1. Where does Buffalo's strength of schedule rank for 2019?
With the release of the NFL schedule yesterday, the weeks that the Bills will play at home and away are finally official. Buffalo will open up its season with two games at the Meadowlands playing on the road against the Jets and Giants in Week 1 and Week 2, respectively.
The Bills play the first of their eight home games in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals and for the first time since 1994 will play on Thanksgiving Day against the Cowboys in Week 13.
According to projected win totals, the Bills will have the sixth-easiest schedule in the NFL next season, compared to last year when they had the 24th-ranked schedule.
Buffalo's schedule features four playoff teams (New England twice, Baltimore, Dallas, Philadelphia) and five teams with winning records (New England twice, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Dallas, Pittsburgh).
Buffalo's home schedule is predicted to be slightly easier than the road based on forecasted 2019 wins. The Bills will play Miami, New England, New York Jets, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington and Denver at home. The average amount of forecasted wins for those teams is 7.5. Road opponents (New England, Miami, New York Jets, New York Giants, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Tennessee) average out to 8 forecasted wins.
2. New Bills WR John Brown gives back to his community
Homestead, Florida native and Homestead High School alum John Brown recently gave back to his hometowm community he's from. Brown donated 100 new shoulder pads with back flaps to the Homestead Broncos football program.
Brown graduated from Homestead in 2010 and enrolled at Pittsburg State that fall. He is currently one of 12 players ever drafted from the program and one of two active players from Pittsburg State in the NFL.
Brown is entering his sixth season in the league and joins his third team with the Bills. In his career, Brown has posted 215 receptions for 3,230 yards and 22 touchdowns.
3. Bills draft needs and targets according to For the Win
The Bills have 10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft. One on day one, two on day two, and seven on day three make up the current selection count. The Bills' seven picks on Saturday could make all the difference to a successful NFL draft.
USA Today’s For The Win put together the Bills' draft needs and targets.
ForTheWin lists Buffalo's primary needs as wide receiver, defensive tackle and offensive guard. Their secondary needs are tight end and edge rusher.
The Bills targets include D.K. Metcalf, Ed Oliver, T.J. Hockenson, Montez Sweat and Rashan Gary.
The Bills are one of a handful of teams that should seriously consider trading down in the first round, but if they don't, it's going to be awfully difficult to pass up on D.K. Metcalf. Buffalo spent a lot of money bringing in free agent receivers, but they still need a true No. 1 guy. Metcalf would fit that bill.
Other names to watch for the Bills include Miles Boykin, a wide receiver from Notre Dame, Nate Davis an offensive guard from Charlotte and Chris Lindstrom another guard from Boston College.
