Bills 2025 Schedule Early Thoughts

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

4 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Someone posted on good authority that we are not going to Ireland.

Your lips to God's ears.

 

If we lose another home game to overseas I'm going to send a really angry letter to Park Avenue

 

[KOKBILLS]

Early thoughts...

 

17-0... 

[JohnNord]

6 hours ago, gmanbfan said:

Schedule release day might be my favorite day of the off season calendar! 

 

I think CBS will do everything it can to keep the KC game, so KC@BUF will be a 4:25pm start in Orchard Park.

 

So many good home matchups for the Bills that the league will want in Primetime.  Cincy at Buffalo seems like a Monday Nighter.  Fox will want the Philly game for a 4:25pm start on their network. 

 

A divisional Thursday night primetime matchup (NE or MIA) on the road would work.  And I think Baltimore at Buffalo on Christmas.

 

Seeing it's the last season at Highmark, happy that no home games have been stripped from us this year (as of yet), and yes, I think Buffalo in Ireland against Pittsburgh makes too much sense.

 

9 Home games to enjoy the last season at Highmark!  And hopefully two playoff matches too

The schedule release is probably one part of the game that I couldn’t give 2 shots about.  It’s crazy to see Sal Capaccio and Matt Bove try to guess the schedule or to bring on the guy from NFL to talk about.   Just seems so boring to me.  
 

Also, fans always overrate the schedule every year.  I remember one year ago around now, there were fans here saying the Bills had a “historically” difficult schedule.  Everything changes when the season starts.  

[Jay_Fixit]

Schedule release day.

 

Lol.

We find out when the Bills play the teams we know they’re going to play!

[corta765]

5 hours ago, chongli said:

Thanks for the detailed and well thought out post.

 

I have a few minor disagreements:

 

The Bills, at this point, will not be favored at home vs. Philly and maybe Baltimore.

 

Only the featured 4:25 game on the DH network is considered national. The SH network's games are regional and start at 4:05. It could be something like Carolina at Las Vegas, due to CT and PT teams having to start in the 4 PM slot.

 

Oh, and teams can be flexed into primetime games to get more than the allowable six, plus a Week 18 flex too.

Thats why I said half the home schedule is hellfire. I would agree PHI favored and BAL is prob even. KC may be even also.

 

 

agreed on the flex piece, I won’t be surprised if the back half has a bunch of flexible games 

[sullim4]

A few thoughts.

 

CBS has fought tooth and nail to keep Chiefs/Bills each year.  So much so that it is at the top of the list of games they want to keep the past few years, and as a result, they sacrificed some terrible doubleheader slates late in the season with the more desirable AFC games going to NBC and ESPN.  I just think the other three networks would rather feature big market NFC teams like Philadelphia or the Rams.  I could be wrong, but I think CBS gets this one again sometime in late October or early November, especially since 4:25 standalone games draw a ton of eyes.  It is similar to the 90s when CBS and then FOX always got the Cowboys and 49ers in the late window.

 

I agree that Miami finishing the season in Orchard Park is the most appropriate way to finish out regular season games at Rich Stadium.  I suspect the Bills will request this if they can and I don't see why the NFL wouldn't grant it if they can make it work.  I think the chances are high that they will be at home in Week 18 regardless of whether it is Miami, New England*, or the Jets.

 

PHI/BUF has 4:25 FOX written all over it.  FOX hasn't gotten an A-list Bills game recently... they got the Rams and Seahawks last season but neither of those teams is a top 5 opponent.  It feels like FOX is due to get one and this one specifically makes a ton of sense.

 

Baltimore, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, and Pittsburgh feel like candidates for SNF and MNF.  I think we get someone like the Jets on TNF this year.

 

One of the middling NFC games, maybe the Carolina or New Orleans ones - will be eligible for a Saturday flex to NFL Network in December.  It seems like this happens a lot to us.

[boyst]

11 hours ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Is Canada designated to get a game? 

I think they'll have to be if not already. With Minnesota, Seattle, Green Bay, Buffalo, and Detroit I think there are teams that have carry over up north. 

[chongli]

39 minutes ago, boyst said:

I think they'll have to be if not already. With Minnesota, Seattle, Green Bay, Buffalo, and Detroit I think there are teams that have carry over up north. 

 

New England also has a big following in northeast Canada.

[PromoTheRobot]

The last game at Highmark/Ralph Wilson/Rich Stadium will be a national game.

[Sweats]

7 hours ago, sullim4 said:

A few thoughts.

 

CBS has fought tooth and nail to keep Chiefs/Bills each year.  So much so that it is at the top of the list of games they want to keep the past few years, and as a result, they sacrificed some terrible doubleheader slates late in the season with the more desirable AFC games going to NBC and ESPN.  I just think the other three networks would rather feature big market NFC teams like Philadelphia or the Rams.  I could be wrong, but I think CBS gets this one again sometime in late October or early November, especially since 4:25 standalone games draw a ton of eyes.  It is similar to the 90s when CBS and then FOX always got the Cowboys and 49ers in the late window.

