1994 Buffalo Bills season
35th season in franchise history
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The 1994 Buffalo Bills season was the 35th season for the team franchise and the 25th in the National Football League. The Bills entered the season as the four-time defending AFC champions and looked to advance to the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season and to the Super Bowl for the fifth consecutive season- and to finally win a Super Bowl.
| 1994 Buffalo Bills season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Ralph Wilson |
| General manager | John Butler |
| Head coach | Marv Levy |
| Home stadium | Rich Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 7–9 |
| Division place | 4th AFC East |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | WR Andre Reed WR Steve Tasker DE Bruce Smith |
However, for the first time since 1987, the Bills failed to make the playoffs. Buffalo finished at 7–9 for the year, only good enough for fourth place in the AFC East.[1] Going into Week 14 the Bills were still in postseason contention, before losing their final three games and finishing the season with a losing record for the first time since the aforementioned strike-shortened 1987 season.
Offseason
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| QB Rick Strom (Steelers) | T Howard Ballard (Seahawks) |
| CB James Williams (Cardinals) | |
| QB Gale Gilbert (Chargers) | |
| G Jim Ritcher (Falcons) |
NFL draft
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | Jeff Burris | CB | Notre Dame | |
| 2 | 48 | Bucky Brooks | CB | North Carolina | |
| 61 | Lonnie Johnson | TE | Florida State | ||
| 64 | Sam Rogers | LB | Colorado | ||
| 3 | 81 | Marlo Perry | LB | Jackson State | |
| 98 | Corey Louchiey | OT | South Carolina | ||
| 4 | 130 | Sean Crocker | DB | North Carolina | |
| 5 | 158 | A. J. Ofodile | TE | Missouri | |
| 6 | 188 | Anthony Abrams | DT | Clark Atlanta | |
| 192 | Kevin Knox | WR | Florida State | ||
| 221 | Filmel Johnson | DB | Illinois | ||
Source:[2]
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| John Bock | Center | Indiana State |
| Mike Collins | Safety | West Virginia |
| Todd Herget | Linebacker | BYU |
| Steve Hoyem | Tackle | Stanford |
Personnel
Staff/coaches
| 1994 Buffalo Bills staff[3] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front office
Coaching staff
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams
Strength & conditioning
| ||||||
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4 | New York Jets | L 3–23 | 0–1 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 2 | September 11 | at New England Patriots | W 38–35 | 1–1 | Foxboro Stadium | Recap |
| 3 | September 18 | at Houston Oilers | W 15–7 | 2–1 | Astrodome | Recap |
| 4 | September 26 | Denver Broncos | W 27–20 | 3–1 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 5 | October 2 | at Chicago Bears | L 13–20 | 3–2 | Soldier Field | Recap |
| 6 | October 9 | Miami Dolphins | W 21–11 | 4–2 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 7 | October 16 | Indianapolis Colts | L 17–27 | 4–3 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 8 | Bye | |||||
| 9 | October 30 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 44–10 | 5–3 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 10 | November 6 | at New York Jets | L 17–22 | 5–4 | Giants Stadium | Recap |
| 11 | November 14 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 10–23 | 5–5 | Three Rivers Stadium | Recap |
| 12 | November 20 | Green Bay Packers | W 29–20 | 6–5 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 13 | November 24 | at Detroit Lions | L 21–35 | 6–6 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap |
| 14 | December 4 | at Miami Dolphins | W 42–31 | 7–6 | Joe Robbie Stadium | Recap |
| 15 | December 11 | Minnesota Vikings | L 17–21 | 7–7 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 16 | December 18 | New England Patriots | L 17–41 | 7–8 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 17 | December 24 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 9–10 | 7–9 | RCA Dome | Recap |
Game summaries
Week 1
Pete Carroll's debut as a head coach with the New York Jets.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Jets | 0 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| Bills | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
- Date: September 4
- Location: Rich Stadium Orchard Park, New York
- Game start: 4:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 79,460
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) • 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
- Referee: Gerald Austin
- TV announcers (NFL on NBC): Marv Albert and Paul Maguire
Week 2
Week Two: Buffalo Bills (0–1) at New England Patriots (0–1)
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 14 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 38 |
| Patriots | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
at Foxboro Stadium • Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
- Game attendance: 60,274
- Referee: Dale Hamer
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Beasley Reece
- Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database
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Week 3
In a game that featured the old American Football League helmets, the Houston Oilers starting QB for this game was Bucky Richardson.
