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.
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 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
1994 Buffalo Bills 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
1994 undrafted free agents of note
| 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
- President – Ralph Wilson
- Vice president of administration/general manager – John Butler
- Assistant general manager/director of pro personnel – Bob Ferguson
- Director of player personnel – John Butler
- Assistant director/collegiate scouting – A. J. Smith
- Summer intern – Tom Telesco
Coaching staff
- Vice president for football operations/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 coach – Jim Shofner
- Running backs coach – Elijah Pitts
- Receivers coach – Charlie Joiner
- Offensive quality control/tight ends – Don Lawrence
Defensive coaches
- Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Walt Corey
- Defensive line – Dan Sekanovich
- Defensive backs – Dick Roach
- Linebackers coach - Walt Corey
- Assistant linebackers coach – Chuck Lester
Special teams
- Special teams – Bruce DeHaven
Strength & conditioning
- Strength and conditioning coordinator – Rusty Jones
|
Roster
| 1994 Buffalo Bills roster
|
| Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
|
Offensive linemen
- 66 Jerry Crafts T/G
- 65 John Davis G
- 62 Mike Devlin C
- 70 John Fina T
- 76 Steve Hoyem T
- 67 Kent Hull C
- 63 Adam Lingner C/LS
- 72 Corey Louchiey T
- 60 Jerry Ostroski G
- 74 Glenn Parker T
Defensive linemen
- 77 Oliver Barnett DE
- 90 Phil Hansen DE
- 73 Mike Lodish NT
- 99 James Patton DE
- 94 Mark Pike DE
- 78 Bruce Smith DE
- 91 Jeff Wright NT
|
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
- 22 Jeff Burris CB/PR
- 43 Matt Darby FS
- 38 Mike Dumas FS
- 41 Greg Evans SS
- 36 Jerome Henderson CB
- 39 Filmel Johnson CB
- 20 Henry Jones SS
- 24 Kurt Schulz FS
- 28 Thomas Smith CB
- 25 Mickey Washington CB
Special teams
|
|
Reserve lists
Practice squad
|
| * Note: Rookies in Italics
53 active, 7 inactive
|
Regular season
Schedule
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 |
Week 2
| Scoring summary
|
| Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
| Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
BUF
|
NE
|
| 1
|
12:38
|
8
|
80
|
|
Bills
|
Andre Reed 37-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good
|
7
|
0
|
| 1
|
6:58
|
11
|
89
|
|
Bills
|
Thurman Thomas 4-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good
|
14
|
0
|
| 1
|
0:07
|
6
|
42
|
|
Patriots
|
Ben Coates 18-yard touchdown reception from Drew Bledsoe, Matt Bahr kick good
|
14
|
7
|
| 2
|
12:04
|
9
|
77
|
|
Bills
|
Bill Brooks 12-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good
|
21
|
7
|
| 2
|
2:58
|
10
|
88
|
|
Patriots
|
Ben Coates 5-yard touchdown reception from Drew Bledsoe, Matt Bahr kick good
|
21
|
14
|
| 2
|
1:13
|
6
|
78
|
|
Bills
|
Don Beebe 14-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good
|
28
|
14
|
| 3
|
12:33
|
1
|
19
|
|
Patriots
|
Marion Butts 19-yard touchdown run, Matt Bahr kick good
|
28
|
21
|
| 4
|
14:07
|
|
|
|
Bills
|
Fumble recovery in end zone for touchdown by Mike Lodish, Steve Christie kick good
|
35
|
21
|
| 4
|
9:17
|
3
|
23
|
|
Patriots
|
Michael Timpson 12-yard touchdown reception from Drew Bledsoe, Matt Bahr kick good
|
35
|
28
|
| 4
|
9:22
|
5
|
69
|
|
Patriots
|
Marion Butts 6-yard touchdown run, Matt Bahr kick good
|
35
|
35
|
| 4
|
0:52
|
8
|
53
|
|
Bills
|
32-yard field goal by Steve Christie
|
38
|
35
|
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
38
|
35
|
|
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 |
Week 4
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos |
0 |
7 | 10 | 3 |
20 |
| • Bills |
3 |
14 | 7 | 3 |
27 |
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 |
Week 6
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dolphins |
3 |
0 | 0 | 8 |
11 |
| • Bills |
0 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
21 |
[4]
Week 7
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Colts |
3 |
7 | 7 | 10 |
27 |
| Bills |
7 |
3 | 0 | 7 |
17 |
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 |
Week 11
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills |
0 |
3 | 7 | 0 |
10 |
| • Steelers |
10 |
6 | 7 | 0 |
23 |
Week 12
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Packers |
0 |
6 | 14 | 0 |
20 |
| • Bills |
14 |
13 | 0 | 2 |
29 |
- Date: November 20
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Game start: 1:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 79,029
- Game weather: 41 °F (5.0 °C); wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck and Tim Green
Week 13
Thanksgiving Day Game
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills |
0 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
21 |
| • Lions |
7 |
14 | 0 | 14 |
35 |
- Date:
- 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 |
Scoring summary |
| 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 |
[5]
Week 15
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Vikings |
3 |
6 | 3 | 9 |
21 |
| Bills |
7 |
3 | 7 | 0 |
17 |
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
|
|
|
7
|
9
|
0
|
.438
|
340
|
356
|
L3
|
| New York Jets
|
6
|
10
|
0
|
.375
|
264
|
320
|
L5
|
Notes
References
|
|---|
|
| Franchise | |
|---|
| Stadiums | |
|---|
| Culture | |
|---|
| Lore | |
|---|
| Rivalries | |
|---|
| Division championships (15) | |
|---|
| Conference championships (4) | |
|---|
| League championships (2) | |
|---|
| Wall of Fame | |
|---|
| Media |
- Broadcasters
- Radio
- Television
- Personalities:
|
|---|
| Owners | |
|---|
| Current league affiliations | |
|---|
| Former league affiliation | |
|---|
|
