Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The first thing I looked at when the Buffalo Bills' 2025 schedule was officially released this past Wednesday was how many night games there were, and whether or not there were any holiday games in store.
From a purely selfish point of view, I am not a fan of the Bills in prime-time. The wait for kickoff during the day seems endless. But when you're as good as the Bills are and you have a franchise quarterback, now the reigning league MVP, everybody wants you in prime-time.
The NFL scheduled the Bills to play five prime-time games, the same number they were given last year when the schedule came out. Those night games are top heavy, as for the second-straight season, four of the first six games for the Bills will be played in the bright lights of prime-time.
Last year, two of the five prime-time games were at home. This season, three of Buffalo's five prime-time contests will be played at Highmark Stadium in its final year of existence.
I've also never been a fan of a Bills game on a holiday. Again, I have selfish reasons because it is a work day, and I like to relax on those days and watch football stress free.
Thank you, NFL. The Bills will not play this season on either Thanksgiving or Christmas.
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I don't know why, but something did change for me with this year's schedule.
I always used to hope the "weakest" opponent at home would end up being the home opener, a game as close to a guaranteed win as possible. But I'm happy to see the Baltimore Ravens come to town for Week 1 on "Sunday Night Football".
The Bills' main offseason goal was to bolster the defense, and they used both free agency and the draft to do that. Let's see right off the bat whether those moves will give the Bills a defense that can pull its own weight come playoff time by facing Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and a Super Bowl contending Ravens club.
I love the first seven games on the Bills' schedule.
Remember last year when the schedule came out and you saw the Bills' first six games? It was home against the Arizona Cardinals, in Miami for a Thursday night matchup with the Dolphins, back home for a Monday night game with the Jacksonville Jaguars, then on the road for a Sunday night game in Baltimore, a 1 p.m. matchup with the Texans in Houston, and then another Monday night feature in New Jersey against the New York Jets.
We all thought that was a difficult opening stretch, and were thinking, at least, 3-3, but 4-2 would be great. They ended up going 4-2.
I'll bet many of you are looking at the first seven games on this schedule and thinking the Bills could run the table, or realistically be no worse than 6-1.
After Baltimore in Week 1, the Bills visit the Jets, who I don't think will be much improved despite getting a new coach and a new quarterback. Then its three-straight at home against Miami (Thursday night), the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots (Sunday night) before a trip to Atlanta to face the Falcons on "Monday Night Football". Then after the bye, Buffalo will travel to Carolina to face the Panthers.
The Bills should be able to stack wins, and put themselves in good shape in both the AFC East and the conference.
They'll need to get off to a good start, because when they hit Week 10, the Bills will have a stretch where they will play 5-of-7 games on the road, including games at Miami, Houston and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
One of the other things I look for when the schedule is released is "the gauntlet". Where is the toughest part of the schedule?
Last season, you could have made a case for that opening six-game stretch. But you probably thought it was later in the season when the Bills played, in order, the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions, with the last two of those contests coming on the road.
The closest thing to a gauntlet this season is Weeks 12 through 14 when they play at Houston, at Pittsburgh and then host Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. They do play the Texans in a short week since it's a Thursday night matchup, but that also means extra rest before visiting the Steelers.
I like the closing stretch, should the Bills be in a battle for the division or the top seed in the AFC. Week 15 at New England, Week 16 in Cleveland against the Browns and Week 18 against the Jets at home are all games they should win.
I like the fact that the three-best teams they will face (on paper) are spaced apart. Baltimore is Week 1, the seemingly annual battle with Kansas City is Week 9, and their game against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles comes Week 17.
Nice to have all three of those games at home too!
Now we just have to wait until Sept. 7. That day can't get here soon enough.
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