BILLS Schedule PREVIEW PREDICTIONS: Primetime, Holidays and INTERNATIONAL?

Summary

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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]

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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…”

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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.

Transcript

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. In terms of holidays, what do you guys think we could see? Do you think multiple.

[Dan Fates]

I'm just wishing it into existence.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you think most. I mean, I think it could be.

[Dan Fates]

For the sake of my family. Nothing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We're holding on by a thread.

[Dan Fates]

Nothing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. All right. Welcome back to the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscrib and share. We always appreciate it. Also, a reminder, you can listen to our audio only version of the podcast, available wherever you find your podcast, creatively.

[Mike Catalana]

Named Buffalo plus, my buddy Dave gives me a hard time all the time. He goes, I'm an audio guy. I'm an audio. I need all of your stuff on audio. So we'll put the. We'll put this up for.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just for you, Dave.

[Dan Fates]

How did I do hosting?

[Jenna Cottrell]

You did. You did a great job. Till the end.

[Dan Fates]

Till the end.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You're just hanging on. We've all been there.

[Mike Catalana]

Bad thing to say, land of plane these days with what's going on. But Dan was.

[Dan Fates]

I was.

[Mike Catalana]

Dan was at Newark.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it was. It was shaky. I will say Mike gave me a little bit of crap in the beginning, but I think telling people. You can pause. You can pause the video right now and subscribe.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, I like that. You can also just subscribe while you're watching.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it's just.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But yeah, you can pause.

[Dan Fates]

Call to action.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay, we like that. Yes. All right, so we're going to talk a little bit today about the schedule. So on Monday, we're recording this. On Monday, we're going to. We thought there would be a couple more announcements coming out about what the bill schedule looked like, but either way, we're going to talk about our predictions, what we expect, and obviously, Mike, there's. There's a ton of opportunity in terms of this team, how good they are, and what that means for the spotlight in general on this group this season.

[Mike Catalana]

Especially with the home schedule this year, is absurd.

[Dan Fates]

It's a bear.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, it is.

[Mike Catalana]

And the games are. We were joking, saying the Tampa Bay Bucks, who are a good team with Baker and Mike Evans, I mean, they can score. They're probably going to be a division winner playoff team. That's like the fifth best game if you don't count any of the division games in what they have just at home.

[Dan Fates]

And I saw Fox just put out again their strength of schedule stuff, and they said the Bills had the fifth easiest strength of schedule.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Huh.

[Dan Fates]

Which I was very confused by looking at Their home schedule going outside of their division. The Bucks are the second worst team they face and then the Saints.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's really interesting.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. I mean you have.

[Dan Fates]

Outside of their division, right?

[Mike Catalana]

I mean you have the. Well actually the powerhouses. It's not just better. I mean it is, I mean Eagles, Chiefs, Bengals, Ravens. Yeah, I mean thankfully for the Bills, those are home games because I mean obviously those are, you know, tight games no matter what. But. Yes, and, and you could label any one of those as prime time game. All of them as a primetime game.

[Dan Fates]

Well, that was the one thing I wanted to say is are any of those games a one o' clock kickoff? In your, in your guys opinion, could any of those home games or any.

[Mike Catalana]

Of the home games, those four home.

[Dan Fates]

Games, Ravens, Bengals, Chiefs, Eagles.

[Mike Catalana]

No way.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, we're all in. We're all on the same page. At least we can start there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How many 1pm kickoffs at home do you think they have this year? Probably a Saints game.

[Mike Catalana]

I'd say two.

[Dan Fates]

I'll say three.

[Mike Catalana]

I think it's going to be. I don't know how the league looks at the Patriots. They're an interesting team this year. The jets are New York. You know the thing about the jets is they try to not schedule them when the Giants are playing, if you notice. So that's why sometimes you get a Jets 425 game.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, I see.

[Mike Catalana]

So you know, on the given week.

