Jan 7, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix speaks at the press conference announcing the hiring of Doug Marrone (not pictured) as the head coach of the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

If you were in a hole last night, then you probably missed the announcement of the Bills schedule.  Fear it is everywhere. I will be looking at the matchup for the Bills as well as where they fall in the strength of schedule.

The Bills open up against their AFC East Rival the Patriots.  We then go the next 10 weeks before the bye, which is at week 12 this year.  As for the rest of the opponents see the Panthers, Jets, Ravens, Browns, Bengals, Dolphins, Saints, Chiefs, Steelers Jets. Then our Bye. To finish out the season, we look at Falcons, Buccaneers, Jags, Dolphins, and then the Patriots.

If we look at the team from last year and look at a win/loss possibility, I would predict the Bills will Lose both to the Pats, and Split with the Jets and Dolphins.  We beat the Jags and Bucs but lose to the Falcons.  So as of right now we are sitting at a 4-5 record.  We beat the Chiefs, Browns, and Panthers Moving us to a 7-5 Record.  We lose to the Saints, Steelers, and Ravens psuhing us to a 7-8 record.  The one game that could go either way would be the Bengals game.  I think they will win but it is really the only game that I am hesitate about, if picking using last years team.  Im looking at a 8-8 or 7-9 record.  An improvement from last year but not playoff quality.

I will look again at the schedule after the draft and in the beginning of training camp to see where Buffalo stands and see if any of it will change.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; General view of the NFL logo after Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills schedule has been released and the Bills lead off the season at home against division rival New England. Here is the schedule below:

• Sunday Sept 8th – New England
• Sunday Sept 15th – Carolina
• Sunday Sept 22nd – @New York Jets
• Sunday Sept 29th – Baltimore
• Thursday Oct 3rd – @Cleveland
• Sunday Oct 13 – Cincinnati
• Sunday Oct 20 – @Miami
• Sunday Oct 27 – @New Orleans
• Sunday Nov 3 – Kansas City
• Sunday Nov 10 – @Pittsburgh
• Sunday Nov 17 – New York Jets
• BYE
• Sunday Dec 1 – Atlanta
• Sunday Dec 8 – @Tampa Bay
• Sunday Dec 15 – @Jacksonville
• Sunday Dec 22 – Miami
• Sunday Dec 29th – @New England

Immediate Reactions

The schedule is very reminiscent of 2003 when Buffalo hosted New England to start the season and finished off in New England in the final game of the schedule. Lets hope it doesn’t yearn the same result 31-0 and a mirrored 0-31. The Bills get 1 PrimeTime game, but this year it won’t be at home, it will be down the highway in Cleveland on Thursday night in early October. 7 teams in the NFL get 5 PrimeTime games (Pats, Giants, Broncos, Falcons, Packers 49ers and Redskins), the Bills get 1. The Bills are lucky to get even one considering the season they had last year. The last PrimeTime game between Cleveland and Buffalo, the Bills missed a field a goal from 49 yards out to lose by 2 points. I was there and it was heartbreaking. The Bills only have 1 home game at the Ralph in December. If you want to help ticket sales, that is one way to do it because the games are always a tough sell. The other December game goes to Toronto and it’s against the Falcons. The NFC teams only come around once every 8 years and you’d like to see this one in Buffalo, but at least it’s not another division opponent. Finally, the Bills have 2 games in Florida in December….Thank you football gods and NFL schedule makers!

You can follow me @DougRox14