Thanks to updated NFL mandates, Buffalo prepares for a global stage in 2027. Despite a 1-7 international record, the Bills face high-stakes matchups in potential new territories.
The Buffalo Bills are heading out of the country.
Though the 2026 season hasn't started yet, we do know something regarding next year's schedule thanks to a league rule change.
As pointed out by Bills radio play-by-play voice Chris Brown, the NFL made a change to its league-wide mandate regarding international games. It used to be that each team had to play at least one international game every eight years. A few years ago, the league lowered that requirement to every four years.
Buffalo's last international game was in 2023. With next season marking four years, it means the Bills will play out of the country.
It also lines up with Buffalo having nine home games next year, meaning that they'll lose one of them in 2027.
The Bills are no strangers to international games. From 2008-2013, Buffalo played annual games in Toronto at the Rogers Centre. They've also played in London twice back in 2015 and 2023, both against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But despite having experience playing outside of the United States, it doesn't mean the Bills have fared well in those games. In eight international regular season games, Buffalo is 1-7. The only win came in 2011 when the Bills shut out Washington 23-0.
As far as who Buffalo could play in that game, we won't know exactly until next year's schedule is out. However, we do know some of the options.
In 2027, the Bills are scheduled to have home games against the AFC East, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, an AFC North team that finishes in the same position as Buffalo, and an NFC South team that finishes in the same position. There's also no longer the ability for a team to protect certain home games from being played internationally. So, that opens up every matchup to being taken away.
Would the NFL take a divisional matchup outside of a team's stadium? What about a marquee contest against teams like Houston or Philadelphia?
What also remains to be seen is where they would play. Buffalo has only played in Toronto and London in their games, but the NFL has opened its door to playing in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, and Spain. That puts all options on the table and is certain to make for interesting conversations about where fans would rather see Buffalo play next season.
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