| 1988 Buffalo Bills season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Ralph Wilson |
| General manager | Bill Polian |
| Head coach | Marv Levy |
| Home stadium | Rich Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 1stAFC East |
| Playoffs | WonDivisional Playoffs (vs.Oilers) 17–10 LostAFC Championship (atBengals) 10–21 |
| Pro Bowlers | QBJim Kelly WRAndre Reed CKent Hull DEBruce Smith DTFred Smerlas OLBCornelius Bennett ILBShane Conlan KScott Norwood |
The1988 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 29th overall season as a football team and the 19th in theNational Football League. The Bills ended a streak of four consecutive losing seasons by winning the AFC East. They finished the 1988 season with a record of twelve wins and four losses; it was the club's first winning season since1981, its first 12-win season sincethe 1964 AFL championship season, and only the fifth double-digit win season in team history. The Bills were 8–0 at home for the first time in their franchise history.[1] On the road, the Bills were 4–4. From an attendance standpoint, the franchise set a record for attendance with 631,818 fans.[2] It was only their fourth playoff appearance since theNFL-AFL merger.
This was the first of four consecutive AFC East titles for the Bills. They started the season 11–1 before losing three of their final four games, costing them the top seed in the AFC, andhome-field advantage throughout theplayoffs.
It was Buffalo's first trip to the postseason since1981. The Bills were the #2 seed in the AFC (behind #1Cincinnati), giving the Bills their first home playoff game since the1966 AFL Championship, and their first ever playoff game atRich Stadium. The 1988 season would be the first of five AFC Championship game appearances over six seasons,[3] and their only loss in the conference championship game.
The 1988 season was the first for running backThurman Thomas,nose tackleJeff Wright, and linebackerCarlton Bailey. Thomas would rush for 881 yards, despite only carrying the ball 207 times (42.7% of total team carries by a running back) while sharing carries withRobb Riddick,Jamie Mueller andRonnie Harmon.
The Bills had a dominant defense in 1988: they gave up the fewest points (237) and the fewest total yards (4,578) in the AFC in 1988. The defensive unit was given the nickname "Blizzard Defense",[4][5] alluding toBuffalo's harsh winters.
Four Bills players made theAll-Pro team in 1988: defensive endBruce Smith, linebackersShane Conlan andCornelius Bennett, and kickerScott Norwood.
Head coach Marv Levy was namedNFL Coach of the Year byThe Sporting News andUPI.
ESPN's cameras watchedOklahoma State running backThurman Thomas in his home as he waited to be drafted. He fell to the second round, where the Bills made him their first pick at 40th overall. Thomas would go on to aPro Football Hall of Fame career, where he would eclipseO. J. Simpson's all-time team rushing record with 12,074 yards. Thomas would set anNFL record by leading the league inyards-from-scrimmage for four consecutive years, from 1989 to 1992. (The record of three was previously held by Hall of FamerJim Brown.) Thomas was a five-timePro Bowl selection andNFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1992.
| 1988 Buffalo Bills draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 40 | Thurman Thomas * † | RB | Oklahoma State | |
| 3 | 65 | Bernard Ford | WR | Central Florida | |
| 5 | 123 | Ezekial Gadson | DB | Pittsburgh | |
| 5 | 135 | Kirk Roach | K | Western Carolina | |
| 6 | 150 | Dan Murray | OLB | East Stroudsburg | |
| 7 | 177 | Tim Borcky | OT | Memphis | |
| 7 | 184 | Bo Wright | RB | Alabama | |
| 8 | 204 | John Hagy | DB | Texas | |
| 8 | 213 | Jeff Wright | DT | Central Missouri State | |
| 9 | 235 | Carlton Bailey | ILB | North Carolina | |
| 10 | 262 | Martin Mayhew | CB | Florida State | Placed oninjured reserve |
| 11 | 289 | Pete Curkendall | DT | Penn State | |
| 12 | 309 | John Driscoll | OT | New Hampshire | |
| 12 | 316 | Tom Erlandson | LB | Washington | |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least onePro Bowl during career | |||||
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4 | Minnesota Vikings | W 13–10 | 1–0 | Rich Stadium | 76,783 | |
| 2 | September 11 | Miami Dolphins | W 9–6 | 2–0 | Rich Stadium | 79,520 | |
| 3 | September 18 | atNew England Patriots | W 16–14 | 3–0 | Sullivan Stadium | 55,945 | |
| 4 | September 25 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 36–28 | 4–0 | Rich Stadium | 78,735 | |
