1997 Buffalo Bills season

The 1997 Buffalo Bills season was their 38th in the league. The team failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 10–6, instead falling to 6–10.[1] They missed the playoffs for only the second time in ten seasons. 1997 was Hall of Fame head coach Marv Levy's final year as the team's head coach, and the first season since 1985 when Jim Kelly was not on the opening day roster. Todd Collins started at quarterback for the Bills in their first season in the post-Kelly era. The Bills also signed Oakland's Billy Joe Hobert to challenge Collins for the starting job. Third-string quarterback Alex Van Pelt also saw playing time with three starts in Collins' absence.

1997 Buffalo Bills season
OwnerRalph Wilson
General managerJohn Butler
Head coachMarv Levy
Home fieldRich Stadium
Results
Record6–10
Division place4th AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersG Ruben Brown
DE Bruce Smith
DT Ted Washington

Hobert's contract was terminated after Week Seven, in which Hobert was backing up an injured Collins, and after the game revealed to the media that he had not studied the playbook. Hobert was released the next day.[2]

One of the most memorable games in Buffalo Bills history occurred in Week Four against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts roared to a 26–0 lead in the second quarter, before the Bills went on a 37–3 run, ultimately taking the lead 37–29 with 1:15 remaining in the game. The Colts closed to within two, but missed a two-point conversion, giving Buffalo a two-point victory.[3] The game remains the third-greatest regular season comeback in NFL history,[note 1] and the second greatest in team history[note 2][4]

Offseason

Prior to the 1997 season, long-time quarterback (and future Hall of Famer) Jim Kelly announced his retirement from professional football. This left the Bills forced to find a different opening day starting quarterback for the first time since 1985. Third-year quarterback Todd Collins started the season, and the Bills signed former Raiders quarterback Billy Joe Hobert, whose contract was terminated after a Week Seven loss to New England.

NFL Draft
Main article: 1997 NFL Draft
= Pro Bowler [note 3]

One notable player that was not drafted by the Bills, but debuted for the team in 1997, was future Pro Bowl defensive tackle Pat Williams, who played with the team for eight seasons.

1997 Buffalo Bills Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1 23 Antowain Smith RB Houston
2 52 Marcellus Wiley[note 4] DE Columbia
4 120 Jamie Nails OL Florida A&M
5 153 Sean Woodson DB Jackson State
6 185 Marcus Spriggs G Houston
7 226 Pat Fitzgerald TE Texas

Roster
1997 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen
  • 79 Ruben Brown G
  • 63 Bill Conaty C
  • 70 John Fina T
  • 68 Corbin Lacina G
  • 72 Corey Louchiey T
  • 74 Jamie Nails G
  • 60 Jerry Ostroski T
  • 73 Mike Rockwood T
  • 69 Marcus Spriggs T
  • 61 Dusty Zeigler C

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers
  • 96 Dan Brandenburg OLB
  • 52 John Holecek ILB
  • 55 Mark Maddox ILB
  • 98 Sean Moran ILB
  • 99 Gabe Northern OLB
  • 95 Bryce Paup OLB
  • 58 Marlo Perry OLB
  • 59 Sam Rogers OLB

Defensive backs

  • 22 Jeff Burris CB/PR
  • 27 Ken Irvin CB
  • 31 Raymond Jackson FS
  • 20 Henry Jones SS
  • 21 Manny Martin CB
  • 24 Kurt Schulz FS
  • 40 Eric Smedley SS
  • 28 Thomas Smith CB
  • 37 Sean Woodson S

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 57 Damien Covington ILB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 48 Pat Fitzgerald TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 77 Jim Jeffcoat NT (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 46 Marlon Kerner CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 83 Andre Reed WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 54 Chris Spielman ILB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 33 Tim Tindale FB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad

