27th season in franchise history; first with Jim Kelly and Marv Levy
The 1986 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League, and the 27th overall.
Although the Bills were only 2–6 at the midway point of the season, their games were much more competitive than in years past. (Only two of their losses in the first eight games were by more than a touchdown.) Still, after a 6-point Week Nine loss to Tampa Bay, the Bills fired coach Hank Bullough, and hired former Kansas City coach Marv Levy to replace him. (Though Levy was not on the Bills' coaching staff, he had served as a television analyst for the team during the 1986 preseason and was hired away from his executive role from the Montreal Alouettes because of that team's terminal financial situation.) Levy would win his first game with the Bills against Pittsburgh in Week Ten, and one more game against Kansas City in Week Thirteen, finishing with a 2–5 record in his first half-season as head coach.[a]
Years later, Bills offensive tackle Will Wolford alleged that the team purposely lost the week 9 game to Tampa Bay in order to get Bullough fired.[1]
The Bills ended their 22-game losing streak on the road by beating the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, 17–14. Coincidentally, the Bills beat the Chiefs, 14–9, in the road game leading up to the losing streak in 1983.
Offseason
At the end of the 1985 season, the Bills' future was in serious jeopardy; two consecutive seasons in which the team had finished 2–14 had driven attendance at Rich Stadium to less than 30,000 fans per game. 1985 first overall draft pick Bruce Smith, while he had a respectable rookie season, underperformed compared to expectations and was admittedly not putting his whole heart into the game of football. Quarterback Jim Kelly, whom the team had drafted in the first round of the 1983 draft as their franchise quarterback of the future, still refused to play in Buffalo and was prepared to play the 1986 season as a member of the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League; the Generals' soon-to-be-displaced quarterback, Doug Flutie, who would become a Bill much later in his career, also rejected the team's overtures and stayed in the USFL.[2] These rejections forced the Bills to sign Art Schlichter, a notorious compulsive gambler who had flamed out with the Indianapolis Colts, as their backup plan; Schlichter was to compete with Frank Reich, whom the Bills drafted the previous year, for the starting position.
Buffalo's fortunes underwent a drastic improvement before the season. On July 29, 1986, the USFL received only a nominal judgment in its antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, leaving the league without much-needed capital and forcing the end of its operations. With no other options, Kelly then signed with the Bills amid much fanfare, and Schlichter was released. The signing (along with those of fellow USFL refugees Ray Bentley and Kent Hull) doubled the team's home attendance.[3]
NFL draft
University of Iowa running back Ronnie Harmon played for the Bills for four seasons.[b] Vanderbilt's Will Wolford played offensive tackle for the Bills for seven years, and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1990 and 1992.[c] Linebacker Mark Pike played his entire 13-year career with the Bills, mostly as a special teams star; he is the NFL's all-time leader in tackles on special teams, with 283. Tight end Butch Rolle played for the Bills for 6 years, and at one point had a streak of ten consecutive receptions for touchdowns.
Personnel
Staff
1986 Buffalo Bills staff | Front office - President – Ralph Wilson
- Vice President of Administration/General Manager – Bill Polian
- Vice President of Football Operations – Hank Bullough
- Director of player personnel – Norm Pollom
- Assistant director of Player Personnel – Bob Ferguson
- Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Jim Valek
Head coaches - Head coach – Hank Bullough
Offensive coaches - Offensive coordinator/Offensive Line – Jim Ringo
- Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator – Bob Leahy
- Running Backs – Elijah Pitts
- Receivers – Joe Daniels
- Tight Ends – Joe Faragalli
| | | Defensive coaches - Defensive coordinator/Inside Linebackers – Herb Paterra
- Defensive Line – Ted Cottrell
- Outside Linebackers – Ardell Wiegandt
- Defensive Backfield – Dick Moseley
Special teams coaches - Special Teams – Elijah Pitts
Strength and conditioning - Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – Rusty Jones
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[4]
Roster
1986 Buffalo Bills roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists - 28 Greg Bell RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 69 Greg Christy T (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 41 Steve Clark S (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 63 Justin Cross T (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 52 Guy Frazier OLB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 13 Brian McClure QB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 60 Jim Melka LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 84 Bob Williams TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
Practice squad
Rookies in italics |
Regular season
Transactions
- Steve Tasker was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills on November 8, 1986.[5]
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
1 | September 7 | New York Jets | L 24–28 | 0–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,951 |
2 | September 14 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 33–36 | 0–2 | Riverfront Stadium | 52,714 |
3 | September 21 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 17–10 | 1–2 | Rich Stadium | 65,762 |
4 | September 28 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 17–20 | 1–3 | Rich Stadium | 67,555 |
5 | October 5 | at New York Jets | L 13–14 | 1–4 | Giants Stadium | 69,504 |
6 | October 12 | at Miami Dolphins | L 14–27 | 1–5 | Miami Orange Bowl | 49,467 |
7 | October 19 | Indianapolis Colts | W 24–13 | 2–5 | Rich Stadium | 50,050 |
8 | October 26 | New England Patriots | L 3–23 | 2–6 | Rich Stadium | 77,808 |
9 | November 2 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 28–34 | 2–7 | Tampa Stadium | 32,806 |
10 | November 9 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 16–12 | 3–7 | Rich Stadium | 72,000 |
11 | November 16 | Miami Dolphins | L 24–34 | 3–8 | Rich Stadium | 76,474 |
12 | November 23 | at New England Patriots | L 19–22 | 3–9 | Sullivan Stadium | 60,455 |
13 | November 30 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 17–14 | 4–9 | Arrowhead Stadium | 31,492 |
14 | December 7 | Cleveland Browns | L 17–21 | 4–10 | Rich Stadium | 42,213 |
15 | December 14 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 14–24 | 4–11 | Hoosier Dome | 52,783 |
16 | December 21 | at Houston Oilers | L 7–16 | 4–12 | Astrodome | 31,409 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
Week 1 vs. Jets
New York Jets (0–0) at Buffalo Bills (0–0)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Jets | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
Bills | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
at Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York
- Date: September 7
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 56 °F or 13.3 °C • Wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
- Game attendance: 79,951
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Griese
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Three years after being drafted by the Bills, Jim Kelly debuted in front of the home crowd with 292 yards passing and three touchdowns but it was not enough to overcome the divisional rival Jets.
