corta765

I think it is Dallas v Bucs just because Mike North's interview seemed to really push the NFL wanting to spread the marquee games across the season and not up front.

There a few mornic NFL media member who have said the NFL should release parts of the schedule weekly. I think given how fans, media, and cities need the schedule to plan out for the games they can't do something to that magnitude, but I am still expecting something dumb and money driven in the future. That is impressive I would like to see your list. TNF use to be easier when it was all division games minus the opener, they still have some emphasis on division but it is more spread.

Lol for completely selfish reasons I need the Bills playing Sunday or Monday. My second child’s due date is opening night and the last thing I need is a distraction nor my child having to see Tom Brady as he enters the world

20% of the season ticket base is from Rochester and 33% of game day tickets is Rochester. There is real proof and reason that being in Rochester has a true benefit to the team. Additionally SJFC allows fans free close access that the moment it goes back to OP you will not get back. The NFL has virtually zero free events of any form outside of training camp. If you have a family it’s he perfect exposure for young fans and affordable. This really isn’t talked about enough and the benefits that fans get because of it. I got Jordan Poyers autograph for my wife because I could just walk to the fence where the D was practicing. Your not getting that anymore once it moves. I honestly do believe the Bills are one day going back to OP because of the investments that have been made. That will be to the loss of fans even if they can still attend.

Not gonna like that would suck in a lot of ways. The Jets aren't good so that is nice, but literally anyone else would be a decent change of pace.

Truthfully his rookie year did offer a lot of optimism. NE start and Carolina like you said, plus he torched the Jets and had a solid win in Jax. In losses to Cleveland and Atlanta he actually played pretty well and had the team in position to win until injury in Cleveland and Atlanta Chandler and Stevie fumbled the game away. I remember a lot of magazines in 2014 NFL previews had him as a breakout guy with Watkins added to Woods, Goodwin, CJ, & Fred and the defense being so good. He just never really took the next step although I will say I think after his knee injuries they coaches limited him mobility which was a central piece to his game and I think any chance for him to develop required that mobility.

Lol with how much it’s been why not at this is point

Well I wasn’t team Allen at all to the point when he was drafted I left the party I was at and went home. Whoops! But on here I wanted Micah Hyde for his performance the 1st half of last year. The funniest was when I “guaranteed” there was no way the Bills and Chiefs would play at night last season and two days later it leaked that the game was on Thursday Night Football haha

Not necessarily. Last year they did per Mike North because if they had to start the season late they could just move the first two weeks to the end. But the Bills opened on the road two straight weeks in 2019, NYJ and NYG. On the flip side they opened two in a row in 2015 Colts and Pats. It doesn't sound like this year the NFL is anticipating major COVID issues where the schedule would be more flexible for that. I love their all white unis whether it is the AFL ones or normal. They wear blue on the road now more and the bad juju of white at home is gone these days.

Honestly why do people like you even comment? No one is asking you to read what I wrote, many of us enjoy this its fun while not life changing or important. I could really care less about the draft or analyzing prospects but others like it and I don't rain on their parade.

It is a grey area kind of the way the Saturday December games are. The bigger thing I have seen is the NFL does try to keep a teams games to have at least half at 1:00 pm. Players and coaches prefer routine and 1:00 pm is the favorite by them, but the NFL does a lot for it TV Partners which I expect will only keep growing over the years.

I feel you with that. December was really fun last year, but the entire month was non normal games. If I could have like 1 primetime game a month where it is spaced out I'm cool with that. It became quite intensive with late games last year haha. So the last time we played JAX was in 2018 and it was the Weekend of Thanksgiving. Generally the NFL likes to move games around if they were early/late and flip it. I also think with the newness of Trevor the Jags could be sneaky TNF game early on for someone like Buffalo or another big AFC team where you can use the newness of T-Law and the hype of the other team before things get bad losing wise for Jax.

I'd probably switch the first NE to a 4:25 matchup then.

I haven’t been able to find that in writing but I know they try to keep it around that. But with a 17th game that’s probably going to change a little.

