Not only will the Bills be playing the first preseason game in the entire league this summer, but they'll also be facing the defending Super Bowl champs as part of their tune-up for the 2009 campaign.
Buffalo will be traveling to Pittsburgh in Week 3 of the preseason this August to take on the Super Bowl champion Steelers. The Bills haven't played in the Steel City in the preseason since 2001.
The matchup will be a good measuring stick game for the Bills as it will likely be the contest in which Buffalo's starters will see their most extensive game action the entire preseason. The Bills posted a 24-21 preseason victory over Pittsburgh last year at the Rogers Centre.
Buffalo opens their preseason slate with the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 9 in the Hall of Fame game in Canton as part of Hall of Fame Weekend with an 8pm kickoff slated for the nationally televised game (NBC).
That's followed by a preseason Week One matchup with the Chicago Bears at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Two of the best return men in football, and former college teammates, Roscoe Parrish and Devin Hester could offer one of the more exciting moments in that contest. Buffalo hasn't faced Chicago in the preseason since 2005.
The preseason NFC North flavor continues for Buffalo as they head to Green Bay in Week Two of the preseason to take on the Packers. It's a Cal vs. Stanford quarterback matchup as Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers faces Trent Edwards. The Bills last faced the Packers in the preseason in 2005 when they posted a 27-7 victory.
The big matchup with the Super Bowl champion Steelers follows in Week Three.
And then the Bills could very well be facing the top pick in the NFL draft in the preseason finale as they host familiar preseason foe Detroit at Ralph Wilson Stadium. This will be the eighth straight season Buffalo closes its exhibition slate with the Lions.
Buffalo does not have a preseason game in Toronto this summer. The five-year Toronto series includes a preseason game every other year. The Bills played Pittsburgh in the Rogers Centre last summer and will play another preseason game in Toronto in 2010.
Specific dates and times for the preseason games will be released at a later date. Season tickets for 2009 are on sale now at Buffalobills.com, the Bills ticket office or by calling
1-877-BB-TICKS.
