Breaking down Bills schedule.

[blackonyx89]

I checked out the schedule and I see it as a very favorable, especially the back end of all those home games. YES! Anyway let's say the Bills need to go at least 5 and 3 in the first 8 games and at least 4 and 4 to possibly make the playoffs. Obvious tie breakers head to head etc. etc. The major key is to win as many home games as possible to help better their chances. What do you think? How do you see it and break it down your way and discuss!

[k-oneputt]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

If they go 4-4 in the first eight I then think they will make the play-offs.

Barring injury issues of course.

[Night Train]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

If they go 4-4 in the first eight I then think they will make the play-offs.

Barring injury issues of course.

Agreed . If they can just keep around .500 by the bye, they have some rebuilding teams all over the schedule in the 2nd half.

The Bills biggest opponent is injuries.

[Pinkerton Security]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

Everything hinges on Fitz, IMO. The only way I see another more important factor is if our D makes huge strides and becomes a top 5 defensive unit, that way Fitz need only be a game manager, rather than last year when he was forced to get into shootouts that obviously ended up in mixed results. If Fitz can become more consistent and our D can make its way closer to the top half of defensive rankings, I see us as a contender to make the playoffs.

[Ed]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

I think it's really odd that we only have one home game in October and one in November. You would think they could do a little bit better job balancing it, but if it ends up working out as an advantage come December then whatever.

It's too hard to predict at this point if the schedule is favorable or not. You just don't know what injuries and other issues teams are going to have when we face them. Last year everyone had the NE and Philly games marked down as losses in ink and the Cincy game as a likely win.

[justasportsfan]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

use for reference


1 BUF @ NYJ
2 KC @ BUF
3 BUF @ CLE
4 NE @ BUF
5 BUF @ SF
6 BUF @ ARI
7 TEN @ BUF

8 BYE

9 BUF @ HOU
10 BUF @ NE
11 MIA @ BUF
12 BUF @ IND
13 JAC @ BUF
14 STL @ BUF
15 SEA @ BUF
16 BUF @ MIA
17 NYJ @ BUF

[vanbillsfan]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

how they do in division games matters the most. if we go 1-5 like we did last year, then there's no chance of playoffs. let's see if we can finally go 3-3 or 4-2 in the division, at that point we have a good shot.

[The Jokeman]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

I hate this schedule. As a slow start could kill our playoff chances. I think Week 1 is a MUST win and then the back to back weeks against the Patriots and 49ers worries me a lot. I'm even upset about the BYE Week. As rather have it around week 9 or 10. The key stretch to the season to me are weeks 7, 9, 10 and 11 where we have to win three of the four to think the playoffs as a realistic oppurtunity again as long as we win Week 1 and three of our first six games and at least split our division games.

[Joe Fo Sho]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

1 BUF @ NYJ LOSS
2 KC @ BUF WIN
3 BUF @ CLE WIN
4 NE @ BUF LOSS
5 BUF @ SF LOSS
6 BUF @ ARI WIN
7 TEN @ BUF WIN

8 BYE

9 BUF @ HOU WIN
10 BUF @ NE LOSS
11 MIA @ BUF WIN
12 BUF @ IND WIN
13 JAC @ BUF WIN
14 STL @ BUF WIN
15 SEA @ BUF WIN
16 BUF @ MIA LOSS
17 NYJ @ BUF WIN


11-5

...seems legit.

[ublinkwescore]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

We r sweeping all the teams in our division this year and getting the number one playoff seed.

[McBFLO]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

We r sweeping all the teams in our division this year and getting the number one playoff seed.

Damn, how fun would that be?!

[mjt328]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

1 BUF @ NYJ - Loss
I think the Bills gained on (and possibly passed up) the Jets in the offseason, but I'm still going to mark them as splitting the series.

2 KC @ BUF - Win
We trashed them last year in Kansas City. Dont' see any reason we won't do it again in the home opener.

3 BUF @ CLE - Win
The Browns are one of the worst teams in the NFL. We have to win this one.

4 NE @ BUF - Loss
It was great breaking the streak last year, but I'm not so sure they are ready to pull this upset off on a regular basis.

