The Green Bay Packers travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills in the preseason finale this Saturday.
- This will be the 14th time that the Packers and Bills will square off in the preseason, with Green Bay holding a 10-3 advantage in the series.
- The last time the two teams met in the preseason was in 2009 in Green Bay, with the Packers winning, 31-21.
- This is the first preseason trip to Buffalo for Green Bay since 2005, a 27-7 victory by the Bills.
- Dating back to 1970, this is the 42nd time the Packers have finished the preseason against a team from the AFC.
- This year is the debut of the new NFL schedule, consisting of three preseason games played in preparation for a 17-game regular season.
Important dates to remember (all times CT):
- Tuesday, Aug. 31 – Roster reduction to a maximum of 53 players by 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 1 – Upon receipt of the personnel notice, clubs may establish a practice squad
- Sunday, Sept. 12 – Regular-season opener at New Orleans Saints, Caesars Superdome, 3:25 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 20 – Home opener vs. Detroit Lions, Lambeau Field, 7:15 p.m.
WITH THE CALL
Preseason games are televised over the 21-station Packers TV Network throughout the state of Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, northeastern Minnesota, Peoria in Illinois, Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, Davenport and Des Moines in Iowa, Omaha in Nebraska, St. Louis in Missouri, Bismarck, Fargo and Minot in North Dakota, Sioux Falls in South Dakota and Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau in Alaska.
The top-notch broadcast team includes CBS's Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) alongside fellow CBS broadcaster and Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton (analyst), with former Green Bay fullback John Kuhn and Lance Allan of WTMJ-TV serving as the sideline reporters. Allan will also host an informative half-hour pregame show.
In addition to flagship station WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee and WGBA/NBC in Green Bay the game will be televised over, Wis.; WKOW/ABC, Madison, Wis.; WAOW/ABC, Wausau/Rhinelander, Wis.; WXOW/ABC, La Crosse, Wis.; WQOW/ABC, Eau Claire, Wis.; WLUC/NBC/FOX UP, Escanaba/Marquette, Mich.; KQDS-TV/FOX, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis.; WMDB/CBS, Peoria, Ill.; WHBF/CBS, Davenport, Iowa; KCCI/CBS, Des Moines, Iowa; KWWL/NBC, Cedar Rapids/Waterloo, Iowa; KTVI/FOX, St. Louis, Mo.; KETV/ABC, Omaha, Neb.; KNDB/BEK, Bismarck, N.D.; KRDK/BEK, Fargo, N.D.; KNDM/BEK, Minot, N.D.; KDLT/NBC, Sioux Falls, S.D.; KYUR/ABC, Anchorage, Alaska; KATN/ABC, Fairbanks, Alaska and KJUD/ABC, Juneau, Alaska.
This week's game at Buffalo will be simulcast across the nation on the NFL Network.
Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since November 1929, heads up the Packers Radio Network that is made up of 49 stations in four states. For a full listing of radio affiliates, go to www.packers.com. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst) call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 26th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 22nd season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT
Packers vs. Bills:
- All-time, Regular season: 5-8
- All-time, Postseason: 0-0
- All-time, in Green Bay: 4-1
- Streaks: The Packers and Bills have split the past eight meetings, with the home team winning every game.
- Last meeting, regular season: Sept. 30, 2018, Lambeau Field, Green Bay won, 22-0
COACHES CAPSULES
- Matt LaFleur: 26-6-0, .813; (2-2 postseason); 3rd NFL season
- Sean McDermott: 38-26-0, .594 (2-3 postseason); 5th NFL season
- Head to Head: 0-0
- vs. Opponent: LaFleur 0-0 vs. Bills; McDermott 0-1 vs. Packers
- In his 13th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Football Team, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
- In his first two seasons leading the Packers, has authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. For the second consecutive season in 2020, led Green Bay to a 13-3 record and captured the NFC North crown while also earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time since 2011. It was just the second time in team history that the Packers had won 13-plus games in back-to- back seasons (13-3 in 1996 and 1997).
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, was the sixth head coach since 1970 to lead his team to the conference championship game in both of his first two seasons as a head coach, joining Jim Harbaugh (2011-12), Rex Ryan (2009-10), Barry Switzer (1994-95), George Seifert (1989-90) and Don McCafferty (1970-71).
- Became just the second NFL head coach since the league went to a divisional format in 1967 to win 13-plus games and a division title in both of his first two seasons, joining Seifert (1989-90).
