1996 Buffalo Bills season
| 1996 Buffalo Bills season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Marv Levy |
| General manager | John Butler |
| Owner | Ralph Wilson |
| Home field | Rich Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 10–6 |
| Division place | 2nd AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 27–30 |
| Uniform | |
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scoring summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYG | Brad Daluiso 22 yard field goal | Giants 3–0 | |
| 2 | NYG | Amani Toomer 87 yard punt return (Brad Daluiso kick) | Giants 10–0 | |
| 2 | NYG | Charles Way 37 yard pass from Dave Brown (Brad Daluiso kick) | Giants 17–0 | |
| 2 | BUF | Thurman Thomas 1 yard run (Steve Christie kick) | Giants 17–7 | |
| 3 | NYG | Brad Daluiso 34 yard field goal | Giants 20–7 | |
| 3 | BUF | Steve Christie 28 yard field goal | Giants 20–10 | |
| 3 | BUF | Andre Reed 60 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Steve Christie kick) | Giants 20–17 | |
| 4 | BUF | Steve Christie 39 yard field goal | Tie 20–20 | |
| OT | BUF | Steve Christie 34 yard field goal | Bills 23–20 | |
The 1996 Buffalo Bills season was their 37th in the league. The team matched their previous season's record of 10–6 and qualified for the playoffs, for the second consecutive season and eighth time in nine seasons. It was the final season for All-Pro QB Jim Kelly as he retired after the Playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mississippi Statewide receiver Eric Moulds went on to be the second-leading receiver in Bills history (behind only Andre Reed), with 675 catches for 9,096 yards. He was elected to three Pro Bowls, in 1998, 2000 and 2002.
The Bills upended the Patriots 17–10. Quinn Early caught a 63-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for Buffalo, then the Bills stopped the Patriots inside their five-yard line in the final seconds.
The Bills' first Monday Night appearance ended in ugly fashion as the Steelers erupted to more rushing yards (222 with two touchdowns from ex-Ram Jerome Bettis) than the Bills had total yards of offense (185). Carnell Lake picked off Jim Kelly and ran back a 47-yard score, part of a 24–6 Steelers win.
The Bills hosted the defending Super Bowl champs who were 1–2 and fell to 1–3 as Buffalo rushed for 135 yards and a Thurman Thomas score while intercepting Troy Aikman three times; the last came in the final minute, and Aikman was tackled awkwardly by Bruce Smith, necessitating a Monday examination of his ankle.
...
Wikipedia