[Dan Fates]

For a second I was like, well, they can't play the same place, Mike. But I get what you're saying because you don't want just.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, actually me.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I get what you're saying. It's the fact of TV wise. TV wise, they don't want them in the same time slot.

[Mike Catalana]

So. But I mean those other teams, they. The prime game for the network really is the 425 game.

[Dan Fates]

Right.

[Mike Catalana]

It gets better numbers than the night games.

[Dan Fates]

Do you think it does better than Sunday night?

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. 425 is the number one time slot for games.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean, I would agree with that. Just 425.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean we all know there's 405 games sometimes that that means it's not the league wide game that is probably seen by 85% of the country.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, especially late in the year when it's dark already at like 4:30. The best. Yeah. So it's 215.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's dark out.

[Mike Catalana]

So we were thinking, you know, the story was that NBC had said, oh, Josh is going to be on the Today show. So I'm watching the Today show. I see Mike Tirico on there. I'm waiting for him to say, hey, here's the opening game. And then here's Josh Allen to tell us about Sunday night. No Josh Allen.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No Josh Allen. Josh Allen's supposed to be later in the week.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

On Wednesday.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

It doesn't change my thought. And it's what we talked about as we wrapped up rookie minicamp, from what we're hearing, is that it is Bills hosting The Bengals Week 1, Sunday night.

[Mike Catalana]

Love that opening game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I do, too.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, there's storylines galore, and I've always thought of, like, Sunday night as the biggest. I understand what you're saying, like the prime time slot. I just think of Sunday night as.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think they bill it as that, obviously.

[Mike Catalana]

But I will also, I think early in the year, better chance to get the bigger audience late because it's September around the country.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, a little harder to get people in front of the TV at 4 in the afternoon. I mean, there's so much people are doing.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Which is why they avoid Labor Day.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

They used to play games on Labor Day weekend. And then, like, it's way too much going on. So. I'm with you on that. I think the night game, when people have settled in after a weekend anywhere, that's. That's going to be a big game.

[Dan Fates]

Well, and I want the audience to. To comment in. What do you like? I'm not talking about what you think will happen, but we've always kind of had this joke because when we started covering the bills 10 years ago, it was every game. What? What did I say?

[Mike Catalana]

No, you're right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

10 years.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I just. 10 years is like.

[Mike Catalana]

10 years.

[Jenna Cottrell]

10 years.

[Mike Catalana]

I had already been covering the team for 27 years.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was 14 when I started covering the Bills. That was wild.

[Dan Fates]

How about that? But I think about it like we were there, like the Rex Ryan and Geno Smith. No, it was the guy that punched Geno Smith.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, ikn. And Paulie.

[Dan Fates]

Yes. When he was signed and Rex was eating dog biscuits, like, that's when every game was at 1:00'. Clock. And so for you, the people that have liked, commented and subscribed comment in, like, what you prefer, not what you think is going to happen, but for your life, your. Your work schedule, your family routine. Like, do you like the one o' clock games? Do you prefer the night games after the kids have gone to bed? Do you prefer Monday night? Like, what do you like most? I think would Be interesting to see the perspective of the audience of not what you think, what you prefer. Because there are. Some people are like, oh, they need to get more primetime games. There's only so many you can be scheduled for. But then some people are like, I don't want to be up until 11:30 at night and then having to go into work.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So that's me.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, it's been a different change in our jobs, in our aspect of covering the team, of being like, hey, we're up till. I mean, I always think back to when people talk about, like, oh, it's early flight or a long day for you. It's like that Week 18 game in Miami. We didn't sleep.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

We edited, packed our luggage and then got back on an airplane and came home.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. That's fun, though.

[Dan Fates]

That's not. That's not complaining. We cover an NFL team.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's pretty freaking sweet, I would say. I love 1:00pm Excuse me. Kickoffs. Just 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.

[Dan Fates]

I know you would tie it into food. Naturally, there's the open.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I am who I am.

