Analyzing the 2025 Bills Schedule

[corta765]

Aight everyone Corta here and we got the schedule so I am here with my analysis of how it looks for the Bills and the fans. Before I jump into that I will recap that this was not my best prediction year for the schedule. In the past I have averaged 2-3 games right on the dot plus another 2-3 games off by only a week. This year I unfortunately got none I missed by one week on New York, the bye week. and Carolina. I had Houston at night but MNF not TNF the same with the Patriots as I had them on TNF and it is a SNF game. Like Mel Kiper I keep my job for another year, but this was not my best showing haha. With that said though it leads me into my review of the Bills schedule from the team standpoint as it is very interesting how the chips fell.

 

Bills Thoughts

If you take a look at the Vikings or Broncos schedules you will four night games, a game or two abroad, a few 4:25 games, and games on Xmas. If you had told me the Bills had four primetime games, one abroad, 3x 4:25 games, a game on Xmas, and one abroad I would have said that fits given what had been speculated and league trends with the NFLs elite teams playing on the major holidays. Thankfully for the Bills they managed to dodge the awful rest component of going abroad and up and down nature of playing on the holidays. As it was before the schedule was released the Bills already were going to travel the 2nd least all season of any NFL team with just one game (HOU) outside of the eastern time zone. Opening four of the first five at home is big and you can really see a path to 5-1 by the bye, 4-2 at worst. One of the things I like even though Thursday Night Games are not the best on the players is the artificial bye it creates. The Bills bye being week 7 is not the best but it could be worse. After the Houston game week 12 the Bills get 10 days rest before three of the next four on the road with the sole home game being vs Cincy. That is a nice help in what is probably the hardest portion of the schedule just in terms of travel for the team. The Bills only Monday Night Game has a bye after it so the team has just one game the remainder of the year not on Sunday which again is good for the routine coaches and players prefer. Their toughest matchups are spread out across the schedule with the PHI game being so late it is a bit curious given both teams potentially may have nothing to play for at that point. If there is one negative looking at the schedule for the team it is weeks 11-16 where they are home just twice before closing at home the remaining two weeks.

 

Realistically if there has ever been a year where the 1 seed truly feels there for the taking it is 2025. They really should be 5-1/4-2 at worst out of the gate, even after that they have plenty of winnable road matchups where the Bills overall talent should help carry the day. After Baltimore there is not a single game Buffalo will not be favored in and have a sizable advantage in the first six games so even if the defense is adjusting the offense should be able to take care of things. One nice thing with the bye week being week 7 is our two new suspended additions get an extra week before their first game which will allow more time for both to integrate into the team. Larry Ogunjobi & Michael Hoecht cannot be with the Bills in any capacity until after week 4 concludes. Weeks 5-6 they can rejoin the team and get prepped for the remainder of the year. I really think Buffalo will benefit by them having an extra week of time to learn the defense and where things are before they step onto the field. Because the Eagles game is so late in the year the Bills will most likely by then already know the seeding scenarios related to the AFC and it allows them a little leash if they get their work done prior. One other thing related to the Bills with the 1 seed is the Chiefs schedule is brutal travel wise this year. Their opening alone is in Brazil vs LAC, then back to KC vs PHI which is brutal matchup, before then heading to the Giants for SNF week 3 and then being home week 4 against BAL. Their schedule balances a bit after that and they close LAC, at TEN,  DEN, at Raiders which is not murders row by any means, but hopefully they have quiet a few losses by that point where they have to press.

 

Fan Thoughts

To start off I think the majority of fans are thrilled that we have no games on either Thanksgiving or Xmas especially this year. No overseas game is probably good for a lot of us although for Bills fans in Europe it probably is a bummer they did not make it across the pond. I think where things get dicey is just 6 games this year at 1pm and at home only two at 1pm at this point. For season ticket holders I got to believe their is some frustration with three of the first four games at night and in general it has gotten tiring that the NFL constantly puts the Bills in these big clumps of primetime games instead of spreading them out a bit more. 2022 by comparison was far more ideal as the primetime games were spread across a bit more which made it easier if you wanted to attend all of them. But the NFL really wants Buffalo in that 4:25 window now with the PIT, CIN, & PHI games all being the game of the week at the end of the season. Buffalo can be flexed into a game later as they are not at the max and I have wondered if the NFL intentionally placed those games in that spot for that reason also (although I doubt FOX/CBS wants to lose them). Atlanta being a Monday Night Game is a bit of a bummer because instead of having Monday to travel home if the game would have been Sunday you have to take a day of vacation. Again not the end of the world but if your targeting away games which many fans do with holiday weekends, ATL was a more attractive one which now is a bit harder to attend. On the flipside Carolina being the end of October and Miami the 2nd weekend of November are great opportunities to get to some better weather and see the Bills as our weather changes in WNY. I can see the Cleveland game being one of those ones that Bills fans takeover as it will be late in the year when the Browns are out of it and the Bills are battling hopefully for the 1 seed.

 

Overall I would give the schedule for fans a B-. There are some clear positives especially with no holidays or games abroad and the majority of the season post bye being at 1 or 4:25. But the opening six games is tough for season ticket holders and fans in general especially in the last year at the Ralph. I think many fans had warmed up to the idea of closing the stadiums regular season finale as week 17 game which would have some meaning to it, whereas week 18 very possibly is a backups game that isn't as glowy.

