In anticipation of the Buffalo Bills' 50th Anniversary, we'll be looking back on all 50 years of the Buffalo Bills, five years at a time. Every Sunday from now until the official kickoff of the 50th year at the 2009 Hall of Fame Game, we'll look at key additions and subtractions, team records, and other events high and low in the history of the Bills. You can find previous installments in the series here.

Both Jim Kelly and Marv Levy joined the Bills in 1986
photo source

1984 - Bottom of the Barrel
2-14 record, fifth of five in AFC East, 14 of 14 in AFC, 28 of 28 in NFL
Following an 8-8 season where the Bills top draft choices were mediocre (Troy Hunter) and in a different league (Jim Kelly) the Buffalo Bills fired former Bills offensive lineman and current General Manager Stew Barber.  Terry Bledsoe was named their new General Manager effective January 1, 1984 and in August hired Bill Polian as director of pro personell.  Shortly thereafter the Bills lost their leading rusher and receiver from 1983, running back Joe Cribbs, to the USFL's Birmingham Stallions.  To rub even more salt in the wounds, Jim Kelly was named Player of the Year in the USFL for throwing for 5,219 yards and 44 touchdowns and Dan Marino would go on to be named NFL MVP of 1984.  In May, six-year Bills receiver Frank Lewis retired from the game at the age of 36.  Upon his retirement he was the second-leading receiver in Bills history behind Elbert Dubenion with 4,638 total receiving yards and third behind Dubenion and Bob Chandler in receiving touchdowns.  Another long-time Bills starter left prior to 1984 when cornerback Mario Clark was traded to the San Francisco 49ers after starting all but two games in his eight year career in Buffalo.  To counteract the loss of Cribbs the Bills selected running back Greg Bell No. 26 overall in the draft.  The remainder of Buffalo's draft picks were role players and spot starters.

One other major change for the Buffalo Bills was a new helmet design.  The charging Buffalo remained the same but the white helmet was replaced by the red helmet still worn today.  The Bills started the 1984 season with eleven straight losses scoring ten points or less in five games and averaging just over two touchdowns a game during the winless stretch.  On the season the team averaged 15.6 points a game, fourth-worst in the league, while allowing opponents to score over 28 points a game, second worst in the NFL.  Both the defense and offense were in the bottom five in yardage.  In week 5 Joe Ferguson's streak of consecutive starts ended at 107.  Ferguson missed five games.  The last home game of the season saw the smallest crown in Rich Stadium history welcome the relocated Indianapolis Colts.  The Bills were 1-12 at the time but scored 21 points in the first quarter behind Joe Dufek and held on for a 21-15 win in front of 20,693 fans.

Despite the awful product on the field, the Bills had plenty to cheer about in 1984.  Rookie Greg Bell rushed for 1100 yards and earned a Pro Bowl bid, receiver Byron Franklin caught 69 balls for 862 yards, and Darryl Talley had 5 QB sacks and 84 tackles.  Prior to the season the Bills announced their silver anniversary team in preparation of the team's 25th season.  The team was voted on by local media and consisted of: QB Jack Kemp, RB O.J. Simpson, RB Cookie Gilchrist, WR Elbert Dubenion, WR Bob Chandler, TE Ernie Warlick, OT Joe Devlin, OG Billy Shaw, C Al Bemiller, P Paul Maguire, NT Fred Smerlas, DT Tom Sestak, DE Ben Williams, DE Ron McDole, LB John Tracey, LB Jim Haslett, LB Mike Stratton, CB Robert James, CB Butch Byrd, S George Saimes, S Steve Freeman, K Pete Gogolak, and owner Ralph Wilson, Jr.  Notable exemptions from the team were guard Joe DeLamielleure and WR Frank Lewis.  During the season, Jack Kemp became the second member of the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame.  During Super Bowl week O.J. Simpson became the first Buffalo Bill elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Simpson's 143 yards a game average in 1973 ranks first all-time and he was the only player ever to rush for 2000 yards in a 14 game season.  At his retirement he was the second-leading rusher in NFL/AFL history with 11,236 yards behind only Jim Brown.

1985 - Bottom of the Barrel... Again
2-14 record, fifth of five in AFC East, 14 of 14 in AFC, 27 of 28 in NFL
Following the disastrous 1985 season, the Bills brought in several new coaches but kept head coach Kay Stephenson.  Hank Bullough was named Bills assistant head coach and defensive coordinator following his success as Cincinnati Bengals DC.  Ted Cottrell was hired as the new defensive line coach.  Former offensive line and head coach Jim Ringo rejoined the organization as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.  Bills' GM Terry Bledsoe was stricken with a heart attack in February of 1985 and director of pro personnel Bill Polian and director of scouting Norm Pollom acted in Bledsoe's stead.  After having the worst record in the league the Bills would have the first overall pick for the third time ever.  The first was used to select O.J. Simpson.  The Bills would select another Hall of Famer with the first pick in the 1985 by tabbing Bruce Smith as the newest Buffalo Bill. Largely due to Polian, Smith signed his contract in February preventing any missed time.  In later rounds the Bills would add DB Derrick Burroughs and WR Chris Burkett.  In the third round the Bills picked quarterback Frank Reich and in the fourth round selected receiver Andre Reed from tiny Kutztown to complete one of the best draft classes in league history.  The Bills also signed kicker Scott Norwood after he was released by the USFL's Birmingham Stallions. Joe Ferguson, the leading passer in Bills history, was traded before the 1985 season to the Detroit Lions.  The press and many fans blamed the aging signal-caller for the team's dramatic fall from 1980 to 2-14.  Ferguson left as the leader in seasons (12) and games played (168) for the organization.  In an off-season of more major changes, After three seasons in Seattle where he caught just 27 passes for 304 yards and 1 touchdown, the Bills acquired tight end Pete Metzelaars in a trade with the Seatte Seahawks for Byron Franklin, the leading Bills receiver of 1984.  The Bills also traded two-year starter at offensive tackle Jon Borchardt in the off-season and in week three of the regular season claimed Joe DeLamielleure off waivers.  Joe D started three games for the Bills in his final season in the league.

The Bills started former Rams quarterback and free agent addition Vince Ferragamo at quarterback in the season opener and he was joined by rookies Andre Reed and Bruce Smith in the starting lineup.  He was the first quarterback not named Joe Ferguson to start the opening game for the Bills since 1972.  After Buffalo's 0-4 start coach Kay Stephenson was fired.  Three of the losses were by one score or less but it was not enough to save Stephenson's job after his dismal 10-26 record as head coach.  Defensive coordinator Hank Bullough was named head coach and in week five the Bills were blown out by Indianapolis 49-17.  Following another anemic showing in week six the Bills got their first win of the year over the same Colts, 21-9.  After two more losses the Bills shut out the Oilers 20-0 holding Warren Moon to 3-14 passing and 22 yards while picking off three passes.  New Bills QB Bruce Mathison threw for 121 yards on 11-22 passing while being harassed for 8 sacks and ran five times for 57 yards and a touchdown.  The Bills went on to lose their final six games of the year, scoring a single touchdown in three games and being shut out in the final game of the year.  The offense was even more pitiful than in 1984 ranking last in points scored, and in the bottom eight in passing yards, rushing yards, turnovers, and first downs.  The defense fared only slightly better coming in 20th in points allowed, 17th in yards allowed, and 26th in rushing yards allowed. 

