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Rams - opening game of season Bills / Cowboys most likely


CorkScrewHill

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The Rams as the winner of the Super Bowl get first game to open season at home PFTalk conjecture is that the most compelling games are Cowboys or Bills. I think 49ers could also factor in. In general I would love to get that one out of the way and gives 10 days to prep for second game is season

 

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/02/14/cowboys-bills-strong-candidates-to-open-2022-season-against-rams/

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America is tired of the Cowboys. Cross them off. Maybe the BIlls, but 49ers, or Green Bay, would also be interesting. And I would not count out the Patriots. However, trying to be unbiased here, I do think the Rams vs. Bills would have a strong national appeal.

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7 minutes ago, CSBill said:

America is tired of the Cowboys. Cross them off. Maybe the BIlls, but 49ers, or Green Bay, would also be interesting. And I would not count out the Patriots. However, trying to be unbiased here, I do think the Rams vs. Bills would have a strong national appeal.

They don't play the Packers or the Patriots

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It will most likely not be the Bills.  
 

Since 2004 and the Super Bowl champs starting the season - only twice has the game been AFC versus NFC (2007 and 2016).

 

They nearly always make it a compelling intra-conference game as the NFL tries to make the majority of week 1 and 2 games intra-division when possible and intra-conference when not.

 

2 out of 17 puts the odds right around 10% and dropping as it is so rare.

 

 

 

 

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5 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

It will most likely not be the Bills.  
 

Since 2004 and the Super Bowl champs starting the season - only twice has the game been AFC versus NFC (2007 and 2016).

 

They nearly always make it a compelling intra-conference game as the NFL tries to make the majority of week 1 and 2 games intra-division when possible and intra-conference when not.

 

2 out of 17 puts the odds right around 10% and dropping as it is so rare.

 

 

 

 

 

The problem is there are not many compelling NFC matchups because the NFC kinda stinks. If it isn't Rams v Niners then it has to be an AFC team IMO. 

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56 minutes ago, harryS said:

 

has a team ever opened in two consecutive seasons, without being the Super Bowl winner in either?

No, BUT the NFL usually  doesn't like Inter-Conference games on Opening Night. Only 3 times in the last 20 years has the NFL Kickoff game been between 2 Intra-Conference teams and non in the last 5 years.

 

With that being said it could be due for a Inter-Conference game and Bills vs Rams would be a great one.

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Cowboys opened last year (over the Bills). I don't think the league can justify putting them in again. Broncos will depend on Rodgers. If he is in Colorado then they have a chance. Think it's down to the 49ers and Bills really. And with the postseason Allen just had they would be wise to put the Superstar in a game to start off the year

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15 minutes ago, dma0034 said:

Cowboys opened last year (over the Bills). I don't think the league can justify putting them in again. Broncos will depend on Rodgers. If he is in Colorado then they have a chance. Think it's down to the 49ers and Bills really. And with the postseason Allen just had they would be wise to put the Superstar in a game to start off the year

 

Agreed with Buffalo. I also think the NFL would be mindful of Kroenke's complaints of 49'ers fans taking over the stadium, so I doubt it's SF. And it's been over 10 years since there was a conference championship game rematch for the opener.

 

Over on the 506 forums, the Bills are the overwhelming favorites. Some have also said if Rodgers goes to Denver, they could also be in play (as you stated too).

 

[registration and moderator approval required:]

https://506forums.com/index.php?topic=24459.0

 

Here are the nine choices for the Rams' opener, btw:

 

Seattle

SF

Arizona

Dallas

Carolina

Atlanta

Denver

Las Vegas

Buffalo

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50 minutes ago, NewEra said:

That would be an epic start to the season.  I’d definitely drive over for that one. That said, we’ll probably play the @ jets

 

Yeah, on the 506 forums, they said the Bills Mafia might take over the stadium.

1 hour ago, Process said:

They don't play the Packers or the Patriots

 

Well, they play the Packers, but at Green Bay, so they are off the list (only once, in 2013, was the defending SB champion away for the opener, and that was only due to a schedule conflict). So, you're basically correct in that the Packers are a no-go.

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2 minutes ago, Greg S said:

I would say Cowboys or 49ers. Dallas always get center stage with that America's team BS. SF is a big rival with the Rams. I doubt the league starts with an interconference matchup. I will also predict the Bills open week 1 with a 1:00 game.