My favorite time of the year in the NFL has come in the offseason. Every year I predict the Bills schedule in terms of games, times, weeks, primetime etc.. I look at past seasons including the last time we played that NFC division as the NFL does base some TV decisions on what they did before to be fair to teams and TV partners. Next week on the 12th at 8:00 pm the NFL will be releasing the schedule and with fans back in full this year I know this is going to be the most anticipated season in really long time. In regards to the schedule itself things should swing back to normal with how it is created. WGR's Sal C had a great interview with Mike North who is the VP of Schedule making in the NFL. Last season the NFL tweaked things where every team opened home or away with division opponents the first two weeks due to COVID incase things needed to be changed. The overall schedule itself was created with the ability to move entire weeks etc.. so it was not a normal year minus the division games finishing the season. Some highlights from the interview on how the schedule is created of interest to Bills fans are the following: -Opening Night already draws a huge audience so going with a blueblood matchup like BUF-TB isn't necessarily the best move because you can save it for a week later in the season for a bigger audience then opening night as it already is higher in viewership -Networks are all fighting for the big games like KC-BUF, KC-GB, NE-KC, so they absolutely are put in prime spots, but where those spots are can vary so the NFL is fair to its TV partners -Sometimes matchups like NE-TB which already have a story are put earlier in the season as opposed to later when NE possibly could be out of it. That rings the same with NE-BUF where he said an early matchup could be on primetime where their is still intrigue -On the flip side division games ending the season is the way to go and the NFL isn't moving away from that. He brought up the idea of NE coming to BUF or vise versa for a division show down to end the season on primetime -The Bills have turned into a tent show that people want to see. People may like the 1:00 pm games out of convenience but now that the Bills are a draw get ready for a similar amount of attention this year with night games and prime spots -There will be 17 games and the Bills will host Washington as the matchup is a Conference Cross Over based off where you finished in your division OK with all of that said lets get to my schedule I made. For those wondering last year I got one week perfect (SF), two opponents correct (SF/MIA week2), quite few games a week off (Seattle week 8 I had week 7 for insistence), and in general was much closer then some years. Here is my prediction for 2021-22: Opponent Time Week 1 IND 1:00 pm Week 2 at NE Sunday Night Football Week 3 ATL 1:00 pm Week 4 PIT Monday Night Football Week 5 at JAX 1:00 pm Week 6 NYJ Thursday Night Football Week 7 BYE Week 8 at TB Monday Night Football Week 9 MIA 1:00 pm Week 10 at NYJ 1:00 pm Week 11 CAR 1:00 pm Week 12 at NOLA 4:25 pm Week 13 at KC Sunday Night Football Week 14 WSH 1:00 pm Week 15 HOU 1:00 pm Week 16 at TEN Saturday Flex in Game 1 of 3 Week 17 at MIA 1:00 pm Week 18 NE Potential to be SNF flex in game for division I do think the Bills are in the conversation for opening night, but like Mike said I believe its a game the NFL saves for higher viewership later on. Additionally I think one of the Bears (drafting Fields) or Dallas (going to TB) will be the the opener as they both are strong markets. I think the NFL finally gives the Bills Chiefs the SNF viewing platform people have wanted. Buffalo has routinely done well in the Saturday flex window spot late in season and I see that happening again. The NE home game week 18 I can really see being viewed by TV partners as a battle of the division crown potentially and make it so it can be the closing SNF. I do not think that happens as I think the Bills are a game or two better then NE, but TV partners will view it otherwise. Technically the Bills are opening at home for a second straight year, but when you become a better team the NFL gives more wiggle room. The Bills have preferred 1:00 pm games as a franchise and this still maintains six of the nine games being at 1:00 pm with the NE finale the only when that could flex. I have typed enough let me know what you think:

Yep the hype coming in for the defense was understood given the talent and Dave's track record. Once the season started it was like a different universe. I've always believed if Chan could've found a better defensive coordinator he probably would've lasted longer, those defenses from 2010-2012 were so bad and even when talent added it didn't move the needle.

Agreed I would be really curious to hear some of the behind the scenes stuff especially from 2013-2016 where leaks happened ALL the time and you know different agenda's were clashing.

Oh god I am not saying that at all. The Eagles went SB, playoff, playoff, out implosion, I completely understand things change quick. My point is simply last year the Browns didn't have the pressure of being one of those big teams. It exists this year whereas Buffalo has been through it and proved some chops last year. Let me ask you this if the Browns do the Bills 2020 season win their division, 12 games, and make the AFC title would you think of their season is a success or progress? I would say yes considering how far they haven't done those things plus their division is really tough. I think for Bills fans at this point anything less then SB in the next bunch of years will seem like failure and I am fine with that. I am not expecting either four straight SB's its really tough to get to one, but in the next 5-7 years if they don't make the SB I'd say they missed their shot. If they do make at least one I'd say goal achieved. Higher expectations but they also proved they should have those expectations.

