Analyst offers intriguing reason for Bills hope in 2026

The Buffalo Bills are in an unenviable position entering the 2026 season -- no one cares what they do in the regular season.

We know the Bills will win 10+ games and make the playoffs, but it is what they do once in the postseason that everyone will be watching intently.

Yes, Josh Allen let Buffalo down last year in Denver, but the defense in previous seasons has been the reason the Bills' season ends. So, what is the main reason for hope in 2026 as Joe Brady takes the reins?

Sports Illustrated's Eva Geitheim thinks it's all to do with the defense.

"The Bills should have better corners come postseason," Geitheim wrote. "After watching Dane Jackson and a 31-year-old Tre’Davious White get beaten in coverage during the divisional round, the Bills drafted corners Davison Igbinosun and Toriano Pride Jr. Will the additions pay off? Stay tuned, but the Bills needed to do something to prevent the defense from letting Josh Allen down in the postseason again (assuming he doesn’t have another turnover-riddled performance)."

MORE: Ravens reason for 2026 optimism not centered on Lamar Jackson

Jim Leonhard under pressure

When you have a quarterback like Allen, it can be a blessing and a curse for a defense.

The blessing is that he can push the offense to put up 30+ points every week, but the downside is that the defense might relax knowing that whatever happens, they have a quarterback who can pick up the slack.

That's gotten Buffalo into trouble lately, so Leonhard is tasked with making this defense stout, particularly in the postseason in his first year in the job.

Sean McDermott was fired for the defensive failings in the playoffs during his tenure, and now Leonhard is the next man up.

He's got the quarterback to get his defense out of a bind, but in an ideal world, there'd be no bind to get out of.

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