Well, well, well…. The 2017 NFL Schedule has been released and it is time to dive into this year’s version of Buffalo Bills predictions. Let’s get right to it.
Most favorable part of the 2017 Bills Schedule: Home games in bunches.
Least favorable part of the 2017 Bills Schedule: 4 Divisional games in last five weeks of season.
Week 1: Home vs. New York Jets
This one is simple. The Jets are bad. Very bad Meanwhile, the Bills will be looking to avenge last years two losses against their division rival. One stat to think about as well… The Bills have just lost two home openers since 2011 (2013 v Patriots, and 2016 v Jets) Bills open up the season in front of the best fans in the NFL with a 31-14 win over the J-E-T-S.
Bills Record: 1-0
Week 2: Away vs. Carolina Panthers
This game I am probably the most excited about. Yes, I will be making my return Charlotte to visit some friends and fulfill my yearly task of attending at least one away game per year.
Now, lets get to the game. Panthers will be hosting the Bills in their home opener. Ron Riviera definitely is not happy about starting another season on the road as they will travel to the Bay Area to take on the San Francisco 49ers. Lets look back to 2015. Rex Ryan traveled to New York to beat the Jets in Primetime. I know Sean McDermott isn’t Rex Ryan but I think McDermott gets the win against his old team. Bills start out 2 and 0 by defeating the Carolina Panthers by a score of 28-24. LeSean McCoy with two rushing TD’s.
Bills Record: 2-0
Week 3: Home vs. Denver Broncos
Yes, I know the Broncos have Von Miller. Yes, I know the Broncos defense is good BUT… Trevor Siemian on the other hand is not good. He has to travel across the country to get a win, and in this case. It is not happening. New Era Field will be rocking like always at the beginning of the season. But it will be close. Final score: Bills 21, Broncos 17.
Bills Record: 3-0
Week 4: Away vs. Atlanta Falcons
Oh, here it is. The Bills traveling to the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. I am going to keep this one short and sweet. McDermott knows the NFC South. He has played against the Matt Ryan offense for years. I think Atlanta goes through the “Super Bowl Slump” (much like Carolina did last year.) Bills take the “W.” Final Score: Bills 24, Falcons 20.
Bills Record: 4-0
Week 5: Away vs. Cincinnati Bengals
This is where the Bills get beat. Heading into the bye week and after a hot start, the Bills will struggle at Paul Brown Stadium. Last year the Bills barely squeaked by with a win in Cincinnati. This year it is not going to happen. Bengals QB Andy Dalton throws for 300 yards against a tired Bills defense. Final Score: Bengals 28, Bills 14.
Week 6: BYE WEEK… Bills Record: 4-1
Week 7: Home vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bills come home and start out slow after the bye. Jabo (will) win this one for the Bucs. Final Score: Buccaneers 21, Bills 7. Bills just won’t be able to get the offense going.
Bills Record: 4-2
Week 8: Home vs. Oakland Raiders
It’s the RAIDDDEERRRRSSSSSSSSSSS (Chris Berman voice.) Marshawn Lynch travels into Buffalo to take on his old foe and the Bills get another look at Derek Carr. The Bills had the Raiders on the ropes last year in Oakland and choked. This time, not so much. I’m predicting a shootout. Marshawn Lynch will hit and run his way out of Buffalo (PUN INTENDED!!!) as the Bills begin “their hunt for the playoffs.” Final Score: Bills 37, Oakland 33.
Bills Record: 5-2
Week 9: Away (TNF) vs. New York Jets
***BOLD PREDICTION ALERT*** Todd Bowles will be fired by then. The silent coach will be no more for the Jets and they will somehow have a fire lit up from beneath them in Primetime at home. Bills lose a tight one. Final Score: Jets 28, Bills 23.
Bills Record: 5-3
Week 10: Home vs. New Orleans Saints
Yes, it is Drew Brees. But who is he going to throw to? The Saints secondary is worse than two garbage cans. Bills throw all over the Saints as Tyrod throws for over 400-yards and 3 TDs. Bills win a blowout in Buffalo. Final score, Bills 38, Saints 14.
