1993 Buffalo Bills season

34th season in franchise history, fourth straight Super Bowl appearance and loss

1993 Buffalo Bills season
OwnerRalph Wilson
General managerJohn Butler
Head coachMarv Levy
Home fieldRich 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
  • RB Thurman Thomas
  • WR Andre Reed
  • OT Howard Ballard
  • OLB Cornelius Bennett
  • DT Bruce Smith
  • CB Nate Odomes
  • ST Steve Tasker
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.

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

1993 Buffalo Bills draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 28 Thomas Smith  CB North Carolina
2 55 John Parrella  DT Nebraska
4 111 Russell Copeland  WR Memphis
5 136 Mike Devlin  C Iowa
5 139 Sebastian Savage  CB NC State
5 167 Corbin Lacina  OT Augustana
7 195 Willie Harris  WR Mississippi State
8 223 Chris Leuneberg  OT West 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
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

  • Offensive coordinator/Offensive Line – Tom Bresnahan
  • Quarterbacks – Jim Shofner
  • Running Backs – Elijah Pitts
  • Receivers – Charlie Joiner
  • Offensive Quality Control/Tight Ends – Don Lawrence
 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, 12 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 34Total
Patriots 0 7 7014
Bills 0 17 02138

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 234Total
• Bills 7 303 13
Cowboys 0 307 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
1BUFCarwell Gardner 10 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick)Bills 7–0
2BUFSteve Christie 48 yard field goalBills 10–0
2DALLin Elliott 43 yard field goalBills 10–3
4DALKevin Williams 5 yard run (Lin Elliott kick)Tie 10–10
4BUFSteve Christie 35 yard field goalBills 13–10

[4]

Week 3

1 234Total
• Dolphins 16 330 22
Bills 0 607 13

Week 5

Week Five: New York Giants (3–0) at Buffalo Bills (2–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 14 0014
Bills 10 0 0717

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
Giants
Bills

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP NYG BUF
1 Bills 24-yard field goal by Steve Christie 0 3
1 Bills Interception returned 85 yards for touchdown by Henry Jones, Steve Christie kick good 0 10
2 Giants Chris Calloway 5-yard touchdown reception from Phil Simms, David Treadwell kick good 7 10
2 Giants Mark Jackson 3-yard touchdown reception from Phil Simms, David Treadwell kick good 14 10
4 Bills Pete Metzelaars 8-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good 14 17
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 14 17

Week 6

1 234Total
Oilers 7 000 7
• Bills 7 2107 35
Scoring summary
Q1BUFDon Beebe 34 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick)BUF 7–0
Q1HOULeonard Harris 17 yard pass from Warren Moon (Al Del Greco kick)Tie 7–7
Q2BUFAndre 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
Q2BUFThurman Thomas 7 yard run (Steve Christie kick)BUF 28–7
Q4BUFKenneth Davis 3 yard run (Steve Christie kick)BUF 35–7

[5]


Week 8

Buffalo Bills (4–1) at New York Jets (2–3)
1 234Total
• Bills 0 676 19
Jets 7 003 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
Scoring summary
Q1NYJBrad Baxter 1 yard rush (Cary Blanchard kick)NYJ 7–0
Q2BUFSteve Christie 37 yard field goalNYJ 7–3
Q2BUFSteve Christie 33 yard field goalNYJ 7–6
Q3BUFDarryl Talley 61 yard interception return (Steve Christie kick)BUF 13–7
Q4BUFSteve Christie 22 yard field goalBUF 16–7
Q4NYJCary Blanchard 33 yard field goalBUF 16–10
Q4BUFSteve Christie 30 yard field goalBUF 19–10


[6]

Week 9

November 1, 1993.

1 234Total
Redskins 7 300 10
• Bills 14 073 24
Scoring summary
Q19:00BUFAndre Reed 65 yard pass from Kelly (Christie kick)BUF 7–0
Q14:35WSHReggie Brooks 7 yard rush (Chip Lohmiller kick)TIE 7–7
Q10:10BUFBill Brooks (American football) 11 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick)BUF 14–7
Q28:24WSHChip Lohmiller 19 yard field goalBUF 14–10
Q35:27BUFThurman Thomas 1 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)BUF 21–10
Q411:25BUFSteve Christie 45 yard field goalBUF 24–10

[7]

Week 12

Week 13

Buffalo Bills (8–2) at Kansas City Chiefs (7–3)
1 234Total
Bills 7 000 7
• Chiefs 7 3103 23
Scoring summary
14:14BUFKenneth Davis (American football) 9 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)Bills 7–0
1KCMarcus Allen 18 yard pass from Joe Montana (Nick Lowery kick)TIE 7–7
2KCNick Lowery 30 yard field goalChiefs 10–7
3KCKeith Cash 1 yard pass from Joe Montana (Nick Lowery kick)Chiefs 17–7
3KCNick Lowery 22 yard field goalChiefs 20–7
4KCNick Lowery 34 yard field goalChiefs 23–7


[8]

Week 14

Los Angeles Raiders (6–5) at Buffalo Bills (8–3)
1 234Total
• Raiders 3 769 25
Bills 0 1437 24
Scoring summary
17:43RaidersJeff Jaeger 37 yard field goalRaiders 3–0
2BillsThurman Thomas 3 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)Bills 7–3
2RaidersJeff Hostetler 11 yard rush (Jeff Jaeger kick)Raiders 10–7
2BillsDon Beebe 65 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Christie kick)Bills 14–10
3RaidersJeff Jaeger 34 yard field goalBills 14–13
3BillsSteve Christie 35 yard field goalBills 17–13
3RaidersJeff Jaeger 26 yard field goalBills 17–16
4BillsThurman Thomas 1 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)Bills 24–16
4RaidersJeff Jaeger 47 yard field goalBills 24–19
4RaidersTim Brown 29 yard pass from Jeff HostetlerRaiders 25–24


[9]

Week 15

1 234Total
• Bills 9 17210 47
Eagles 7 1377 34

Week 16

Buffalo (9–4) at Miami (9–4)
1 234Total
• Bills 9 17210 47
Dolphins 7 1377 34

Standings

AFC East
  • view
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  • edit
 W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) Buffalo Bills 12 4 0 .750 329 242 W4
Miami Dolphins 9 7 0 .563 349 351 L5
New York Jets 8 8 0 .500 270 247 L3
New England Patriots 5 11 0 .313 238 286 W4
Indianapolis Colts 4 12 0 .250 189 378 L4

Playoffs

Round Date Opponent Game Site Final score Attendance
Divisional January 15, 1994 Los Angeles Raiders (4) Rich Stadium W 29–23
61,923
AFC Championship January 23, 1994 Kansas City Chiefs (3) Rich Stadium W 30–13
76,642
Super Bowl January 30, 1994 vs. Dallas Cowboys (N1) Georgia Dome L 13–30
72,817

Super Bowl XXVIII

Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 6 0 141030
Bills 3 10 0013

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: January 30, 1994
  • [2]

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

  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 , [1]
  9. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  • Bills on Pro Football Reference
  • Bills on jt-sw.com
  • Bills Stats on jt-sw.com
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