# 1995 Buffalo Bills season

The 1995 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 26th season in the National Football League and the 36th overall. This was the last time the Bills won the division or won a playoff game until 2020.
After suffering a losing season the previous season, the 1995 Bills won the AFC East, and made the playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons. They defeated the Miami Dolphins 37–22 in the Wild Card Game in Don Shula's final game as an NFL head coach. The following week they lost to the eventual AFC Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers 40–21.
In his first season with the team, defensive end Bryce Paup was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Paup led the NFL with 17.5 sacks, the fourth-highest single-season total of the 1990s. During the season, head coach Marv Levy underwent successful treatment for prostate cancer; assistant Elijah Pitts filled in as interim coach until Levy returned after a three-game absence.

## Offseason

| Additions | Subtractions |
| LB Bryce Paup (Packers) | WR Don Beebe (Panthers) |
| NT Ted Washington (Broncos) | TE Pete Metzelaars (Panthers) |
| DE Jim Jeffcoat (Cowboys) | DE Oliver Barnett (49ers) |
| | S Mike Dumas (Jaguars) |
| | LB Darryl Talley (Falcons) |
| | LB Marvcus Patton (Redskins) |
| | NT Jeff Wright (retirement) |
| | NT Mike Lodish (Broncos) |

### 1995 Expansion Draft

Buffalo Bills selected during the Expansion Draft :
| Round | Overall | Name | Position | Expansion Team |
| 5 | 9 | Keith Goganious | Linebacker | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 23 | 46 | Vince Marrow | Tight End | Carolina Panthers |

### NFL Draft

1995 Buffalo Bills draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 14 | Ruben Brown * | Guard | Pittsburgh |
| 2 | 45 | Todd Collins | Quarterback | Michigan |
| 3 | 76 | Marlon Kerner | Cornerback | Ohio State |
| 3 | 96 | Damien Covington | Linebacker | NC State |
| 4 | 109 | Ken Irvin | Cornerback | Memphis |
| 4 | 113 | Justin Armour | Wide receiver | Stanford |
| 4 | 131 | Tony Cline | Tight end | Stanford |
| 5 | 144 | John Holecek | Linebacker | Illinois |
| 6 | 185 | Shannon Clavelle | Defensive tackle | Colorado |
| 7 | 221 | Tom Nütten | Center | Western Michigan |
| 7 | 244 | Darick Holmes | Running back | Portland State |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Undrafted Free Agents

1995 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Jason Anderson | Wide receiver | Eastern Washington |
| Carey Bender | Running back | Coe College |
| Travis Colquitt | Punter | Marshall |
| Eric Counts | Defensive tackle | NC State |
| Herve Damas | Linebacker | Hofstra |
| Randall Evans | Wide receiver | St. Augustine's (NC) |
| Che Foster | Fullback | Michigan |
| Myron Glass | Cornerback | Northern Iowa |
| Steve Harvey | Linebacker | Kansas |
| Michael Hendricks | Linebacker | Texas A&M |
| Adrian Hill | Wide Receiver | NC State |
| Terry Quinn | Safety | Louisville |
| Mike Sheldon | Guard | Grand Valley State |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 3 | at Denver Broncos | L 7–22 | 0–1 | Mile High Stadium | 75,157 |
| 2 | September 10 | Carolina Panthers | W 31–9 | 1–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,190 |
| 3 | September 17 | Indianapolis Colts | W 20–14 | 2–1 | Rich Stadium | 62,499 |
| 4 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 5 | October 2 | at Cleveland Browns | W 22–19 | 3–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 76,211 |
| 6 | October 8 | New York Jets | W 29–10 | 4–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,485 |
| 7 | October 15 | Seattle Seahawks | W 27–21 | 5–1 | Rich Stadium | 74,362 |
| 8 | October 23 | at New England Patriots | L 14–27 | 5–2 | Foxboro Stadium | 60,203 |
| 9 | October 29 | at Miami Dolphins | L 6–23 | 5–3 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 71,060 |
| 10 | November 5 | at Indianapolis Colts | W 16–10 | 6–3 | RCA Dome | 59,612 |
| 11 | November 12 | Atlanta Falcons | W 23–17 | 7–3 | Rich Stadium | 62,690 |
| 12 | November 19 | at New York Jets | W 28–26 | 8–3 | Giants Stadium | 54,436 |
| 13 | November 26 | New England Patriots | L 25–35 | 8–4 | Rich Stadium | 69,384 |
| 14 | December 3 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 17–27 | 8–5 | Candlestick Park | 65,568 |
| 15 | December 10 | at St. Louis Rams | W 45–27 | 9–5 | Trans World Dome | 64,623 |
| 16 | December 17 | Miami Dolphins | W 23–20 | 10–5 | Rich Stadium | 79,531 |
| 17 | December 24 | Houston Oilers | L 17–28 | 10–6 | Rich Stadium | 45,253 |

