34th season in franchise history, fourth straight Super Bowl appearance and loss
1993 Buffalo Bills season |
---|
Owner | Ralph Wilson |
---|
General manager | John Butler |
---|
Head coach | Marv Levy |
---|
Home field | Rich Stadium |
---|
Results |
---|
Record | 12–4 |
---|
Division place | 1st AFC East |
---|
Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Raiders) 29–23 Won AFC Championship (vs. Chiefs) 30–13 Lost Super Bowl XXVIII (vs. Cowboys) 13–30 |
---|
Pro Bowlers | - RB Thurman Thomas
- WR Andre Reed
- OT Howard Ballard
- OLB Cornelius Bennett
- DT Bruce Smith
- CB Nate Odomes
- ST Steve Tasker
|
---|
AP All-Pros | |
---|
|
The 1993 Buffalo Bills season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). The Buffalo Bills finished the National Football League's 1993 season with a record of 12 wins and 4 losses, and finished first in the AFC East division.
The Bills qualified for their fourth straight Super Bowl, where they faced the Dallas Cowboys in a rematch of the previous season's Super Bowl. However, just like with the previous Super Bowl, the Bills would lose to the Cowboys, this time by a score of 30–13. Until the 2020 season, this Bills squad was the last to reach the AFC Championship Game.
Season summary
Despite the many jokes about the Bills having lost three straight Super Bowls—a fan pleaded with head coach Marv Levy for the team to not return to the Super Bowl: "I can't take it. I can't go to work on Monday if we don't win the game. It's tearing me up. I can't handle it"—Don Beebe recalled that "I've got to be honest with you. We thrived in it. We enjoyed it. We were going to go to four ... I think that comes a lot from the Winston Churchill poems and the speeches that we would get from Marv". Dan Patrick reported that "Buffalo players have been wearing t-shirts reading something along the lines of 'Let's Tick Them Off and Go for Four'".[1] The team qualified for another Super Bowl; they became the first franchise to win four consecutive conference championships, as well as the first to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls.
Defensive end Bruce Smith was named NEA Defensive Player of the Year, and tied for the league lead with 13.5 sacks. Smith, linebacker Darryl Talley and special teams gunner Steve Tasker were named to the 1993 All-Pro team. The Bills' 47 defensive takeaways in 1993 is the third-highest total of the 1990s.[2]
Running back Thurman Thomas led the AFC with 1,315 rushing yards.[3]
NFL Draft
Undrafted Free Agents
1993 Undrafted Free Agents of note Player | Position | College |
Phil Bryant | Running back | Virginia Tech |
Personnel
1993 Buffalo Bills staff | Front office - Owner/President – Ralph Wilson
- Vice President of Administration/general manager – John Butler
- Vice President of Football Operations – Marv Levy
- Assistant general manager/Director of Pro Personnel – Bob Ferguson
- Director of player personnel – John Butler
- Assistant director/Collegiate Scouting – A. J. Smith
- Director of Player Development/Alumni Relations - Jerry Butler
Head coaches - Head coach – Marv Levy
- Assistant head coach – Elijah Pitts
- Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Chuck Lester
Offensive coaches | | | Defensive coaches - Defensive coordinatorr/Linebackers – Walt Corey
- Defensive line – Dan Sekanovich
- Defensive backs – Dick Roach
- Defensive Quality Control / Administrative Assistant – Chuck Lester
Special teams coaches Strength and conditioning - Strength and conditioning Coordinator – Rusty Jones
|
Roster
1993 Buffalo Bills roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists - 86 Rob Awalt TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 85 Al Edwards WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 47 Kirby Jackson CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
Practice squad 53 active, 3 inactive, 5 practice squad Rookies in italics |
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
1 | September 5 | New England Patriots | W 38–14 | 1–0 | Rich Stadium | 79,751 |
2 | September 12 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 13–10 | 2–0 | Texas Stadium | 63,226 |
3 | Bye |
4 | September 26 | Miami Dolphins | L 13–22 | 2–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,635 |
5 | October 3 | New York Giants | W 17–14 | 3–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,283 |
6 | October 11 | Houston Oilers | W 35–7 | 4–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,613 |
7 | Bye |
8 | October 24 | at New York Jets | W 19–10 | 5–1 | Giants Stadium | 71,541 |
9 | November 1 | Washington Redskins | W 24–10 | 6–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,106 |
10 | November 7 | at New England Patriots | W 13–10 (OT) | 7–1 | Foxboro Stadium | 54,326 |
11 | November 15 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 0–23 | 7–2 | Three Rivers Stadium | 60,265 |
12 | November 21 | Indianapolis Colts | W 23–9 | 8–2 | Rich Stadium | 79,101 |
13 | November 28 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 7–23 | 8–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 74,452 |
14 | December 5 | Los Angeles Raiders | L 24–25 | 8–4 | Rich Stadium | 79,478 |
15 | December 12 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 10–7 | 9–4 | Veterans Stadium | 60,769 |
16 | December 19 | at Miami Dolphins | W 47–34 | 10–4 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 71,597 |
17 | December 26 | New York Jets | W 16–14 | 11–4 | Rich Stadium | 70,817 |
18 | January 2, 1994 | at Indianapolis Colts | W 30–10 | 12–4 | Hoosier Dome | 43,028 |
Game summaries
Week 1
Week One: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Patriots | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Bills | 0 | 17 | 0 | 21 | 38 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: September 5
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
- Referee: Gerald Austin
- TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth
- Box Score