Bills Record: 6-3
Week 11: Away vs. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
The Bills did it last year and they will do it again. The Bills will travel to L.A. and take home a win. Biggest factor? The 30,000 seat Stubhub Center. Smallest venue in quite sometime for the NFL will bode well for the Bills. I saw the amount of Bills fans that traveled/lived in LA when I went to Bills v Rams at the Coliseum last year. It was remarkable seeing an 80,000+seat stadium nearly a quarter way filled with Bills Mafia. This will be like a home game for the Bills out west. Bills will beat the AFC West bottom feeding Chargers in a blowout. Final Score: Bills 28, Chargers 3.
Bills Record: 7-3
Week 12: Away vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Ah, the “soul crushing annual loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.” It will happen. Kansas City always seems to have the best of us. And it doesn’t help that this one is at Arrowhead. Final Score: Chiefs 23, Bills 10.
Bills Record: 7-4
Week 13: Home vs. New England Patriots
Call me crazy, but I think the Bills got this one. I can’t remember when the Bills hosted the Pats this late in the season. I think the Ralph (Yes, I still call it The Ralph) will be rocking and the Patriots won’t be able to beat the Bills in a cold, snowy, and raucous Buffalo. Stephon Gilmore gets a sour taste in his mouth in his return to Buffalo as the Bills pick up their first home win vs the Patriots since September 25th of 2011 when Rian Lindell knocked through a game winning FG as time expired. I am anticipating another close one, but I think Shady and the Bills have a heck of a day on the ground vs. the defending Super Bowl champs. Final Score: Bills 33, Patriots 30.
Bills Record: 8-4
Week 14: Home vs. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck struggled last time he paid a visit to Buffalo (which was Rex Ryan’s Bills debut) and this year he will as well. Buffalo will be riding high after knocking off the defending champs. The “Hunt” will be alive and well in Buffalo and they will keep on hunting just like Jim Kelly goes Buck hunting in New Zealand. Final Score: Bills 29, Colts 20.
Bills Record: 9-4
Week 15: Home vs Miami Dolphins
Last year the Dolphins, most notably Jay Ajayi, ran all over the Bills. ***BOLD PREDICTION ALERT*** Jay Ajayi will be out for the year at this point. Think this time the Bills throw all over the Dolphins a week before Christmas in snowy Buffalo. Sammy Watkins has his biggest week of the year with 3 TD’s and the Bills get that much closer to their first playoff berth of the 21st century. Final Score Bills 37, Dolphins 20.
Bills Record: 10-4
Week 16: Away vs. New England Patriots
Bills get blown out in New England. Tom Brady will be a mad man working to avenge his loss a few weeks prior, and will be trying to clinch home field throughout the playoffs. Stephon Gilmore has an interception, and the Bills lose a tough one near seasons end. Final Score: Patriots 31, Bills 10. Bills remain in the Hunt but last game of the year in Miami proves to be pivotal.
Bills Record: 10-5.
Week 17 (Regular Season Finale:) Away vs. Miami Dolphins
Doesn’t this look familiar, much like Miami’s trip to Buffalo at the end of the 2016 season. The Bills and Dolphins duked it out in overtime on Christmas Eve last year. I nearly missed Christmas Eve dinner with the family because of it! The Bills needed to win to remain in the Hunt. The Dolphins needed to win, and then win the following week to advance into postseason glory. They did. The Bills this time, however, will fall out on the losing end. Miami gets their win vs. Buffalo to end their season on a high. Final Score: Miami 23, Bills 18.
Bills finish season at 10-6.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WEEK 17 LOSS…
The Bills lose and head to the locker room to scoreboard watch as they now need the Texans to beat the Colts in order to punch their ticket into the playoffs. When they walk into the locker room, they see the Colts lost to the Texans by 6 and the Bills rejoice. Sean McDermott leads the Bills into the playoffs in his first season at the helm!
As the late, great Van Miller would say… FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS, IT IS PLAYOFF TIME!
Now lets just hope this all is right… BILLIEVE
Michael Loffredo 