Greg Bell's 883 rushing yards led the team, neither starting QB threw for over 1700 yards but together Ferragamo and Mathison threw for 3312 yards, and no Bill made the Pro Bowl.  Jerry Butler did go for 770 yards through the air and Andre Reed placed second on the team behind Bell with 48 catches and led the team with 4 touchdown receptions.  Longtime Bills executive Patrick McGroder joined O.J. Simpson and Jack Kemp on the Bills Wall of Fame.  McGroder was instrumental in bringing the Bills back to Buffalo in 1960 and was Sr. Executive Vice President of the organization from 1962-1985.  At the conclusion of the season the Bills fired Terry Bledsoe as general manager and promoted Bill Polian to fill the position.

1986 - Influx of talent and lots of it
4-12 record, fourth of five in AFC East, 12 of 14 in AFC, 26 of 28 in NFL
In August of 1986, the USFL suspended operations.  I don't know about other teams in the NFL but the USFL really cut the legs out from the Bills by taking Pro Bowl running back Joe Cribbs and number one draft pick Jim Kelly for two 2-14 seasons.  What the USFL took from the Bills it would give back two-fold.  Jim Kelly immediately began contract talks with the Bills and was signed two weeks later.  Center Kent Hull was also signed that day from the USFL's New Jersey Generals and linebacker Ray Bentley also joined the Bills from the USFL.  Kelly flew to Buffalo after signing his contract and received a police escort to One Bills Drive.  The 1984 USFL MVP was greeted as a hero in Buffalo where fans were starved for success.  With his rights returned to Buffalo and the very public feud between the two sides, the Bills traded Joe Cribbs to San Francisco the day after signing Hull and Kelly.  To add to a very busy two days veteran Bills defensive end Ben Williams retired.  To add to the influx of talent the Bills selected Ronnie Harmon in the first round of the draft.  Although he would never gain more than 550 rushing yards in a season, Harmon's catching ability made him a solid contributor during his four years in Buffalo.  In the second round the Bills selected tackle Will Wolford who would protect Kelly and open holes for Bills running backs for three Super Bowls in the early nineties.  In round 7 the Bills selected DE/LB Mark Pike, a role player on the Bills for twelve seasons.  Before the season safety Mark Kelso was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles and signed by the Bills, too.  In the final preseason game of the year Jim Haslett broke his leg.  He would sit out the '86 season with the injury and never play for the Bills again.

In the final home game of 1984 the smallest crowd in Rich Stadium history at just under 20,700 fans saw the Bills win their second game in a miserable year.  In the first game of the Jim Kelly era a sellout crowd of 79,951 saw the "rookie" throw for 292 yards and three touchdowns in his debut - a 28-24 loss to the Jets.  Nothing like high expectations.  Two weeks later on September 21, Kelly earned his first NFL win while ending the Bills' eight-game regular season losing streak in what was ironically Kelly's lowest throwing totals for the year.  After beginning the year 2-7 Ralph Wilson fired coach Hank Bullough.  Bill Polian and Wilson hired Grey Cup winner and former USFL coach Marv Levy to be the team's head coach.  It's the last time Wilson has fired a coach mid-season.  Levy's only previous head coaching stint in the NFL came as the top man in Kansas City where he tallied 31 wins for a 42% winning percentage.  Let's say the only fans that were thrilled were the ones who knew about his success with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes.  Levy's Bills stormed out of the gate winning two of his first four games on the bench and losing one by less than a touchdown.  On the year the Bills lost seven games by a touchdown or less.   Another mid-season move was the acquisition of Steve Tasker.  Tasker was placed on wavers by the Houston Oilers and was plucked up by the Bills for his special teams ability.  It was an insignificant move at the time but Tasker would quickly prove to be a valuable asset.