Yep and got 8 more seasons to go! I am also incredibly bored with football until the seasons starts so this is my thesis for the summer lol

Lol can’t argue here. The hype going into the season with Mario, then offense thought of being competent, and a schedule which looked easier evaporated three quarters into the season. Spiller was fun and Stevie was good.... yeaaa. Actually the TNF game was cool and looked great on TV

I think there is some merit and this is more well thought out compared to some takes. BUT... I really feel these takes come from a place based off the Browns barely losing to the Chiefs vs. the Bills losing a less competitive game. The Browns absolutely have made strides which is nice to see as we came from a similar place. They also have yet to win a playoff game, division crown, and their QB doesn't rate as highly as others in the AFC. I believe the Browns are the class of the AFC North this year, but I also want to see how they handle the pressure of being that team and going the distance. The Bills mindset is literally at this point SB or bust. They could go 11-5-1 and Cleveland 13-4 and I do not think they would bat an eye considering their main goal is the SB. Cleveland in my opinion is not there, they are where the Bills were last season. Also the Bills remind me a bit of the Colts in the mid 2000s where the Patriots were the immovable force they had to vanquish if they wanted their ring. It gets to a point where tunnel vision kicks in and everything else doesn't matter. KC is at that point and I think the Bills learned it last year. Cleveland seems step away, but another contender if they learn it.

For two reasons: 1. for some of us it allows us to appreciate the team more and the fact they are not moving. 2. for the stories of people at different games that are fun to here or things I/other didn't know. Sure there early part of the decade 10/11/12 really sucked a lot, but there were fun moments and times still. 2013 I was at the game EJ got the GW TD to Stevie. He may not have been the guy but it was still a fun moment. I've heard Zona is a cool game experience from people who have went there. My favorite tailgate I've done was the 2018 Bills Bears 41-7 wipeout. May have been a loss but we had the time of our lives

