1993 Buffalo Bills season

Last updated

1993 Buffalo Bills season
Owner Ralph Wilson
General manager John Butler
Head coach Marv Levy
Home field Rich Stadium
Results
Record12–4
Division place1st AFC East
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Raiders) 29–23
Won AFC Championship
(vs. Chiefs) 30–13
Lost Super Bowl XXVIII
(vs. Cowboys) 13–30
Pro Bowlers
7
AP All-Pros
3

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.

Contents

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. The Bills' four consecutive Super Bowl appearances remains unmatched as of 2024, with no other team having even so much as played in four out of five consecutive Super Bowls until the Kansas City Chiefs did so from the 2019 through the 2023 seasons.

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]

Offseason

AdditionsSubtractions
WR Bill Brooks (Colts)LB Shane Conlan (Rams)
CB Mickey Washington (Redskins)WR James Lofton (Rams)
CB Cliff Hicks (Jets)
G Mitch Frerotte (Seahawks)

NFL Draft

1993 Buffalo Bills draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
128 Thomas Smith   CB North Carolina
255 John Parrella   DT Nebraska
4111 Russell Copeland   WR Memphis
5136 Mike Devlin   C Iowa
5139 Sebastian Savage  CB NC State
5167 Corbin Lacina   OT Augustana
7195Willie Harris WR Mississippi State
8223Chris Leuneberg OTWest Chester (PA)
      Made roster    †    Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted Free Agents

1993 Undrafted Free Agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Phil BryantRunning 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


Roster

1993 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

 Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

 Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

53 active, 3 inactive, 5 practice squadReserve


Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 5 New England Patriots W 38–141–0 Rich Stadium 79,751
2September 12at Dallas Cowboys W 13–102–0 Texas Stadium 63,226
3 Bye
4September 26 Miami Dolphins L 13–222–1Rich Stadium79,635
5October 3 New York Giants W 17–143–1Rich Stadium79,283
6October 11 Houston Oilers W 35–74–1Rich Stadium79,613
7 Bye
8October 24at New York Jets W 19–105–1 Giants Stadium
71,541
9November 1 Washington Redskins W 24–106–1Rich Stadium79,106
10November 7at New England Patriots W 13–10 (OT)7–1 Foxboro Stadium 54,326
11November 15at Pittsburgh Steelers L 0–237–2 Three Rivers Stadium 60,265
12November 21 Indianapolis Colts W 23–98–2Rich Stadium79,101
13November 28at Kansas City Chiefs L 7–238–3 Arrowhead Stadium 74,452
14December 5 Los Angeles Raiders L 24–258–4Rich Stadium79,478
15December 12at Philadelphia Eagles W 10–79–4 Veterans Stadium 60,769
16December 19at Miami Dolphins W 47–3410–4 Joe Robbie Stadium 71,597
17December 26 New York Jets W 16–1411–4Rich Stadium70,817
18January 2, 1994at Indianapolis Colts W 30–1012–4 Hoosier Dome 43,028

Game summaries

Week 1

Week One: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Patriots077014
Bills01702138

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

Week 2

1234Total
• Bills730313
Cowboys030710
  • 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
1BUF Carwell Gardner 10 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick)Bills 7–0
2BUFSteve Christie 48 yard field goalBills 10–0
2DAL Lin Elliott 43 yard field goalBills 10–3
4DAL Kevin Williams 5 yard run (Lin Elliott kick)Tie 10–10
4BUFSteve Christie 35 yard field goalBills 13–10

[4]

Week 3

1234Total
• Dolphins1633022
Bills060713

Week 5

Week Five: New York Giants (3–0) at Buffalo Bills (2–1)
Quarter1234Total
Giants0140014
Bills1000717

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
Game information

Week 6

1234Total
Oilers70007
• Bills7210735
Scoring summary
Q1BUF Don Beebe 34 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick)BUF 7–0
Q1HOU Leonard Harris 17 yard pass from Warren Moon (Al Del Greco kick)Tie 7–7
Q2BUF Andre Reed 24 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick)BUF 14–7
Q2BUFAndre Reed 39 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick)BUF 21–7
Q2BUF Thurman Thomas 7 yard run (Steve Christie kick)BUF 28–7
Q4BUF Kenneth Davis 3 yard run (Steve Christie kick)BUF 35–7

[5]

Week 8

Buffalo Bills (4–1) at New York Jets (2–3)
1234Total
• Bills067619
Jets700310
  • 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
Scoring summary
Q1NYJ Brad Baxter 1 yard rush (Cary Blanchard kick)NYJ 7–0
Q2BUF Steve Christie 37 yard field goalNYJ 7–3
Q2BUF Steve Christie 33 yard field goalNYJ 7–6
Q3BUF Darryl Talley 61 yard interception return (Steve Christie kick)BUF 13–7
Q4BUF Steve Christie 22 yard field goalBUF 16–7
Q4NYJ Cary Blanchard 33 yard field goalBUF 16–10
Q4BUF Steve Christie 30 yard field goalBUF 19–10

[6]

Week 9

November 1, 1993.

