The Buffalo Bills announced the team's 2009 regular season schedule.
The Bills will host the New York Jets on Thursday, December 3 in Rogers Centre at 8:20 pm for the second regular season game in the Bills Toronto Series. Buffalo holds a 4-1 record against New York in primetime games. The Thursday Night contest marks the fourth for the Bills in team history and first since 2001.
The Bills will make their third Monday Night Football appearance on Kickoff Weekend in team history when they travel to New England to open the 2009 season on September 14 at 7:00 pm.
The Bills will close the 2009 season at home against the Indianapolis Colts on January 3.
- The four locally produced Bills preseason games will be seen on WKBW in Buffalo, 13WHAM in Rochester and WTVH in Syracuse with League blackout rules applying for the games and will be broadcast in High Definition.
**The Hall of Fame Game will follow the induction of the Hall's class of 2009 on Saturday, August 8 and cap a multi-day celebration known as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival in Canton, Ohio.
*Kids Day to be announced at a later date.
- Game times subject to change due to NFL Flexible Scheduling Policy.
Below is a list of highlights for the 2009 home schedule:
" VS. TAMPA BAY - The Buccaneers will make their first visit to Ralph Wilson Stadium. It'll mark the ninth meeting between Buffalo and Tampa Bay.
" VS. NEW ORLEANS - The Saints travel to Buffalo for the first time since 2001.
" VS. CLEVELAND - Buffalo and Cleveland will square off for the third time in as many seasons. Their October 11 tilt marks the second consecutive season meeting in Ralph Wilson Stadium. OL Seth McKinney will face his former team for the first time with Buffalo.
" VS. HOUSTON - Buffalo and Houston will meet for the fifth time in series history and for the third time in Buffalo. The Bills have defeated the Texans in their previous two games. Texans Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Bill Kollar will return to Buffalo for the first time after a three-year stint (2006-08) with the Bills.
" VS. INDIANAPOLIS - Buffalo will host Indianapolis for the first time since 2003.
Highlights for the 2009 road schedule:
" AT CAROLINA - The Bills and Panthers will meet for the fifth time in series history and for the second time in Charlotte, NC. Buffalo will carry their 1-0 road record along with a 3-1 all-time mark against the Panthers into 2009. OL Geoff Hangartner will make his first appearance against his former club.
" AT TENNESSEE - Buffalo will make its first trip to Tennessee since 2003.
" AT JACKSONVILLE - Buffalo and Jacksonville will meet for the fourth time in as many seasons and for the third straight year in Jacksonville. The Bills will look to win their second straight road game against the Jaguars. DT Marcus Stroud will make his second visit with Buffalo to his old stomping ground and newly acquired CB Drayton Florence faces his former team for the first time.
" AT KANSAS CITY - Buffalo will travel to Kansas City for the second consecutive season. The Bills have won their previous two games against the Chiefs. LBs Kawika Mitchell and Pat Thomas will face their former team. Mitchell was drafted by Kansas City in the second round (47th overall) in 2003 and spent four seasons with the club. Thomas played for the Chiefs from 2007-08.
" AT ATLANTA - The Bills will travel to Atlanta for the first time since 2001. Buffalo will look for its second road win over the Falcons. The game will mark the 10th meeting in series history.
NFL TO CONTINUE "FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING": The NFL this season will continue to use a primetime "flexible scheduling" element on Sundays in Weeks 11-17. The 2009 NFL schedule lists start times for all Sunday games during the "flex" weeks as 1:00 PM ET, except for games played in the Mountain or Pacific Time zones, which will be listed at 4:05 PM ET or 4:15 PM ET.
Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights. The NFL will have additional flexibility to move the start times of games on Sundays, using a 12-day notice format. For example, a game scheduled for Sunday, November 29 could move from a 1:00 PM ET kickoff to an 8:15 PM start, but the change would be made and announced no later than Tuesday, November 17. In Week 17, in order to ensure a Sunday night game with playoff implications, the decision to move the start time may be made on six days notice.
TICKET INFORMATION FOR 2009 GAMES: Fans can now buy season tickets online at the team's website - www.buffalobills.com. Fans can also purchase season tickets by calling 1-877-BB-TICKS or by visiting the Stadium box office at One Bills Drive. For more information, please visit www.buffalobills.com.
Individual game tickets for the 2009 season will go on sale at a date to be announced. Please be advised that the only way fans can guarantee tickets to every home game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on the 2009 schedule is by purchasing season tickets.
BILLS IN TORONTO SERIES INFO: The Bills Toronto Series includes a regular season game each year (2008-2012) and preseason games in 2008, 2010 and 2012.
Fans are encouraged to visit www.billsintoronto.com for new ticket options and the most up to date news on the Bills in Toronto Series!
