34th season in franchise history, fourth straight Super Bowl appearance and loss
The 1993 Buffalo Bills season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League . 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 13–30. 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 [ ]
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
7 Gale Gilbert
12 Jim Kelly
14 Frank Reich
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
Regular season [ ]
Schedule [ ]
Week
Date
Opponent
Game Site
Final Score
Record
Attendance
1
September 5, 1993
New England Patriots
Rich Stadium
W 38–14
1–0
79,751
2
September 12, 1993
at Dallas Cowboys
Texas Stadium
W 13–10
2–0
63,226
3
Bye
4
September 26, 1993
Miami Dolphins
Rich Stadium
L 22–13
2–1
79,635
5
October 3, 1993
New York Giants
Rich Stadium
W 17–14
3–1
79,283
6
October 11, 1993
Houston Oilers
Rich Stadium
W 35–7
4–1
79,613
7
Bye
8
October 24, 1993
at New York Jets
The Meadowlands
W 19–10
5–1
71,541
9
November 1, 1993
Washington Redskins
Rich Stadium
W 24–10
6–1
79,106
10
November 7, 1993
at New England Patriots
Foxboro Stadium
W 13–10
7–1
54,326
11
November 15, 1993
at Pittsburgh Steelers
Three Rivers Stadium
L 0–23
7–2
60,265
12
November 21, 1993
Indianapolis Colts
Rich Stadium
W 23–9
8–2
79,101
13
November 28, 1993
at Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead Stadium
L 7–23
8–3
74,452
14
December 5, 1993
Los Angeles Raiders
Rich Stadium
L 24–25
8–4
79,478
15
December 12, 1993
at Philadelphia Eagles
Veterans Stadium
W 10–7
9–4
60,769
16
December 19, 1993
at Miami Dolphins
Joe Robbie Stadium
W 47–34
10–4
71,597
17
December 26, 1993
New York Jets
Rich Stadium
W 16–14
11–4
70,817
18
January 2, 1994
at Indianapolis Colts
Hoosier Dome
W 30–10
12–4
43,028
Game summaries [ ]
Week 1 [ ]
See also: 1993 New England Patriots season
Week One: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
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 5Game time : 1:00 p.m.Game weather : 66 F, wind 12 mphReferee : Gerald AustinTV announcers (NBC) : Tom Hammond and Cris CollinsworthBox 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 12Location: Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas Game start: 3:00 p.m. Game weather: 85°F, wind 16 mphReferee: Bernie KukarTV 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 goalBills 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
Date: September 26Location: Rich Stadium , Orchard Park, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 79,635Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) • 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn), rain (at start of game)Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg , Paul Maguire
Week 5 [ ]
See also: 1993 New York Giants season
Week Five: New York Giants (3–0) at Buffalo Bills (2–1)
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 3Game time : 8:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 47 °F (8 °C) • 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)Game attendance : 79,283Referee : Gordon McCarter TV announcers (TNT ) : Gary Bender and Pat HadenPro-Football-Reference.com
Game information
Giants
Bills
Jim Kelly 14/25, 142 Yds, TD, INT
Thurman Thomas 26 Rush, 122 Yds
Pete Metzelaars 6 Rec, 44 Yds, TD
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
2 3 4 Total
Oilers
7
0 0 0
7
• Bills
7
21 0 7
35
Date: October 11Location: Rich Stadium , Orchard Park, New York Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 79,613Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C) • 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)Referee: Tom White (American football official) TV announcers (ABC ): Frank Gifford , Al Michaels , Dan Dierdorf
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 24Game start: 1:00 PM EST Game attendance: 71,541Game 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; the latest in-season home Monday Night Football game the Bills have ever hosted.
1
2 3 4 Total
Redskins
7
3 0 0
10
• Bills
14
0 7 3
24
Date: November 1Location: Rich Stadium , Orchard Park, New York Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 79,106Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C) • 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn)Referee: Larry Nemmers TV announcers (Monday Night Football ): Al Michaels , Frank Gifford , and Dan Dierdorf
[7]
Week 12 [ ]
Week 13 [ ]
Buffalo Bills (8-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-3)
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bills
7
17 21 0
45
Chiefs
7
3 10 3
23
Date: November 28Location: Arrowhead Stadium , Kansas City, Missouri Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 74,452Game weather: 29 °F (−2 °C) • 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)Referee: Dale Hamer TV announcers (NFL on NBC ): Marv Albert , Mike Ditka
Scoring summary 1 4:14 BUF Kenneth Davis (American football) 9 yard rush (Steve Christie kick)Bills 7–0
1 KC Marcus Allen 18 yard pass from Joe Montana (Nick Lowery kick)TIE 7–7
2 KC Nick Lowery 30 yard field goalChiefs 10–7
3 KC Keith Cash 1 yard pass from Joe Montana (Nick Lowery kick)Chiefs 17–7
3 KC Nick Lowery 22 yard field goalChiefs 20–7
4 KC Nick Lowery 34 yard field goalChiefs 23–7
[8]
Week 14 [ ]
Los Angeles Raiders (6-5) at Buffalo Bills (8-3)
1
2 3 4 Total
• Raiders
3
7 6 9
25
Bills
0
14 3 7
24
Date: December 5Location: Rich Stadium Orchard Park, NY Game start: 1:00 PM EST Game attendance: 79,478Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C) • 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn) ; wind chill 29Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers (NBC ): Charlie Jones and Todd Christensen
[9]
Week 15 [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bills
9
17 21 0
47
Eagles
7
13 7 7
34
Date: December 12th, 1993Location: Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, PA Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 60,769Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C) • 21 miles per hour (34 km/h; 18 kn) ; wind chill 17Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers (NBC ): Marv Albert and Paul Maguire
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
Date: December 19Location: Joe Robbie Stadium , Miami Gardens, Florida Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Elapsed time: 2:59.44Game attendance: 71,597Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C) • 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)Referee: TV announcers (NFL on NBC ): Dick Enberg , Bob Trumpy
Standings [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
Nate Odomes, Tied NFL Lead, 9 Interceptions
Bruce Smith, Newspaper Enterprise Association Defensive Player of the Year Award
Thurman Thomas, AFC Leader, 1,315 Rushing Yards
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 , [1]
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
Buffalo Bills
Founded in 1960
Based and headquartered in Orchard Park, New York
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (11) Conference championships (4) League championships (2) Wall of Fame Media Owners Current league affiliations Former league affiliation
League: American Football League (1960–1969)