Miami's late-season visit to play the Buffalo Bills will be a little more comfortable than usual this December, as the Dolphins visit the Rogers Centre for the first NFL regular-season game played in Canada.
Though Rogers Communications, the hosts of the game, and the Bills themselves had no input into choosing an opponent for the Dec. 7 game, both seemed delighted at the prospect of taking one of the NFL's historic rivalries on the road.
“The rivalry between the Dolphins and the Bills is sort of legend,” Rogers Communications vice-chairman Phil Lind said.
“We're so, so pleased about it. I think it demonstrates the league's commitment to the Bills-in-Toronto series.”
Though the Dolphins are coming off a 1-15 season, their illustrious history has produced fans around North America.
And by all rights, the Dolphins should be a better team in 2008, having remade the roster under new vice-president of football operations Bill Parcells and owning the first overall pick for the NFL draft on April 26.
“Although we had a 1-15 record last year, we're still the winningest franchise since the NFL merger,” Dolphins president and COO Bryan Wiedmeier said.
In an ironic twist, the game may also mark the return of running back Ricky Williams to Toronto, who last played at the Rogers Centre as a member of the CFL's Argonauts in 2006.
“Ricky is still a member of our team and I know he thoroughly enjoyed his time playing in Toronto,” Wiedmeier said.
Though the Bills-Dolphins matchup doesn't take place until week 14 of the NFL schedule, chances are it will have meaning for one, if not both teams.
In order for it to have no playoff implications for either team, both would have to enter the game with records of 4-9 or worse. The Bills are coming off a 7-9 season in 2007.
The Bills will also be in Toronto to be host of a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 14.
The first NFL regular season in Toronto is the first of five such matches scheduled over the next five seasons, and will take place two weeks after this year's Grey Cup game in Montreal on Nov. 23.
