NHL and NBA playoffs have half as many teams as they did last week. MLB season is 1/4 way in and the Sun is staying out til 9pm. Put all that together and we are nearing the dog days of Summer…but before we get to the inevitable dogs barking we have the NFL schedule release.

The NFL truly does find its way to being the talk of the moment all throughout the calendar. You get the month after the Super Bowl celebrating the season, then FA, then NFL Draft and then the fallout and excitement from that right into this schedule release.

While the schedule isn’t set to be ‘officially’ released until Wednesday, we got our first leak today.

So unlike 2 years ago, the Bills won’t be facing off against the defending Super Bowl champion on opening night of the season…so where will they play on opening weekend?

We know the NFL likes to pop a number on it’s return…so although my friend (and colleague) Matt Bove thinks we may be in for a yawner of an opener, I beg to differ.

While it IS a long NFL season with tons of opportunities… I don’t see Godell and co. running that risk. Throughout the year, injuries and other things can pile up to change what can often be marquee matchups, and the NFL knows they have the opportunity for one Week 1 with the Bills and I think they pull the trigger.

My prediction for Week 1 of the Bills schedule? Home SNF against Miami. Buckle up.