| 5 | October 2 | atChicago Bears | L 3–24 | 4–1 | Soldier Field | 62,793 | |
| 6 | October 9 | Indianapolis Colts | W 34–23 | 5–1 | Rich Stadium | 76,018 | |
| 7 | October 17 | atNew York Jets | W 37–14 | 6–1 | Giants Stadium | 70,218 | |
| 8 | October 23 | New England Patriots | W 23–20 | 7–1 | Rich Stadium | 76,824 | |
| 9 | October 30 | Green Bay Packers | W 28–0 | 8–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,176 | |
| 10 | November 6 | atSeattle Seahawks | W 13–3 | 9–1 | Kingdome | 61,074 | |
| 11 | November 14 | atMiami Dolphins | W 31–6 | 10–1 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 67,091 | |
| 12 | November 20 | New York Jets | W 9–6(OT) | 11–1 | Rich Stadium | 78,389 | |
| 13 | November 27 | atCincinnati Bengals | L 21–35 | 11–2 | Riverfront Stadium | 58,672 | |
| 14 | December 4 | atTampa Bay Buccaneers | L 5–10 | 11–3 | Tampa Stadium | 49,498 | |
| 15 | December 11 | Los Angeles Raiders | W 37–21 | 12–3 | Rich Stadium | 77,348 | |
| 16 | December 18 | atIndianapolis Colts | L 14–17 | 12–4 | Hoosier Dome | 59,908 | |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text. | |||||||
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| •Bills | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| 1 | Bills | Scott Norwood 27-yard field goal | Bills 3–0 | |
| 1 | Bills | Thurman Thomas 5-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) | Bills 10–0 | |
| 2 | Vikings | Chuck Nelson 30-yard field goal | Bills 10–3 | |
| 4 | Bills | Scott Norwood 26-yard field goal | Bills 13–3 | |
| 4 | Vikings | Allen Rice 2-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick) | Bills 13–10 | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| • Bills | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 1 | MIA | Fuad Reveiz 31 yard field goal | Dolphins 3–0 | |
| 2 | BUF | Scott Norwood 41 yard field goal | Tie 3–3 | |
| 3 | MIA | Fuad Reveiz 27 yard field goal | Dolphins 6–3 | |
| 4 | BUF | Scott Norwood 35 yard field goal | Tie 6–6 | |
| 4 | BUF | Scott Norwood 28 yard field goal | Bills 9–6 | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Bills | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
| Patriots | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | BUF | Scott Norwood 38 yard field goal | Bills 3–0 | |
| 2 | NE | Cedric Jones 41 yard pass fromSteve Grogan (Teddy Garcia kick) | Patriots 7–3 | |
| 2 | NE | Stanley Morgan 19 yard pass from Steve Grogan (Teddy Garcia kick) | Patriots 14–3 | |
| 3 | BUF | Scott Norwood 44 yard field goal | Patriots 14–6 | |
| 4 | BUF | Robb Riddick 3 yard pass fromJim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) | Patriots 14–13 | |
| 4 | BUF | Scott Norwood 41 yard field goal | Bills 16–14 | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| • Bills | 10 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 36 |
| Q1 | BUF | Norwood 38 yard field goal | BUF 3–0 | |
| Q1 | BUF | Burkett 26 yard pass fromKelly (Norwood kick) | BUF 10–0 | |
| Q2 | PIT | Brister 1 yard run (Anderson kick) | BUF 10–7 | |
| Q2 | BUF | Norwood 39 yard field goal | BUF 13–7 | |
| Q2 | PIT | Williams 5 yard pass from Brister (Anderson kick) | PIT 14–13 | |
| Q2 | BUF | Norwood 39 yard field goal | BUF 16–14 | |
| Q3 | BUF | Riddick 1 yard run (Norwood kick) | BUF 23–14 | |
| Q3 | BUF | Riddick 5 yard blocked punt return (Norwood kick) | BUF 30–14 | |
| Q4 | BUF | Norwood 48 yard field goal | BUF 33–14 | |
| Q4 | BUF | Norwood 49 yard field goal | BUF 36–14 | |
| Q4 | PIT | Brister 1 yard run (Anderson kick) | BUF 36–17 | |
| Q4 | PIT | Thompson 42 yard pass from Brister (Anderson kick) | BUF 36–24 | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • Bears | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 1 | Bears | Emery Moorehead 4-yard pass fromJim McMahon (Kevin Butler kick) | Bears 7–0 | |
| 1 | Bills | Scott Norwood 28-yard field goal | Bears 7–3 | |
| 2 | Bears | Ron Morris 63-yard pass fromJim McMahon (Kevin Butler kick) | Bears 14–3 | |
| 2 | Bears | Kevin Butler 22-yard field goal | Bears 17–3 | |
| 2 | Bears | Dennis Gentry 58-yard rush (Kevin Butler kick) | Bears 24–3 | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| •Bills | 0 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 34 |
| 1 | Colts | Dean Biasucci 31-yard field goal | Colts 3–0 | |
| 1 | Colts | Chris Chandler 1-yard run (Dean Biasucci kick) | Colts 10–0 | |
| 2 | Colts | Clarence Verdin 39-yard pass fromGary Hogeboom (Dean Biasucci kick) | Colts 17–0 | |
