The2015 season was theBuffalo Bills' 46th in theNational Football League (NFL), their 56th overall, their third under the leadership of general managerDoug Whaley and their first under head coachRex Ryan. It was also their first full season under the ownership ofTerry andKim Pegula (who also own theBuffalo Sabres), having purchased the Bills partway through 2014 after the death of longtime ownerRalph Wilson that March at the age of 95.
The Bills began their season with an open competition for the starting quarterback position afterKyle Orton, the starter for most of the 2014 campaign, retired during the offseason, so the team acquired free agentTyrod Taylor, a former backup quarterback of theBaltimore Ravens, who won the competition over incumbent second-string quarterbackEJ Manuel and trade acquisitionMatt Cassel, the latter of whom the team later traded along with a seventh-round pick in 2017 to theDallas Cowboys, in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2017.
Despite Ryan's bold prediction of the Bills making the playoffs at his introductory press conference, the Bills were unable to do so in their first season with Ryan as head coach, finishing with a record of 8-8 (the team’s first since2002), making it the 16th straight season without a playoff appearance, which became the longest active in major professional sports afterMajor League Baseball’sToronto Blue Jaysbroke their 22-year playoff drought on September 25, 2015.[1]
The Bills made headlines when they hired a new head coach in Rex Ryan, who signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract on January 12, 2015 after having previously spent the past six seasons coaching the division-rivalNew York Jets. Ryan had led the Jets to two straight AFC Championship games in2009 and2010 before his firing in 2014. He became the 18th head coach in Bills history and the fifth in the past seven years in the process. Ryan replacedDoug Marrone, who opted out of his contract on December 31, 2014 in order to take advantage of a contract loophole.[2]
The Bills did not have a selection in the first-round or fourth-round as a result of a trade that sent their2014 first-round selection (19th overall), later revealed to beJa’Wuan James, to theMiami Dolphins, fourth-round selection (115th overall), later revealed to beShaquelle Evans, to theNew York Jets and their first-round selection (9th overall), later revealed to beAnthony Barr, to theCleveland Browns in a three-team trade that sent the Browns’ 2014 first-round selection (4th overall), later revealed to beSammy Watkins, to Buffalo. The Bills acquired a fourth-round selection (113th overall), later revealed to beGabe Wright, in a trade that sentStevie Johnson to theSan Francisco 49ers. The Bills later traded this selection to thePhiladelphia Eagles in exchange forBryce Brown. The Bills acquired a fifth-round selection (137th overall), later revealed to beGrady Jarrett, as part of a trade that sent their 2014 seventh-round selection (221st overall), later revealed to beRandell Johnson, to theTampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bills later traded this selection and their2016 seventh-round selection (240th overall), later revealed to beAlex McCalister, to the Vikings in exchange forMatt Cassel and the Vikings’ 2015 sixth-round selection (188th overall), later revealed to beTony Steward.
The Bills franchise reached the 400th career win in its history[3] with a 27-14 win over the Colts. Running backsKarlos Williams,LeSean McCoy and quarterbackTyrod Taylor combined for 137 rushing yards and a touchdown (Anthony Dixon added another on the ground) and Taylor completed 14/19 for 195 yards and a touchdown. Colts quarterbackAndrew Luck had two touchdowns, but he was intercepted and sacked twice.In a statistical anomaly, back-up quarterbackMatt Cassel was credited with the win, as the Bills lined up for their first offensive play in a novelty formation with Cassel under center and Tyrod Taylor split out as a receiver. This made Cassel the starting quarterback of record, although it his only play of the game and he did not attempt either a pass or run.
With the close loss, the Bills dropped to 1-1. As if the loss wasn't bad enough, the team also lost safetyAaron Williams for the season with a neck injury sustained trying to keep Patriots tight endRob Gronkowski from reaching the end zone.
After leading 27-0, Dolphins quarterbackRyan Tannehill finally threw two touchdowns, but his three interceptions, one of which a pick-six returned by linebackerPreston Brown 43 yards for a touchdown, proved to be too much as the Bills improved to 2-1.
This was the Bills’ first game in London since1991. Sadly, with the stunning loss, the Bills dropped to 3-4 heading into the bye week, marking the first time they had been under .500 all season.
Rex Ryan made his return toMetLife Stadium for the first time since the Jets fired him after the 2014 season. The Bills wore their redNike “color rush” uniforms. With 0:18 remaining, Jets quarterbackRyan Fitzpatrick attempted a comeback, but a game-saving interception by Bills safetyBacarri Rambo sealed the 22-17 victory over the Jets. With the win, the Bills improved to 5-4.
This was the debut forNFL Color Rush uniforms, with the Bills in all red and the Jets in all kelly green. The uniforms were indistinguishable to those withred-green color blindness, creating controversy.[4]
LeSean McCoy made his return to Philadelphia for the first time since the Eagles traded him in the offseason. McCoy was seen kissing the Eagles logo, but did not stick around to interact with his former teammates or coachChip Kelly.
Prior to the game, the team called for paid volunteers to help shovel snow out ofRalph Wilson Stadium.[6] Former Bills quarterbackRyan Fitzpatrick made his first return to Buffalo since being cut after the 2012 season, hoping to clinch a playoff spot for his new team with a win. Despite the Jets setting various team records, the Bills ultimately pulled out a win to close the season at 8-8 for the first time since2002 in their final regular season game before Ralph Wilson Stadium was renamedNew Era Field the following summer, not only keeping the Jets out of the playoffs for a fifth straight year, but helping thePittsburgh Steelers reach the playoffs. As a thank you gift of sorts, the Steelers sent the Bills a care package of Primanti Brothers sandwiches.
^abcDenver finished ahead of New England and Cincinnati for the No. 1 seed based on head-to-head sweep. New England finished ahead of Cincinnati for the No. 2 seed based on record vs. common opponents — New England's cumulative record against Buffalo, Denver, Houston and Pittsburgh was 4–1, while Cincinnati's cumulative record against the same four teams was 2–3.
^abPittsburgh finished ahead of the New York Jets for the No. 6 seed and qualified for the last playoff spot based on record vs. common opponents — Pittsburgh's cumulative record against Cleveland, Indianapolis, New England and Oakland was 4–1, while the Jets' cumulative record against the same four teams was 3–2.
^abBuffalo finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory.
^abJacksonville finished ahead of Baltimore based on head-to-head victory.
^abCleveland finished ahead of Tennessee based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
Wembley Stadium(London)