[Dan Fates]

I.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But that being said, like, I think the 1 o'. Clock, and that way, when you're done with the game, it's still early on, that people can do other stuff, go to bed at a reasonable time. I think the 1pm and that's especially something that when we first started covering the team, you kind of like anyone else. It's a routine that you get into. And the 1pm was kind of like that perfect sweet spot. So that's my favorite. But also, there's no denying that primetime games, just this stage and what it means for the team and just the excitement that goes into it, it is a different level.

[Mike Catalana]

I'll go right in the middle. I love the 425. When you're a team like the Bills.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Where, you know, it's against a really good team. You know, everybody is watching. They've had so many. I mean, the. The Josh game against the Chiefs at 425. The game they lost to the Eagles in overtime, which is a crazy game. 425, I think they are. That is their absolute sweet spot. I mean, they get huge numbers and, you know, it's different. It does make your day a little different, but I just think they. They fit there, and the networks love them in that spot. But all the networks.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, obviously all. It's Fox and cbs. But they'll, you know, that's the thing, I guess. Well, we'll have to look at it because they have started to change that a little bit. It used to be if you're an AFC team on the road, it's cbs.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

And now, you know, because there's so many partners they have with Amazon and Netflix and every other thing, they've changed it a little. But that's still the main way they do it.

[Dan Fates]

I think too. The other thing I always am interested in is the fact that like last year it was Monday night. Jags host, Bills hosted the Jags. Like that was like a. The Jags on like some like we think of like those, those key games. So you think of Bengals, Chiefs, Ravens. And then all of a sudden you'll get a. A primetime game where it'll be maybe against the Patriots and you'll go, huh.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, the Patriots.

[Dan Fates]

Huh.

[Mike Catalana]

Last year they had it now was against the Dolphins. But they had the quick turnaround right away.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Mean, if you. They opened with Cardinals.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

And then right down to Miami, you know, dismissed the Dolphins like they do. And then they went on from there. You know, they want to get these other teams on primetime games. Sometimes getting them in a game, they know there's going to be an audience because it's a good team.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

And you know, and early in the year before, before they know they're.

[Dan Fates]

Before their wheels have completely fallen off.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What is the first thing you look at when the schedule comes out?

[Dan Fates]

I look at three things. I actually wrote. I actually wrote down notes. The three things. Notes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Highest ceiling. Sorry.

[Dan Fates]

I write down Dion Walker. So I make sure I note of that first three straight road games. That's a bear. If you ever have to play a team that is, especially gambling purposes, a team that is playing their third straight road game, I like to fade those teams that. That's a brutal part trying to find. Especially in the Bill's case. We talked about it last year and we will bring up clips from last year because there is some deja vu aspects of this point last year and where we are right now. Easy early schedule again. As they're trying to. They're talking about revamping this defense. It's going to take some time to gel. I think you'd like to have an earlier slate rather than a harder slate to start trying to get that buy in the middle of the year as close as you can. And then especially for Buffalo because of the home field advantage, which it is throughout the entire season. The weather, the Bills play well in it. We've talked about that before. When you get the Niners coming to, to Orchard park around November in those west coast teams, it's a, it's an advantage. So when you have outdoor teams or west coast teams coming, I'd like, I like the Bills to have home games later in the year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

My thing I look at is just like, how much rest, like short weeks. Where do those fall? Where does the buy back up? And then just. Yeah. What is the. What does it look like Early? What does it look. Is it a gauntlet? Late? How does that all play out? And then also, Mike, how many primetime.