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | Patriots | Bills | 2 | | | | | Bills | 28-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 0 | 3 | 2 | | | | | Bills | Bill Brooks 4-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 0 | 10 | 2 | | | | | Patriots | Ben Coates 54-yard touchdown reception from Drew Bledsoe, Scott Sisson kick good | 7 | 10 | 2 | | | | | Bills | Andre Reed 41-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 7 | 17 | 3 | | | | | Patriots | Greg McMurtry 2-yard touchdown reception from Drew Bledsoe, Scott Sisson kick good | 14 | 17 | 4 | | | | | Bills | Andre Reed 22-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 14 | 24 | 4 | | | | | Bills | Andre Reed 14-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 14 | 31 | 4 | | | | | Bills | Punt returned 47 yards for touchdown by Russell Copeland, Steve Christie kick good | 14 | 38 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 14 | 38 | |
Week 2
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Bills | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 | Cowboys | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | - Date: September 12
- Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Game start: 3:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C), wind 16 mph (26 km/h)
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bob Trumpy
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| 1 | | BUF | Carwell Gardner 10 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick) | Bills 7–0 | | 2 | | BUF | Steve Christie 48 yard field goal | Bills 10–0 | | 2 | | DAL | Lin Elliott 43 yard field goal | Bills 10–3 | | 4 | | DAL | Kevin Williams 5 yard run (Lin Elliott kick) | Tie 10–10 | | 4 | | BUF | Steve Christie 35 yard field goal | Bills 13–10 | |
[4]
Week 3
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Dolphins | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 22 | Bills | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 | |
Week 5
Week Five: New York Giants (3–0) at Buffalo Bills (2–1)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Giants | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Bills | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York
- Date: October 3
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) • 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
- Game attendance: 79,283
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (TNT): Gary Bender and Pat Haden
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 6
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Oilers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Bills | 7 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 35 | |
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| Q1 | | BUF | Don Beebe 34 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick) | BUF 7–0 | | Q1 | | HOU | Leonard Harris 17 yard pass from Warren Moon (Al Del Greco kick) | Tie 7–7 | | Q2 | | BUF | Andre Reed 24 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick) | BUF 14–7 | | Q2 | | BUF | Andre Reed 39 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick) | BUF 21–7 | | Q2 | | BUF | Thurman Thomas 7 yard run (Steve Christie kick) | BUF 28–7 | | Q4 | | BUF | Kenneth Davis 3 yard run (Steve Christie kick) | BUF 35–7 | |
[5]
Week 8
Buffalo Bills (4–1) at New York Jets (2–3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Bills | 0 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 | Jets | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | - Date: October 24
- Game start: 1:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 71,541
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) • 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn)
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bob Trumpy
|
|
|
[6]
Week 9
November 1, 1993.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Redskins | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | • Bills | 14 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 24 | |
|
|
[7]
Week 13
Buffalo Bills (8–2) at Kansas City Chiefs (7–3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bills | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 23 | |
|
|
[8]
Week 14
[9]
Week 15
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Bills | 9 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 47 | Eagles | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 34 | |
Week 16
Buffalo (9–4) at Miami (9–4) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Bills | 9 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 47 | Dolphins | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 34 | |
Standings
Playoffs
Super Bowl XXVIII
Scoring Summary
- DAL – FG: Eddie Murray 41 yards 3–0 DAL
- BUF – FG: Steve Christie 54 yards 3–3 tie
- DAL – FG: Eddie Murray 24 yards 6–3 DAL
- BUF – TD: Thurman Thomas 4 yard run (Steve Christie kick) 10–6 BUF
- BUF – FG: Steve Christie 28 yards 13–6 BUF
- DAL – TD: James Washington 46 yard fumble return (Eddie Murray kick) 13–13 tie
- DAL – TD: Emmitt Smith 17 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) 20–13 DAL
- DAL – TD: Emmitt Smith 1 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) 27–13 DAL
- DAL – FG: Eddie Murray 20 yards 30–13 DAL
Awards and records
References
- ^ "Four Falls of Buffalo". 30 for 30. Season 3. December 12, 2015. ESPN.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1990 to 1999, in the regular season, sorted by descending Takeaways, behind the 1991 Eagles and 1991 Saints.
- ^ Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition, p. 680, Martin's Press, August 1994, ISBN 0-312-11073-1
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2013-Dec-14.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-Jun-06.
- ^ "Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills - November 1st, 1993". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com , [1]
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
- Bills on Pro Football Reference
- Bills on jt-sw.com
- Bills Stats on jt-sw.com
Buffalo Bills |
---|
- Founded in 1960
- Based and headquartered in Orchard Park, New York
|
Franchise | |
---|
Stadiums | |
---|
Culture | |
---|
Lore | |
---|
Rivalries | |
---|
Division championships (14) | |
---|
Conference championships (4) | |
---|
League championships (2) | |
---|
Wall of Fame | |
---|
Media | |
---|
Owners | |
---|
Current league affiliations | |
---|
Former league affiliation | |
---|
- Category
- Commons
|