1988 Buffalo Bills season

Last updated

1988 Buffalo Bills season
Owner Ralph Wilson
General manager Bill Polian
Head coach Marv Levy
Home field Rich Stadium
Results
Record12–4
Division place1st AFC East
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Oilers) 17–10
Lost AFC Championship
(at Bengals) 10–21
Pro Bowlers QB Jim Kelly
WR Andre Reed
C Kent Hull
DE Bruce Smith
DT Fred Smerlas
OLB Cornelius Bennett
ILB Shane Conlan
K Scott Norwood

The 1988 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 29th overall season as a football team and the 19th in the National Football League. The Bills ended a streak of four consecutive losing seasons by winning the AFC East; they finished the NFL's 1988 season with a record of twelve wins and four losses; it was the club's first winning season since 1981, its first 12-win season since the 1964 AFL championship season, and only the fifth double-digit win season in team history. The Bills were 8–0 at home for the first time in their franchise history. [1] On the road, the Bills were 4–4. From an attendance standpoint, the franchise set a record for attendance with 631,818 fans. [2]

Contents

This was the first of four consecutive AFC East titles for the Bills. They started the season 11–1 before losing three of their final four games, costing them the top seed in the AFC, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

It was Buffalo's first trip to the postseason since 1981. The Bills were the #2 seed in the AFC (behind #1 Cincinnati), giving the Bills their first home playoff game since the 1966 AFL Championship, and their first ever playoff game at Rich Stadium. The 1988 season would be the first of five AFC Championship game appearances over six seasons, [3] and their only loss in the conference championship game.

The 1988 season was the first for running back Thurman Thomas, nose tackle Jeff Wright, and linebacker Carlton Bailey. Thomas would rush for 881 yards, despite only carrying the ball 207 times (42.7% of total team carries by a running back) while sharing carries with Robb Riddick, Jamie Mueller and Ronnie Harmon.

The Bills had a dominant defense in 1988: they gave up the fewest points (237) and the fewest total yards (4,578) in the AFC in 1988. The defensive unit was given the nickname "Blizzard Defense", [4] [5] alluding to Buffalo's harsh winters.

Four Bills players made the All-Pro team in 1988: defensive end Bruce Smith, linebackers Shane Conlan and Cornelius Bennett, and kicker Scott Norwood.

Head coach Marv Levy was named NFL Coach of the Year by The Sporting News and UPI.

Offseason

NFL draft

ESPN's cameras watched Oklahoma State running back Thurman Thomas in his home as he waited to be drafted. He fell to the second round, where the Bills made him their first pick at 40th overall. Thomas would go on to a Pro Football Hall of Fame career, where he would eclipse O. J. Simpson's all-time team rushing record with 12,074 yards. Thomas would set an NFL record by leading the league in yards-from-scrimmage for four consecutive years, from 1989 to 1992. (The record of three was previously held by Hall of Famer Jim Brown.) Thomas was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1992.

1988 Buffalo Bills draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
240 Thurman Thomas  *   RB Oklahoma State
365 Bernard Ford   WR Central Florida
5123Ezekial Gadson  DB Pittsburgh
5135Kirk Roach  K Western Carolina
6150Dan Murray  OLB East Stroudsburg
7177Tim Borcky  OT Memphis
7184Bo Wright RB Alabama
8204 John Hagy  DB Texas
8213 Jeff Wright   DT Central Missouri State
9235 Carlton Bailey   ILB North Carolina
10262 Martin Mayhew  CB Florida State Placed on injured reserve
11289Pete Curkendall DT Penn State
12309John Driscoll OT New Hampshire
12316 Tom Erlandson  LB Washington
      Made roster        Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[6]

Personnel

Staff

1988 Buffalo Bills staff

Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach – Marv Levy

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Walt Corey
  • Defensive line – Ted Cottrell
  • Defensive backs – Dick Roach
  • Defensive assistant – Chuck Lester

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

[7]

