List of Buffalo Bills seasons
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference East Division.[1] Since 1973 they have played their home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.[1] Founded in 1959 by Ralph Wilson, they were a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) and joined the NFL in 1970 following the AFL–NFL merger.[2][3][4][5] The Bills' name is derived from an All-America Football Conference franchise from Buffalo that was in turn named after western frontiersman Buffalo Bill.[6][7]
In their time in the AFL from 1960 to 1969, the Bills reached the AFL Championship three consecutive times from 1964 to 1966, winning twice in 1964 and 1965. They did not return to the postseason until 1974 nor win a division title until 1980.
The Bills won the AFC East in 1988 under third-year coach Marv Levy to reach their third postseason in the 1980s. They lost in the AFC Championship (their first championship appearance in AFC history), but it would be the first of six consecutive playoff appearances. In the 1990 season, they won the AFC Championship to reach their first Super Bowl. They lost in Super Bowl XXV. They reached the next three Super Bowls with victories in the AFC Championship. They became the first team (and as of 2024, only team) to reach the Super Bowl four straight times. They made the playoffs four more times from 1995 to 1999, but they did not reach the playoffs from 2000 to 2016. In 2017, they returned to the postseason under new head coach Sean McDermott. They won their first division title in over 25 years in 2020, where they returned to the AFC Championship.
In 64 seasons of the franchise, the Bills have reached the playoffs 23 times.
Seasons[edit]
AFL champions (1960-1969) | Super Bowl champions (1970-present) | Conference champions | Division champions | Wild card berth | One-Game playoff berth |
Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | Head coaches | Refs | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | W | L | T | |||||||||
1960 | 1960 | AFL | Eastern | 3rd | 5 | 8 | 1 | Buster Ramsey | [8] | |||
1961 | 1961 | AFL | Eastern | 4th | 6 | 8 | 0 | [9] | ||||
1962 | 1962 | AFL | Eastern | 3rd | 7 | 6 | 1 | Lou Saban | [10] | |||
1963 | 1963 | AFL | Eastern | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 1 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 26–8 | [11] | |||
1964 | 1964 | AFL | Eastern | 1st | 12 | 2 | 0 | Won AFL Championship (1) (Chargers) 20–7 | Lou Saban (COY) | [12] | ||
1965 | 1965 | AFL | Eastern | 1st | 10 | 3 | 1 | Won AFL Championship (2) (at Chargers) 23–0 | Lou Saban (COY) | [13] | ||
1966 | 1966 | AFL | Eastern | 1st | 9 | 4 | 1 | Lost AFL Championship (Chiefs) 31–7 | Bobby Burnett (ROY) | Joe Collier | [14] | |
1967 | 1967 | AFL | Eastern | 3rd | 4 | 10 | 0 | [15] | ||||
1968 | 1968 | AFL | Eastern | 5th | 1 | 12 | 1 | Joe Collier (0–2) Harvey Johnson (1–10–1) |
[16] | |||
1969 | 1969 | AFL | Eastern | 4th | 4 | 10 | 0 | John Rauch | [17] | |||
1970 | 1970 | NFL | AFC[A] | East[A] | 4th | 3 | 10 | 1 | Dennis Shaw (OROY, ROY) | |||
1971 | 1971 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 1 | 13 | 0 | Harvey Johnson | |||
1972 | 1972 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 4 | 9 | 1 | Lou Saban | |||
1973 | 1973 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | O. J. Simpson (MVP, OPOY) | |||
1974 | 1974 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Steelers) 32–14 | |||
1975 | 1975 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 6 | 0 | ||||
1976 | 1976 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 2 | 12 | 0 | Lou Saban (2–3) Jim Ringo (0–9) |
|||
1977 | 1977 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 3 | 11 | 0 | Jim Ringo | |||
1978 | 1978 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | Chuck Knox | [B] | ||
1979 | 1979 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | Jim Haslett (DROY) Jerry Butler (ROY) |
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1980 | 1980 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Chargers) 20–14 | Joe Cribbs (ROY) Chuck Knox (COY) |
||
1981 | 1981 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Jets) 31–27 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Bengals) 28–21 |
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1982 | 1982 | NFL | AFC | None | 9th[C] | 4 | 5 | 0 | ||||
1983 | 1983 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Kay Stephenson | |||
1984 | 1984 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 2 | 14 | 0 | ||||
1985 | 1985 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 2 | 14 | 0 | Kay Stephenson (0–4) Hank Bullough (2–10) |
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1986 | 1986 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Hank Bullough (2–7) Marv Levy (2–5) |
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1987 | 1987 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 7 | 8 | 0 | Shane Conlan (DROY, ROY) | Marv Levy | ||
1988 | 1988 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 17–10 Lost AFC Championship (at Bengals) 21–10 |
Marv Levy (COY) | ||
1989 | 1989 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Browns) 34–30 | |||
1990 | 1990 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 44–34 Won AFC Championship (Raiders) 51–3 Lost Super Bowl XXV (vs. Giants) 20–19 |
Bruce Smith (DPOY) | ||
1991 | 1991 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Chiefs) 37–14 Won AFC Championship (Broncos) 10–7 Lost Super Bowl XXVI (vs. Redskins) 37–24 |
Thurman Thomas (MVP, OPOY) | ||
1992 | 1992 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Oilers) 41–38 (OT) Won Divisional Playoffs (at Steelers) 24–3 Won AFC Championship (at Dolphins) 29–10 Lost Super Bowl XXVII (vs. Cowboys) 52–17 |
|||
1993 | 1993 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 29–23 Won AFC Championship (Chiefs) 30–13 Lost Super Bowl XXVIII (vs. Cowboys) 30–13 |
Marv Levy (COY) | ||
1994 | 1994 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | ||||
1995 | 1995 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Dolphins) 37–22 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Steelers) 40–21 |
Bryce Paup (DPOY) | ||
1996 | 1996 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 30–27 | Bruce Smith (DPOY) | ||
1997 | 1997 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | ||||
1998 | 1998 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Dolphins) 24–17 | Wade Phillips | ||
1999 | 1999 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 11 | 5 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Titans) 22–16 | |||
