)
Cimini's prediction: Bills win (6-10)
Cimini's comment: In a repeat of last season, the Jets will be sent into the offseason with a defeat, courtesy of their old coach.