- In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).
- Last season, led the Bills to a 13-3 record as Buffalo captured its first division title and playoff win since 1995. Buffalo's 13 victories tied the most in franchise history.
- Finished second in voting for the NFL's coach of the year award and has been a finalist in each of the past two seasons.
- With 40 wins (including postseason), he ranks third in franchise history in wins behind Marv Leavy (123) and Lou Saban (70).
- In his first year in Buffalo, led the Bills to their first playoff berth since 1999 with a 9-7 record, becoming the third coach in team history to earn a playoff berth in his first season at the helm.
- Developed a top-10 defense in four of his six seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
Buffalo Bills S Micah Hyde was a fifth-round selection by the Packers in 2013 and spent the first four seasons (2013-16) of his career in Green Bay…Bills WR Jake Kumerow spent portions of three seasons (2017-19) with the Green Bay Packers…Kumerow also played collegiately at D-III Wisconsin-Whitewater…Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett spent two seasons (2013-14) as the Bills' offensive coordinator and in a previous stint served as their offensive quality control coach (2008-09)…Packers defensive backs/passing game coordinator Jerry Gray served as the Bills' defensive coordinator from 2001-05, ranking No. 2 in the league in overall defense in back-to-back seasons (2003-04)…Green Bay wide receivers coach Jason Vrable spent 2013-16 with Buffalo, where he held the positions of offensive quality control coach (2013-15) and then as assistant quarterbacks coach (2016)…Packers minority fellowship coaching assistant Ruvell Martin spent two seasons of his seven-year NFL career with the Buffalo Bills…Bills LB A.J. Klein is from Appleton, Wis., and attended Kimberly High School…Packers LB Isaiah McDuffie is from Buffalo, N.Y. …Packers QB Jacob Dolegala is from New Berlin, N.Y. …Packers S Adrian Amos played two seasons alongside Bills QB Mitchell Trubisky with the Chicago Bears (2017-18)…Packers WR Devin Funchess played for the Carolina Panthers (2015-18), where he played with Bills DL Mario Addison, DL Star Lotulelei and LB Andre Smith…Packers G/T Billy Turner played for the Denver Broncos (2016-18) where he was teammates with Bills WR Emmanuel Sanders…Packers WR Randall Cobb played one season for the Houston Texans (2020), where he was teammates with Bills LB Tyrell Adams...Packers assistant offensive line coach Luke Butkus coached for the Chicago Bears (2007-09), where he coached alongside Bills linebackers coach Bob Babich, who was the defensive coordinator (2007-08), Bills defensive line coach Eric Washington, who was holding the title of defensive assistant (2008-09) and Bills tight ends coach Rob Boras, who was Chicago's tight ends coach (2004-09)…Hackett spent five seasons (2015-18) with the Jacksonville Jaguars, holding the positions of quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator where he coached with Babich, who was the Jaguars' defensive coordinator (2015) and with Bills running backs coach Kelly Skipper, who was working in the same role for the Jaguars (2015-16)…Babich also coached at the University of Wisconsin from 1988-89…Packers tight ends coach Justin Outten coached at Syracuse for one season (2007), where Bills nickels coach Jimmy Salgado was also on the staff coaching the secondary...Several Packers coaches have held positions at New York colleges, including Hackett (Syracuse, 2010-12), Justin Outten (Syracuse, 2007), Vrable (Syracuse, 2009-10), Tim Zetts (Fordham (2012-14)…Former college teammates include: Packers CB Eric Stokes and Bills QB Jake Fromm (Georgia); Packers G/T Royce Newman and Bills TE Dawson Knox (Mississippi); Packers CB Isaac Yiadom and Bills LB Matt Milano (Boston College); Packers DL Keke Kingsley, TE Jace Sternberger and Bills LB Tyrel Dodson (Texas A&M); Packers CB Shemar Jean-Charles and Bills S Josh Thomas (Appalachian State); Packers T/G Cole Van Lanen and Bills CB Rachad WIldgoose (Wisconsin); Packers RB Dexter Williams, WR Equanimeous St. Brown and Bills CB Nick McCloud (Notre Dame); Packers P JK Scott and Bills CB Levi Wallace (Alabama); Packers LB Jonathan Garvin, Bills S Jaquan Johnson, DE Greg Rousseau and OL Tyler Gauthier (Miami); Packers WR Malik Taylor and Bills DT Justin Zimmer (Ferris State).
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