Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Let the countdown to Wednesday, May 15 begin!
That is the day the National Football League is expected to release its 2024 schedule, and we get to seriously start thinking about what the Buffalo Bills' record might be.
And, of course, I get to "Pick The Bills" on WGR.
How will the Bills' schedule look? Expect something similar to last season, in terms of prime-time games.
If you think a Bills team "in transition", as general manager Brandon Beane referred to them, is not as attractive to the TV networks, you are mistaken.
The Bills are still ratings gold because of one player: Josh Allen. He is one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the league, and that means the Bills will be in plenty of national TV games once again.
During an appearance on the "It's Always Gameday in Buffalo" podcast with WGR's Sal Capaccio and WKBW's Matt Bove, NFL Vice President of Broadcast Mike North confirmed that.
"We're not taking our foot off the gas with the Bills," North said. "I don't think there's any question they have one of the best players in the league and that's the must-see TV we've been talking about here."
Related
If you forgot what the 2023 schedule looked like, the Bills were given six night games when the regular season schedule was released. They ended up playing a seventh when the Week 18 matchup in Miami against the Dolphins for the AFC East title was flexed to Sunday night.
Another four games were in the 4:25 p.m. ET slot on Sunday.
There were just five games the Bills played on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, and they even had a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff when they faced the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
I fully expect to see the Bills get the maximum six prime-time games when the schedule comes out next week. You can make a strong case that, at least, 10 of the 17 games the Bills play this season belong in a national TV window.
Remember, the most attractive matchups on paper don't automatically go to a night time slot, though. For one, they are limited to six prime-time games, and both CBS and FOX want top-tier matchups in the Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET window.
Last season, the Bills' late night kickoffs included games with the Tampa Buccaneers, New York Giants and Denver Broncos.
Here are the games I think will be in a national TV spot, whether at 4:25 p.m. ET or on either Sunday night or Monday night:
- Both games with the Jets, since the networks were denied Aaron Rodgers vs. Allen last season when the New York quarterback tore his Achilles early in the season opener.
- Both games with Miami, including another Bills-Dolphins Week 18 game, this time in Buffalo.
- Home games against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and Super Bowl runner up San Francisco 49ers
- Road games against 2023 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, and a Houston Texans team that is not only expected to contend for the AFC title, but also acquired wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason. (The Texans game might have been an attractive prime-time game regardless)
- I'll put the Bills game in Detroit on the prime-time/4:25 p.m. ET list, but that might end up being the early game on Thanksgiving once again.
- The Bills game in Seattle will have to be, at least, a 4:05 p.m. ET start, so I bet they just move it to the 4:25 p.m. ET national window.
- The only other game that might be worthy of a prime-time spot would be the home matchup against Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.
That would be 11 games if all of those are chosen.
For those of you that love seeing the Bills play on Sunday at 1 p.m.. ET, you might only have five chances to do that.
Both games against the New England Patriots were in that time slot last season, and I'd expect that to be the case again. Throw in home games with the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals, and a road game against the Indianapolis Colts. The game against the Rams in Los Angeles could be a 4:05 p.m. ET start.
As far as what I'd like to see, it would be nice for the Bills to open the 2024 season at home for the first time in three years, and I'd like as close to a guaranteed win as possible. Bring on the Patriots.
I think the AFC East will, once again, come down to the Bills and Dolphins, so give me the first game in Miami in October (maybe less chance of players suffering heat stroke) and the second matchup in Orchard Park in Week 18.
I'd prefer the Bills not to play on Thanksgiving for the fourth time in six seasons, but if the league wants them on a holiday, then have them play on Christmas Day.
Tick, tick, tick. Can't wait until May 15.