5 BUF @ SF - Loss
Assuming last year wasn't a fluke, the 49ers are probably a Super Bowl candidate.

6 BUF @ ARI - Win
Toss up. The Cardinals were 8-8 last year, but I think their talent is much lower than that. If the Bills are as improved as I think, this should be a win.

7 TEN @ BUF - Win
Another toss up. The Titans were 9-7 and almost a wild card team last year. Like the Cardinals, I don't think they are that good. They are beatable in Buffalo.

8 BYE

9 BUF @ HOU - Loss
Houston is a very good team and will probably win that division again. They have lost a lot of talent though, so I wouldn't be surprised with a drop off.

10 BUF @ NE - Loss
See above.

11 MIA @ BUF - Win
The Dolphins have switched places with the Bills and will be the cellar dweller of the AFC East for years to come.

12 BUF @ IND - Win
Indy gutted its roster and is starting over. No matter how talented Luck is, he's still a rookie at this point.

13 JAC @ BUF - Win
I wouldn't be surprised if the Jags compete for the #1 pick this year. We take this in Buffalo.

14 STL @ BUF - Win
The Rams are not as bad as they played last year. But they are still a young team with lots of holes. I think we should win this at home.

15 SEA @ BUF - Win
Another mediocre team we get at home. No reason we can't win this one.

16 BUF @ MIA - Win
See above

17 NYJ @ BUF - Win
See above



Adding that up, I think 10-6 or 11-5 (and the playoffs) is very attainable.
At the very worst, we are probably talking 8-8 or 9-7.

Like other posters said, the last seven games are VERY FAVORABLE. We play a lot of bottom-feeder teams and mediocre squads at home. Even if we start with a poor record, we could still recover and make the playoffs with double-digit wins.

The beginning of the schedule isn't so bad, as much as it will be a TEST. How much has this team really improved?
Have we surpassed the Jets as the #2 team in the AFC East?
Can we hang with contenders like the Patriots and 49ers, or will be get blown out?
Will we take care of business on the road, against middle of the road teams like Arizona and Tennessee?

[jamze132]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

I think it all comes down to injuries. If we lose Mario Williams or Eric Wood or even Fitz, we're ****ed.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

1 BUF @ NYJ - Loss
I think the Bills gained on (and possibly passed up) the Jets in the offseason, but I'm still going to mark them as splitting the series.

There are always surprises but I agree with you for the most part on paper, injury not withstanding.

I do feel strongly about the 1st game at Jets that the Bills can pull of an upset - believe me the Bills will be underdog for that game. Under Ryan, the Jets have been slow starting a season, and was lucky to get their opener win last year. They are changing the offense with Sparano; may take a little longer to get into a groove. On the other hand, Gailey is known for coming up something new every year and he should know what he got in terms of offensive weapons very well now. The biggest change is the Bills D under Wannstedt and a new scheme. You can argue the same way that it will take the Bills D a little longer to get into a groove, but generally speaking, it's easier to try a new defense than a new offense. Besides, Wannstedt's D relies more on talent than scheme and the Bills' D talent is improving every year under Nix/Gailey so far. Also worthnoting, Wannstedt was not just walking into the Bills this spring; he was on Bills staff for a whole year.

In terms of matchups, the Jets offense relies heavily on their strength of O-line, unlike the decision and play-making ability of Brady of the Pats. The major improvement of the Bills D-line on paper is the best counter-move to neutralize their strength.

Believe it or not, I actually fear the unknown of Tebow the Jets WILL throw at the Bills in that game. It's one thing to prepare for Tebow as the main target at home. It's entirely another matter to face him as a changeup in his house.

[justasportsfan]

Re: Breaking down Bills schedule.

I don't think the Pats will sweep a healthy bills. We almost swept them with our crappy D last year. At worst, I think we go 3-3 in the division.