### Season summary
#### Week 1 at Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Broncos | 3 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 22 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
* Date: September 3, 1995
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Clear, 76 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 75,157
* TV announcers (TNT): Verne Lundquist, Pat Haden, and Craig Sager
* Box Score, Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
DEN – Jason Elam 22-yard field goal, 12:32. Broncos 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 51 yards.
BUF – Andre Reed 34-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick), 8:43. Bills 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards.
Second quarter
DEN – Jason Elam 52-yard field goal, 14:55. Bills 7–6. Drive: 5 plays, 19 yards.
DEN – Jason Elam 20-yard field goal, 8:25. Broncos 9–7. Drive: 10 plays, 42 yards.
DEN – Jason Elam 38-yard field goal, 0:02. Broncos 12–7. Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards.
Third quarter
No scoring
Fourth quarter
DEN – Jason Elam 37-yard field goal, 10:23. Broncos 15–7. Drive: 11 plays, 59 yards.
DEN – Terrell Davis 3-yard run (Jason Elam kick), 3:22. Broncos 22–7. Drive: 9 plays, 84 yards.
Top passers
BUF – Jim Kelly – 12/28, 154 yards, TD
DEN – John Elway – 22/41, 317 yards, INT
Top rushers
BUF – Thurman Thomas – 17 rushes, 46 yards
DEN – Terrell Davis – 20 rushes, 70 yards, TD
Top receivers
BUF – Russell Copeland – 6 receptions, 75 yards
DEN – Shannon Sharpe – 10 receptions, 180 yards :
The Bills first game in Denver since 1977

#### Week 5

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 10 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 22 |
| Browns | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 19 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium • Cleveland, Ohio
* Date: October 2
* Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 67 °F (19.4 °C); wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
* Game attendance: 76,211
* Referee: Gary Lane
* TV announcers (ABC Monday Night Football): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf
* Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database
Game information :
Bills
Jim Kelly 27/34, 256 Yds, 2 TD, INT
Thurman Thomas 23 Rush, 86 Yds
Andre Reed 9 Rec, 97 Yds, TD
Browns
Vinny Testaverde 18/34, 224 Yds
Derrick Alexander 1 Rush, 29 Yds
Andre Rison 6 Rec, 126 Yds :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | BUF | CLE |
| 1 | 9:56 | | | | Bills | Armour 14-yard touchdown reception from Kelly, Christie kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | 6:49 | | | | Browns | Punt returned 69 yards for touchdown by Alexander, Stover kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 1 | 0:50 | | | | Bills | 38-yard field goal by Christie | 10 | 7 |
| 2 | 0:18 | | | | Browns | 32-yard field goal by Stover | 10 | 10 |
| 3 | 11:10 | | | | Bills | 31-yard field goal by Christie | 13 | 10 |
| 3 | 6:59 | | | | Browns | 47-yard field goal by Stover | 13 | 13 |
| 3 | 3:56 | | | | Browns | 23-yard field goal by Stover | 13 | 16 |
| 4 | 6:30 | | | | Bills | Reed 41-yard touchdown reception from Kelly, Christie kick no good | 19 | 16 |
| 4 | 3:49 | | | | Browns | 38-yard field goal by Stover | 19 | 19 |
| 4 | 0:05 | | | | Bills | 33-yard field goal by Christie | 22 | 19 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 22 | 19 |

