2004 Buffalo Bills season

45th season in franchise history; most dominant team to miss playoffs in NFL history November 2013 March 2026 Buffalo Bills 2004 9–7 3rd AFC East Mike Mularkey Tom Donahoe Ralph Wilson Ralph Wilson Stadium Did not qualify DT Sam AdamsOLB Takeo SpikesCB Nate ClementsKR Terrence McGee Bills seasons The 2004 Buffalo Bills season was their 45th in the National Football League. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 6–10, finishing 9–7.2004 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2004.htm 2024-12-02 Pro-Football-Reference.com en However, this was the fifth consecutive season in which the team missed the playoffs. Buffalo started the season with four straight losses. However, they rebounded with nine wins in their next eleven games. Having won six games in a row, they needed a win in the final game of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers to qualify for the playoffs (they also would've been only the second team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting 0–4 after the 1992 Chargers). However, despite the Steelers playing their third stringers (which, notably, included Willie Parker, who would have his breakout performance in the game) and having a 17–16 lead in the fourth quarter, Buffalo lost 29–24 and subsequently missed the playoffs. It was the only winning season that Buffalo had in the 2000s (2000–2009) and would be the Bills' last winning season until 2014. According to Football Outsiders, who tracked every play in the NFL since the early 1990s (until the site's abandonment in 2023), the 2004 Bills were statistically the best NFL team (in their record-keeping history) to have failed to qualify for the playoffs.http://www.footballoutsiders.com/extra-points/2010/fo-mailbag-best-dvoa-miss-playoffs Football Outsiders FO Mailbag Best DVOA to Miss the Playoffs The Bills set an NFL record by returning six kicks (3 punts + 3 kickoffs) for touchdowns in 2004. Their match with the Miami Dolphins in Week 6 is the only time in the NFL since 1968 that the last two winless teams have met each other.http://www.footballgeography.com/?p=3261 Football Geography Last Winless Team in Each NFL season https://archive.today/20130111025323/http://www.footballgeography.com/?p=3261 2013-01-11 Offseason Free Agency The Bills failed to re-sign guard Ruben Brown and cornerback Antoine Winfield Sr. Both would end up signing with NFC North teams, with Brown signing with the Chicago Bears and Winfield signing with the Minnesota Vikings. To replace the departed players, the Bills signed former Chicago Bears guard Chris Villarrial and former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent. NFL draft 2004 NFL draft The Bills drafted future starters Lee Evans from Wisconsin and J. P. Losman from Tulane in the first round of the 2004 Draft. Buffalo also signed undrafted tight end Jason Peters from Arkansas and converted him into a Pro Bowl offensive tackle. Buffalo traded their 2004 second round pick and 2005 first round pick to move into position to draft Losman. Round Pick # Player Position College 1 13 Lee Evans Wide receiver Wisconsin 1 22 J. P. Losman Quarterback Tulane 3 74 Tim Anderson Defensive tackle Ohio State 4 109 Tim Euhus Tight end Oregon State 7 207 Dylan McFarland Offensive tackle Montana 7 214 Jonathan Smith Wide receiver Georgia Tech Roster 2004 Buffalo Bills 53 5 8 11 Drew Bledsoe  7 J. P. Losman  6 Shane Matthews 46 Dante Brown 35 Joe Burns 20 Travis Henry 21 Willis McGahee 31 Daimon Shelton FB 40 Shaud Williams 