Bills coach Sean McDermott says primetime games can be rough on everyone

Ryan Cook

Bills coach Sean McDermott says primetime games can be rough on everyone image

The 2025 NFL schedule dropped on Wednesday night, and while Bills fans are fixated on Week 1’s Sunday Night Football matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Sean McDermott has more pressing matters in mind. 

Speaking on It’s Always Gameday in Buffalo, McDermott was quizzed on what he looks for when the schedule drops each year, stating he tends to focus more on what his team’s routine might look like, rather than the actual opponents. 

“I really try and look at the schedule in between games,” McDermott said. 

“The time that is going to lapse in between games. Because we’re a popular ticket, a popular show on TV, we play at a lot of odds times, odd parts of the week. You have to embrace it, that’s what you have to do as a team and it’s great for our fans. But it’s hard on the players and it’s hard on their families, and it’s hard on the coaches, in particular, for the preparation we put in.” 

In total, the Bills will play five times on primetime this season, including a pair of Thursday Night Football games starting in Week 3 against the Dolphins, and again in Week 12 against the Texans.  

McDermott went on to say that the longer rest weeks give the coaches time to prepare in advance for the shorter weeks. 

“I’m looking right away for how many days in between each game, where the short weeks are going to be and where the longer weeks are going to be, to maybe catch up on some rest or work on one of our short week opponents a little bit.” 

According to Fox Sports, the Bills’ strength of schedule is ranked as the ninth easiest in the league. 

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Ryan Cook

Ryan Cook is a freelance sports journalist from Australia. Ryan has over 10 years of experience covering the NFL with a background in fantasy football, betting and podcasting. A passionate NFL fan, Ryan made the 8,700-mile journey to Lambeau Field in 2021 to watch his beloved Packers play. He remains a diehard Cheesehead and an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs.