1988 Buffalo Bills season

1988 Buffalo Bills season
Head coach	Marv Levy
General manager	Bill Polian
Owner	Ralph Wilson
Home field	Rich Stadium
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	1st AFC East
Playoff finish	Lost AFC Championship

The 1988 Buffalo Bills season was the 29th season for the team and the 19th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills ended a streak of four consecutive losing seasons by winning the AFC East; they finished the NFL's 1988 season with a record of 12 wins and 4 losses; it was the club's first winning season since 1981, its first 12-win season since the 1964 AFL championship season, and only the fifth double-digit win season in team history. The Bills were 8–0 at home for the first time in their franchise history.^[1] On the road, the Bills were 4–4. From an attendance standpoint, the franchise set a record for attendance with 631,818 fans.^[2]

The Bills started the season 11–1 before losing three of their final four games, costing them the top seed in the AFC, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

It was Buffalo's first trip to the postseason since 1981. The Bills were the #2 seed in the AFC (behind #1 Cincinnati), giving the Bills their first home playoff game since the 1966 AFL Championship, and their first ever playoff game at Rich Stadium. The 1988 season would be the first of five AFC Championship game appearances over six seasons,^[3] and their only loss in the conference championship game.

The 1988 season was the first for running back Thurman Thomas, nose tackle Jeff Wright, and linebacker Carlton Bailey. Thomas would rush for 881 yards, despite only carrying the ball 207 times (42.7% of total team carries by a running back) while sharing carries with Robb Riddick, Jamie Mueller and Ronnie Harmon.

The Bills had a dominant defense in 1988: they gave up the fewest points (237) and the fewest total yards (4,578) in the AFC in 1988. The defensive unit was given the nickname "Blizzard Defense,"^[4][5] alluding to Buffalo's harsh winters.

Four Bills players made the All-Pro team in 1988: defensive end Bruce Smith, linebackers Shane Conlan and Cornelius Bennett, and kicker Scott Norwood.

Head coach Marv Levy was named NFL Coach of the Year by The Sporting News and UPI.

Offseason

NFL draft

ESPN's cameras watched Oklahoma State running back Thurman Thomas in his home as he waited to be drafted. He fell to the second round, where the Bills made him their first pick at 40th overall. Thomas would go on to a Hall of Fame career, where he would eclipse O.J. Simpson's all-time team rushing record with 12,074 yards. Thomas would set an NFL record by leading the league in yards-from-scrimmage for four consecutive years, from 1989–1992. (The record of three was previously held by Hall of Famer Jim Brown.) Thomas was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and 1992 NFL Offensive Player of the Year

1988 Buffalo Bills draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
2	40	Thurman Thomas * †	RB	Oklahoma State
3	65	Bernard Ford	WR	Central Florida
5	123	Ezekial Gadson	DB	Pittsburgh
5	135	Kirk Roach	K	Western Carolina
6	150	Dan Murray	OLB	East Stroudsburg
7	177	Tim Borcky	OT	Memphis
7	184	Bo Wright	RB	Alabama
8	204	John Hagy	DB	Texas
8	213	Jeff Wright	DT	Central Missouri State
9	235	Carlton Bailey	ILB	North Carolina
10	262	Martin Mayhew	DB	Florida State
11	289	Pete Curkendall	DT	Penn State
12	309	John Driscoll	OT	New Hampshire
12	316	Tom Erlandson	LB	Washington
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

^[6]

Personnel

Staff

1988 Buffalo Bills staff
	Front office President – Ralph Wilson Vice President of Administration/General Manager – Bill Polian Vice President of Football Operations – Marv Levy Director of College Scouting – John Butler Director of Pro Personnel/Asst. Director of Football Operations – Bob Ferguson National Scout – Norm Pollom College Scout – A. J. Smith Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Chuck Dickerson Head coaches Head Coach – Marv Levy Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line – Jim Ringo Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator – Ted Marchibroda Running Backs – Elijah Pitts Receivers – Ted Tollner Tight Ends – Chuck Dickerson			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Walt Corey Defensive Line – Ted Cottrell Defensive Backs – Dick Roach Defensive Assistant – Chuck Lester Special teams coaches Special Teams – Bruce DeHaven Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – Rusty Jones

^[7]