At the very least Kelly turned the offense around.  By himself Kelly eclipsed the season totals for both Bills QBs the year before throwing for 3,593 yards (third-highest total in team history at the time) and 22 touchdowns (fourth-highest in team history at the time).   The Bills in general climbed in every offensive category hopping up eight spots from the basement to number 20 in points scored, up six to 19 in yards gained and 15 in passing yards, and up three spots to 21 in rushing yards.  Running back Robb Riddick rushed for a career-high 632 yards for the Bills that year and caught 49 balls for 468 yards to top a thousand all-purpose yards.  Second year receivers Chris Burkett and Andre Reed led the Bills with 778 and 739 yards and Reed's seven TD receptions led the team.  The defense was once again in the bottom of the NFL ranking 20 in scoring defense, 24 in total yards allowed, 27 against the pass and coming in dead last in turnovers.  A couple positive notes for the defense was a vault into the top ten in rushing yards allowed where they ranked ninth and fifteen sacks for Bruce Smith (fifth in the league).  Darryl Talley led the team with 116 tackles.  Once again with the terrible team record, no Bills were selected to the Pro Bowl.

1987 - A Step in the Right Direction
7-8 record, fourth of five in AFC East, 10 of 14 in AFC, 15 of 28 in NFL
After 1987 longtime Buffalo Bill wideout Jerry Butler retired, starting safety Steve Freeman was traded to the Vikings, and Jim Haslett left to join the Jets.  Freeman had started all but one game for Buffalo in his eight years as starter and was traded for what was termed "past considerations".  The Bills had a very underrated draft in 1987 but Bills fans will be familiar with many names.  First round pick linebacker Shane Conlan was a force at linebacker for six years with the Bills.  In the second round the Bills picked cornerback Nate Odomes and in the eleventh round selected tackle Howard Ballard.  Other players selected in the draft were defensive end Leon Seals (fourth round) and K-Gun namesake tight end Keith McKellar (ninth round).  There was also a lot of turmoil in the Bills' front office.  In early May John Butler was hired as director of player personnel and college scouting after spending two years as a scout for the Chargers.  Longtime Buffalo scout and standout Bills receiver Elbert Dubenion was unhappy he was overlooked for the job and left to take a scout position with the Atlanta Falcons later that month.  To replace Dubenion, Bill Polian added Chargers director of pro personnell A.J. Smith to the scouting department in June.  The personnel department that would lead Buffalo through the 1990s was now in place.

For the second time in five years, games would be lost due to labor strife.  The players were fighting for the right to change teams via a free agency system and threatened to walk out.  In anticipation of the season-opener the NFL owners announced that the season would go on with or without a players' strike with the best players available.  The Bills started strong losing to the Jets by a field goal in week one and beating the Oilers in week two before the players association went on strike.  Most Bills players reluctantly joined their brethren.  "We don't want to strike. We're here to play football, but it seems like our backs are against the wall," Fred Smerlas said. The players officially went on strike after the Jets' 43-24 victory over the Patriots on Monday Night Football.  The league canceled the game against the Cowboys scheduled for September 27 and would resume the following week with replacement players.  The replacement Bills got blown out in their first game - a 47-6 spanking from the Colts. The following week they gave up over 200 yards rushing to the Patriots who beat them 14-7.  On October 15 NFLPA Director Gene Upshaw called off the Players strike.  However, regular players were locked out for one more week and the "scabs" would get to play one more game.  The reigning defensive player of the year Lawrence Taylor did not join the lockout and led the New York Giants into Ralph Wilson Stadium for the replacement players' last horrah.  In an epic showown both teams gained over 300 yards of total offense but combined for just two fourth quarter field goals - one apiece.  Despite Buffalo's seven (SEVEN!) turnovers the Bills won on Orchard Park native Todd Scholpy's overtime field goal.  The teams combined for 26 penalties and 48 incomplete passes not to mention the nine combined turnovers.  Following the lockout the Bills went 5-5 to finish the year 7-8.  The lockout wins and losses were counted just the same as the regular wins and losses.  Following a Week 13 loss to the Bills, the Colts closed out the year with two straight wins and the Bills finished with two straight anemic losses.  The Colts finished the year as the AFC East champs and the Bills were left to wait for 1988. 

