buffalo bills history
buffalo bills history
A playoff regular for the majority of the1990’s, the Buffalo Bills haven’t sniffed the postseason in five seasons. One of the league’s stingiest defenses and an exciting young offense appear to be the Bills’ ticket to ending that drought this year. Led by Pro Bowlers Takeo Spikes, Nate Clements and Sam Adams, the Bills boasted the NFL’s second-ranked defense in 2004. Meanwhile, first-round draft pick J.P. Losman and emerging star Willis McGahee have been conjuring up thoughts of the good old days when Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and tailback Thurman Thomas were taking the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls. Yes, the good times are back at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and Buffalo fans are scurrying around to get their hands on Bills tickets. So don’t be left out in the cold, get your Buffalo Bills tickets today.
It seems like only yesterday that Jim Kelly, Thuman Thomas and Andre Reed were lighting up scoreboards in prolific fashion. That Buffalo threesome is responsible for three of the top five highest scoring seasons in franchise history. During their four-year reign atop the AFC, Marv Levy’s Bills averaged an eye-opening 27.9 points per game. Those Buffalo teams also set numerous attendance marks, as rabid fans snatched up Buffalo Bills tickets to see what all the excitement was about. Kelly was at the controls of the Bills’ explosive offense for 10 seasons. The former Miami Hurricane, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002, finished his career as the Bills’ all-time passing leader in yards (35,467) and touchdowns (237).
At the receiving end of the most of Kelly’s passes was the dynamic Reed, who ended his 14-year career as the Bills’ all-time leader in receptions (941), receiving yards (13,095) and touchdown receptions (86). In a 1994 game against the Green Bay Packers, Reed hauled in a Bills’ record 15 passes for 191 yards. He is second to only Jerry Rice in Super Bowl receptions.
The versatile Thomas snagged his fair share of Kelly lasers as well. Thomas is third on the franchise’s receiving list with more than 4,000 yards. He also smashed O.J. Simpson’s team rushing mark by nearly 2,000 yards. Thomas was at his best in the playoffs. He is second behind Rice in total yardage and is tied with Emmitt Smith for most consecutive playoff games with a touchdown with eight. Only Smith has ran for more Super Bowl touchdowns than Thomas’s four.
While the offense was busy torching helpless defenses, the Bills’ ticket to their Super Bowl run may have been a harassing defense led by sack-machines Bruce Smith and Cornelius Bennett, who are one and two on the team’s all-time sack list. The two combined for 207 sacks. Smith, who is the NFL’s leader in playoff sacks, finished his 14-year tenure in Buffalo with a whopping 153 sacks.
Can J.P. Losman, Willis McGahee and Buffalo’s young receiving corps follow in the footsteps of the Bills’ great offenses of the past? Jim Kelly, Thuman Thomas and Andre Reed definitely left big shoes to fill. Can linebacker Takeo Spikes, tackle Sam Adams and corner Nate Clements continue to impose their will on opposing offenses? The answers can be found by picking up your Buffalo Bills tickets and heading over to glorious Ralph Wilson Stadium.
