Interesting Idea For A Week 1 Matchup Against The Buffalo Bills

We know who their opponents will be.  We know where they will play them. This could be an option the NFL might want to explore.

We just don't know which weeks they'll play.

Who are the Buffalo Bills' opponents this year?

Every year, we know who the Bills' opponents will be long before the schedule comes out.

• Jets (X2)
• Dolphins (X2)
• Patriots (X2)
• Chiefs
• Ravens
• Colts
• Jags
• Titans
• Texans
• Cardinals
• The Seahawks
• 49ers
• Rams
• Lions

How do they determine the opponents on the upcoming schedule in the NFL?

The rules are as follows:

• TEAMS IN OUR DIVISION:  Each team plays twice against each of the other three teams in its division: once at home, and once on the road (six games). So, the Bills will play the Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots two times each.
• ANOTHER FULL DIVISION IN THE AFC:  Each team plays once against each of the four teams from a predetermined division (based on a three-year rotation) within its own conference: two at home, and two on the road (four games).  This year, the bills will be playing the AFC South.  So that means the Colts, Jags, Titans, and Texans.
• THE SAME PLACE IN THEIR DIVISION:  Each team plays once against one team from the remaining two divisions within its conference that finished in a similar placement in the final divisional standings in the prior season: one at home, one on the road (two games). The Bills were first in the AFC East, so they have to play against the first place teams in the AFC North (Ravens) and the AFC West (Chiefs)
• ANOTHER FULL DIVISION IN THE NFC:  Each team plays once against each of the four teams from a predetermined division (based on a four-year rotation) in the other conference: two at home, and two on the road (four games).  This year, the Bills will be playing the NFC West so they'll get the Cardinals and 49ers at home, and the Rams and Seahawks on the road.  Last year it was the NFC East.
• ONE EXTRA GAME FROM AN NFC DIVISION TEAM THAT WE PLAYED TWO YEARS AGO:  Each team also plays an extra interconference "17th game" against one team from the division in the other conference it played two years before that. Additionally, this team must have finished in a similar placement in the final divisional standings in the prior season.  That division for the Bills was the NFC North and because the Lions were in first place of the NFC North last year, we get them.

What would make for the perfect week 1 matchup for the NFL to feature?

The only thing we don't know is when they'll play each other.  But how big of a draw would it be if for week 1, the Bills ended up taking on the Houston Texans?  A friend of mine suggested it and it could be a real possibility.  Stefon Diggs on his new team.  The Texans are on the rise.  Do they have what it takes to knock the Bills off in week 1?  Both teams have already been talked about with playoff implications.  This could be a no-brainer for NFL executives.

As it stands right now, the Chiefs will kick off the 2024 season at home on September 5th.  They could end up playing the Texans on that night so the Bills wouldn't get them on week 1.

Also, the Bills have already started their season on the road for the last two years.  Will they make them travel for the first game of this season too?

Be careful what you wish for

Be careful though Bills fans.  This Houston team is no joke.  CJ Stroud has shown that he can win in this league and they have definitely done everything they can to build around him.  With new stars like Tank Dell and veterans who are new to their team like Diggs and former Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon, they could be very dangerous.

Do the Bills have what it takes to beat a young team like these Texans?

The schedule is expected to come out on May 9th.

You can be sure I'd have all the snacks ready to go for this one.  Is it time for football yet?