A rare mid-season blockbuster trade bolstered the Bills defense in 1987.  On October 31, the Bills traded their 1988 first round pick, their first and second picks in the 1989 draft, and running back Greg Bell for rookie linebacker phenom Cornelius Bennett.  (The trade also sent future Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson from the Rams to the Colts.)  Bennett teamed with Conlan and Talley to form a formidable linebacking corps.  Even Scott Radecic enjoyed a career year in 1987, his first with the Bills.  Bennett finished the year with 8.5 sacks, second only to Bruce Smith's twelve.  The rookie Conlan led the team with 114 tackles and free safety Mark Kelso started all twelve non-strike games leading the team (and ranking second in the league) with six interceptions and two fumble recoveries.  Despite the presence of Jim Kelly, the Bills offense continued to be in the middle of the pack or worse.  The offense ranked 24 in points scored, 16 in yards gained, 18 in passing yards, 17 in rushing yards.  They runed the ball over more than 24 other team in the league with a plus-minus of -12 thanks largely losing 24 fumbles.  The defense fared only slightly better finishing twelfth in points and yards allowed.

On the year, several Bills received major honors.  AFL Championship cornerstone Tom Sestak was placed on the Bills Wall of Fame.  The three time All-AFL defensive tackle died earlier that year from a heart attack.  Defensive end Bruce Smith and special teams ace Steve Tasker were named to the Pro Bowl squad along with quarterback Jim Kelly.  Kelly ranked fourth among quarterbacks in completions, attempts, and completion percentage, eighth in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and was tenth in passer rating.  The Bills also placed three players in the top ten in receptions.  Andre Reed led the team with 57 catches followed closely by Chris Burkett and Ronnie Harmon who both had 56.  UPI named Bruce Smith their defensive player of the year.  Shane Conlan was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by the AP.  Joining Conlan on the UPI all-rookie team were LB Cornelius Bennett and CB Nate Odomes.  In the very last game of the year, Bruce Smith was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Pro Bowl for recording five tackles and two quarterback sacks in a 15-6 win.  Jim Kelly led the only touchdown drive of the game - an 89 yard push capped by a one yard plunge by number 12 himself.  

1988 - Turning the Corner Hard and Fast
12-4 record, first of five in AFC East, first of 14 in AFC, first of 28 in NFL
The 1987-88 offseason was much quieter than the 1986-87 off-season.  The Bills traded for 33-year-old defensive end Art Still of the Kansas City Chiefs and traded away starting linebacker Eugene Marve to the Buccaneers.  Marve was essentially replaced by Cornelius Bennett the previous season and Ray Bentley was ready to take over at starting linebacker as well.  The Bills did not have a first round draft pick due to the Bennett trade and were forced to wait until the second round to make their first selection.  With the pick the Bills selected the missing piece to their offensive puzzle by adding franchise cornerstone Thurman Thomas in the second round.  Despite being a Heisman finalist his senior year, a knee injury hurt Thomas's draft stock and he fell to 40th overall where the Bills took him.  In later rounds the Bills would add nose tackle Jeff Wright in the eighth round and linebacker Carlton Bailey in the ninth.