Roster

1988 Buffalo Bills roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

rookies in italics
47 active, 13 inactive

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 4 Minnesota Vikings W 13–101–0 Rich Stadium 76,783
2September 11 Miami Dolphins W 9–62–0Rich Stadium79,520
3September 18at New England Patriots W 16–143–0 Sullivan Stadium 55,945
4September 25 Pittsburgh Steelers W 36–284–0Rich Stadium78,735
5October 2at Chicago Bears L 3–244–1 Soldier Field 62,793
6October 9 Indianapolis Colts W 34–235–1Rich Stadium76,018
7October 17at New York Jets W 37–146–1 Giants Stadium 70,218
8October 23New England PatriotsW 23–207–1Rich Stadium76,824
9October 30 Green Bay Packers W 28–08–1Rich Stadium79,176
10November 6at Seattle Seahawks W 13–39–1 Kingdome 61,074
11November 14at Miami DolphinsW 31–610–1 Joe Robbie Stadium 67,091
12November 20New York JetsW 9–6 (OT)11–1Rich Stadium78,389
13November 27at Cincinnati Bengals L 21–3511–2 Riverfront Stadium 58,672
14December 4at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 5–1011–3 Tampa Stadium 49,498
15December 11 Los Angeles Raiders W 37–2112–3Rich Stadium77,348
16December 18at Indianapolis ColtsL 14–1712–4 Hoosier Dome 59,908
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 1

1234Total
Vikings030710
Bills1000313

Week 2

Miami Dolphins (0-1) at Buffalo Bills (1-0)
1234Total
Dolphins30306
Bills03069

[8]

Week 3

1234Total
Bills0331016
Patriots0140014
  • Date: September 18
  • Location: Sullivan Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 55,945
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C) •Wind 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn)
  • Referee: Fred Wyant
  • Television network: NBC

[9]

Week 4

1234Total
Steelers01401428
Bills10614636

[10]

Week 5

Buffalo Bills (4-0) at Chicago Bears (4-0)
1234Total
Bills30003
Bears7170024

[11]

Week 6

Indianapolis Colts (1-4) at Buffalo Bills (4-1)
1234Total
Colts1073323
Bills07141334

Week 7

1234Total
Bills17143337
Jets077014

[12]

Week 8

Week 9

1234Total
Packers00000
Bills777728

[13]

Week 12

1234OTTotal
Jets030306
Bills003339
  • Date: November 20
  • Location: Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 78,389
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C) • Wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy

The Bills clinch the AFC Eastern division title.

[14]

Week 16

Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts
1234Total
Bills070714
Colts3001417

The loss cost the Bills homefield advantage in the AFC playoffs.

[15]

Standings

AFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Buffalo Bills (2)1240.7507–110–2329237L1
Indianapolis Colts 970.5635–37–5354315W1
New England Patriots 970.5635–37–5250284L1
New York Jets 871.5313–56–7–1372354W2
Miami Dolphins 6100.3750–83–9319380L1

Playoffs

AFC Divisional Playoff

Buffalo Bills 17, Houston Oilers 10
Quarter1234Total
Oilers030710
Bills077317

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Buffalo's first playoff game in seven years and first home playoff playoff game in 22 years was a 17–10 win over the Oilers. Jim Kelly threw for 244 yards and an interception while Thurman Thomas and Robb Riddick had rushing scores to go with 87 rushing yards. The Bills intercepted Warren Moon once and forced two Oilers fumbles.

AFC Championship Game

Cincinnati Bengals 21, Buffalo Bills 10
Quarter1234Total
Bills0100010
Bengals770721

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

The Bengals forced three interceptions and allowed only 45 rushing yards and 136 passing yards to go with an offense that held the ball for 39:29 out of sixty minutes. Bills starting running back Thurman Thomas was held to just six yards on four carries, while quarterback Jim Kelly completed only 14-of-30 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.

