57th season in franchise history
The 2016 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 57th overall season as a football team, 47th in the National Football League (NFL), fourth under leadership of general manager Doug Whaley and second under head coach Rex Ryan. The Bills hoped to improve on their 8–8 record from 2015, the team's first since 2002, but a 34–31 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 eliminated the Bills from playoff contention for a 17th season in a row, extending the longest active drought among all four North American major professional sports leagues. It would be Ryan's final season as head coach of the team, as he and his brother, Rob, were fired with one game remaining in the regular season.[1]
Offseason
Roster changes
Signings
Free agents lost
Cuts
Retirements
Draft
Pre-Draft
Prior to the draft, the Bills held visits for 47 players; 8 had previous visits, 23 players visited during the NFL Scouting Combine, 2 at the East–West Shrine Game, 19 had private visits, and 3 had private workouts.[33]
Previously, the Bills traded their 2016 seventh-round selection (240th overall) and their 2015 fifth-round selection (137th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for quarterback Matt Cassel and the Vikings' 2015 sixth-round selection (188th overall).
Day-of Activity
The Bills traded their 2016 second-round pick (49th overall) and fourth-round pick (117th overall) to the Chicago Bears in return for Chicago's 2016 second-round pick (41st overall).
Undrafted free agents
All undrafted free agents were signed after the 2016 NFL draft concluded on April 30 unless otherwise noted.
Staff
On January 10, 2016, one week after the 2015 season ended, Doug Whaley signed a three-year contract extension to remain the Bills general manager. That same day, it was announced that Ryan had hired his twin brother, Rob, to the Bills coaching staff to serve as an assistant head coach and will also work with the defense. Three days later, Ryan hired former NFL standout Ed Reed to be an assistant defensive backs coach.
On January 20, 2016, the Bills promoted Kathryn Smith to special teams quality control coach, making her the first female full-time coach in NFL history. On September 16, 2016, less than 24 hours after losing 37–31 to the New York Jets in their home opener in a game in which the defense failed to stop Jets running back Matt Forte, instead of firing defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman, Ryan pretty much sealed his own fate by firing offensive coordinator Greg Roman and promoting running backs coach Anthony Lynn to the position.
Lynn would later be promoted to interim head coach on December 27, 2016, when the Ryan brothers were fired after the 34–31 overtime loss to the Dolphins eliminated the team from the playoffs.[34]
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 2: vs. New York Jets
The Bills saw the return of their red Color Rush uniforms from 2015 in this game. With the loss, not only did the Bills drop to 0–2, but head coach Rex Ryan fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman, promoting running backs coach Anthony Lynn to offensive coordinator the next day. They also lost wide receiver Greg Salas for the season to a groin injury and lost wide receiver Sammy Watkins for several weeks to a foot injury.
Week 3: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week Three: Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills
at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York
With the win, the Bills improved to 1–2 in Lynn's first game as offensive coordinator.
Week 4: at New England Patriots
With the win, not only did the Bills improve to 2–2, but Ryan got his first career regular season victory at Gillette Stadium (he was 0–7 as head coach entering the game, including six straight losses as New York Jets head coach).
Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams
With the win, the Bills improve to 3–2 and their first three-game winning streak since 2011 (the team started that season 3–0).
Week 6: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Six: San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills
at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 70,003
- Referee: Gene Steratore
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, David Diehl and Kristina Pink
- Recap, Game book
With the win, the Bills improve to 4–2 and their first four-game winning streak since 2008 (the team started that season 4–0 in Dick Jauron's last full season as head coach).
Week 7: at Miami Dolphins
The Bills led 17–14 by the start of the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins came back to win 28–25, causing the Bills to drop to 4–3.
Week 8: vs. New England Patriots
Week Eight: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C), rain
- Game attendance: 70,442
- Referee: John Parry
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
- Recap, Game book
Week 9: at Seattle Seahawks
With the loss, not only did the Bills drop to 4–5, but they also lost center Eric Wood for the season.
Week 11: at Cincinnati Bengals
With the win, the Bills improved to 5–5, but running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver Robert Woods and safety Robert Blanton left the game with injuries.
Week 12: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Twelve: Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills
at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York
With the win, the Bills improved to 6–5, but defensive tackle Corbin Bryant and wide receiver Walt Powell had to miss the rest of the season.
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
Week Thirteen: Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders
at Oakland Alameda Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 4:05 p.m. ET/1:05 p.m. PT
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 54,759
- Referee: Bill Vinovich
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
- Recap, Game book
With the loss, the Bills dropped to 6–6.
Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Fourteen: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: December 11
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- Game weather: 27 °F (−3 °C), snow showers
- Game attendance: 69,657
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Game book
Week 15: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week Fifteen: Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills
at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 66,529
- Referee: Clete Blakeman
- TV announcers (CBS): Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta
- Recap, Game book
With the win, the Bills improved to 7–7 and keep their slim playoff chances alive. The team set a new franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season (27) with LeSean McCoy's second rushing score of the game. This was also the 400th regular-season win in franchise history.
Week 16: vs. Miami Dolphins
After the Bills took the lead with a touchdown inside the two-minute warning at the end of the fourth quarter, the Dolphins took the game to overtime with a 55-yard field goal with six seconds on the clock. They then secured the win with 47 seconds left in the extra period with another field goal from 27 yards. The loss for the Bills meant they were eliminated from playoff contention for the 17th consecutive season. Two days later, the Bills fired head coach Rex Ryan and assistant head coach Rob Ryan.
Week 17: at New York Jets
Week Seventeen: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: January 1, 2017
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 78,160
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein and Steve Tasker
- Recap, Game book
Anthony Lynn served as interim head coach, and EJ Manuel made his first start of the season, though he was benched in the 4th quarter as Cardale Jones took over. With the loss, Buffalo ended the season 7–9. This game included a notable flaw on Bills' special teams during a botched kickoff play. Jets' kicker Nick Folk made the ball bounce inside the field, over the heads of Bills' special teamers and into the endzone, only to see the surrounding Bills' players miscommunicate and fail to secure the live ball; Jets' specialist Doug Middleton then fell on the ball inside the endzone, giving New York their last touchdown of the game.
Standings
Division
Conference
References
- ^ "Bills extend NFL's longest playoff drought". December 24, 2016.
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- ^ Brown, Chris (January 20, 2016). "RB James Wilder Jr. signed by the Bills". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Orr, Conor (August 1, 2016). "Buffalo Bills sign Reggie Bush to one-year deal". NFL.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Chris (March 16, 2016). "Bills sign free agent TE Jim Dray". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on July 15, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Bills re-sign WR Leonard Hankerson". Buffalo Bills. April 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Bills sign WR Kain Colter". Buffalo Bills. August 1, 2016. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ^ Rodak, Mike (March 8, 2016). "Richie Incognito will be back with Bills in 2016". ESPN. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Chris (April 7, 2016). "Bills sign C-G Fernando Velasco". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Jackson, Zac (March 30, 2016). "OT Mills signs tender with Bills". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ a b c Brown, Chris (June 13, 2016). "Bills sign DL Douzable, OT Martin". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on July 26, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ Wesseling, Chris (May 3, 2016). "Glenn, Bills agree to 5-year deal worth up to $65M". NFL.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Brown, Chris (June 17, 2016). "Tryout player Renfrow signs with Bills". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Chris (March 7, 2016). "Bills tender contracts for three restricted free agents". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on July 23, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Bills sign DT Casey Walker". Buffalo Bills. July 30, 2016. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Brown, Chris (April 4, 2016). "LB Zach Brown, CB Corey White sign with Bills". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Brown, Chris (April 12, 2016). "LB Alexander, S Anderson agree to terms with Bills". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Bills sign CB/KR Javier Arenas". Buffalo Bills. February 3, 2016. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Chris (April 5, 2016). "Bills sign free agent CB Sterling Moore". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Chris (March 18, 2016). "Bills sign S Robert Blanton". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Sessler, Marc (March 11, 2016). "Chris Hogan signs offer sheet with Patriots". NFL.com. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ "Lions sign free agent DT Stefan Charles". Detroit Lions. March 10, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Bradham, Michael (March 9, 2016). "Eagles sign ex-Bills Nigel Bradham, Ron Brooks". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Alper, Josh (March 1, 2016). "Boobie Dixon says his "time is up" in Buffalo". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Jackson, Zac (August 1, 2016). "Bills add a wide receiver, cut down to one kicker". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Bills release linebacker AJ Tarpley, tight end Jacob Maxwell". www.bostonherald.com. April 29, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Bills release offensive lineman Tyson Chandler". Buffalo Bills. April 15, 2016. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Bills release three veterans". Buffalo Bills. May 2, 2016. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Chris (April 19, 2016). "Bills release LB Tony Steward". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Chris (March 4, 2016). "Bills release CB Leodis McKelvin". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Jackson, Zac (April 18, 2016). "Bills release DB Cam Thomas". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Hunter, Jeff (June 9, 2016). "Buffalo Bills bring back RB Boom Herron". Buffalo Rumblings. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "2016 NFL Draft Prospect Visits Tracked by Team". April 25, 2016. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "Bills hire Kathryn Smith, first full-time female coach". NFL.com.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2016 Buffalo Bills season.