Roster

1988 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks  8 Stan Gelbaugh 12 Jim Kelly 14 Frank Reich Running Backs 35 Carl Byrum FB 33 Ronnie Harmon 39 Jamie Mueller FB 40 Robb Riddick 34 Thurman Thomas Wide Receivers 81 Walter Broughton 85 Chris Burkett 80 Flip Johnson 86 Trumaine Johnson 83 Andre Reed 89 Steve Tasker KR Tight Ends 84 Keith McKeller 88 Pete Metzelaars 87 Butch Rolle		Offensive Linemen 75 Howard Ballard T 61 Leonard Burton T 70 Joe Devlin T 71 Dale Hellestrae T 67 Kent Hull C 51 Jim Ritcher G 65 Tim Vogler G 73 Will Wolford T Defensive Linemen 94 Mark Pike DE 79 Dean Prater DE 96 Leon Seals DE 76 Fred Smerlas NT 78 Bruce Smith DE 72 Art Still DE 91 Jeff Wright NT		Linebackers 54 Carlton Bailey ILB 55 Cornelius Bennett OLB 50 Ray Bentley ILB 58 Shane Conlan ILB 99 Hal Garner OLB 59 Don Graham 97 Scott Radecic ILB 56 Darryl Talley OLB Defensive Backs 29 Derrick Burroughs CB 20 Sherman Cocroft 21 Wayne Davis CB 45 Dwight Drane S 49 John Hagy S 47 Kirby Jackson CB 38 Mark Kelso S 37 Nate Odomes CB 46 Leonard Smith S 22 Erroll Tucker CB/KR		Special Teams  4 John Kidd 11 Scott Norwood Reserve Lists 77 Tony Brown OT (IR) 82 Bernard Ford WR (IR) 42 Joe Howard WR (IR) 74 Bruce Mesner NT (IR) 57 Dan Murray ILB (IR) 98 Elston Ridgle DE (IR) 20 Bo Wright RB (IR) Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game Site	Attendance
1	September 4, 1988	Minnesota Vikings	W 13–10	1–0	Rich Stadium	76,783
2	September 11, 1988	Miami Dolphins	W 9–6	2–0	Rich Stadium	79,520
3	September 18, 1988	at New England Patriots	W 16–14	3–0	Sullivan Stadium	55,945
4	September 25, 1988	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 36–28	4–0	Rich Stadium	78,735
5	October 2, 1988	at Chicago Bears	L 24–3	4–1	Soldier Field	62,793
6	October 9, 1988	Indianapolis Colts	W 34–23	5–1	Rich Stadium	76,018
7	October 17, 1988	at New York Jets	W 37–14	6–1	The Meadowlands	70,218
8	October 23, 1988	New England Patriots	W 23–20	7–1	Rich Stadium	76,824
9	October 30, 1988	Green Bay Packers	W 28–0	8–1	Rich Stadium	79,176
10	November 6, 1988	at Seattle Seahawks	W 13–3	9–1	Kingdome	61,074
11	November 14, 1988	at Miami Dolphins	W 31–6	10–1	Joe Robbie Stadium	67,091
12	November 20, 1988	New York Jets	W 9–6 (OT)	11–1	Rich Stadium	78,389
13	November 27, 1988	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 35–21	11–2	Riverfront Stadium	58,672
14	December 4, 1988	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 10–5	11–3	Tampa Stadium	49,498
15	December 11, 1988	Los Angeles Raiders	W 37–21	12–3	Rich Stadium	77,348
16	December 18, 1988	at Indianapolis Colts	L 17–14	12–4	Hoosier Dome	59,908

Season summary

Week 1

1 2 3 4 Total Vikings 0 3 0 7 10 • Bills 10 0 0 3 13 Date: September 4 Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 68°F, wind 11 mph Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Scoring summary 1 Bills Scott Norwood 27-yard field goal Bills 3–0 1 Bills Thurman Thomas 5-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) Bills 10–0 2 Vikings Chuck Nelson 30-yard field goal Bills 10–3 4 Bills Scott Norwood 26-yard field goal Bills 13–3 4 Vikings Allen Rice 2-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick) Bills 13–10

Week 2

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 3 0 3 0 6 • Bills 0 3 0 6 9 Date: September 11 Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 60°F, wind 9 mph

Scoring summary 1 MIA Fuad Reveiz 31 yard field goal Dolphins 3–0 2 BUF Scott Norwood 41 yard field goal Tie 3–3 3 MIA Fuad Reveiz 27 yard field goal Dolphins 6–3 4 BUF Scott Norwood 35 yard field goal Tie 6–6 4 BUF Scott Norwood 28 yard field goal Bills 9–6

^[8]

Week 3

1 2 3 4 Total • Bills 0 3 3 10 16 Patriots 0 14 0 0 14 Date: September 18 Location: Sullivan Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 67°F, wind 14 mph

Scoring summary 2 BUF Scott Norwood 38 yard field goal Bills 3–0 2 NE Cedric Jones 41 yard pass from Steve Grogan (Teddy Garcia kick) Patriots 7–3 2 NE Stanley Morgan 19 yard pass from Steve Grogan (Teddy Garcia kick) Patriots 14–3 3 BUF Scott Norwood 44 yard field goal Patriots 14–6 4 BUF Robb Riddick 3 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) Patriots 14–13 4 BUF Scott Norwood 41 yard field goal Bills 16–14

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Week 4

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 14 0 14 28 • Bills 10 6 14 6 36 Date: September 25 Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 57°F; wind 7

