A look into the 2009-2010 Bills Home Schedule
By Zachary Best
The Buffalo Bills face a daunting task next season of overcoming three straight 7-9 finishes, and they will have to do it while overcoming a more difficult schedule. Watching other teams around the league make changes to try and get better, here’s a look at how the Bills will finish next season, if the status quo is met in Buffalo.
Home Schedule:
Patriots – The Patriots are one of the few teams on the Bills ’09 schedule that didn’t make the playoffs, but with an 11-5 record they should have. The Bills will continue to struggle against the Pats. Outcome : Loss. 0-1.
Dolphins – There is no reason to believe that the Miami Dolphins are going to go from worst, to first, to non-contention again. Miami has found the winning element again and will contend in the AFC East for a few years. Outcome: Loss. 0-2.
Jets – With the hiring of a no-nonsense coach in Rex Ryan, the AFC East is going to boast probably three of the best teams in the league next year, if they can avoid a second half collapse. Even with the collapse and missing the playoffs they still beat the Bills twice. Outcome: Loss. 0-3.
Texans – The Texans are a team on the rise, and while they did not make the playoffs, they made a good case for the future. Depending on how the Texans start the season, and where this game will fall; I see it as one the Bills might be able to win. Record: 1-3.
Colts – Indy will be a different team without Dungy next year, but a Dungy man is taking over, and you probably wont see much change with this team. Bills lose another, record, 1-4.
Saints – The Saints scored a lot of points this year. If they can dominate the Bills offense, they will win this game. The outcome of this game will also depend on where in the schedule it is played. I see the Saints as a team still searching for its identity, and the Bills winning. Bills Record – 2-4.
Buccaneers – While the Bills have struggled with their heads under water and their record below .500, the Bucs have at least some breathing room. Look for the Bucs to control this game. Bills 2-5.
Browns – As bad as it has been in Cleveland since their return to the league, they always seem to catch Buffalo sleeping. There is no reason to believe it wont happen again, but Buffalo will finally beat the Browns. Bills overall Home Record for 2009-2010 – 3-5.
Now I understand picking them to go 3-5 is going to make me a very unpopular individual, but so long as they stand idly by while other teams have improved. I will revisit this again after the draft and free agency, but history is definitely against the Bills on this one.