Schedule Release Day Eve

By Coast

On the eve of the 2nd most important day since the Super Bowl, it is time to predict what we might see on the Bills 2007 schedule.

First of all, if the Bills open with 2 consecutive road games this year AGAIN, it would be a travesty. The Bills played so many early road games, 4 of their first 6, and that made it hard for them to get off to a solid start. Although, you can't blame the schedule or location for 41-7 losses, losing at Detroit and for blowing a 10 point 2nd half lead in New England. Regardless, opening with 2 divisional road games isn't fair and pushing the majority of home games into late November and December isn't conducive to the Bills filling the stadium.

This year, look for the schedule to be weighted towards early home games. Chaz Schumer pushed for nicer weather home games so that the Bills will have an easier time selling out the games. Newsflash Chaz, the time of year doesn't matter! If the Bills are good, the seats will be filled. If the Sabres aren't good, the seats will be filled. There were 54,000 people at a must win game with Buffalo in the playoff race in December in 55 degree weather. You are going to sit there and try and explain to me that the stadium isn't selling out because of the weather?? Let's be serious. So, my point is...if Buffalo is going to make a playoff run, it is going to have to happen on the road with perhaps 3 of the final 4 games being away from Orchard Park.

For the 338th consecutive year, the Bills won't play a Monday night game. The NFL and ESPN hate the Bills. All you have to do is listen to the "on the clock" segment with the Bills. They completely tore up the team as part of their ploy to move the Bills to New Mexico or something. Also, noone outside of Western New York and Southern Ontario has ever heard of more than 4 players on this team. JP Losman since he is the starting quarterback, Donte Whitner because everyone was lost when we drafted him and Lee Evans because he is good. Maybe Dockery because of the ridiculous contract...but that is it. ESPN isn't putting this team on Monday night.

All Bills games will be at 1:00 and none will be nationally televised, at least early. The Bills have a shot at maybe getting a 4 pm game late in the season because of flex scheduling. The Bills need to get off to a solid start in order to gain some respect and possibly land Jim Nantz's team, but unless they start 7-0 at least, they aren't gaining respect because the Bills might be the most disrespected franchise in sports. It could be because of their 0 rings, 0 playoff appearances in the 2000's and because of the fact they are a small market and had 4 games blacked out. It could also be because all their good players rip up the city and want to be traded and request the team to move to Toronto. Who gains more respect around the league anyways...McGahee or Ralph Wilson?? Definitely McGahee!

Here are some odds that I came up with myself, let me know if you want to place some bets

Bills Monday night game (home) +8000
Bills Monday night game (away) +4000
Bills Sunday night game (home) +4500
Bills Sunday night game (away) +1500
Bills having any game on a day other than Sunday (+750)
Bills having any game at a time other than 1:00 (-110)
Bills having more than 4 road games after the midway point of the season (-150)
Bills having more than 4 home games after the midway point of the season (+120)
Bills opening at home (-110)
Bills opening at home vs. New England (+325) [this might illicit a sell out but I doubt it]

The Bills schedule may be more fan friendly this year, but it still will in someway screw the Bills. After all, that is what the NFL is trying to do.

Check back tomorrow for the reaction to this long awaited 2007 schedule.