Dion Dawkins
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Bills' offensive lineman Dion Dawkins weighed in on a potential 18-game NFL season
The Buffalo Bills, after another disappointing playoff run, have been quite active to begin the offseason. The coaching staff has been revamped, and upgrades have been made on both sides of the ball. Once again, the Bills are expected to enter the year as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
Changes are being made across the league that could make Buffalo’s quest to win it all more difficult, with one example being the NFL’s continued desire to expand the schedule from 17 games to 18 games. Nothing has been made official in this department yet, but Bills’ offensive lineman Dion Dawkins recently explained why he believes players are not in favor of an 18-game schedule.
Dion Dawkins Dishes on 18-Game Schedule Rumors
A second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Dawkins has turned himself into one of the premier left tackles in the NFL for Buffalo. He’s earned five-straight Pro Bowl selections, with his role becoming even more important during Josh Allen’s meteoric rise to the top of the food pyramid in the quarterback landscape.
Throughout his career, one of Dawkins’ best attributes has been his durability, as he’s never missed more than two games in a single season. Even with the recent addition of a 17th game, Dawkins has managed to hold up well. While the league would obviously like as many games as possible in a single season (because more games mean more money), players have been less enthused about the idea.
Simply put, the more games a player participates in, the more of a risk they run of losing money. Dawkins understands that train of thought, but when discussing his resistance to an 18-game schedule, he believes that adding another game would only shorten the careers of these players even more, which is a trend the league has seen take place in recent years.
“Guys’ careers are only getting shorter,” Dawkins said, per Scott Thompson of Fox News. “Not to say that one game is going to make it drastically shorter, but one game can change somebody’s entire trajectory of life. Like, if you make it through a 17-game season healthy, and you get to 18 and your body is ready to break down, something happens. Then, the course of your life is totally different.”
Dion Dawkins Looking to Help Bills Win It All in 2026
Dion Dawkins
GettyORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 10: Dion Dawkins #73 of the Buffalo Bills looks on against the Chicago Bears during the second half of a preseason game at Highmark Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bears won 33-6. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
An 18-game schedule isn’t something that Dawkins will have to worry about in 2026, but the NFL appears to be trending in that direction, regardless of whether or not the players like it. At the end of the day, though, the Bills will likely be willing to play in as many games as it takes for them to finally get over the hump and win a Super Bowl.
Allen isn’t going to be under center forever, but as long as he is, Buffalo will have a shot to come out on top, no matter who they take the field against. Dawkins himself is beginning to reach the end of his career, even though he’s playing at an extremely high level. As a result, it’s safe to say there’s a sense of urgency surrounding the Bills, and all eyes will be on them to see if 2026 finally ends up being the year they can go on a championship run.