Bills 2013 schedule set up to avoid blackouts

Buffalo Bills President/CEO Russ Brandon has a lot to be happy about with the newly released 2013 NFL schedule. The most helpful piece of news for Buffalo's ticket sales office is the team's home slate, which includes just one game in Orchard Park after November 17.

Buffalo will "host" the Atlanta Falcons on December 1 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The only other home game in December is three weeks later against the Miami Dolphins, an opponent that traditionally has no problem selling out. This schedule stands a chance to be the first for the Bills since 2009 to avoid any television blackouts.

In 2012, the Bills had three games at Ralph Wilson Stadium during December. Not surprisingly, all three would have been blacked out had a local business owner not purchased 10,000 tickets for the game against the St. Louis Rams. Despite their fandom, many casual and diehard Bills fans find it hard to make it to an open air stadium in the middle of December in uncomfortable weather conditions.

Doug Marrone starts his inaugural season playing three of their first four and four of their first six at home including the season opener against the New England Patriots. The November 3 tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs is probably the game most in peril of a blackout, as it is the fifth game in Orchard Park and both teams could be far behind in their respective divisions by Week 9.