[Mike Catalana]

Games I look now with Bills and the way the league is, I look at the holidays right away because it's going to. Especially last year. I remember thinking like beforehand I was like the, you know, back at the end of the season, I'm like, well, Christmas is a Wednesday. They can't play NFL games on Wednesday. And the league's like, oh, yeah, not so fast. Yeah. And so it's, you know, Christmas and. Because Thanksgiving became a thing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

For the Bills when it's still possible for this year. And now you've got the, the other days. I, I honestly look at it. Yes. It is about prime time. It used to be that mark of wow, the Bills are showing something because they're putting them more in primetime. They're going to get the max. Primetime games. They'll get flexed into some like, they are money in those games. To me, it's more anything non Sunday.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Is the way I look at anything non Sunday. I want to see. And then to your point, how does this impact the team going from a Sunday to a Thursday and what the case is for, you know, rest. Who they played coming off that game. Like last year, they gave them one o' clock Sunday travel for a Thursday.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

They blew out the Dolphins. So, yeah. You know, we'll see what happens this.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Year in terms of holidays. What do you guys think we could see, do you think? Multiple.

[Dan Fates]

I'm just wishing it into existence.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you think most. I mean, I think it could be.

[Dan Fates]

The sake of my family. Nothing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We're holding on by a thread.

[Dan Fates]

Nothing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. If you had to pick a holiday, they do play.

[Dan Fates]

There's the open.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What about Black Friday?

[Dan Fates]

Sure.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I feel like that I could. That would be. I would be.

[Mike Catalana]

That's not really a holiday. It's over a holiday. No, I'm saying is like, listen, we've.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Had as A shopper. Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

We've had every level of travel, Thanksgiving games. We've had the early right in Detroit, we had the 425 in Dallas. We had the night game in New Orleans. Yeah, they won them all. Great food in New Orleans, bad injuries in two of them. Not great for Thanksgiving. Christmas is just. It's just different. And it's a Thursday, so it makes it more of a normal interruption in the schedule in terms of the day of the week. That Wednesday one was weird because they had to play Saturday the week before. I think they are very much alive to play on Christmas.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think they play the Patriots on Christmas.

[Mike Catalana]

That could be.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They usually pay the play the Patriots around then anyways.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And for you guys, if you're going, you would stay. If you are going to work, if you are so different going to the games. A road game is three hours of your Christmas. If you go to the games, a home game is a day. It just is. Well, if you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, you talk about. For our job.

[Mike Catalana]

No, I'm talking about for fans who go to the games. If you're a Bills fan, if it's a home game and you go to the games, it is four hours before you're leaving and two hours after the game before you get home. Meaning if it's a Christmas Day game and that game starts at 4 o', clock, you don't just turn the TV on at 4 o'.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Clock.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean, you could skip the game. I'm saying is if you normally go and you go and use a ticket and go to the game, you're looking at me like this doesn't exist.

[Dan Fates]

If it's a road game, it's travel.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, I'm saying is that's the difference. If it's a home game on a holiday, you map out three hours of the day for the whole family to watch the game. If you plan on going to the game and it's a home game, it is taking up your whole day. So to me, that would be the difference between like a Christmas night game.

[Dan Fates]

I thought he meant going to the road game.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I guess I'm saying is sure fans could always go to a road game. I don't know if purposely many people would say I'm going to go to a Christmas game. Unless, you know, you had family in New England and you said we're going to go to the game Sunday night or Thursday night. Whatever it is I'm saying is just like on Thanksgiving, like if it's a road game, like it's been. You just mapped out that day.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And you had the game and then, you know, the rest of your day is impacted in the time it takes.

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[Mike Catalana]

As we were saying, Christmas at a home game is pretty impactful for people.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So it's interesting you talked about the travel guys. Where is the farthest west The Bills traveled this year is fascinating to me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Farthest, not really that far. Wait, I'm trying to think.

[Mike Catalana]

Wait a minute. I think I know this. It is. Is it like. I'm not. Wait a minute, I gotta think. Is it Pittsburgh?

[Dan Fates]

No, I don't. Okay. I'm not good with geography. I don't think it's Pittsburgh because I know.

[Mike Catalana]

Wait a minute. But they play in Atlanta. They play in Charlotte.

[Dan Fates]

That is correct.

[Mike Catalana]

And then they play the, you know, the jets, the Browns.

[Dan Fates]

Browns are.

[Mike Catalana]

No, it's not the Browns.

[Dan Fates]

It's not the Browns.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, there's only one other. And what's the other game? Oh, wait a minute. It is point.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay, wait, let me.

[Dan Fates]

Mike, we've been there before.

[Mike Catalana]

Indy.

[Dan Fates]

Nope.

[Mike Catalana]

Where is it?

[Dan Fates]

Houston, I think, would be the farthest.

[Mike Catalana]

No question it is. But beyond Houston.

[Dan Fates]

That's it.

[Mike Catalana]

It's. It is east. Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. The travel schedule.

[Dan Fates]

You're traveling the furthest. That is Boston. It's Voxborough.

[Mike Catalana]

That's east.

[Dan Fates]

Right. Well, I'm. I'm talking about.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, distance wise.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Distance wise.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But what about.

[Dan Fates]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, Atlanta is farther.

[Dan Fates]

Well, Miami. I'm talking about, like when you're.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, which way? East or west? Yeah. And west would be Cleveland. Right.

[Dan Fates]

Houston.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Houston.

[Mike Catalana]

No, I just. Besides Houston.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm gonna say. I was like. But they could go further east.

[Dan Fates]

I don't think the rumor we're hearing now. Right. Is the Ireland game is Pittsburgh and the Vikings.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Is what the rumor is now.

[Mike Catalana]

So we have a.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, it's your notes.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, I guess I was saying is look at the possible games. So there are games outside the United States in Brazil, it's the Chargers. The Bills don't play the Chargers. It's the Colts in Berlin. The Bills don't play the Colts. So you have the Dolphins in Spain, which I I guess is possibility. Right. Because obviously they play the Dolphins.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think that would be cool.

[Mike Catalana]

Steelers in Dublin. London with the Jags. They just played there. I don't think they would repeat and send the Bills back to play the same teams. There's two other London games.

[Dan Fates]

Bills don't play the Jags.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, you're right. I'm sorry. That's why I didn't have that one. Yes, but they do have two other London games. Browns and jets, who the Bills both play. Both as the road teams. Yeah, but the Bills were just in London. I don't know if they would send them back. And those are the international games. And like I said, three Christmas games, which are all up. Only the Thanksgiving night game because they don't play at the Lions or at the Cowboys and then Black Friday. So of those games, it's Spain with Dolphins, Dublin, Steelers, London with the Browns or the Jets.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I'm gonna. London.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm gonna say no. No European game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I could see it being the Dolphins.

[Mike Catalana]

Sure.

[Dan Fates]

Do you think. And have they. And I don't know, off the top of my head, excuse me. That they'll make a division game an international game?

[Mike Catalana]

There has been. Right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There is. There has been. In the past.

[Mike Catalana]

It wasn't it that. Was it the Dolphins and the Jets. I should know this.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know. I just remember that was.

[Dan Fates]

That just seems kind of rare. Like they're. They're very protective of the divisional games.

[Mike Catalana]

They are.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They are.

[Dan Fates]

And because they also try and lump them together in certain.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But they have done it before.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

I think it was Dolphins. I think it's Dolphins and Jets played over there.

[Dan Fates]

And it's funny because they never seem to have the best matchup be an international game. It's like they don't want to waste a great game because it is kind of a circus to begin with that you're building it around. So.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Who did.

[Mike Catalana]

Was that Chiefs? Steelers. Was it Steelers and Chiefs?

[Jenna Cottrell]

That.

[Dan Fates]

No, Dolphins.

[Mike Catalana]

Dolphins. That ended up being a. It was a good game. Back and forth game.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

We were two prominent teams.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. In that case. But you're right, it hasn't been.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Big names. Like, I think they had Packers, Giants together. Was it Packers? Yeah, Packers, Giants.

[Dan Fates]

Like it's always kind of been like a team and then like the other guy.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Like it's Got that, that, that's. And again, I haven't studied the international, you know, history of these games, but 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.

