Buffalo Plus Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: BILLS Schedule PREVIEW PREDICTIONS: Primetime, Holidays and INTERNATIONAL?
Date: May 12, 2025
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, the Buffalo Plus team dives deep into their predictions and analyses for the Buffalo Bills’ yet-to-be-released 2025 NFL schedule. They discuss potential primetime matchups, holiday games, and the likelihood of the Bills playing internationally. Using a mix of insider knowledge and beat experience, the hosts debate what this year’s schedule might signal about the Bills and break down the implications for fans, team routines, and broadcasting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Unprecedented Quality of the Bills’ Home Schedule

• Home games are stacked: The hosts marvel at the “absurd” quality of home games this year, highlighting that even strong teams like Tampa Bay are only the fifth-most interesting non-division matchup.

  • “The games are… the Tampa Bay Bucks, who are a good team…that’s like the fifth best game if you don’t count any of the division games.” – Mike Catalana [01:53]

• Strength of Schedule confusion: Despite tough home opponents, FOX rates the Bills’ schedule as the fifth easiest, which baffles the team.

  • “Fox just put out…Bills had the fifth easiest strength of schedule. Which I was very confused by looking at their home schedule…” – Dan Fates [02:13]

Notable Home Opponents:

• Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens, Bengals—all likely primetime candidates.

2. Predicting Primetime Games and Time Slots

• 1pm home games rare: The panel agrees that almost all big home games will be in premium time slots rather than the traditional 1pm window.
  • “Of the home games, those four home games…Ravens, Bengals, Chiefs, Eagles. No way.” – Mike Catalana [03:14]
• The value of the 4:25pm slot:
  • “The prime game for the network really is the 4:25 game. It gets better numbers than the night games.” – Mike Catalana [04:09]
  • Sunday night is still considered the “biggest,” but 4:25pm delivers the highest TV ratings.

Segment on Preferred Game Times

• Jenna — loves 1pm: the “tailgate food” flow and routine.
• Mike — prefers 4:25pm: draws national attention and fits the Bills’ new “big stage” persona.
• Dan — prompts listeners to share their favorite: night vs. afternoon games.

3. Storyline Matchups and Opening Night Rumors

• Strong hints: The hosts report insider buzz of a Week 1 Sunday Night Football home game vs. the Bengals.

  • “From what we’re hearing, is that it is Bills hosting The Bengals Week 1, Sunday night.” – Dan Fates [05:07]
  • “Love that opening game.” – Mike Catalana [05:17]

• Storylines galore: Anticipation for high-profile AFC matchups, and reflections on how much has changed in 10 years, from every game being a 1pm kickoff to nearly every game in the spotlight.

4. The Impact of Time Slots & Holidays on Fans and Team

• Stress on holiday games:

  • The difference between home and away games on holidays is substantial for fans.
    • “If you plan on going to the game and it’s a home game, it is taking up your whole day…that would be the difference between like a Christmas night game.” – Mike Catalana [15:04]
  • Potential Christmas game (possibly vs. Patriots) is discussed.

• Prime time vs. routine: 1pm games offer routine, easier logistics; primetime/holiday games bring more excitement and attention, but disrupt personal/family/work schedules.

5. Travel and International Game Possibilities

• Minimal western travel: The Bills’ 2025 travel is almost all east coast/southern, with Houston as the only significant trip west.
• International speculation:
  • Multiple international NFL games are scheduled, but the Bills’ situation is unclear.
    • Dolphins game in Spain is “most possible,” as are games in London or Dublin.
  • However, given last year’s London debacle performance-wise, panel is skeptical the NFL would make the Bills travel overseas again.
    • “I just think the team was not prepared…think how the debacle that was in London against the Jags was.” – Jenna Cottrell [22:27]
  • NFL prioritizes not moving the “best” matchups overseas; often middling games are chosen.

6. Schedule Reveal: What the Experts Look For

• Dan’s list:
  • Three straight road games (statistically tough on teams)
  • Early vs. late gauntlets (“easier early” is preferred for integrating new team pieces)
  • Home field late in season (weather advantage)
    • “A team that is playing their third straight road game…I like to fade those teams.” – Dan Fates [10:54]
• Jenna’s focus:
  • Short weeks/rest windows, layout of the BYE, and primetime concentration.
• Mike’s priorities:
  • Holidays, non-Sunday games, and how schedule quirks affect recovery and performance.

7. Predictions: How Many Prime/Featured Games?

• Estimate: Five or six non-1pm (including primetime and “game of the week” 4:25p starts).

  • Bengals & Ravens likely home night games; Eagles and Chiefs at 4:25pm.

• Divisional games: Possibility for a road night game within the AFC East (especially at New England).

  • “Baltimore, Cincinnati, night games at home, 4:25 against Kansas City and Philly…” – Mike Catalana [26:10]

8. Travel Draft & Offseason Fun

• Friendly banter about the podcast team’s own travel “draft” for away games, factoring in things like weather, family birthdays, and personal routines.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Jenna (on 1pm games & tailgating):
  “I love 1:00pm…because I love. Like, it’s daytime. You see everyone for the tailgates. It’s like they started out with the breakfast food, then went to lunch. Like, I love the Buzz and Wegmans.” [07:57]

• Dan (on covering late games):
  “Week 18 game in Miami. We didn’t sleep. We edited, packed our luggage and then got back on an airplane and came home.” [07:47]

• Mike (on NFL’s changing holiday approach):
  “I remember thinking…Christmas is a Wednesday. They can’t play NFL games on Wednesday. And the league's like, oh, yeah, not so fast…” [12:10]

• Dan (on travel and family):
  “For the sake of my family, nothing [on holidays]. We’re holding on by a thread!” [13:35 ]

• On international games:
  “It just seems like they’re always kind of like, hey, I can take it or leave it on this game of waking up at 9am.” – Dan Fates [21:25]

Important Timestamps

• Home Schedule Strength [01:53-02:36]: Discussion of elite opponents and confusion over “easy” schedule rating
• Primetime Windows & TV Ratings [03:00-04:19]: Why 4:25pm is most coveted slot
• Opening Night Rumors [05:07-05:20]: “Bills hosting the Bengals Week 1, Sunday night”
• Favorite Game Times (Listener Engagement) [06:05-07:30]
• 1pm Kickoff Love/Routine [07:52-08:45]
• International Game Discussion [17:02-22:38]
• Schedule Wishlists & Red Flags [10:44-12:59]
• Holiday Game Impact [12:10-15:54]
• Predictions for Primetime & Featured Games [24:33-26:24]
• Travel Draft Banter [27:22-28:56]

Tone & Language

• The tone is upbeat, candid, insightful, and carries a sense of veteran camaraderie with plenty of friendly ribbing and inside jokes. The panel constantly combines expert analysis with “fan’s perspective” questions, engaging listeners directly:
  • “Comment in what you prefer, not what you think is going to happen, but for your life, your work schedule, your family routine…”

Conclusion

This episode is an engaging forecast of what the 2025 Buffalo Bills schedule might look like, not just from a games and matchups perspective, but how it will shape fan experiences, media narratives, and even the everyday routines of those who follow and cover the team. With their usual blend of expertise and personality, the Buffalo Plus team primes listeners for a season of big moments and new scheduling wrinkles—while offering plenty of speculation and fun along the way.