Scoring summary Q1 BUF Norwood 38 yard field goal BUF 3–0 Q1 BUF Burkett 26 yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) BUF 10–0 Q2 PIT Brister 1 yard run (Anderson kick) BUF 10–7 Q2 BUF Norwood 39 yard field goal BUF 13–7 Q2 PIT Williams 5 yard pass from Brister (Anderson kick) PIT 14–13 Q2 BUF Norwood 39 yard field goal BUF 16–14 Q3 BUF Riddick 1 yard run (Norwood kick) BUF 23–14 Q3 BUF Riddick 5 yard blocked punt return (Norwood kick) BUF 30–14 Q4 BUF Norwood 48 yard field goal BUF 33–14 Q4 BUF Norwood 49 yard field goal BUF 36–14 Q4 PIT Brister 1 yard run (Anderson kick) BUF 36–17 Q4 PIT Thompson 42 yard pass from Brister (Anderson kick) BUF 36–24

^[10]

Week 6

1 2 3 4 Total Colts 10 7 3 3 23 • Bills 0 7 14 13 34 Date: October 9 Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 42°F, wind 7 mph Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Scoring summary 1 Colts Dean Biasucci 31-yard field goal Colts 3–0 1 Colts Chris Chandler 1-yard run (Dean Biasucci kick) Colts 10–0 2 Colts Clarence Verdin 39-yard pass from Gary Hogeboom (Dean Biasucci kick) Colts 17–0 2 Bills Ronnie Harmon 26-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) Colts 17–7 3 Bills Andre Reed 16-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) Colts 17–14 3 Colts Dean Biasucci 40-yard field goal Colts 20–14 3 Bills Andre Reed 12-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) Bills 21–20 4 Colts Dean Biasucci 22-yard field goal Colts 23–21 4 Bills Scott Norwood 45-yard field goal Bills 24–23 4 Bills Scott Norwood 19-yard field goal Bills 27–23 4 Bills Robb Riddick 1-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) Bills 34–23

Week 7

1 2 3 4 Total • Bills 17 14 3 3 37 Jets 0 7 7 0 14 Date: October 17 Location: Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, New Jersey Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 63°F • Wind 13 Television network: ABC

Scoring summary 1 BUF Scott Norwood 30-yard field goal Bills 3–0 1 BUF Andre Reed 65-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) Bills 10–0 1 BUF Flip Johnson 66-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) Bills 17–0 2 BUF Robb Riddick 1-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) Bills 24–0 2 NYJ Johnny Hector 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick) Bills 24–7 2 BUF Andre Reed 16-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) Bills 31–7 3 BUF Scott Norwood 34-yard field goal Bills 34–7 3 NYJ Erik McMillan 40-yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick) Bills 34–14 4 BUF Scott Norwood 28-yard field goal Bills 37–14

^[11]

Week 9

1 2 3 4 Total Packers 0 0 0 0 0 • Bills 7 7 7 7 28 Date: October 30 Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 36°F; wind 15

Scoring summary Q1 BUF Riddick 2 yard run (Norwood kick) BUF 7–0 Q2 BUF Rolle 1 yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) BUF 14–0 Q3 BUF Kelso 78 yard interception return (Norwood kick) BUF 21–0 Q4 BUF Seals 7 yard fumble return (Norwood kick) BUF 28–0

• Thurman Thomas 23 Rush, 116 Yds

^[12]

Week 12

1 2 3 4 OT Total Jets 0 3 0 3 0 6 • Bills 0 0 3 3 3 9 Date: November 20 Location: Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 78,389 Game weather: 43°F • Wind 10

Scoring summary 2 NYJ Pat Leahy 23-yard field goal Jets 3–0 3 BUF Scott Norwood 25-yard field goal Tie 3–3 4 BUF Scott Norwood 26-yard field goal Bills 6–3 4 NYJ Pat Leahy 40-yard field goal Tie 6–6 OT BUF Scott Norwood 30-yard field goal Bills 9–6

The Bills clinch the AFC East division title.

^[13]

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Buffalo Bills(2)	12	4	0	.750	7–1	10–2	329	237	L1
Indianapolis Colts	9	7	0	.563	5–3	7–5	354	315	W1
New England Patriots	9	7	0	.563	5–3	7–5	250	284	L1
New York Jets	8	7	1	.531	3–5	6–7–1	372	354	W2
Miami Dolphins	6	10	0	.375	0–8	3–9	319	380	L1

Playoffs

AFC Divisional Playoff

Buffalo's first playoff game since 1981 was a 17–10 win over the Oilers. Jim Kelly threw for 244 yards and an interception while Thurman Thomas and Robb Riddick had rushing scores to go with 87 rushing yards. The Bills intercepted Warren Moon once and forced two Oilers fumbles.

AFC Championship Game

The Bengals forced 3 interceptions, and allowed only 45 rushing yards and 136 passing yards, while their offense held the ball for 39:29. Bills starting running back Thurman Thomas was held to just 6 yards on 4 carries, while quarterback Jim Kelly completed only 14 of 30 passes for 161 yards and 1 touchdown, with 3 interceptions.

Awards and records

All-Pros

First Team

• Bruce Smith, Defensive end
• Shane Conlan, Linebacker
• Cornelius Bennett, Linebacker
• Scott Norwood, Kicker

Second Team

• Kent Hull, Center
• Nate Odomes, Cornerback (Associated Press honorable mention)

References

External links

• 1988 Buffalo Bills at Pro-Football-Reference.com