[Mike Catalana]

Different kind of game because it was a night game. But last year they started in Brazil. It was Eagles. Packers.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Which is. But that game, based on the way they have to schedule it. That's the thing about those European games. Really, though, in. In that part, the only way that game works is it has to be in the morning.

[Dan Fates]

Here. Here. Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

It would be tough to do any other time. I think the next year they go to Australia.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I believe it's. Yeah. Well, I think it. It would be cool to go to Spain. It would be cool. Cool to go to Dublin. That would be awesome. Do you think the Bills would handle it differently, travel wise?

[Mike Catalana]

I think they almost have to.

[Dan Fates]

Have to.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I completely agree. I think how the debacle that was in London against the Jags was.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I just think the team was not prepared.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I, I agree. It's almost like you have to do the opposite of what you did because based on the results.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Whatever they were trying to do, they were.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They were trying to like thread the needle.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And the needle.

[Mike Catalana]

And it was like, this is what we're doing and we're all in on it.

[Dan Fates]

And that's another thing that we're hoping to have a Bills player come on the podcast at some point this summer to talk to them about how that travel works. Like, again, I've always joked around that, like a lot of times we think football players are like robots. Like, they don't. Nothing affects them and things like that. It's like, well, some people. I'm sure there are some players that don't like sleeping on planes. I'm sure there are players that don't travel well. Like, that's part of it. And to throw a massive wrench in your routine because if anything, we know professional athletes are routine oriented people and that kind of throws things off kilter.

[Mike Catalana]

That's a good point. The other one is they out. Mike north was on with our friends and it's always game day in Buffalo. He was talking about the schedule and he said it is not a league rule that says they can't. They get the buy if they want it. He said that's pretty much they can work that out with the team. I think part of that would be the negotiating of we want you to go there. But if you remember, they played the Giants after they got back from London and they were horrendous in that game.

[Dan Fates]

Had to have lost. Yeah. So had to survive a fourth. Fourth down, goal line stop.

[Mike Catalana]

Tyrod made a mistake.

[Dan Fates]

They ran the ball.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. In that game and they. Bill stopped him. But no, no part of that nine days was good for the Bills.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

They were one in one. Lucky to be that. Had a bunch of injuries. Yeah. That was a bad stretch.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was. I just remember how exhausted we were and we had gotten there so much earlier to London and I'm like, oh my God, these guys just got here.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And they're trying to play at 9:30 in the morning. Like home time. Yeah. All right.

[Dan Fates]

Anything else?

[Mike Catalana]

Well, we got it. We were going to say about the home games. So in terms of how many primetime games. So whether it's five or six, I think they. I think they. I should know this. I think they can schedule six now out of the 17 as primetime games.

[Dan Fates]

I think five. I think five games are at. I think five home games are non one o' clock games. That's how I will phrase it. I think the home games at one o' clock are the jets and the Saints and then either. Or the Dolphins or Patriots. I think one of those will be a 1 o'. Clock. One of those will be a. Again, when we say prime time, it. It makes you think sometimes, like it's got to be Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday night. And it's like they could be a 4, it could be a 425.

[Mike Catalana]

It could be a 4, not non. Well, I don't see the bills having home four o' clock games when they're making them non one o' clock games. It's 425. I think that's where they are in this. I think Eagles. I think the Eagles Bills game just sets up for FOX at 425. It's a great window for them. And that's the big game for Fox.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

They don't have the night game, so that's a big game for them. I think prime time. I think Chiefs is a 425 game that has worked for the league.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

I could see Baltimore being a night game and Cincinnati being a night game. And I still, I don't know if they do three home night games for the Bills.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's a lot.

[Mike Catalana]

I'd say definitely those two. I'd say that's my opinion. Baltimore, Cincinnati, night games at home, 4:25 against Kansas City and Philly and then Maybe. Maybe another one.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean, it depends on what they think in terms of the division. I could see them a road night game in the division.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

New England.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's. I. I could see that.

