As teams settle into their identity in the early part of the NFL season, some have taken more lumps than others. Whether it's the Ravens at 1-3 or the Bengals losing Joe Burrow, every team is up against both its opponent and the attrition of the season. However, some teams haven't truly been tested through four weeks, and that's the case for the Buffalo Bills.
Ranked 23rd by ESPN in strength of schedule entering the 2025 season, it's no wonder the Bills have met expectations. Their 2025 opponents went 135-154 in 2024, hardly an uphill battle for Super Bowl hopefuls. Playing the likes of Drake Maye, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Fields in the division already gives the Bills a great shot at the playoffs, given how weak those teams are. Having beaten the Jets and Dolphins by a combined score of 61-31, the Bills stand alone in the AFC East.
At first blush, it would be safe to assume the Ravens-Bills Week 1 firefight that ended with Buffalo winning 41-40 qualified as a test. And those who believed that weren't wrong -- at the time. However, given that the Ravens' lone win came against the Browns in Week 2, it's clear they weren't the challenge Buffalo seemed to conquer at first. Combined, the Bills' opponents so far in 2025 are 1-12, with that single win belonging to the Ravens over the Browns.
Moving forward, Buffalo could easily be 7-0 heading into a home tilt against Kansas City in Week 8. Buffalo faces the Patriots, Falcons, and Panthers with a bye week before facing the Chiefs. That matchup is the closest thing to a legitimate test the Bills will face before games against the Bucs, Steelers, and Eagles in the second half of the season. Those same three opponents are the only remaining teams on Buffalo's schedule with winning records through four weeks.
Given a full complement of offensive weapons for the Chiefs in Week 8, we could see the last of the unbeatens fall. That's something Kansas City hasn't been able to say in recent meetings with Buffalo, as Rashee Rice missed both the regular-season and playoff contests against the Bills last year. In Week 8, both teams will be in rhythm and at the height of their powers.
But Week 8 is a long way into a season to be facing your "first test." Considering how Buffalo has responded to midseason collapses in the past, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that this matchup could send the Bills stumbling toward the postseason.