Bills Emotional Rematch vs. Bengals: Best Game on NFL Schedule?

A candidate for most-anticipated game next season is a rematch of last year's Divisional Round between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9.

The Buffalo Bills' 2023 schedule is full of exciting games to circle, but a candidate for most-anticipated is a rematch of last season's Divisional Round vs. the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. 

It'll be the Bills' first time back to Paycor Stadium since Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field. Hamlin is on the road to recovery with the goal to play this season. Undoubtedly, emotions will running high for this game, especially if Hamlin is playing. 

Sports Illustrated ranked the 10-best games of the 2023 NFL season and Buffalo vs. Cincinnati comes in at No. 5.

I’ll leave Damar Hamlin out of this entirely, because I don’t think it’s any of my business or our business as to whether he’s going to play again. I don’t think the events of his on-field collapse are something any of us want to remember, and they have nothing to do with why we’re excited to watch this game.

Obviously, Buffalo and Cincinnati are the perpetual contenders behind Kansas City and represent the AFC’s best chances of sending someone other than Patrick Mahomes to the Super Bowl.

I view Cincinnati as a true 1A to Kansas City, while I fear that Buffalo is dropping into more of a solid No. 3 or No. 4 in the conference. While the Bengals will ultimately have a difficult time keeping this roster together under the weight of a few massive receiver contracts and the eventual Joe Burrow extension, I feel like they will be dominant for large swaths of the season.

As two top favorites (behind Kansas City) to win the AFC Conference entering the season, this November matchup could play a big part in determining playoff seeding for Buffalo and Cincinnati.

The New England Patriots vs. New York Jets contest in Week 3 earned the 'best game' of the season. The Patriots have not lost to the Jets since 2015, an impressive seven-year winning streak totaling 14 victories against the AFC East foe. It's the the longest-active winning streak by one team to a single opponent. This year brings a big difference in four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, definitely making it another one to watch.

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