Buffalo Bills (1-1) at Houston Oilers (0-2)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Bills | 0 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
| Oilers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
- Date: September 18
- Location: Astrodome Houston, Texas
- Game start: 1:00pm EST
- Game attendance: 55,424
- Game weather: DOME
- Referee: Ron Blum
- TV announcers (NFL on NBC): Charlie Jones (sportscaster) and Randy Cross
Week 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 0 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 20 |
| • Bills | 3 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
- Date: September 26
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Game start: 9:00
- Game attendance: 75,373
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, and Lynn Swann (Sideline Reporter)
Week 5
Buffalo Bills (3-1) at Chicago Bears (2-2)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| • Bears | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
- Date: October 2
- Location: Soldier Field Chicago, Illinois
- Game start: 4:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 62,406
- Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C) • 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn)
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (NFL on NBC): Dick Enberg, Bob Trumpy, and Hannah Storm
Week 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| • Bills | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
- Date: October 9
- Location: Rich Stadium Orchard Park, New York
- Game start: 1:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 79,491
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) • 20 miles per hour (32 km/h; 17 kn)
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NFL on NBC): Dick Enberg, Bob Trumpy, and Hannah Storm
Week 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Colts | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Bills | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
- Date: October 16
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Game start: 1:00
- TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth
Week 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| • Bills | 14 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 44 |
- Date: October 30
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Game start: 1:00
- Game attendance: 79,501
- Game weather: 58 degrees, wind 14 mph
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Bob Trumpy, and Hannah Storm (Sideline Reporter)
Week 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| • Jets | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 22 |
- Date: November 6
- Location: Giants Stadium
- Game start: 4:00
- Referee: Howard Roe
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Bob Trumpy, and Hannah Storm
Week 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| • Steelers | 10 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
- Date: November 14
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game start: 9:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 59,019
- Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C) • 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (Monday Night Football, ABC): Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, and Lynn Swann (sideline reporter)
Week 12
Week 13
Thanksgiving Day Game
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| • Lions | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
- Date: November 24
- Location: Pontiac Silverdome
- Game start: 12:30 PM EST
- Game attendance: 75,67
- Game weather: Indoors (dome)
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Bob Trumpy, and Hannah Storm (sideline reporter)
Week 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Bills | 7 | 0 | 21 | 14 | 42 |
| Dolphins | 0 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
- Date: December 4, 1994
- Location: Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
- Game start: 8:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 69,358
- Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C) • 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (ESPN Sunday Night Football): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, and Mark Malone (sideline reporter)
| Q1 | BUF | Brooks 8 yard pass from Kelly (Christie kick) | BUF 7–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Fryar 3 yard pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick) | Tie 7–7 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Stoyanovich 23 yard field goal | MIA 10–7 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Fryar 45 yard pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick) | MIA 17–7 | |
| Q3 | BUF | Beebe 72 yard pass from Kelly (Christie kick) | MIA 17–14 | |
| Q3 | BUF | Reed 21 yard pass from Kelly (Christie kick) | BUF 21–17 | |
| Q3 | BUF | Gardner 1 yard run (Christie kick) | BUF 28–17 | |
| Q4 | MIA | Jackson 23 yard pass from Marino (pass failed) | BUF 28–23 | |
| Q4 | BUF | Gardner 1 yard run (Christie kick) | BUF 35–23 | |
| Q4 | BUF | Reed 83 yard pass from Kelly (Christie kick) | BUF 42–23 | |
| Q4 | MIA | Miller 1 yard pass from Kosar (Parmalee run) | BUF 42–31 | |
Week 15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Vikings | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 21 |
| Bills | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
- Date: December 11
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Game start: 1:00
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Anthony Muñoz, and Kevin Frazier
Week 16
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Patriots | 3 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 41 |
| Bills | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
- Date: December 18
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Game start: 1:00
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert, Paul Maguire, and John Dockery (sideline reporter)
Week 17
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| • Colts | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
- Date: December 24
- Location: Hoosier Dome
- Game start: 1:00
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Beasley Reece
Standings
| AFC East | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| (3) Miami Dolphins | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 389 | 327 | W1 |
| (5) New England Patriots | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 351 | 312 | W7 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 307 | 320 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 340 | 356 | L3 |
| New York Jets | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 264 | 320 | L5 |