Just before the season was about to begin, Buffalo lost two key contributors.  Starting running back Robb Riddick was suspended for a month for violating the league's new drug policy.  The suspension took effect on August 5th and Riddick was able to return by the season opener.  At the time Riddick was returning defensive anchor Bruce Smith was suspended by the NFL for four weeks under the same policy and would miss the first four games of the season.  In week one, Art Still proved why he was acquired by recording 2.5 of Buffalo's 6 sacks in a 13-10 win over the Vikings.  In week two Andre Reed caught 8 balls for 122 yards but the Bills could not find the end zone.  Even so they managed a 9-6 win on the leg of Scott Norwood despite four turnovers.  Following another close victory in week 3 the Bills were surviving by the skin of their teeth by winning close games.  They were 3-0 but had won their games by an average of  under 3 points per game.  An eight-point win over Pittsburgh in week 4 got the Bills off to a quick 4-0 record before a loss to Chicago derailed the hot start.  In the Chicago game the Bills offense was held to zero total rushing yards.  The Bills proceeded to win their next six games to stand at 10-1 heading into a divisional match-up against the New York Jets.  With five games remaining the Bills led the Patriots and Colts by four games and the Jets by four and a half.  A win would clinch the division for the Bills with a full month left in the regular season.  The Bills rushing attack was balanced - Riddick carried 18 times for 103 yards and rookie Thomas carried 17 times for 88 yards but neither team could punch it into the end zone.  Entering the fourth quarter tied at 3 apiece both teams managed only a field goal more in the fourth quarter.  With 19 seconds left in regulation the Jets lined up for the winning kick.  Nose tackle Fred Smerlas knifed through the line and put a paw on Pat Leahy's 40-yard attempt forcing overtime.  Less than four minutes into the extra period Scott Norwood kicked the game-winner giving Buffalo the dramatic 9-6 win.  It was Buffalo's first AFC East title since 1980 and after suffering the hardships of the early and mid 80's Bills fan were ready to celebrate.  Van Miller's memorable call of the game included the now-famous "Fandemonium" as the stands emptied and Bills fans rushed the field to celebrate.  With the division wrapped up, the Bills had little to play for entering a must-win showdown for the 9-3 Cincinnatti Bengals featuring Sam Wyche on the sidelines and Boomer Esiason under center.  Rookie running back Ickey Woods rushed for 129 yards, running back James Brooks added 93 on the ground, and Boomer threw for 238 yards as the number one offense in the league jumped out to a 21-0 second quarter lead.  The Bills made a game of it in the fourth quarter cutting the lead to a touchdown but the Bengals scored again leaving the final score 35-21.  The following week the Bills lost a 10-5 decision to the Buccaneers.  They split their last two games to finish the year 12-4 to tie the 1964 Bills for the most regular season wins in franchise history.  In the final game of the year the Bills beat the Raiders in from of 77,348 fans to set the all-time single-season NFL attendance record of 622,793.  The fans were excited come playoff time.

The Bills were the number two seed that year losing a tiebreaker to the Bengals they would eventually regret.  Because the wild card game-winning Oilers were in the same division as the Bengals they were not allowed to meet in the divisional round and came to the number two seed Bills instead.  The Bills special teams would ultimately win the day.  After a scoreless first quarter, Buffalo safety Leonard Smith blocked a punt to set up running back Robb Riddick's 1-yard touchdown. Houston responded by driving 71 yards and kicking a 35-yard field goal to cut the score to 7-3. In the third quarter, Thurman Thomas scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. Then in the fourth period, Buffalo defensive back Mark Kelso intercepted a pass from Warren Moon and returned it 28 yards to the Oilers 18-yard line, setting up kicker Scott Norwood's 27-yard field goal to increase their lead to 17–3. With just over 5 minutes left in the game Houston cut the lead to 17-10.  The following Bills drive stalled and the team was forced to punt.  The Oilers front office would not be happy with the result when Steve Tasker forced a fumble while tackling returner Curtis Duncan.  Linebacker Ray Bentley recovered the ball, allowing Buffalo to run out the rest of the clock.  Buffalo moved on to the AFC Championship game against the number one offense in the NFL - the Cincinnati Bengals.  They also tied the franchise record with 13 wins in one season.

