My 2021-22 Bills Schedule Prediction

[Boxcar]

On 5/5/2021 at 11:19 AM, corta765 said:

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:

Schedule mock drafts.

 

Boy, the NFL milks everything. Goodell would monetize his own mother if he could.

[stinky finger]

45 minutes ago, Boxcar said:

Schedule mock drafts.

 

Boy, the NFL milks everything. Goodell would monetize his own mother if he could.

 

Have you seen her?

 

I'd monetize her too.

[Buffalo03]

Because I'm a nerd, I actually sat down and made a prediction for all primetime games week by week. It only took like 2 hours but I think I might hit on some matchups, just not the exact weeks

 

Thursday Night Games

Sunday Night Games

Monday Night Games

Who I believe will play on Thanksgiving 

And the Saturday Double Header in week 18. It was fun. I was able to put the Bills on prime time 5 times lol

[machine gun kelly]

On 5/5/2021 at 11:52 AM, BornAgainBillsFan said:

 

Doesn't the 1:00pm game cut into the Early Bird specials? LOL

Nah, that’s not til 4 pm.  Move to FL, you’ll get the schedule down at Sweet Tomatoes.

 

Im not that bad as 8:30, but 10 pm works for me when you get up at 4:45am every weekday.

 

I love the 4pm games, but my 2nd choice is 1pm.  Besides the guys who want to really watch the game, not hang in a bar getting bleep faced don’t want night games.  My solution is turn off all connectivity and record.  Get up early and fast forward the commercials of the 2nd half.

 

I know you guys love it so don’t care.  I might be in the minority but love having the 17th game especially as it’s WFT, and the other AFC #1 seed was Pitt.  I’m cool with KC as maybe this is the year we surprise all the moron prognosticators who will all pick KC even if we are undefeated going into the game.

 

oh and Corta, nice job bud.  Fun to think about.  You make a good point things may change with a 17th game.  Wait til there’s 18 in probably 6 years.  You know that’s coming with maybe 1 preseason game.  Not advocating just a realist.

Edited May 9, 2021 by machine gun kelly

[corta765]

On 5/9/2021 at 12:09 PM, Boxcar said:

Schedule mock drafts.

 

Boy, the NFL milks everything. Goodell would monetize his own mother if he could.

 

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.

On 5/9/2021 at 1:36 PM, Buffalo03 said:

Because I'm a nerd, I actually sat down and made a prediction for all primetime games week by week. It only took like 2 hours but I think I might hit on some matchups, just not the exact weeks

 

Thursday Night Games

Sunday Night Games

Monday Night Games

Who I believe will play on Thanksgiving 

And the Saturday Double Header in week 18. It was fun. I was able to put the Bills on prime time 5 times lol

 

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.

[Buffalo03]

18 minutes ago, corta765 said:

 

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.

Yeah, I'll probably put it out at some point today since the schedule comes out tomorrow. I think I might have missed on the opening Thursday night game though because it's starting to sound more and more like it's gonna be the Bills and Buccs. I made it the the Saints vs Buccs and had the Bills at Chiefs for the opening Sunday Night Game week 1

[dollars 2 donuts]

On 5/5/2021 at 12:22 PM, Brennan Huff said:

If we play sunday night then I have to nap during 60 minutes 

 

 

If you have On Demand/Paramount +, Brennan, you can get that nap over within 43 minutes.

Edited May 11, 2021 by dollars 2 donuts

[BritBill]

On 5/7/2021 at 8:24 PM, Mark Vader said:

My prediction.

 

Week 1 @TENN 

Week 2 MIA

Week 3 @NYJ 

Week 4 WASH

Week 5 IND

Week 6 @TB 

Week 7 CAR

Week 8 @NE 

Week 9 BYE

Week 10 PITT

Week 11 @JAX

Week 12 @KC

Week 13 ATL

Week 14 HOU 

Week 15 @NO 

Week 16 @MIA

Week 17 NE

Week 18 NYJ

 

I think you've nailed that apart from not having "London" stated after "Week 4 WASH". 

[Captain Caveman]

18 minutes ago, BritBill said:

 

I think you've nailed that apart from not having "London" stated after "Week 4 WASH". 

Falcons are playing in London, it would be weird if they had announced theirs but others are waiting until tomorrow to be released.

 

 

[corta765]

35 minutes ago, Buffalo03 said:

Yeah, I'll probably put it out at some point today since the schedule comes out tomorrow. I think I might have missed on the opening Thursday night game though because it's starting to sound more and more like it's gonna be the Bills and Buccs. I made it the the Saints vs Buccs and had the Bills at Chiefs for the opening Sunday Night Game week 1

 

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.

[chongli]

On 5/9/2021 at 11:10 AM, machine gun kelly said:

Nah, that’s not til 4 pm.  Move to FL, you’ll get the schedule down at Sweet Tomatoes.

 

Alas, they went out-of-business last year:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souplantation

 

"Sweet Tomatoes, operating as Souplantation in southern California, was a United States-based chain of all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurants. The first location opened in 1978 in San Diego, California, where the company was headquartered. The company was incorporated as Garden Fresh Corp. in 1983. The company went public in 1995[2] but was taken private in 2004.[3] The company, owned by Garden Fresh Restaurant Corporation,[4] temporarily closed its 97 locations in March 2020 because of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 7, 2020, the closure was made permanent[5][6] and the company filed for liquidation."

[BritBill]

45 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

Falcons are playing in London, it would be weird if they had announced theirs but others are waiting until tomorrow to be released.

 

 

 

There could be up to 4 games in London. Falcons & Jagwahs are two who look as though will be guaranteed home teams. Possibly two more home teams to come......

 

[Captain Caveman]

11 minutes ago, BritBill said:

 

There could be up to 4 games in London. Falcons & Jagwahs are two who look as though will be guaranteed home teams. Possibly two more home teams to come......

 

Maybe, I'd doubt it's us though.  Also got an email from the Bills a few months ago about getting the extra home game with no extra cost, so if they are taking a game away seems they may need to do some price adjustment (because there's also one fewer preseason game I believe.)

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, chongli said:

 

Alas, they went out-of-business last year:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souplantation

 

"Sweet Tomatoes, operating as Souplantation in southern California, was a United States-based chain of all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurants. The first location opened in 1978 in San Diego, California, where the company was headquartered. The company was incorporated as Garden Fresh Corp. in 1983. The company went public in 1995[2] but was taken private in 2004.[3] The company, owned by Garden Fresh Restaurant Corporation,[4] temporarily closed its 97 locations in March 2020 because of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 7, 2020, the closure was made permanent[5][6] and the company filed for liquidation."

Dang, now I have to go to Applebee’s.

[Mark Vader]

3 hours ago, BritBill said:

 

I think you've nailed that apart from not having "London" stated after "Week 4 WASH". 

Ooops

[Brennan Huff]

[Mark Vader]

6 minutes ago, Brennan Huff said:

If true, is this really a surprise?

[Brennan Huff]

2 minutes ago, Mark Vader said:

If true, is this really a surprise?

Nope

[Greg S]

4 minutes ago, Mark Vader said:

If true, is this really a surprise?

 

For an encore Bill will throw his shoe this time.

[Boxcar]

5 hours ago, corta765 said:

 

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.

Maybe Roger should have teams draft their own schedule over 3 or 4 days from a pool of teams. He could stuff tons of commercials in that. Give each team a 10 minute window.