#### Week 6

Starting QBs -> New York Jets: Boomer Esiason / Buffalo Bills: Jim Kelly
Vegas Line: Buffalo Bills −9.5 /// Over/Under: 38.0 (over)
Thurman Thomas becomes the 11th player all-time to go over the 9,000 career rushing yard mark in this game.
Boomer Esiason was knocked out in the second quarter by Bruce Smith, thus putting Bubby Brister into the game. On his first snap in the game, he fumbled the ball and turned it over to Buffalo.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| • Bills | 3 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 29 |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | NYJ | BUF |
| 1 | 5:46 | 8 | 60 | 2:53 | Bills | 38-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | 7:57 | 4 | 4 | 2:09 | Jets | 26-yard field goal by Nick Lowery | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | 3:58 | 11 | 68 | 3:59 | Bills | 24-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | 0:26 | 7 | 39 | 1:44 | Bills | 32-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | 0:16 | 1 | 15 | 0:05 | Bills | Bill Brooks 15-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 3 | 16 |
| 3 | 9:03 | 11 | 57 | 5:57 | Jets | Wayne Chrebet 16-yard touchdown reception from Bubby Brister, Nick Lowery kick good | 10 | 16 |
| 3 | 7:16 | 5 | 23 | 1:47 | Bills | 51-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 10 | 19 |
| 4 | 9:51 | 12 | 77 | 5:30 | Bills | Thurman Thomas 1-yard touchdown run, Steve Christie kick good | 10 | 26 |
| 4 | 5:56 | 6 | 20 | 2:12 | Bills | 27-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 10 | 29 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 10 | 29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jets | Passing | Bubby Brister | 13/23, 112 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Jets | Rushing | Adrian Murrell | 14 carries, 33 yards |
| Jets | Receiving | Wayne Chrebet | 7 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| Bills | Passing | Jim Kelly | 9/22, 101 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Bills | Rushing | Thurman Thomas | 27 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD |
| Bills | Receiving | Russell Copeland | 5 receptions, 67 yards |
| Statistics | Jets | Bills |
| First downs | 14 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 53–173 | 67–318 |
| Rushes–yards | 21–51 | 45–220 |
| Passing yards | 122 | 98 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 17–32–2 | 9–22–1 |
| Time of possession | 31:49 | 28:11 |

#### Week 10

Elijah Pitts was the Buffalo Bills head coach for this game as Marv Levy was recovering from illness.
Starting QBs: Buffalo Bills: Jim Kelly vs Indianapolis Colts: Jim Harbaugh.
In this game, Jim Harbaugh started, but midway through the first quarter Paul Justin was put in by coach Ted Marchibroda as Harbaugh was injured. This wasn't the end for the Colts QB situation, as Justin was hit by Bryce Paup knocking him out of the game. Harbaugh came in briefly after Justin was knocked out, however, Craig Erickson came into the game to finish it out.
Vegas Line: Indianapolis Colts −4.0
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Colts | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | BUF | IND |
| 1 | 11:24 | 2 | 51 | 0:49 | Bills | Bill Brooks 51-yard touchdown reception from Kelly, Christie kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | 7:50 | 8 | 76 | 3:30 | Colts | Marshall Faulk 4-yard touchdown run, Cary Blanchard kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 1 | 1:56 | 4 | 2 | 1:13 | Bills | 39-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 10 | 7 |
| 2 | 9:04 | 5 | 74 | 2:29 | Bills | 23-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 13 | 7 |
| 2 | 3:52 | 9 | 43 | 3:45 | Bills | 33-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 16 | 7 |
| 3 | 10:24 | 5 | 40 | 1:42 | Colts | 37-yard field goal by Cary Blanchard | 16 | 10 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 16 | 10 |

#### Week 11

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| • Bills | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 23 |