In the AFC Championship game the offense could never find its rhythm.  Thurman Thomas was held to just 6 yards on 4 carries, while quarterback Jim Kelly completed only 14 of 30 passes for 161 yards and 1 touchdown, with 3 interceptions. The defense did their part holding NFL MVP Boomer Esiason in check.  He completed only 11 of 20 passes for 94 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. But just as in their regular season meeting the Bengals running game was able to dominate the Bills gaining 175 yards on the ground, 102 yards and 2 touchdowns coming from Ickey Woods.  In a see-saw battle the Bengals jumped to a 7-0 lead following a Kelly interception.  On the strength of 4 consecutive completions the Bills scored on a 9-yard Andre Reed catch to tie the score.  After forcing a punt Buffalo drove once again down the field and Scott Norwood missed a 43-yard attempt.  The Bengals once again punted but Kelly threw another interception which led to a ten-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 lead for the Bengals.  Following a Mark Kelso interception and return the Bills kick a 39-yard field goal to cut the score to 14-10 at the half.  After the break the Bills offense was doomed.  Every Buffalo drive began inside their own 23-yard line and they were held to 53 yards, 2 first downs, and 0 points.  Late in the third quarter, Bengals running back Stanley Wilson gained 6 yards on a fake punt and Cincinnati drove to score on Woods' second touchdown of the game, increasing their lead to 21–10. The run was set-up by a Derrick Burroughs late hit personal foul and subsequent ejection from the game.  After Rob Riddick was hit with a personal foul on the kickoff the Bills offense finally responded with a drive into Bengals territory, but safety David Fulcher picked off a desperate fourth down pass from Kelly in the end zone.  The Bengals steamrolled to four first downs to run the clock out and hand Buffalo it's fifth and final loss of the year.  The Bengals forced 3 interceptions, and allowed only 45 rushing yards and 136 passing yards, while their offense held the ball for 39:29.  The Bengals ultimately lost to the Niners in the Super Bowl on "The Drive" orchestrated by Joe Montana in the final minute.

The offense wasn't dominant yet ranking only 14 in points scored and 12 in yards gained.  The rookie Thomas rushed for 881 yards but only 2 TDs.  Robb Riddick scored the bulk of the rushing touchdowns going for six points 12 times (4th-most in the NFL).  With contributions from other players the Bills ranked seventh in rushing.  The passing offense was fifteenth.  Andre Reed caught 71 balls for 968 yards and Jim Kelly threw for 3380 yards (6th in the NFL) with only 15 TDs and 17 INTs.  Scott Norwood's 32 field goals and 86.5% field goal percentage were by far career bests.  Norwood scored the most points in the NFL that year with 129 total points.  The defense were the ones who stepped up big in 1988 ranking in the top 12 in every category except turnovers.  They were third in points allowed, fourth in total yards allowed and passing yards allowed,and twelfth in rushing yards allowed. Mark Kelso picked off 7 passes in the regular season, adding two more in the postseason, and topped the league in INT return yards.  Bruce Smith tied for eleventh in sacks with 11 on the year in only twelve games.

With a good record came recognition for many Buffalo Bills players and staff.  Marv Levy was named Coach of the Year and Bill Polian was named NFL Executive of the Year by the Sporting News.  Quarterback Jim Kelly and defenseive end Bruce Smith made return trips to the Pro Bowl and were joined by reciever Andre Reed, center Kent Hull, nose tackle Fred Smerlas, linebackers Cornelius Bennett and Shane Conlan, and kicker Scott Norwood on the AFC squad.  Kent Hull was named second team All-Pro and Bruce Smith, Cornelius Bennett, Shane Conlan, and Scott Norwood were all named All-Pros.  Of all the postseason honorees only Smerlas was over the age of thirty.  For the second time in two years the Bills added a lineman to the Wall of Fame by awarding Billy Shaw the honor.  Shaw played nine years of his career in Buffalo, was named to the All-AFL team four times, played in eight AFL All-Star Games, and was named to the All-Time AFL team.  In addition he was named to the All-Decade Pro Team consisting of players from both NFL and AFL rosters.

Bruce Smith celebrating a big play
(photo source)

Next week the best rosters in team history play under the biggest lights in history as we examine the Super Bowl Era as well as the dawn of NFL Free Agency as we now know it.  I bet you'll come back to read about it.