Bills 2012 Moments Coming into the 2012 season their were high expectations perhaps the highest since the Bledsoe era that the Bills could/would make the playoffs. With the addition of Mario Williams, a solid draft, and an offense that showed a decent level of competence plus an easier schedule optimism ran high. Instead the season was a massive failure and highlighted the Bills lack of depth and coaching. Week 1 at New York Jets, 48-28 loss: In the debut of Mario Williams on defense the Bills were run out of the building. The defining moment came 5 minutes into to second quarter as Jeremy Kerley of the Jets (And Future Bill! Lol) scored on a 68 yard punt return. That put the Bills down 21-0 and they never could recover. Week 2 Kansas City Chiefs, 35-17 win: Reversing their poor play from the week earlier the Bills trounced the Chiefs with CJ Spiller virtually unstoppable. Highlighting what would be Spillers breakout season was a 37 yard run from midfield. He would score three play later as cementing his role in the offense. Week 3 at Cleveland Browns, 24-14 win: In a boring affair that the Bills won Ryan Fitzpatrick hits Stevie Johnson from 9 yards out for a TD with 9:08 left to put the Bills up 24-14. Week 4 New England Patriots, loss 52-28: In a game to see where they stood against the top of the AFC the Bills faltered. There are two defining moments the first is up 14-7 with 1:14 to go in the second with then all on the Patriots 3 yard line CJ Spiller runs the ball up the middle but fumbles costing the Bills any points and chance of a two score lead. The second moment with the Patriots pressing after tying the game at 21-21 Brady hits Gronk wide open in the middle for a 28 yard TD and a 28-21 lead. The Patriots keep getting stronger from here and the Bills keep spinning their wheels in 4th quarter. Week 5 at San Francisco 49ers, 45-3 loss: The Patriots loss hangovers badly as the Bills get beaten badly by the future NFC champions. Down 10-3 with under 40 seconds left in the 2nd quarter the Bills are trying to move the ball for some pts. Ryan Fitzpatrick hits Scott Chandler for a 1st down past the Bills 35 yard line when he is hit and fumbles. The 49ers score on the next play and never look back. Week 6 at Arizona Cardinals, 19-16 OT win: A reeling Buffalo team wins a gutsy effort by a shamed defense. Arizona Kicker Jay Feely who had hit a 61 yard FG less then a minute earlier to tie the game with two minutes left, shanks the GW kick allowing the game to go to overtime where Buffalo wins on a FG. Week 7 Tennessee Titans, 35-34 loss: After the win in Arizona hope remained that despite two bad losses the Bills could still be a wild card team especially with a weaker Titans team coming in. The game ended up being a fun high scoring battle with Buffalo seemingly in control with 3:03 to go. On 3rd and 7 at mid field Fitzpatrick throws a badly under thrown duck to the sideline which the Titans intercept. The Titans scored on 4th and 9 in the red zone with a minute to go to win the game. At this point in the season this loss really felt like the team was toast and any playoff chances were gone and the management/coach probably were going to be overhauled. In my eyes it took just 7 weeks to see it wasn’t going to work with this coach or group. Week 9 at Houston Texans, 21-9 loss: Coming out of the bye the Bills played a good Texans team. The defense actually played decent... the offense stunk. With under 12 mins to play the Texans on 3rd and 2 at midfield got a 36 yard pass play with Matt Schaub finding Andre Johnson. That broke the Bills defense which had kept Houston limited most of the game as the Texans scored a few plays later to increase their lead to 21-9. Week 10 at New England Patriots, 37-31 loss: The Bills at 3-5 needed a win to even be in the hunt for the playoffs. The Bills put a up a spirited effort and were driving to win on the Patriots 15. After just having Scott Chandler miss catching a TD, Fitzpatrick threw an interception in the right side of end zone intended for TJ Graham costing the Bills the game. In post game it was learned Graham ran the wrong route on the play. Week 11 Miami Dolphins, 19-14 win: In the Bills only night game of the season they hosted the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. Leodis McKelvin had a beautiful 79 yard punt return for a TD, but the Bills offense wasn’t able to ice the game forcing the defense to make a play. Up 19-14 Jarius Byrd made a spectacular interception on Ryan Tannehill with 50 seconds left to end the game as the Dolphins has no timeouts lefts. Week 12 at Indianapolis Colts, 20-13 loss: at 4-6 if the Bills could win this game they still had a small playoff chance as their schedule eased up and the conference was weak. Despite another week where the defense played decent, the offense again was limited. Down 20-13 with 5 mins left in the game the Bills had the ball driving in Colts territory. Fitzpatrick threw a pass to Stevie Johnson on the Colts 24 which got intercepted. The Colts actually fumbled it back to the Bills on the return, but Buffalo went 3 and out. Week 13 Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-18 win: By this point the question wasn’t playoffs but whether the coaching staff even would make another year. In a torrential rain storm the Bills offense finally had a great game with running game putting up 232 yds. With under 2 mins left in the 1st half and the Bills up 14-10 the Jaguars tried to mount a drive. Jags QB Chad Henne on 1st and 10 from his own 20 got strip sacked by Mario Williams with the Bills recovering the ball. Ryan Lindell kicked a FG from 30 yds out as the Bills scored 20 straight pts. Week 14 St Louis Rams, 15-12 loss: In another wintery mess of a game the Bills choked away a 12-0 lead in the fourth quarter allowing Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford to score 15 pts in the fourth quarter for the Rams win. Up 3-0 with the first half closing down Rams QB Sam Bradford throws an interception to Bills CB Stephon Gilmore who goes 62 yds for a TD... except Bills LB Kyle Moore got a holding penalty. The Bills did get a FG but up only 6-0 felt brutal given the conditions and the offenses inability to get TDs. Week 15 Seattle Seahawks in Toronto, 50-17 loss: The Bills got curbstopped and the writing was on the wall that head coach Chan Gailey just wasn’t the guy to lead the Bills forward. Cementing the Bills destruction was Russel Wilson’s third rushing touchdown of the 1st half on 13 yard run through the Bills defense to put Seattle up 31-7. Week 16 at Miami Dolphins, 24-10 loss: In what turned into a very forgettable season the Bills showed no pulse or care losing on the road in Miami. Reggie Bush had 107 total yards and 3 TDs for Miami. His 12 yard TD catch early in the 3rd quarter put Miami up 21-3 and that was the game. Week 17 New York Jets, 28-9 win: In head coach Chan Gailey final game the Bills sent him off with a win as CJ Spiller had the big play early on to cement the Bills win. Early in the 2nd quarter Spiller caught a screen pass and went 66 yards for a Bills TD. That was pretty much all the Bills needed as they coasted to victory with by their first victory over the Jets since 2009.

Yea Fred's season was insane it sucked so much he went out. I really believe had he not have been injured they probably are 9-7 and near the playoffs as they had some close losses that his impact on offense would've helped. Haha well the plus is once I get to the 2017 season on it gets fun and happy quickly

Yea dalton and Green turned it on and Buffalo never responded Lol