1234Total
Redskins730010
• Bills1407324
Scoring summary
Q19:00BUF Andre Reed 65 yard pass from Kelly (Christie kick)BUF 7–0
Q14:35WSH Reggie Brooks 7 yard rush (Chip Lohmiller kick)TIE 7–7
Q10:10BUF Bill Brooks (American football) 11 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick)BUF 14–7
Q28:24WSH Chip Lohmiller 19 yard field goalBUF 14–10
Q35:27BUF Thurman Thomas 1 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)BUF 21–10
Q411:25BUF Steve Christie 45 yard field goalBUF 24–10

[7]

Week 12

1234Total
Colts33309
• Bills0167023

Week 13

Buffalo Bills (8–2) at Kansas City Chiefs (7–3)
1234Total
Bills70007
• Chiefs7310323
Scoring summary
14:14BUF Kenneth Davis (American football) 9 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)Bills 7–0
1KC Marcus Allen 18 yard pass from Joe Montana (Nick Lowery kick)TIE 7–7
2KC Nick Lowery 30 yard field goalChiefs 10–7
3KC Keith Cash 1 yard pass from Joe Montana (Nick Lowery kick)Chiefs 17–7
3KC Nick Lowery 22 yard field goalChiefs 20–7
4KC Nick Lowery 34 yard field goalChiefs 23–7

[8]

Week 14

Los Angeles Raiders (6–5) at Buffalo Bills (8–3)
1234Total
• Raiders376925
Bills0143724
Scoring summary
17:43Raiders Jeff Jaeger 37 yard field goalRaiders 3–0
2Bills Thurman Thomas 3 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)Bills 7–3
2Raiders Jeff Hostetler 11 yard rush (Jeff Jaeger kick)Raiders 10–7
2Bills Don Beebe 65 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Christie kick)Bills 14–10
3Raiders Jeff Jaeger 34 yard field goalBills 14–13
3Bills Steve Christie 35 yard field goalBills 17–13
3Raiders Jeff Jaeger 26 yard field goalBills 17–16
4Bills Thurman Thomas 1 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)Bills 24–16
4Raiders Jeff Jaeger 47 yard field goalBills 24–19
4Raiders Tim Brown 29 yard pass from Jeff Hostetler Raiders 25–24

[9]

Week 15

1234Total
• Bills91721047
Eagles7137734

Week 16

Buffalo (9–4) at Miami (9–4)
1234Total
• Bills91721047
Dolphins7137734

Week 17

1234Total
Jets707014
• Bills760316
  • Date: December 26, 1993
  • Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 70,817
  • Game weather: 9 °F (−13 °C) • 23 miles per hour (37 km/h; 20 kn)
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (NFL on NBC): Don Criqui, Paul Maguire

Standings

AFC East
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(1) Buffalo Bills 1240.750329242W4
Miami Dolphins 970.563349351L5
New York Jets 880.500270247L3
New England Patriots 5110.313238286W4
Indianapolis Colts 4120.250189378L4

Playoffs

RoundDateOpponentGame SiteFinal scoreAttendance
DivisionalJanuary 15, 1994 Los Angeles Raiders (4) Rich Stadium W 29–23
61,923
AFC ChampionshipJanuary 23, 1994 Kansas City Chiefs (3) Rich Stadium W 30–13
76,642
Super BowlJanuary 30, 1994vs. Dallas Cowboys (N1) Georgia Dome L 13–30
72,817

Super Bowl XXVIII

Quarter1234Total
Cowboys60141030
Bills3100013

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: January 30, 1994

Scoring Summary

Awards and records

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References

  1. ↑ "Four Falls of Buffalo". 30 for 30. Season 3. December 12, 2015. ESPN.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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
  4. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  5. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2013-Dec-14.
  6. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-Jun-06.
  7. ↑ "Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills - November 1st, 1993". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
  8. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com,
  9. ↑ "Los Angeles Raiders at Buffalo Bills - December 5th, 1993". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
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