Awards and records

All-Pros

First Team

Second Team

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXV</span> 1991 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion New York Giants to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1990 season. The Giants defeated the Bills by the score of 20–19, winning their second Super Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXVI</span> 1992 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1991 season. The Redskins defeated the Bills by a score of 37–24, becoming the fourth team after the Pittsburgh Steelers, the now Las Vegas Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers to win three Super Bowls. The Bills became the third team, after the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos to lose back-to-back Super Bowls. The game was played on January 26, 1992, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first time the city played host to a Super Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXVII</span> 1993 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXVII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1992 season. The Cowboys defeated the Bills by the score of 52–17, winning their third Super Bowl in team history, and their first one in 15 years. This game is tied with Super Bowl XXXVII as the fourth-highest scoring Super Bowl with 69 combined points, as of 2023. The Bills became the first team to lose three consecutive Super Bowls, and just the second of three teams to play in three straight. The following 1993 season, the Bills became the only team to both play and lose four consecutive Super Bowls. The game was played on January 31, 1993, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and is the last NFL championship game to date to be held in a non-NFL stadium. It was also the seventh Super Bowl held in the Greater Los Angeles Area, which did not host another until Super Bowl LVI in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXVIII</span> 1994 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXVIII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1993 season. The Cowboys defeated the Bills, for the second straight year, by a score of 30–13, winning their fourth Super Bowl in team history, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers for most Super Bowl wins. The Buffalo Bills became the only team to both play and lose four consecutive Super Bowls for a 0-4 franchise Super Bowl record, and as of 2023, remains the team's most recent Super Bowl appearance. This is also the most recent consecutive Super Bowl rematch. The game was played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Since the 1993 regular season was conducted over 18 weeks, the traditional bye week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl was not employed; the last time this had happened was before Super Bowl XXV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thurman Thomas</span> American football player (born 1966)

Thurman Lee Thomas is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Thomas was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft, where he spent all but one season of his professional career. He spent his final NFL year as a member of the Miami Dolphins in 2000.

James Kent Hull was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL), more precisely a center for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and Buffalo Bills of the NFL.

The 1990 Buffalo Bills season was the 31st for the franchise and the 21st in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished the year with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, and first in the American Football Conference (AFC) East division. They were 8–0 at home for the second time in their franchise history. On the road, the Bills were 5–3. Buffalo qualified for their first Super Bowl appearance, but lost 20–19 to the New York Giants after an infamous missed field goal by Scott Norwood in the game's closing seconds.

The 1991 Buffalo Bills season was the 32nd season and 22nd in the National Football League (NFL). The Buffalo Bills entered the season as defending AFC champions, having lost Super Bowl XXV to the New York Giants. They finished the National Football League's 1991 season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, the same record as their previous season, and finished first in the AFC East division. The Bills qualified for their second Super Bowl appearance but lost to the Washington Redskins, 37-24.

The 1992 Buffalo Bills season was the 33rd season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). The Buffalo Bills entered the season as defending back to back AFC champions and finished the National Football League's 1992 season with a record of 11 wins and 5 losses, and finished second in the AFC East division. The Bills qualified for their third straight Super Bowl appearance, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys 52–17. This would be the only time the Bills did not finish first in the AFC Eastern Division from 1988 to 1993.

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 1973 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's eighth season and fourth season in the National Football League (NFL). The team entered the 1973 season as defending Super Bowl champion following its perfect undefeated 1972 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Miami Dolphins season</span> 35th season in franchise history

The 2000 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 31st season in the National Football League, the 35th overall and was their first under new head coach Dave Wannstedt who was named the fourth head coach in franchise history on January 16, 2000, the same day that Jimmy Johnson announced his retirement from coaching. For the first season since 1982, Dan Marino was not on the opening day roster, as he announced his retirement prior to the season. Believed by many as the greatest Miami Dolphin of all time, Marino led the Dolphins to ten playoff appearances, one of which ended in Super Bowl XIX, and is the winningest quarterback to have not won a Super Bowl. Jay Fiedler, who left the Jacksonville Jaguars, succeeded Marino as starting quarterback. Damon Huard remained a backup quarterback and started for Fiedler in one game during the season.