#### Week 12

Starting QBs -> New York Jets: Boomer Esiason / Buffalo Bills: Jim Kelly
Vegas Line: Buffalo Bills −6.5 /// Over/Under: 37.0 (over)
Boomer Esiason throws a last second hail mary TD pass to Adrian Murrell, however, failed on the 2-pt conversion to send the game into OT.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| Jets | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 26 |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | BUF | NYJ |
| 1 | 8:46 | 10 | 58 | | Jets | 30-yard field goal by Nick Lowery | 0 | 3 |
| 1 | 1:35 | 5 | 59 | 1:36 | Bills | Bill Brooks 45-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 7 | 3 |
| 2 | 6:37 | 17 | 90 | 6:33 | Bills | Thurman Thomas 12-yard touchdown run, Steve Christie kick good | 14 | 3 |
| 2 | 2:26 | 8 | 52 | 1:47 | Bills | Bill Brooks 18-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 21 | 3 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 28 | 26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Bills | Passing | Jim Kelly | 22/37, 316 yards, 2 TD |
| Bills | Rushing | Thurman Thomas | 18 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD |
| Bills | Receiving | Bill Brooks | 7 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD |
| Jets | Passing | Boomer Esiason | 24/43, 312 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Jets | Rushing | Adrian Murrell | 9 carries, 36 yards |
| Jets | Receiving | Johnny Mitchell | 5 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD |
| Statistics | Bills | Jets |
| First downs | 20 | 17 |
| Plays–yards | 73–373 | 65–351 |
| Rushes–yards | 36–88 | 22–74 |
| Passing yards | 285 | 277 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 22–37–0 | 24–43–2 |
| Time of possession | 31:12 | 28:48 |

#### Week 15

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 7 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 45 |
| Rams | 10 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 27 |

### Standings

AFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(3)}$ Buffalo Bills | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 350 | 335 | L1 |
| $^{(5)}$ Indianapolis Colts | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 331 | 316 | W1 |
| $^{(6)}$ Miami Dolphins | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 398 | 332 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 294 | 377 | L2 |
| New York Jets | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 233 | 384 | L4 |

## Playoffs
### AFC Wild Card Game

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 |
| Bills | 10 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 37 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: December 30, 1995
* Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C), cloudy
* Game attendance: 73,103
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers (ABC): Brent Musburger and Dick Vermeil
In Buffalo's first playoff game since losing Super Bowl XXVIII two seasons earlier, the Bills handled Miami easily by a score of 37–22 at Rich Stadium. Although Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino completed 33 out of 64 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns, the Bills jumped to a 27–0 lead going into the fourth quarter, and rushed for an NFL playoff-record 341 yards, led by Thurman Thomas's 25 carries for 158 yards. The Bills forced four turnovers, including intercepting Marino three times, in the victory. It was the final game of Don Shula's coaching career with the Dolphins.

### AFC Divisional Playoff

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Steelers | 7 | 16 | 3 | 14 | 40 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
* Date: January 6, 1996
* Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 21 °F (−6 °C), clear
* Game attendance: 59,072
* Referee: Larry Nemmers
* TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Cris Collinsworth
Running back Bam Morris scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Steelers stopped the Bills from pulling off a comeback. Pittsburgh jumped to a 20–0 lead by the second quarter with running back John L. Williams's 1-yard touchdown, quarterback Neil O'Donnell's 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ernie Mills, and two field goals by Norm Johnson. However, Buffalo running back Thurman Thomas scored a 1-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left in the first half. But Johnson made a 34-yard field goal with eight seconds left to give the Steelers a 23–7 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Johnson added a 39-yard field goal before Bills tight end Tony Cline caught a 2-yard touchdown reception. With 11:23 left in the game, Thomas scored on a 9-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to 26–21. In response, Pittsburgh drove 76 yards to score on Morris' 13-yard touchdown run. Linebacker Levon Kirkland then intercepted a pass to set up Morris' 2-yard score with 1:58 remaining to clinch the victory. Bruce Smith was inactive for the game because he had the flu.

## Awards and honors

* Bryce Paup, NFL Defensive Player of the Year
* Bryce Paup, AFC Pro Bowl selection