Against the Jets.

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2 hours ago, CSBill said:

America is tired of the Cowboys. Cross them off. Maybe the BIlls, but 49ers, or Green Bay, would also be interesting. And I would not count out the Patriots. However, trying to be unbiased here, I do think the Rams vs. Bills would have a strong national appeal.

 

America may be, but the networks are not.  It could also be a Frisco game..  Big markets...

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1 minute ago, CNYfan said:

Against the Jets.

 

Probably. There was an article in the NY Post a few years back. It said that the Bills and Jets have opened up against each other more times than any other rival. NE and Miami weren't even close to the Jets and Bills with opening day games. For some reason the league likes the Bills and Jets to play week 1.

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3 minutes ago, eball said:

Defending champs vs. co-favorites for 2022 makes a lot of sense for the NFL, and the Cowboys just aren’t America’s Team any more.

 

The Cowboys are ratings which means $$$$ for the networks. I would say them or SF are the favorites to open at LA.

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3 minutes ago, filthymcnasty08 said:

It's about eyeballs on the TV

 

And JA17 is coming off two weeks of no games but in the news daily.  Hard to do!

 

The NFL is watching....and maybe, just maybe, they want to finally market around a Bills player 

 

And If EA Sports comes calling......Say "NO" to Madden cover Josh!!!!


I would think they’d be going for Donald or Rodgers after the SB / MVP allure

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7 minutes ago, filthymcnasty08 said:

It's about eyeballs on the TV

 

And JA17 is coming off two weeks of no games but in the news daily.  Hard to do!

 

The NFL is watching....and maybe, just maybe, they want to finally market around a Bills player 

 

And If EA Sports comes calling......Say "NO" to Madden cover Josh!!!!

 

Since he passed away in Dec I think Madden will be on the cover of Madden this year.

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Just now, fan_in_tx said:

Don't Bills Play NFC North this year?   Why would we play agains the Cowboys?  Did I miss something in scheduling

 

 

The Bills do play the NFC North next season and the game against the Rams is the 17th game. The Bills and Cowboys don't play next year unless its in the Super Bowl.

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1 hour ago, Greg S said:

 

The Cowboys are ratings which means $$$$ for the networks. I would say them or SF are the favorites to open at LA.

Exactly. This isn't about it being  a good game - it's all about big TV ratings to start the season and that means small market teams like Buffalo are at a huge disadvantage. Buffalo vs. Rams may be the game the fans feels would be the best game, but Dallas or San Fran would be bigger TV markets and that's all that matters.

 

This changes a bit if Buffalo can have sustained success and grows their national fanbase like we did in the 90s and KC is doing now, but that's the only time small market teams figure into any of this... 

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1 minute ago, The Avenger said:

Exactly. This isn't about it being  a good game - it's all about big TV ratings to start the season and that means small market teams like Buffalo are at a huge disadvantage. Buffalo vs. Rams may be the game the fans feels would be the best game, but Dallas or San Fran would be bigger TV markets and that's all that matters.

 

This changes a bit if Buffalo can have sustained success and grows their national fanbase like we did in the 90s and KC is doing now, but that's the only time small market teams figure into any of this... 

 

I wouldn't be shocked if the Bills vs Rams was a primetime game but I just don't think it will be week one. As you mentioned TV ratings to start the season is what the league and networks want. Dallas and SF (big rival) are the favorites IMHO.

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It will pretty cool to see whatever visiting team gets the game.  The Rams will be raising their banner to a stadium that will be packed with 65% visiting teams fans.

 

Can't wait.   Anyone ever remember the Super Bowl Champs getting booed in their home stadium during a banner raising ceremony?

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4 hours ago, CSBill said:

America is tired of the Cowboys. Cross them off. Maybe the BIlls, but 49ers, or Green Bay, would also be interesting. And I would not count out the Patriots. However, trying to be unbiased here, I do think the Rams vs. Bills would have a strong national appeal.

It definitely felt like that was the coverage after that embarrassing loss by the Cowboys, like they were fed up. There's an entire offseason for the media to climb back on and keep riding them but right now it feels like the narrative is them being in NFL purgatory.

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