[Gregg]

It's crazy to call a week 1 matchup a must win. But considering the Bills and Ravens will most likely be competing for the #1 seed then getting the win opening night this year is very important.

[BritBill]

11 minutes ago, corta765 said:

 

 

Fan Thoughts

To start off I think the majority of fans are thrilled that we have no games on either Thanksgiving or Xmas especially this year. No overseas game is probably good for a lot of us although for Bills fans in Europe it probably is a bummer they did not make it across the pond. I think where things get dicey is just 6 games this year at 1pm and at home only two at 1pm at this point. For season ticket holders I got to believe their is some frustration with three of the first four games at night and in general it has gotten tiring that the NFL constantly puts the Bills in these big clumps of primetime games instead of spreading them out a bit more. 2022 by comparison was far more ideal as the primetime games were spread across a bit more which made it easier if you wanted to attend all of them. But the NFL really wants Buffalo in that 4:25 window now with the PIT, CIN, & PHI games all being the game of the week at the end of the season. Buffalo can be flexed into a game later as they are not at the max and I have wondered if the NFL intentionally placed those games in that spot for that reason also (although I doubt FOX/CBS wants to lose them). Atlanta being a Monday Night Game is a bit of a bummer because instead of having Monday to travel home if the game would have been Sunday you have to take a day of vacation. Again not the end of the world but if your targeting away games which many fans do with holiday weekends, ATL was a more attractive one which now is a bit harder to attend. On the flipside Carolina being the end of October and Miami the 2nd weekend of November are great opportunities to get to some better weather and see the Bills as our weather changes in WNY. I can see the Cleveland game being one of those ones that Bills fans takeover as it will be late in the year when the Browns are out of it and the Bills are battling hopefully for the 1 seed.

 

 

 

Oh I don't mind anymore after watching with my own eyes Goodell say the were using the Bills as an experiment the last time they were over. I'd rather they played in the US every year. 

 

I didn't go to a London game last season for the first time in donkey's. Kind of had the stuffing of it kicked out of me. 

[MJS]

3 minutes ago, Gregg said:

It's crazy to call a week 1 matchup a must win. But considering the Bills and Ravens will most likely be competing for the #1 seed then getting the win opening night this year is very important.

I think the Ravens have a tougher schedule, though.

[corta765]

5 minutes ago, Gregg said:

It's crazy to call a week 1 matchup a must win. But considering the Bills and Ravens will most likely be competing for the #1 seed then getting the win opening night this year is very important.

I would disagree. It is a game you really want to have, but the Ravens schedule is pretty brutal also so it is not end of the world.

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

Who do we play in the playoffs, that's all I'm concerned with.

[WotAGuy]

I don’t think I’ve had that many thoughts about all the Bills’ schedules combined since 1968. 

[JESSEFEFFER]

 The toughest games are at home.  After the Ravens game, the Bills have a realistic chance to stack wins and put the division away early again.  Cleveland and Pittsburgh are easily reached away games on the back half when their fans are likely to have lost all hope of a meaningful season.  Away at Charlotte is a big deal given all the connections to the area.  The night games are something of a pain but that is the expectation now.  The Eagles coming in so late is weird and the only minus I see to the schedule.  Maybe they would like to promote it as a Super Bowl preview but it might not mean anything to one or both teams by then.

[SoonerBillsFan]

Here is my analysis...just win every damn game.  Doesn't matter when or where it is, just win.

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillsGospel2014 said:

Who do we play in the playoffs, that's all I'm concerned with.

Superbowl,  who do we play in the Superbowl.   Get your mind right!

[corta765]

16 minutes ago, JESSEFEFFER said:

 The toughest games are at home.  After the Ravens game, the Bills have a realistic chance to stack wins and put the division away early again.  Cleveland and Pittsburgh are easily reached away games on the back half when their fans are likely to have lost all hope of a meaningful season.  Away at Charlotte is a big deal given all the connections to the area.  The night games are something of a pain but that is the expectation now.  The Eagles coming in so late is weird and the only minus I see to the schedule.  Maybe they would like to promote it as a Super Bowl preview but it might not mean anything to one or both teams by then.

Eagles will be interesting. Buffalo hung really well with them two years ago and I think (HOPE) the defensive line finally is strong enough for that type of matchup. I honestly hope both teams need it because it is a good litmus test of the team.

 

I don't mind primetime at all as you expect it, but four out of seven is just a tough way to opener when you'd prefer it more spread. But can't have it all either haha

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

36 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Here is my analysis...just win every damn game.  Doesn't matter when or where it is, just win.

Superbowl,  who do we play in the Superbowl.   Get your mind right!

Truth 

[MarkyMannn]

2 hours ago, WotAGuy said:

I don’t think I’ve had that many thoughts about all the Bills’ schedules combined since 1968. 

I agree, and coincidentally too 1968 was my first year I followed the Bills

[Process]

4 hours ago, Gregg said:

It's crazy to call a week 1 matchup a must win. But considering the Bills and Ravens will most likely be competing for the #1 seed then getting the win opening night this year is very important.

Disagree that it's a must win even for the 1 seed. Our schedule at the moment looks so easy that even if we go 2-2 vs KC Cin Bal Phi, it's not unrealistic to think we can still finish 14-3.

 

Bal and KC have much tougher schedules.