As the NFL continues its aggressive pivot toward a global footprint, Buffalo Bills fans—famously known as Bills Mafia—are left wondering if they need to renew their passports for the upcoming season. At Lake Erie Times, we have analyzed the league’s burgeoning international calendar and the Bills’ specific road schedule to provide a clear picture of what Western New York can expect.
The Buffalo Bills are no strangers to the logistics of international play. Most recently, the franchise participated in a 2023 “home” game at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the result was a disappointing loss on the field, the game underscored the NFL’s commitment to making Buffalo a part of its worldwide marketing strategy. However, for the upcoming season, the data suggests a different itinerary for the team from Orchard Park.
The NFL’s International Expansion: Confirmed Matchups
To determine the likelihood of a Bills overseas trip, we must first look at the host cities and designated teams already locked in by the league. The NFL has significantly widened its reach, spanning four continents in the coming year. Below is the current outlook for international fixtures:
| Host City & Country | Venue | Designated Host / Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne, Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground | L.A. Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers |
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Maracanã Stadium | Dallas Cowboys |
| London, England | Wembley Stadium | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| London, England | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| London, England | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Washington Commanders |
| Munich, Germany | FC Bayern Munich Stadium | Detroit Lions |
| Madrid, Spain | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium | Atlanta Falcons |
| Mexico City, Mexico | Estadio Banorte | San Francisco 49ers |
| Paris, France | Stade de France | New Orleans Saints |
Assessing the Bills’ Travel Forecast
In analyzing the Buffalo Bills’ schedule, the most critical variable is the list of away opponents. Currently, the Bills are slated to play the Los Angeles Rams on the road. Under normal circumstances, this would make Buffalo a prime candidate to be the “visitor” in a Rams-hosted international game. However, the NFL has already confirmed that the Rams will fulfill their international hosting obligation in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
Because the Rams are already committed to hosting a game abroad, the probability of them hosting a second international game against Buffalo is statistically improbable. Furthermore, the Bills have not been designated as a host team for any of the other international slots for the upcoming season.
Our analysis at Lake Erie Times indicates that Western New York fans can likely keep their travel plans domestic. While the NFL’s schedule is always subject to minor adjustments, the current alignment suggests that the Bills will be playing their full slate of games on North American soil this year. For a fanbase that travels as well as Bills Mafia, this may be a missed opportunity for a global takeover, but it provides the team with a more stable travel schedule as they pursue another postseason run.
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