1991 Buffalo Bills

1991 Buffalo Bills season
Owner	Ralph Wilson
President	Ralph Wilson
Head Coach	Marv Levy
General Manager	Bill Polian
Offensive Coordinator	Ted Marchibroda
Defensive Coordinator	Walt Corey
Home Field	Rich Stadium
Results
Record	13–3
Place	1st AFC East
Playoff Finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Chiefs) 37–14 Won AFC Championship (vs. Broncos) 10–7 Lost Super Bowl XXVI (vs. Redskins) 24–37
Timeline
Previous Season	Next Season
1990	1992

The 1991 Buffalo Bills season was the 32nd season, and 22nd in the National Football League. The Buffalo Bills finished the National Football League's 1991 season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, the same record as their previous year's record, and finished first in the AFC East division. The Bills qualified for their second Super Bowl appearance.

Season summary

The Bills No Huddle "K-Gun" offense, after having a breakout 1990 season, once again dominated the league by gaining an NFL leading 6,525 yards and scoring 458 points, a franchise record, and second only to Washington. The leaders of the offense, quarterback Jim Kelly and running back Thurman Thomas, both had the best seasons of their careers. Kelly completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 3,844 yards and a league leading 33 touchdowns, with only 17 interceptions, to give him a 97.6 passer rating. Behind his fullback Brian Ammons 33 Thomas rushed for 1,407 yards, caught 62 passes for 620 yards, and scored 12 touchdowns to earn him both the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award and the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Just like Washington, Buffalo had more than one threat in their backfield. Running back Kenneth Davis emerged as a big threat off the bench, rushing for 624 yards, catching 20 passes for 118 yards, and scoring 5 touchdowns.

The Bills also had several major weapons in their passing game. Wide receiver Andre Reed led the team with 81 receptions for 1,113 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also rushed 12 times for 136 yards. On the other side of the field, veteran wide receiver James Lofton recorded 57 receptions for 1,072 yards and 8 touchdowns to earn his 8th Pro Bowl appearance and finish the year just 55 yards short of the all-time receiving record held by Steve Largent (13,089 yards). Pro Bowl tight end Keith McKeller was also a big contributor with 44 receptions for 434 yards, while receiver Don Beebe had 32 catches, 414 yards, and 6 touchdowns. Once again, the Bills offensive line was led by center Kent Hull along with Pro Bowl guard Jim Ritcher.

Offseason

Draft

• Main article: 1991 NFL Draft

Despite few impact players in the later rounds, the Bills' first two picks had long careers in Buffalo. The first pick, safety Henry Jones, played for the next ten seasons in Buffalo, making the Pro Bowl in his second season. Defensive end Phil Hansen played his entire eleven-year career in Buffalo, joining the team's Wall of Fame in 2011.

1991 Buffalo Bills draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	26	Henry Jones *	S	Illinois
2	54	Phil Hansen	DE	North Dakota St
3	82	Daryl Wren	DB	Pittsburg St
4	138	Shawn Wilbourn	DB	Long Beach St
5	166	Millard Hamilton	WR	Clark
6	194	Amir Rasul	RB	Florida A&M
8	222	Brad Lamb	WR	Anderson
9	249	Mark Maddox	LB	Northern Michigan University
10	277	Tony DeLorenzo	OG	New Mexico St
11	305	Dean Kirkland	OG	Washington
12	333	Steve Clark	TE	Texas
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Standings

1991 AFC East standings
Team	W	L	T	Pct	Div	Conf	PF	PA	Streak
(1) Buffalo Bills	13	3	0	.813	7–1	10–2	458	318	L1
(6) New York Jets	8	8	0	.500	4–4	6–6	314	293	W1
Miami Dolphins	8	8	0	.500	4–4	5–7	343	349	L2
New England Patriots	6	10	0	.375	4–4	5–9	211	305	L1
Indianapolis Colts	1	15	0	.063	1–7	1–11	143	381	L6

Personnel

Staff/Coaches

1991 Buffalo Bills staff

Front Office President – Ralph Wilson Vice President of Administration/General Manager – Bill Polian Assistant General Manager/Director of Pro Personnel – Bob Ferguson Director of Player Personnel – John Butler Assistant Director/Collegiate Scouting – A. J. Smith Coaching Staff Vice President for Football Operations/Head Coach – Marv Levy Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Chuck Lester Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator – Ted Marchibroda Running Backs – Elijah Pitts Receivers – Nick Nicolau Offensive Quality Control/Tight Ends – Don Lawrence Offensive Line – Tom Bresnahan Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Walt Corey Defensive Line – Chuck Dickerson Defensive Backs – Dick Roach Defensive Quality Control – Chuck Lester Special Teams Special Teams – Bruce DeHaven Strength & Conditioning Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – Rusty Jones

Roster

1991 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks 7 Gale Gilbert 12 Jim Kelly 14 Frank Reich Running Backs 23 Kenneth Davis 35 Eddie Fuller 33 Brian Ammons FB 34 Thurman Thomas 35 Carwell Gardner FB 21 Brian Taylor RB/DBam Wide Receivers 86 Mike Alexander 82 Don Beebe 85 Al Edwards 80 James Lofton 83 Andre Reed Tight Ends 84 Keith McKeller 88 Pete Metzelaars 87 Butch Rolle		Offensive Linemen 75 Howard Ballard T 65 John Davis G 59 Mitch Frerotte G 67 Kent Hull C 74 Glenn Parker G 51 Jim Ritcher G 79 Joe Staysniak G 69 Will Wolford T Defensive Linemen 92 Gary Baldinger DE 93 Odell Haggins DE 90 Phil Hansen DE 73 Mike Lodish DT 96 Leon Seals DE 78 Bruce Smith DE 91 Jeff Wright NT		Linebackers 54 Carlton Bailey LB 52 David Bavaro LB 97 Cornelius Bennett ILB 50 Ray Bentley ILB 58 Shane Conlan ILB 99 Hal Garner LB 55 Mark Maddox LB 53 Marvcus Patton LB 94 Mark Pike LB 56 Darryl Talley ILB Defensive Backs 45 Dwight Drane S 27 Clifford Hicks DB 47 Kirby Jackson DB 20 Henry Jones S 38 Mark Kelso S 37 Nate Odomes CB 28 Chris Oldham DB 46 Leonard Smith S 21 Brian Taylor DB 31 James Williams CB		Special Teams 10 Brad Daluiso K 63 Adam Lingner LS  9 Chris Mohr P 11 Scott Norwood K 89 Steve Tasker WR
*Note: Rookies in italics