Buffalo Bills: What the Toronto Series Means to the Rest of the NFL

For the past few seasons, the Buffalo Bills have voyaged up north to showcase NFL football to Canadian fans. This means the loyal fans of Buffalo have one less opportunity to see them at Ralph Wilson Stadium. But this series also exposes the game to Canada and has the potential to make an international league a reality.

The NFL has not shied away from showcasing the game to the rest of the world. Games have been played in Japan, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Mexico and Australia. Games are currently played in Canada and England on an annual basis. There is no denying that the game is starting to generate global interest, and Roger Goodell is not hesitating to show the world the game of American football.

Besides possibilities outside of North America, it is very possible that Canada soon gets a chance to compete in the NFL. The MLB has a franchise in Toronto and has had a team in Montreal. The NBA has a franchise in Toronto and has had a team in Vancouver. The NHL has franchises in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Even the MLS has franchises in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Other than the NFL, the rest of the major leagues all have Canadian participation, and that participation can possibly expand in years to come.

So back to the NFL. The Bills have certainly benefited from playing games up north. In fact, 15 percent of the Bills' season ticket holders are from Canada. The Bills are on the verge of extending their participation in the Toronto series by five years. The St. Louis Rams are now the NFL's showcase team in England. The situation is very clear; the game is simply too big to keep within American borders.

Goodell has speculated if one day a franchises finds a home in Europe. There has been discussion if the Super Bowl, the biggest one-day event in all of America, will ever be held in Europe.

One thing is certain, however. If the NFL ever plans on really expanding on an international scale, Canada figures to get first dibs.

The Bills' proximity to Canada allows for easy interaction between the team and its fans up above. Canadian fans have seen the NFL up close for several years, and it is unlikely for the NFL to have franchises in Buffalo and Toronto. At this point in time, the Bills appear a lock to stay put. But Canada is a big country. A team in Vancouver could become a rival with the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe Montreal gets in on the action. Or Maybe Toronto joins the NFL and joins the AFC East. That could really be a great rivalry between potential Toronto fans and Buffalo fans. There are many possibilities and many scenarios.

But one thing is guaranteed. Goodell and the NFL want to expand and want the game to be a worldwide sport.

So while the Bills extending their time in Toronto doesn't seem like a big deal, there could be a lot more to it. Time and time again, the league has ventured off and abroad and has found success. When there was a game down south in Mexico, over 100,000 people were in attendance. The NFL has a great opportunity to grow, and American football is becoming more and more popular outside of the borders.

Let's be honest, there has been and always will be competition involving the USA and Canada. The rivalry exists in four other major sports leagues. It is heated at the international level. It just happens to lack in the world's most powerful league.