2000 | 2000 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | ||||
2001 | 2001 | NFL | AFC | East | 5th | 3 | 13 | 0 | Gregg Williams | |||
2002 | 2002 | NFL | AFC | East[D] | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | ||||
2003 | 2003 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | ||||
2004 | 2004 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Mike Mularkey | |||
2005 | 2005 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | ||||
2006 | 2006 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | Dick Jauron | |||
2007 | 2007 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | ||||
2008 | 2008 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | ||||
2009 | 2009 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | Dick Jauron (3–7) Perry Fewell (3–4) |
|||
2010 | 2010 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Chan Gailey | |||
2011 | 2011 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | ||||
2012 | 2012 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | ||||
2013 | 2013 | NFL | AFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | Kiko Alonso (PFWA DROY) | Doug Marrone | ||
2014 | 2014 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | ||||
2015 | 2015 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Rex Ryan | |||
2016 | 2016 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | Rex Ryan (7–8) Anthony Lynn (0–1) |
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2017 | 2017 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Jaguars) 10–3 | Sean McDermott | ||
2018 | 2018 | NFL | AFC | East | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | ||||
2019 | 2019 | NFL | AFC | East | 2nd | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Texans) 22–19 (OT) | |||
2020 | 2020 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 27–24 Won Divisional Playoffs (Ravens) 17–3 Lost AFC Championship (at Chiefs) 38–24 |
Brian Daboll (ACOY) | ||
2021 | 2021 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 11 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Patriots) 47–17 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Chiefs) 42–36 (OT) |
[E] | ||
2022 | 2022 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Dolphins) 34–31 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Bengals) 27–10 |
|||
2023 | 2023 | NFL | AFC | East | 1st | 11 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Steelers) 31–17 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Chiefs) 27–24 |
Damar Hamlin (PFWA CPOY)[26] | ||
Totals 2 AFL Championships 4 AFC Conference Championships 14 Division titles |
473 | 501 | 8 | All-time regular season record (1960–2023) | ||||||||
19 | 21 | — | All-time postseason record (1960–2023) | |||||||||
492 | 522 | 8 | All-time regular and postseason record (1960–2023) |
Note: Statistics are up to date 1/21/2024.
See also[edit]
Notelist[edit]
- ^ a b In 1970, the NFL and American Football League (AFL) officially merged in the AFL–NFL merger to form one league with two conferences. All ten former AFL teams as well as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Baltimore from the pre-merger NFL joined the AFC; the other thirteen remaining NFL teams joined the NFC. Each of those two were divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West.[18][19]
- ^ In 1978, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 14 games since 1961, to 16 games.[20][21]
- ^ The 1982 season was shortened to nine games after a players' strike. The top eight teams in each conference advanced to the playoffs.[22]
- ^ In 2002, the NFL realigned to create four divisions in both conferences with four teams in each division. The Bills did not change divisions, but their division did change from five teams to four.[23][24]
- ^ In 2021, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 16 games since 1978, to 17 games.[20][25]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Buffalo Bills". National Football League. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ "Other football leagues of the past". ESPN. December 12, 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ "Team Facts". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Carter, Bob. "Rozelle made NFL what it is today". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ "Important Dates in Bills History: Oct. 28, 1959. Buffalo granted AFL franchise". Buffalo Bills. October 28, 2016. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Important dates in Bills history: How the Bills got their name". Buffalo Bills. November 30, 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "Important Dates in Bills History: Nov. 30, 1959. Bills team name adopted". Buffalo Bills. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "1960 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1961 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1962 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1963 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1964 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1965 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1966 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1967 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1968 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1969 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "On this day in 1969, a brand-new NFL took shape". National Football League. May 10, 2020. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Dave (December 23, 1979). "Solving a Problem in the N.F.L. With Realignment". The New York Times. sec. S, p. 5. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "NFL Regular Season Games Played per Season". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "1978 – A Seventh Official is Added to the Officiating Crew". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ Lowitt, Bruce (November 21, 1982). "Here it is mid-November already, and everyone's still in the race!". The News Tribune. p. B2. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Groupe, Plexus (22 May 2014). "When the NFL added two divisions -- and weakened the AFC West". NBC Sports. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "New alignment takes effect in 2002". ESPN. Associated Press. 22 May 2001. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Belson, Ken (March 30, 2021). "N.F.L. Officially Adds 17th Regular Season Game". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Bills' Hamlin 2023 PFWA Comeback Player of the Year; Buccaneers' Mayfield Most Improved Player of the Year". profootballwriters.org. Pro Football Writers of America. 26 January 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.