1. Bills fans get an early look at 2020 opponents during conference championships
The 2020 schedule hasn't officially been set but Buffalo's opponents are known. Based off of regular-season records the Bills will have the fifth-hardest schedule in the NFL next season. Buffalo is in a three-way tie for fifth, along with the Lions and Falcons. The Bills had the 26th hardest schedule in 2019.
The Bills 2020 opponents include the Patriots (2x), Dolphins (2x), Jets (2x), Chiefs, Chargers, Seahawks, Steelers, Rams, Cardinals, Broncos, Raiders , 49ers, and Titans.
Combined their records were 134-123-1 for a .525 winning percentage.
This weekend Bills fans will be able to watch three of those teams compete for a trip to the Super Bowl in the conference championships. Buffalo will play San Francisco and Tennessee on the road next season and will host Kansas City.
The 2019 schedule only featured one conference championship participants, the Patriots.
2. Who was the Bills top-graded player on defense according to Pro Football Focus?
Move over Tre'Davious White, there's another member of the Bills secondary who finished with a higher grade in 2019. White, was the Bills third-best graded defender by Pro Football Focus this season. The top spot belonged to safety Micah Hyde with a 78.4 overall mark,
Hyde finished the season as PFF's 11th best safety in the NFL. His coverage grade at 80.5 was 10th best among qualified safeties.
White, a first-team All-Pro selection and arguably the top cornerback in the NFL this season, finished the season as the 19th best cornerback according to the outlet's grading system. White had a 74.3 overall grade, making him third on the team.
At No. 2 on Buffalo's defensive grades list was defensive end Trent Murphy with a 76.0 overall, to mark a career-best.
Both Hyde and White recorded career-high grades with the Bills in 2017. Hyde finished with an 87.7 overall and White with an 89.4 overall grade.
3. The Bills most important offseason to-do item according to SI.com
SI.com's Conor Orr compiled an offseason to-do list for each of the teams eliminated from the 2019 NFL playoffs. Here's what he had to say about the Bills.
Nail the elusive, third-round superstar back and chess piece tight end: Buffalo is set up to be a poor man's Baltimore offensively but that will necessitate a strong draft again in 2020. The Bills will need to enter the upcoming season with a feared cadre of backs to match up with their ball control offense. Another tight end also helps diversify their ability to block different fronts effectively.
