# 1993 Buffalo Bills season

The 1993 Buffalo Bills season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). The Buffalo Bills finished the National Football League's 1993 season with a record of 12 wins and 4 losses, and finished first in the AFC East division.
The Bills qualified for their fourth straight Super Bowl, where they faced the Dallas Cowboys in a rematch of the previous season's Super Bowl. However, the Bills once again fell to the Cowboys, this time by a score of 30–13, marking their fourth straight Super Bowl loss.
Until the 2020 season, this Bills squad was the last to reach the AFC Championship Game. The Bills' four consecutive Super Bowl appearances remains unmatched as of 2025, with no other team having even so much as played in four out of five consecutive Super Bowls until the Kansas City Chiefs did so from the 2019 through the 2023 seasons. This is also the last Super Bowl appearance for the Bills overall as of 2025.

## Season summary

Despite the many jokes about the Bills having lost three straight Super Bowls—a fan pleaded with head coach Marv Levy for the team to not return to the Super Bowl: "I can't take it. I can't go to work on Monday if we don't win the game. It's tearing me up. I can't handle it"—Don Beebe recalled that "I've got to be honest with you. We thrived in it. We enjoyed it. We were going to go to four ... I think that comes a lot from the Winston Churchill poems and the speeches that we would get from Marv". Dan Patrick reported that "Buffalo players have been wearing t-shirts reading something along the lines of 'Let's Tick Them Off and Go for Four'". The team qualified for another Super Bowl; they became the first franchise to win four consecutive conference championships, as well as the first to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls.
Defensive end Bruce Smith was named NEA Defensive Player of the Year, and tied for the league lead with 13.5 sacks. Smith, linebacker Darryl Talley and special teams gunner Steve Tasker were named to the 1993 All-Pro team. The Bills' 47 defensive takeaways in 1993 is the third-highest total of the 1990s.
Running back Thurman Thomas led the AFC with 1,315 rushing yards.

## Offseason

| Additions | Subtractions |
| WR Bill Brooks (Colts) | LB Shane Conlan (Rams) |
| CB Mickey Washington (Redskins) | WR James Lofton (Rams) |
| | CB Cliff Hicks (Jets) |
| | G Mitch Frerotte (Seahawks) |

### NFL Draft

1993 Buffalo Bills draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 28 | Thomas Smith | CB | North Carolina |
| 2 | 55 | John Parrella | DT | Nebraska |
| 4 | 111 | Russell Copeland | WR | Memphis |
| 5 | 136 | Mike Devlin | C | Iowa |
| 5 | 139 | Sebastian Savage | CB | NC State |
| 5 | 167 | Corbin Lacina | OT | Augustana |
| 7 | 195 | Willie Harris | WR | Mississippi State |
| 8 | 223 | Chris Leuneberg | OT | West Chester (PA) |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Undrafted Free Agents

1993 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Kurt Bloedorn | Punter | Cal State Fullerton |
| Monty Brown | Linebacker | Ferris State |
| Phil Bryant | Running back | Virginia Tech |
| Jason Carthen | Linebacker | Ohio State |
| Malcolm Everette | Safety | Youngstown State |
| Anthony Fieldings | Linebacker | Morningside |
| Bob Gordon | Wide receiver | Nebraska-Omaha |
| Dean Jones | Defensive end | Morningside |
| Yonel Jourdain | Running back | Southern Illinois |
| Kevin O'Brien | Linebacker | Bowling Green |
| Tom Svobodny | Tackle | Morehead State |
| David White | Linebacker | Nebraska |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 5 | New England Patriots | W 38–14 | 1–0 | Rich Stadium | 79,751 |
| 2 | September 12 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 13–10 | 2–0 | Texas Stadium | 63,226 |
| 3 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 4 | September 26 | Miami Dolphins | L 13–22 | 2–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,635 |
| 5 | October 3 | New York Giants | W 17–14 | 3–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,283 |
| 6 | October 11 | Houston Oilers | W 35–7 | 4–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,613 |
| 7 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 8 | October 24 | at New York Jets | W 19–10 | 5–1 | Giants Stadium | 71,541 |
| 9 | November 1 | Washington Redskins | W 24–10 | 6–1 | Rich Stadium | 79,106 |
| 10 | November 7 | at New England Patriots | W 13–10 (OT) | 7–1 | Foxboro Stadium | 54,326 |
| 11 | November 15 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 0–23 | 7–2 | Three Rivers Stadium | 60,265 |
| 12 | November 21 | Indianapolis Colts | W 23–9 | 8–2 | Rich Stadium | 79,101 |
| 13 | November 28 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 7–23 | 8–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 74,452 |
| 14 | December 5 | Los Angeles Raiders | L 24–25 | 8–4 | Rich Stadium | 79,478 |
| 15 | December 12 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 10–7 | 9–4 | Veterans Stadium | 60,769 |
| 16 | December 19 | at Miami Dolphins | W 47–34 | 10–4 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 71,597 |
| 17 | December 26 | New York Jets | W 16–14 | 11–4 | Rich Stadium | 70,817 |
| 18 | January 2, 1994 | at Indianapolis Colts | W 30–10 | 12–4 | Hoosier Dome | 43,028 |

