The 2009 Buffalo Bills by the numbers

We all know that the only numbers that mattered for the Buffalo Bills this year were 6 and 10, as in 6 wins and 10 losses. There's a lot more than numbers swirling around in our heads right now, so let's take a look back at the season that was, instead of the season that will be. We can only talk about the 2009 season for so much longer without it being "last season," so without further ado, let's review the 2009 season's important and interesting happenings... numerically.

1 -- Jairus Byrd was the only Pro Bowl selection for the Bills this season. Believe it or not, the last time the Bills had no more than one Pro Bowl representative was 1986, when not a single Bill earned the honor. (Scratch this one if Kyle Williams is an injury replacement)

2 -- The Bills had two head coaches in the same season for the first time since 1986 (I'm sensing a pattern here), when Hank Bullough was fired and Marv Levy was brought in as his replacement. Perry Fewell replaced Dick Jauron mid-season, but it's not looking like he'll be following the Marv Levy path to success as the Bills' head coach.

3 -- For the first time since the strike-shortened 1987 season, which doesn't really count since a couple of those guys were replacement players, the Bills started three different quarterbacks during the same season. Prior to that, the Bills last had a different starting quarterback troika way back in 1969. Seeing Brian Brohm get a start was incredibly unlikely.

4 -- The Bills' defense forced four or more turnovers in a game four times this season. Maybe unbelievably, they actually won all four games (Jets, Carolina, Miami, Kansas City). Don't ever let someone tell you turnovers aren't one of the biggest factors in who wins a game in the NFL.

6 -- Just six times did a Bills rusher cross the goal line for a touchdown this year, which last happened in 2005. Only two teams finished with fewer rushing touchdowns this year, Chicago and Tampa Bay. Ouch.

9 -- As a surprise to no one, the Bills had numerous starting lineups along the offensive line due to injuries. By my count, the Bills patched together nine different starting combinations along the offensive line this season. I have no idea if that's a team record, but I'm going to assume it's close. Kudos to Andy Levitre and Geoff Hangartner for winning the lottery and making it through the season unscathed.

10 -- Guess how many times the Bills scored one touchdown or less in a game this year? They only broke 20 points five times all season. Gross.

11 -- Fred Jackson became the 11th player in Bills history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Again, nice job Freddie!

13 -- The number of players that recorded at least one interception this year was the most in team history. Please note, this list includes such luminaries as Corey Mace, John Wendling, and Cary Harris. Impressive. The Bills only recorded more than 13 interceptions in a season five times this decade, to put this into perspective.

21 -- It may or may not be an NFL record, but the Bills finished the season with 21 players on Injured Reserve. Even though the list includes guys like Jermaine McGhee and Justise Hairston, and a handful of other guys that had no shot at making the team, there were also a number of starters or immediate backups. Injuries weren't the biggest reason the team stunk this year, but they definitely gave us something to root against every week.

25 -- Avert your eyes. Buffalo's offense has never finished better than No. 25 in the NFL since 2002. Prior to that, just one time did they finish No. 25 or worse in offense since 1985, and that was the Todd Collins year. If this team ever wants to reach the playoffs again, this needs to change quickly.

26 -- For the 26th time in team history, and fifth straight season, the Bills finished below .500. Sigh...

28 -- As a team, the Bills finished with a whopping 28 interceptions this year. Jairus Byrd lead the team, and tied for the league lead, with 9.

33 -- The Bills' defense finished No. 5 in the NFL with 33 turnovers forced. Good job, guys.

46.6 -- Brian Moorman had a team record 46.6 yards per punt this year. That's pretty amazing, considering he seemed to shank more punts this year than he has in years past. Even more amazingly, this number was only good for No. 5 in the NFL this year.

73 -- The longest punt in the NFL this year belonged to Mr. Brian Moorman.

98 -- Terrell Owens' 98-yard touchdown reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars was the longest in team history, eclipsing the 95-yarder that Quinn Early had in 1996.

212 --Fred Jackson's 212 rushing yards in the finale against the Colts was the 7th-highest total in team history, and the most since Thurman Thomas ran all over the Jets for 214 yards on Monday Night Football in September of 1990.

258 -- The Bills were No. 28 in the NFL in points scored this year with 258. As bad as this was, the team scored fewer points in a 16 game season five other times in team history.

1,422 -- Ryan Fitzpatrick's passing output was the lowest for the team leader since 1976, when Joe Ferguson led the team with 1,086 passing yards in seven games.

2,516 -- Fred Jackson led the NFL in all-purpose yards with 2,516 total yards this season, good for the fourth-best total in league history. He also became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and return kicks for 1,000 yards in the same season. No matter what this says about the Bills' roster this year, that is still a very impressive season by Jackson.

*****

I'm sure there were many more statistical oddities for the 2009 Buffalo Bills. Let's hear what you guys can come up with!