89 Sam Aiken 83 Lee Evans 80 Eric Moulds 82 Josh Reed 19 Jonathan Smith 88 Ryan Neufeld 81 Rod Trafford 75 Jonas Jennings LT 79 Dylan McFarland RT 71 Jason Peters LT 73 Marcus Price RT 61 Mike Pucillo G 72 Lawrence Smith G 70 Trey Teague C 65 Ross Tucker C 58 Chris Villarrial G 68 Mike Williams RT 95 Sam Adams DT 69 Tim Anderson DT 97 Justin Bannan DT 92 Ryan Denney DE 98 Ron Edwards DT 90 Chris Kelsay DE 94 Aaron Schobel DE 93 Pat Williams DT 55 Angelo Crowell OLB 59 London Fletcher MLB 53 Mario Haggan MLB 96 Jeff Posey OLB 51 Takeo Spikes OLB 57 Josh Stamer OLB 26 Rashad Baker FS 22 Nate Clements CB 33 Jabari Greer CB 24 Terrence McGee CB 36 Lawyer Milloy SS 25 Pierson Prioleau SS 43 Izell Reese FS 28 Kevin Thomas CB 23 Troy Vincent CB 27 Coy Wire SS 86 Bradford Banta LS  9 Rian Lindell K  8 Brian Moorman P 84 Mark Campbell TE (IR) 7px 54 Jon Dorenbos LS (IR) 7px 87 Tim Euhus TE (IR) 7px 63 Constantin Ritzmann DE (IR) 7px 60 Jasen Esposito C 18 Drew Haddad WR 41Luke Lawton FB 99Uyi Osunde DE 74 David Pruce OT 66 Lauvale Sape DT 64 Ben Sobieski G (IR) 7px 52Daryl Towns LB 17 Kahlil Hill WR Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 12 Jacksonville Jaguars L 10–13 0–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,389 Recap 2 September 19 at Oakland Raiders L 10–13 0–2 McAfee Coliseum 53,610 Recap 3Bye 4 October 3 New England Patriots L 17–31 0–3 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,698 Recap 5 October 10 at New York Jets L 14–16 0–4 Giants Stadium 77,976 Recap 6 October 17 Miami Dolphins W 20–13 1–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,714 Recap 7 October 24 at Baltimore Ravens L 6–20 1–5 M&T Bank Stadium 69,809 Recap 8 October 31 Arizona Cardinals W 38–14 2–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium 65,887 Recap 9 November 7 New York Jets W 22–17 3–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,574 Recap 10 November 14 at New England Patriots L 6–29 3–6 Gillette Stadium 68,756 Recap 11 November 21 St. Louis Rams W 37–17 4–6 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,393 Recap 12 November 28 at Seattle Seahawks W 38–9 5–6 Qwest Field 66,271 Recap 13 December 5 at Miami Dolphins W 42–32 6–6 Pro Player Stadium 73,084 Recap 14 December 12 Cleveland Browns W 37–7 7–6 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,330 Recap 15 December 19 at Cincinnati Bengals W 33–17 8–6 Paul Brown Stadium 65,378 Recap 16 December 26 at San Francisco 49ers W 41–7 9–6 Monster Park 63,248 Recap 17 January 2 Pittsburgh Steelers L 24–29 9–7 Ralph Wilson Stadium 73,414 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Jaguars 0 3 3 7 Bills 7 0 0 3 September 12 Ralph Wilson Stadium • Orchard Park, New York 1:00 p.m. EST 72,389 66 F C 1 • Wind 9 mph km/h knots on Ron Winter Don Criqui and Steve Tasker CBS yes 1 BUF Eric Moulds 17 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Rian Lindell kick) Bills 7–0 2 JAC Josh Scobee 25 yard field goal Bills 7–3 3 JAC Josh Scobee 27 yard field goal Bills 7–6 4 BUF Rian Lindell 25 yard field goal Bills 10–6 4 JAC Ernest Wilford 7 yard pass from Byron Leftwich (Josh Scobee kick) Jaguars 13–10 yes https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200409120buf.htm Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills — September 12th, 2004 Pro Football Reference Standings BUF References External links 2004 Buffalo Bills at jt-sw.com 2004 Buffalo Bills at ProFootballArchives.com 2004 Buffalo Bills at Pro-Football-Reference.com Category:Buffalo Bills seasons Buffalo Bills Buff