### Game summaries
#### Week 1

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Bills | 0 | 17 | 0 | 21 | 38 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: September 5
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
* Referee: Gerald Austin
* TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth
* Box Score
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Patriots | Bills |
| 2 | | | | | Bills | 28-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | | | | | Bills | Bill Brooks 4-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | | | | | Patriots | Ben Coates 54-yard touchdown reception from Drew Bledsoe, Scott Sisson kick good | 7 | 10 |
| 2 | | | | | Bills | Andre Reed 41-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 7 | 17 |
| 3 | | | | | Patriots | Greg McMurtry 2-yard touchdown reception from Drew Bledsoe, Scott Sisson kick good | 14 | 17 |
| 4 | | | | | Bills | Andre Reed 22-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 14 | 24 |
| 4 | | | | | Bills | Andre Reed 14-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 14 | 31 |
| 4 | | | | | Bills | Punt returned 47 yards for touchdown by Russell Copeland, Steve Christie kick good | 14 | 38 |
| "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. | 14 | 38 |

#### Week 2

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |

#### Week 3

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Dolphins | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 22 |
| Bills | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |

#### Week 5

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Bills | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York
* Date: October 3
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) • 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
* Game attendance: 79,283
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* TV announcers (TNT): Gary Bender and Pat Haden
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Giants
Phil Simms 12/28, 160 Yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rodney Hampton 32 Rush, 86 Yds
Dave Meggett 2 Rec, 37 Yds
Mike Sherrard 2 Rec, 37 Yds
Bills
Jim Kelly 14/25, 142 Yds, TD, INT
Thurman Thomas 26 Rush, 122 Yds
Pete Metzelaars 6 Rec, 44 Yds, TD :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | NYG | BUF |
| 1 | | | | | Bills | 24-yard field goal by Steve Christie | 0 | 3 |
| 1 | | | | | Bills | Interception returned 85 yards for touchdown by Henry Jones, Steve Christie kick good | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | | | | | Giants | Chris Calloway 5-yard touchdown reception from Phil Simms, David Treadwell kick good | 7 | 10 |
| 2 | | | | | Giants | Mark Jackson 3-yard touchdown reception from Phil Simms, David Treadwell kick good | 14 | 10 |
| 4 | | | | | Bills | Pete Metzelaars 8-yard touchdown reception from Jim Kelly, Steve Christie kick good | 14 | 17 |
| "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. | 14 | 17 |

#### Week 6

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oilers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Bills | 7 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 35 |

#### Week 8

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 0 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 |
| Jets | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |

#### Week 9

November 1, 1993.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| • Bills | 14 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 24 |

#### Week 12

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| • Bills | 0 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 23 |

#### Week 13

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 23 |

#### Week 14

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Raiders | 3 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 25 |
| Bills | 0 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 24 |

#### Week 15

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 9 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 47 |
| Eagles | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 34 |

#### Week 16

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 9 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 47 |
| Dolphins | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 34 |

#### Week 17

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| • Bills | 7 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 16 |

### Standings

AFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(1)}$ Buffalo Bills | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 329 | 242 | W4 |
| Miami Dolphins | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 349 | 351 | L5 |
| New York Jets | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 270 | 247 | L3 |
| New England Patriots | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 238 | 286 | W4 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 189 | 378 | L4 |

## Playoffs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Final score | Attendance |
| Divisional | January 15, 1994 | Los Angeles Raiders (4) | Rich Stadium | W 29–23 | 61,923 |
| AFC Championship | January 23, 1994 | Kansas City Chiefs (3) | Rich Stadium | W 30–13 | 76,642 |
| Super Bowl | January 30, 1994 | vs. Dallas Cowboys (N1) | Georgia Dome | L 13–30 | 72,817 |

## Super Bowl XXVIII

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 6 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 30 |
| Bills | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
* Date: January 30, 1994

### Scoring Summary

* DAL – FG: Eddie Murray 41 yards 3–0 DAL
* BUF – FG: Steve Christie 54 yards 3–3 tie
* DAL – FG: Eddie Murray 24 yards 6–3 DAL
* BUF – TD: Thurman Thomas 4 yard run (Steve Christie kick) 10–6 BUF
* BUF – FG: Steve Christie 28 yards 13–6 BUF
* DAL – TD: James Washington 46 yard fumble return (Eddie Murray kick) 13–13 tie
* DAL – TD: Emmitt Smith 17 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) 20–13 DAL
* DAL – TD: Emmitt Smith 1 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) 27–13 DAL
* DAL – FG: Eddie Murray 20 yards 30–13 DAL

## Awards and records

* Nate Odomes, Tied NFL Lead, 9 Interceptions
* Bruce Smith, Newspaper Enterprise Association Defensive Player of the Year Award
* Thurman Thomas, AFC Leader, 1,315 Rushing Yards