Westward tug on schedule should play key role in challenging for postseason
The NFL schedule is a big reason to be bullish on the Buffalo Bills in 2008. The Bills and the rest of the AFC East appear to benefit from favorable “crossovers” in the league’s scheduling formula. The AFC East teams play the NFC West and the AFC West this season.
The four NFC West teams went 6-10 against the AFC each of the past two years. The NFC West never has had a winning record against the AFC under the current scheduling system, which has been in place six seasons. The AFC West includes two rebuilding teams (Kansas City and Oakland), one middle-of-the-road team (Denver) and one powerhouse (San Diego).
Furthermore, the Bills only make two long trips this season, at Arizona in October and Denver in December. Division rivals New England and the New York Jets both must make four trips to the West Coast, historically a tough assignment. § Statistically, the Bills have the sixth easiest schedule in the NFL, based on last year’s records. New England has the easiest schedule and the Jets the seventh easiest.
Here’s a look at the challenges ahead for the Bills the next four months:
Sept. 7, Seattle, 1:00 pm: The Seahawks have won four straight NFC West titles. But winnable: Seattle has just two wins the past two regular seasons over teams with winning records.
Sept. 14, at Jacksonville, 1:00 pm: The Marcus Stroud Bowl. Are the Bills stout enough in both trenches? The Jaguars, who bullied the Bills last year, will provide an answer.
Sept. 21, Oakland, 1:00 pm: By the end of this game, we should have a good read on the Bills’ run defense. Oakland will run, run, run behind stud rookie Darren McFadden.
Sept. 28, at St. Louis, 4:05 pm: The Bills’ offense had better be clicking because the Rams’ offense, when healthy, can score. Rams will be 0-3 and hungry for a win. It’s the Bills’ first visit to St. Louis in 13 years.
Oct. 5, at Arizona, 4:15 pm: Is the Bills’ revamped cornerback lineup up to the test? This game will show it. The Cards were fifth in passing last year. It’s the Bills’ first visit to the desert in nine years. Bills need to be 3-2 after this game.
Oct. 19, San Diego, 1:00 pm: Bills hoping for a trap-game setup. Chargers play Pats the week before and head to London the week after this one. Nevertheless, mark it down as an “L”.
Oct. 26, at Miami, 1:00 pm: The Bills like going to Miami, where they have won three of the last four (and it should have been four out of four). Rian Lindell had better be ready. Fish will play conservative, smash-mouth, small-ball.
Nov. 2, N. Y. Jets, 1:00 pm: Brett Favre returns to The Ralph for a huge game. The Jets may be 5-2. The Bills will have a bead on Favre’s attack by this point. Can the Buffalo offense match points with No. 4?
Nov. 9, at New England, 1:00 pm: It’s the annual trip to The Guillotine (aka Gillette Stadium), where the Bills have lost seven straight. Maybe Pats will be lethargic after playing Indy the week before.
Nov. 17, Cleveland, 8:30 pm: Drunk-with-optimism scenario: Tom Brady reinjures foot falling off staircase while on bye-week photo shoot with Gisele Bundchen. Bills beat Pats and are toast of nation for MNF. .
Nov. 23, at Kansas City, 1:00 pm: Option 1: Bills stand 7-3 and look to mop field with lowly Chiefs. Option 2: Three straight losses have 5-5 Bills under siege and clinging to must-win prayers.
Nov. 30, San Francisco, 1:00 pm: The return of the $80 Million Man, Nate Clements. Niners coach Mike Nolan will be on thin ice by now. Root for high winds versus Mike Martz’s aerial circus.
Dec. 7, Miami, 4:05 pm: Either way Bills die-hards will gripe. Playoff-primed Bills lose big home-field edge by facing Fish in Toronto. Or angst runs rampant due to Bills’ fall from playoff race.
Dec. 14, at N. Y. Jets, 1:00 pm: One of these two teams, at least, seems sure to be in the playoff hunt for this one. If it’s not the Jets, New York fans and media will have turned on Mangenius and Teflon Brett.
Dec. 21, at Denver, 4:05 pm: Mile High is a tough place to win. Denver is 46-18 at home this decade. It’s just the fourth Bills game in Denver since the merger in 1970.
Dec. 28, New England, 1:00 pm: Imagine if Pats enter 15-0. More realistic, perhaps, is Pats have home-field advantage wrapped up and can rest starters. The last time a Bills finale meant anything was 2004.