| 2 | Bills | Ronnie Harmon 26-yard pass fromJim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) | Colts 17–7 | |
| 3 | Bills | Andre Reed 16-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) | Colts 17–14 | |
| 3 | Colts | Dean Biasucci 40-yard field goal | Colts 20–14 | |
| 3 | Bills | Andre Reed 12-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) | Bills 21–20 | |
| 4 | Colts | Dean Biasucci 22-yard field goal | Colts 23–21 | |
| 4 | Bills | Scott Norwood 45-yard field goal | Bills 24–23 | |
| 4 | Bills | Scott Norwood 19-yard field goal | Bills 27–23 | |
| 4 | Bills | Robb Riddick 1-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) | Bills 34–23 | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Bills | 17 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 37 |
| Jets | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| 1 | BUF | Scott Norwood 30-yard field goal | Bills 3–0 | |
| 1 | BUF | Andre Reed 65-yard pass fromJim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) | Bills 10–0 | |
| 1 | BUF | Flip Johnson 66-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) | Bills 17–0 | |
| 2 | BUF | Robb Riddick 1-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) | Bills 24–0 | |
| 2 | NYJ | Johnny Hector 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick) | Bills 24–7 | |
| 2 | BUF | Andre Reed 16-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) | Bills 31–7 | |
| 3 | BUF | Scott Norwood 34-yard field goal | Bills 34–7 | |
| 3 | NYJ | Erik McMillan 40-yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick) | Bills 34–14 | |
| 4 | BUF | Scott Norwood 28-yard field goal | Bills 37–14 | |
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| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Bills | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Q1 | BUF | Riddick 2 yard run (Norwood kick) | BUF 7–0 | |
| Q2 | BUF | Rolle 1 yard pass fromKelly (Norwood kick) | BUF 14–0 | |
| Q3 | BUF | Kelso 78 yard interception return (Norwood kick) | BUF 21–0 | |
| Q4 | BUF | Seals 7 yard fumble return (Norwood kick) | BUF 28–0 | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| •Bills | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | NYJ | Pat Leahy 23-yard field goal | Jets 3–0 | |
| 3 | BUF | Scott Norwood 25-yard field goal | Tie 3–3 | |
| 4 | BUF | Scott Norwood 26-yard field goal | Bills 6–3 | |
| 4 | NYJ | Pat Leahy 40-yard field goal | Tie 6–6 | |
| OT | BUF | Scott Norwood 30-yard field goal | Bills 9–6 | |
The Bills clinch the AFC Eastern division title.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Colts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
The loss cost the Bills homefield advantage in the AFC playoffs.
| AFC East | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Buffalo Bills(2) | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 329 | 237 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 354 | 315 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 250 | 284 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–5 | 6–7–1 | 372 | 354 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 0–8 | 3–9 | 319 | 380 | L1 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
atRich Stadium,Orchard Park, New York
Buffalo's first playoff game in seven years, first home playoff playoff game in 22 years (since their days in the AFL) and first-ever playoff game atRich Stadium was a 17–10 win over the Oilers.Jim Kelly threw for 244 yards and an interception whileThurman Thomas andRobb Riddick had rushing scores to go with 87 rushing yards. The Bills interceptedWarren Moon once and forced two Oilers fumbles.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Bengals | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
atRiverfront Stadium,Cincinnati
The Bengals forced three interceptions and allowed only 45 rushing yards and 136 passing yards to go with an offense that held the ball for 39:29 out of sixty minutes. Bills starting running backThurman Thomas was held to just six yards on four carries, while quarterbackJim Kelly completed only 14-of-30 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.
First Team
Second Team
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| Franchise | |
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| Division championships (15) | |
| Conference championships (4) | |
| League championships (2) | |
| Wall of Fame | |
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