Everyone knows the Buffalo Bills, like most NFL teams, rested the majority of their starters during Week 4 of the NFL’s tedious preseason slate of games. It took a late drive from third-string QB Tyree Jackson, but the Bills pulled out the win against the Minnesota Vikings.
The 2019 Bills (4-0) completed the preseason with a perfect record. It’s the first time in franchise history a Bills team accomplished the feat.
After earning wins over the Indianapolis Colts (24-16), Carolina Panthers (27-14), and Detroit Lions (24-20), the Bills started off with three straight preseason wins for the first time in 53 years.
The last time Buffalo was victorious in its first three preseason games: 1966, when the Bills knocked off the Boston Patriots, Denver Broncos, and Houston Oilers before falling to the Joe Namath-less New York Jets in the preseason finale.
That season’s squad finished the regular season with a 9-4-1 record before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs 31-7 in the AFL championship, therefore missing out on the chance to play in the first-ever Super Bowl.
Undefeated preseasons aren’t necessarily a good thing. Recent history suggests teams that win in the preseason aren’t fated for a great regular-season record.
Since the NFL realigned divisions in 2002, 36 teams have gone undefeated in the preseason.
— Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) August 24, 2019
Average regular-season wins: 7.8
Median regular-season wins: 8
Playoffs: 41.7%
Last 10 years (23 teams)
Average regular-season wins: 7.3
Median regular-season wins: 8
Playoffs: 30.4%