[Dan Fates]

I think there's Buzz with. With May and some of the new pieces and Vrabel. I think it's tough to. It's tough to kind of make the claim that, like, a coach is a Buzz and kind of a draw. But I think Vrabel is, to some. To some extent.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Well, I think you see some talent from May, you see the pieces they're putting around it, and they. You see a guy like Rabel where people believe in him, so it makes sense.

[Mike Catalana]

I was looking at it. I don't think like Atlanta, but again, we didn't think Jacksonville coming in first of all. The Bills bring the buzz to the games because of Allen. But I could see. It's funny. Wouldn't it be funny if it was Houston as a night game this year?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Because everybody made a point. Oh, my gosh. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

About the one o' clock game. And I could.

[Dan Fates]

I could.

[Mike Catalana]

Honestly, I could see him at Pittsburgh on a night game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I could. I would definitely see that. Never been to Pittsburgh. I would like to go. We have to do our travel draft.

[Dan Fates]

The travel draft is coming up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The travel draft is coming up. The Pilates is booked. It's on the schedule.

[Dan Fates]

The berry. It's going to be great. The Berry class.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I can't believe you thought that was Barry.

[Mike Catalana]

Pilates.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The berry class.

[Dan Fates]

I will say I would like the. The Falcons game to be early in the season, not to be tipping my hand when I'm trusting my board. I've also got to consult the wife, make sure we don't have dates that line up. The one time I know I booked. I booked a game. I took a game, like, second pick, and it was like her birthday. I was like, that's. That's on me.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay, so let me ask you this. Ask me October in Atlanta.

[Dan Fates]

I'm going in a heartbeat.

[Mike Catalana]

No, but I mean, how confident are you?

[Dan Fates]

Oh, not confident at all. Okay. But I'll take my chance.

[Mike Catalana]

September.

[Dan Fates]

You're good.

[Mike Catalana]

September, you know, they're playing, but it is.

[Dan Fates]

It's. Again, it's threading the needle because they need to be home.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Dan's. Dan's a huge Braves fan, so.

[Dan Fates]

But also, we talked about it. Great travel for us outside. If they play an international game. Great travel. A lot of driving games. And then Atlanta's a clear hub. Like to fly into there Charlotte, I love Pittsburgh. We've done Pittsburgh a bunch.

[Mike Catalana]

Pittsburgh's fun.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Would you go international?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I got dibs on the international. Already ran it by the wife.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, okay. All right.

[Dan Fates]

We've already. We've already. That was one of the conversations we got, like, done with.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What if it's your birthday weekend?

[Mike Catalana]

What if there's another baby coming?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Wait, we don't know. I'm kidding. Oh, that seems like a good place to end it.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, one other thing. This isn't our credit to me. I did just want to give a shout out. Ian Gallagher, friend of the channel, friend of the pod, all those things. I am his son's godfather, and I should have made that my credit to me last week, but just wanted to give shout out to Graham Gallagher.

[Mike Catalana]

Nice.

[Dan Fates]

Godfather.

[Mike Catalana]

Wow. Godfather.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You're gonna make a group chat.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Pick my brother like Jenna is with. With my youngest daughter.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. All right.

[Dan Fates]

Baptism's this week.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It is. Big weekend ahead.

[Mike Catalana]

Graduation weekend for you. West Virginia. That's where we're heading.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, all right, we'll end here. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe, and share. Of course. We'll have. When the Bill's schedule comes out, we'll be talking all about it. We'll have plenty more Buffalo plus YouTube channel. And like Dan and Mike talked about, we have the pilates video. We have the travel draft still, I know off season, but a ton of content coming your way. All right, so for Mike Catalana and Dan Fates, I'm Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe, and share. Pause. Subscribe again. And thank you so much for watching the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel, presented by Connors and Fairs. It.