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Buffalo Bills Team History The Buffalo Bills were one of the inaugural members of the American Football League, along with the Boston Patriots, Houston Oilers, Miami Dolphins, New York Titans, Dallas Texans, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders in 1960. Although they got off to a slow start, the Bills won the AFL championship in both 1964 and 1965.
In 1970, when the NFL merged with the AFL, Buffalo joined many of its fellow former AFL teams in the AFC East Division. Led by quarterback Joe Ferguson and legendary running back O.J. (“the Juice”) Simpson, the Bills were a dynamic team to watch in the early ‘70s. Once Simpson’s skills began to wane due to age and injury, however, Bills fans had little to cheer about for some time.
In 1983, Buffalo drafted Jim Kelly as part of the famous “Quarterback Class of 1983” which included John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Ken O’Brien, Tony Eason and Todd Blackledge. Unfortunately for Buffalo, Kelly decided instead to play for the New Jersey Generals of the new United States Football League (USFL), leaving Buffalo with a few more dismal years to look forward to. In 1986 after the dissolution of the USFL, Kelly rejoined the team and became the anchor for new coach Marv Levy’s offense, an offense that included sure handed wide receiver Andre Reed and hard-nosed running back Thurman Thomas. Added to a defense that included all-time defensive great Bruce Smith, the Bills were poised to build a dynasty.
The ‘90s were bittersweet for the Buffalo Bills. In 1990 the Bills tore through the AFC with their fabled no huddle “K-Gun” offense to set up a 1991 Super Bowl XXV matchup with the New York Giants. The Bills were poised to win the game trailing 20-19 with four seconds left and Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood poised to kick a winning 47 yard field goal. Norwood’s field goal attempt sliced to the right of the goal post, leading to a Giant victory and the popularity of “wide right” as a needling call to Bills fans from then on.
Levy found little to improve upon in the 1991-1992 season and the Bills found themselves back in the big game for Super Bowl XXVI, this time facing the Washington Redskins. Just as the Denver Broncos had fallen to the Giants and Redskins in successive Super Bowls in ’87 and’88, the Bills went down to the Redskins 37-24.
Many Bills fans assumed that 1993 would be their year when they made the Super Bowl for the third consecutive time. Unfortunately the Dallas Cowboys would not cooperate. They beat the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII by the embarrassing score of 52-17. Worse yet, the Bills returned yet again in 1994 only to find the defending champion Cowboys waiting to put them down again in Super Bowl XXVIII, 30-13. This effectively ended the Jim Kelly era, making the Bills team of the ‘90s possibly the most dominant NFL team never to win the Super Bowl.
Buffalo Bills Memorable Moments
December 16, 1973
O.J. Simpson becomes the first player in history to rush for over 2000 yards in a season, ending with 2003.
December 2, 1990
The Bills use the “no-huddle” offense for the first time, winning over the Philadelphia Eagles 30-23.
January 27, 1991
The Bills lose Super Bowl XXV 20-19 after Scott Norwood’s last second field goal misses wide right.
January 26, 1992
The Bills lose their second straight Super Bowl, this time to the Washington Redskins, 37-24.
January 3, 1993
The Bills pull off the greatest comeback in NFL history. Trailing the Houston Oilers 35-3 in the second half, the Bills rallied to score five straight touchdowns to take the lead. Houston tied the game but an overtime field goal by Steve Christie secured the 41-38 victory for the Bills who would go on to win the AFC Championship.
January 31, 1993
The Bills meet the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVII. The ‘boys are victorious, 52-17.
January 30, 1994
The Bills end their streak of Super Bowl futility with another loss to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII, 30-13. Buffalo Bills Records
All-time regular season franchise record: 339 - 372 - 8
All-time playoff franchise record: 14 - 15
All-time franchise passing leader: Jim Kelly - 35467 yards
All-time franchise rushing leader: Thurman Thomas - 11938 yards
All-time franchise receiving leader: Andre Reed - 13095 yards
Buffalo Bills Playoff Results
2006
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 6 - 15 vs. Indianapolis Colts
2003
AFC Wildcard Game: lost 17 - 20 vs. Tennessee Titans
2001
AFC Wildcard Game: won 20 - 3 at Miami Dolphins
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 10 - 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers
2000
AFC Wildcard Game: won 21 - 3 vs. Denver Broncos
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 24 - 10 at Tennessee Titans
AFC Championship Game: won 16 - 3 at Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl: won 34 - 7 at New York Giants
All-time playoff record: 5 - 3
SOURCE: Pro Football Reference |
Buffalo Bills HISTORY 
