Buffalo Bills 2012 Schedule: Biggest Obstacles in Path of Elusive Playoff Berth

There is only one team in the NFL that can say it hasn't made the playoffs during this millennium, and that is the Buffalo Bills. The Bills haven't qualified for the postseason since 1999, giving them the longest current drought in the league. Thanks to a strong offseason, though, there is hope in Western New York that the dry spell will finally end in the upcoming season.

Not only did the Bills manage to keep wide receiver Stevie Johnson in the fold, but they signed the best defensive free agent on the market in defensive end Mario Williams. When you add steady play from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and an impressive running back combination in Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller to the mix, the Bills look like a force to be reckoned with.

On top of all that, the Bills have the third-easiest schedule in the league, so everything appears to be working in their favor. Buffalo won't be able to just waltz into the playoffs, though, as there are still plenty of potential pitfalls. Here are the biggest obstacles the Bills will have to clear in order to play extra football this coming season.

Back-to-Back West Coast Games in Weeks 5 and 6

As easy as their schedule may seem on the surface, the Bills' mettle will be tested quite early in the season. In what is a true rarity for teams on the East Coast, the Bills will have to travel out west in consecutive weeks.

In Week 5 the Bills have a road game against the San Francisco 49ers, and the very next week they face the Arizona Cardinals in enemy territory. The Niners are a tough game regardless of where it's played, and the Cards aren't an easy team to deal with, either.

All of that travel over such a short period of time figures to take its toll on the Bills' players. One possible solution is to stay on the West Coast following the game against the 49ers so they don't have to take another cross-country flight. One issue with that is that the team will have to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings, but it may be the best option. Provided the Bills can at least score a split in those two games and avoid losing both, they should consider it a success.

New England Patriots

Although there have been a few hiccups along the way, the New England Patriots have pretty much owned the AFC East since 2001, as they have racked up nine division titles since then. The Bills don't necessarily have to beat the Patriots in order to make the playoffs as they can nab a Wild Card spot, but the Bills have largely been treated like a rag doll by the Pats over the past decade, so it would be a huge confidence boost to win the division.

The easiest way to do that is by beating the Pats in the season series. Buffalo broke a 15-game losing streak against New England last season when it beat the Patriots at home, so that was the first step in the process.

The Bills will have an opportunity to repeat that feat in Week 4, but the true test comes in Week 10. Buffalo will take on New England on the road at Gillette Stadium in a game that promises to have major playoff implications. If the Bills lose both to the Pats, then their playoff chances aren't great, if they split then the odds are solid, but if they sweep, then a playoff spot is almost guaranteed.

Five Out of Seven at Home Down the Stretch

It may seem like a huge advantage that the Bills play five of their final seven games at home, but it can also be a burden. The Bills will be expected to win the vast majority of those games, and if they are in the playoff race as expected, there will be a lot of pressure on them. Also, one of those "home" games will be played in Toronto, so you could even say that only four of their final seven games are at home. Regardless of where the games are being played, though, this is undoubtedly the easy part of the Bills' schedule.

Each and every one of their final seven games is winnable—they get the Miami Dolphins twice, as well as the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets.

If the Bills have four or more wins by that point, then there will likely be a real sense of optimism with regards to them making the postseason. No matter how easy games look on paper, though, there is a reason why they're played. If the Bills are going to be serious contenders, then they must win at least five of their final seven this season.