The 1989 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 30th overall season as a football team and the 20th in the National Football League. The Bills finished in first place in the AFC East and finished the National Football League's 1989 season with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses. Although Buffalo won the division and qualified for the postseason, their record was a drop off from their 12–4 mark in 1988.

The 1990 Los Angeles Raiders season was the franchise's 31st season overall, and the franchise's 21st season in the National Football League. Led by Coach of the Year Art Shell, the club appeared in its first AFC Championship Game since their Super Bowl-winning 1983 season, but lost a lopsided affair to the Buffalo Bills, 3–51. This would be the Raiders' final division title for 10 years, and their final one in Los Angeles. Bo Jackson suffered a hip injury in the team's divisional playoff victory against the Cincinnati Bengals which turned out to be a career ending injury for him.

The 1993 Los Angeles Raiders season was the franchise's 34th season overall, and the franchise's 24th season in the National Football League. The team improved upon its 7–9 record in the previous season and returned to the NFL playoffs after a one-year absence, but lost in the AFC Divisional game to the Buffalo Bills.

The 1980 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 11th season in the National Football League, and the 21st overall. Their 11–5 record was tied for best in the AFC.

The 1988 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 21st year in professional football and its 19th with the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season</span> 2nd season in franchise history; first playoff appearance

The 1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the franchise's 2nd season in the National Football League and the 2nd under head coach Tom Coughlin. The Jaguars improved on their 4–12 record from their inaugural season. The Jaguars marked success as they won six of their last seven games of the season and finished with a record of 9–7. The credit for this midseason turnaround probably lies in the demotion of wide receiver Andre Rison in favor of Jimmy Smith after a game against the St. Louis Rams in which Brunell threw 5 interceptions. The interceptions were blamed on Rison and he was benched. In the team's final game of the regular season against the Atlanta Falcons, needing a win to earn a playoff berth, the Jaguars caught a bit of luck when Morten Andersen missed a 30-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining that would have given the Falcons the lead. The Jaguars clinched the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season</span> 5th season in franchise history

The 1999 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 5th in the National Football League and their fifth under head coach Tom Coughlin. Wide receiver Jimmy Smith set a franchise record for most receptions and receiving yards in one season. Smith would finish second in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,636 yards. The Jaguars’ regular season record of 14–2 still stands as their best record in franchise history. This would be the last time Jacksonville made the playoffs until 2005, the last season the team won a playoff game until 2007 and the last time the Jaguars won any division title until they won the AFC South title in 2017.

The 1995 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 26th season in the National Football League and the 36th overall. This was the last time the Bills won the division or won a playoff game until 2020.

References

  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 262
  2. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 390
  3. Buffalo also reached the conference championship following the 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993 seasons, winning them all
  4. December 21, 1988, Milwaukee Journal | Retrieved January 11, 2012
  5. December 22, 1988, Orlando Sentinel | Retrieved January 11, 2012: "ANOTHER BLIZZARD is sweeping through Buffalo. The effects of this one aren't being felt by residents, but by opposing teams at the Buffalo Bills' Rich Stadium. This blizzard is actually The Blizzard Defense, which is the name Bills defenders chose for themselves as part of a local newspaper's Name That Defense contest. Members of the AFC's top-ranked defense selected that name over dozens submitted by readers of The Buffalo News."
  6. The Football Database. Retrieved 2014-Aug-11.
  7. 1988 Buffalo Bills Media Guide. pp. 3–24.
  8. Pro-Football-Reference.com
  9. Pro-Football-Reference.com
  10. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Aug-10.
  11. . Retrieved 2021-Apr-18.
  12. Pro-Football-Reference.com
  13. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Dec-15.
  14. Pro-Football-Reference.com
  15. Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved 2022-Mar-23.