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | NYJ | BUF | 1 | 8:55 | | | | Bills | Bell 2-yard touchdown reception from Kelly, Norwood kick good | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6:14 | | | | Jets | Paige 2-yard touchdown run, Leahy kick good | 7 | 7 | 2 | 3:51 | | | | Jets | Toon 46-yard touchdown reception from O'Brien, Leahy kick good | 14 | 7 | 2 | 3:05 | | | | Bills | 19-yard field goal by Norwood | 14 | 10 | 4 | 14:00 | | | | Bills | Reed 55-yard touchdown reception from Kelly, Norwood kick good | 14 | 17 | 4 | 9:58 | | | | Jets | Hector 1-yard touchdown run, Leahy kick good | 21 | 17 | 4 | 5:24 | | | | Jets | Walker 71-yard touchdown reception from O'Brien, Leahy kick good | 28 | 17 | 4 | 3:55 | | | | Bills | Metzelaars 4-yard touchdown reception from Kelly, Norwood kick good | 28 | 24 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 28 | 24 | |
Week 2 at Bengals
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | Bills | 3 | 6 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 26 | • Bengals | 7 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 36 | |
[6]
Week 3
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | • Bills | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 | - Date: September 21
- Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Game start: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 57 °F or 13.9 °C; wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Joe Theismann
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Scoring summary |
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| Q2 | | BUF | Norwood 35 yard field goal | BUF 3–0 | | Q2 | | BUF | Moore 2 yard run (Norwood kick) | BUF 10–0 | | Q3 | | STL | Lee 27 yard field goal | BUF 10–3 | | Q4 | | BUF | Bell 6 yard run (Norwood kick) | BUF 17–3 | | Q4 | | STL | Sikahema 19 yard pass from Lomax (Lee kick) | BUF 17–10 | |
[7]
Week 4
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 20 | Bills | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 | |
[8]
Week 5
[9]
Week 6
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bills | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | • Dolphins | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 27 | |
[10]
Week 7
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Colts | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 | • Bills | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| Q1 | | BUF | Bellinger 15 yard fumble return (Norwood kick) | BUF 7–0 | | Q1 | | IND | Biasucci 46 yard field goal | BUF 7–3 | | Q2 | | BUF | Norwood 37 yard field goal | BUF 10–3 | | Q2 | | IND | Biasucci 44 yard field goal | BUF 10–6 | | Q2 | | BUF | Reed 6 yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) | BUF 17–6 | | Q3 | | IND | Brooks 18 yard pass from Trudeau (Biasucci kick) | BUF 17–13 | | Q3 | | BUF | Reed 13 yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) | BUF 24–13 | |
[11]
Week 8
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Patriots | 7 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 23 | Bills | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | - Date: October 26
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Referee: Bob McElwee
|
[12]
Week 9
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bills | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 28 | • Buccaneers | 10 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 34 | |
[13]
Week 10
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Steelers | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | • Bills | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 16 | |
|
Scoring summary |
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| Q1 | 6:15 | BUF | Reed 3 yard pass from Kelly (kick failed) | BUF 6–0 | | Q2 | 3:06 | BUF | Riddick 5 yard run (Norwood kick) | BUF 13–0 | | Q3 | 14:44 | PIT | Jackson 5 yard run (kick failed) | BUF 13–6 | | Q3 | 10:11 | PIT | Thompson 11 yard pass from Malone (kick failed) | BUF 13–12 | | Q4 | 10:18 | BUF | Norwood 29 yard field goal | BUF 16–12 | |
[14]
Week 11
Miami Dolphins (4-6) at Buffalo Bills (3-7) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Dolphins | 0 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 34 | Bills | 7 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 24 | - Date: November 16
- Location: Rich Stadium Orchard Park, NY
- Game start: 1:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 76,474
- Game weather: 36 °F or 2.2 °C; wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn), cloudy, light rain
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and John Hannah
|
[15]
Week 12
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bills | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 19 | • Patriots | 9 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 22 | |
[16]
Week 13
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Bills | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 | Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | |
[17]
Week 14
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Browns | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 | Bills | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 | - Date: December 7, 1986
- Location: Rich Stadium Orchard Park, NY
- Game start: 1:00 PM EST
- Elapsed time: 2h 39m
- Game attendance: 42,213
- Game weather: 33 °F or 0.6 °C; wind 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn); wind chill 2 °F or −16.7 °C
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Len Berman and John Hannah
|
[18]
Week 15
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bills | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | • Colts | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 24 | |
[19]
Week 16
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bills | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Oilers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 | |
[20]
Standings
Notes
References
- ^ Talbot, Ryan (March 29, 2019). "Losing for Levy: How throwing game led to Buffalo Bills hiring HOF coach". syracuse.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ "2008 Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame: Bruce Smith". September 14, 2008.
- ^ [Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition, p. 526, Martin's Press, August 1994, ISBN 0-312-11073-1
- ^ 1986 Buffalo Bills Media Guide. pp. 5–25.
- ^ "The Month of November in Bills History". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Jun-06.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Nov-20.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-May-17.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
- ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Jan-07.
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