 

I agree that Miami finishing the season in Orchard Park is the most appropriate way to finish out regular season games at Rich Stadium.  I suspect the Bills will request this if they can and I don't see why the NFL wouldn't grant it if they can make it work.  I think the chances are high that they will be at home in Week 18 regardless of whether it is Miami, New England*, or the Jets.

 

PHI/BUF has 4:25 FOX written all over it.  FOX hasn't gotten an A-list Bills game recently... they got the Rams and Seahawks last season but neither of those teams is a top 5 opponent.  It feels like FOX is due to get one and this one specifically makes a ton of sense.

 

Baltimore, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, and Pittsburgh feel like candidates for SNF and MNF.  I think we get someone like the Jets on TNF this year.

 

One of the middling NFC games, maybe the Carolina or New Orleans ones - will be eligible for a Saturday flex to NFL Network in December.  It seems like this happens a lot to us.

 

 

 

 

I love finishing the season with a divisional opponent, especially the Fins who may or may not have post season aspirations on the line.

 

I love crushing their spirits, their will, their self-worth, their hopes, their ambitions, etc.

[chongli]

12 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Your lips to God's ears.

 

If we lose another home game to overseas I'm going to send a really angry letter to Park Avenue

 

 

But the Ireland game would be "at" Pittsburgh, so we would be the visiting team. We have to go overseas every two years or so anyway, so we might as well get it out of the way as the visiting team to a closer location when we get the chance.

Edited Thursday at 03:12 PM by chongli

[chongli]

19 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The last game at Highmark/Ralph Wilson/Rich Stadium will be a national game.

 

The last game at Three Rivers was a next-to-last week game vs. Washington on 12/16 on a Saturday national TV, so if could be.

[corta765]

8 hours ago, sullim4 said:

One of the middling NFC games, maybe the Carolina or New Orleans ones - will be eligible for a Saturday flex to NFL Network in December.  It seems like this happens a lot to us.

 

After I posted this I forgot about those Saturday games. Certainly could see the CAR game be one on that docket.

35 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The last game at Highmark/Ralph Wilson/Rich Stadium will be a national game.

The hard thing with that is then your guaranteeing BUF week 17 at home. Week 18 it is luck of the draw with how competitive things are. Obviously playoffs last game is going to be big, but regular season wise I think is a little tougher to force in that spot.

[gjv]

Bills certainly have a 1st place schedule. That being said, we kind of luck out with having the to play most of the better teams at home.

[chongli]

1 hour ago, corta765 said:

 

After I posted this I forgot about those Saturday games. Certainly could see the CAR game be one on that docket.

The hard thing with that is then your guaranteeing BUF week 17 at home. Week 18 it is luck of the draw with how competitive things are. Obviously playoffs last game is going to be big, but regular season wise I think is a little tougher to force in that spot.

 

Why? Teams often finish the season with two straight games vs. division rivals, usually one home and one away. I see no reason why it can't be Miami at Buffalo Week 17 then Buffalo at NYJ or NE Week 18. Miami is the longest AFC East rival we have had. It's appropriate they close out Highmark.

Edited Thursday at 03:17 PM by chongli

[Orlando Buffalo]

12 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Your lips to God's ears.

 

If we lose another home game to overseas I'm going to send a really angry letter to Park Avenue

 

If we go to Ireland it will be as the road team

[sullim4]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The last game at Highmark/Ralph Wilson/Rich Stadium will be a national game.

 

That would either mean it's a playoff game, it's game 272 (NBC SNF Week 18), or they finish the season on the road.

 

Personally I am hoping for a meaningless game against the Dolphins that isn't nationally televised, after we've clinched the division.

[corta765]

5 minutes ago, chongli said:

 

Why? Teams often finish the season with two straight games vs. division rivals, usually one home and one away. I see no reason why it can't be Miami at Buffalo Week 17 then Buffalo at NYJ or NE Week 18. Miami is the longest AFC East rival we have had. It's appropriate they close out Highmark.

 

My point is if you want a primetime game at night the only way to guarantee that is week 17. Week 18 the NFL intentionally leaves all the games TBD so they can setup week 18 with the best matchups later. Buffalo can be home week 18 but if the game doesn't matter it will be at 1pm in a smaller window game.

 

I know for Bills fans closing out the stadium is a big deal, but nationally it will not be as big compared to a game that has playoff or seeding implications.

[RiotAct]

9 minutes ago, sullim4 said:

 

 

Personally I am hoping for a meaningless game against the Dolphins that isn't nationally televised, after we've clinched the division.

and then fans are graciously allowed onto the field to tear down the goalposts and remove chunks of the artificial turf to take back to their man caves!!!

[sullim4]

4 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

and then fans are graciously allowed onto the field to tear down the goalposts and remove chunks of the artificial turf to take back to their man caves!!!

 

You wish - these will end up in the BFLO store for $99 per piece.  Perhaps alongside the seats and a very limited number of troughs from the men's rooms!