53 active, 7 inactive, 1 practice squad


Rookies in italics

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance Record
1 August 31 Minnesota Vikings L 34–13 79,139 0–1
2 September 7 at New York Jets W 28–22 72,988 1–1
3 September 14 at Kansas City Chiefs L 22–16 78,169 1–2
4 September 21 Indianapolis Colts W 37–35 55,340 2–2
5 Bye
6 October 5 Detroit Lions W 22–13 78,025 3–2
7 October 12 at New England Patriots L 33–6 59,802 3–3
8 October 20 at Indianapolis Colts W 9–6 61,139 4–3
9 October 26 Denver Broncos L 23–20 78,458 4–4
10 November 2 Miami Dolphins W 9–6 78,011 5–4
11 November 9 New England Patriots L 31–10 65,783 5–5
12 November 17 at Miami Dolphins L 30–13 74,155 5–6
13 November 23 at Tennessee Oilers L 31–14 23,571 5–7
14 November 30 New York Jets W 20–10 47,776 6–7
15 December 7 at Chicago Bears L 20–3 39,784 6–8
16 December 14 Jacksonville Jaguars L 20–14 41,231 6–9
17 December 20 at Green Bay Packers L 31–21 60,108 6–10
Note: Intra-divisional games are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 2
1 234Total
• Bills 0 1477 28
Jets 3 1063 22
Scoring summary
1NYJJohn Hall 27 yard field goalJets 3–0
2NYJDedric Ward 19 yard pass from Neil O'Donnell (John Hall kick)Jets 10–0
2BUFThurman Thomas 2 yard run (Steve Christie kick)Jets 10–7
2BUFAndre Reed 10 yard pass from Todd Collins (Steve Christie kick)Bills 14–10
2NYJJohn Hall 19 yard field goalBills 14–13
3BUFQuinn Early 19 yard pass from Todd Collins (Steve Christie kick)Bills 21–13
3NYJAaron Glenn 96 yard kickoff return (run failed)Bills 21–19
4NYJJohn Hall 52 yard field goalJets 22–21
4BUFJay Riemersma 10 yard pass from Todd Collins (Steve Christie kick)Bills 28–22

[5]

Week 3

Starting QBs -> Buffalo Bills: Todd Collins (quarterback) / Kansas City Chiefs: Elvis Grbac

Vegas Line: Kansas City Chiefs -4.5

Over/Under: 40.0 (under)

Buffalo Bills (1-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-1)
1 234Total
Bills 0 376 16
• Chiefs 6 3013 22

[6]

[6]

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Bills PassingTodd Collins (quarterback)22/43, 297 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingAntowain Smith11 carries, 30 yards
ReceivingAndre Reed4 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD
Chiefs PassingElvis Grbac20/37, 179 yards, 1 TD
RushingGreg Hill (running back)17 carries, 59 yards
ReceivingAndre Rison5 receptions, 75 yards

[6]

Statistics Bills Chiefs
First downs1617
Plays–yards66-32562-267
Rushes–yards23-5025-107
Passing yards275160
Passing: comp–att–int22-43-220-37-0
Time of possession31:3228:28

[6]

Standings
AFC East
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(3) New England Patriots 1060.625369289W1
(6) Miami Dolphins 970.563339327L2
New York Jets 970.563348287L1
Buffalo Bills 6100.375255367L3
Indianapolis Colts 3130.188313401L1

Notes
  1. It has been surpassed only by a 33-point comeback by the 2022 Vikings and a 28-point comeback by the 1980 49ers
  2. Surpassed only by "The Comeback" in the 1992 playoffs
  3. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.
  4. Made Pro Bowl with San Diego in 2001

References
  1. "1997 Buffalo Bills". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. David Fleming, Breaking down the Bills' QB situation ESPN.com, September 23, 2010, "the infamous Billy Joe Hobert who promptly threw a pick on his first pass leading to a 33–6 blowout loss, after which Billy Joe admitted (awesomely, I might add) that he hadn't actually, you know, opened his playbook that week" | retrieved January 9, 2012
  3. "Indianapolis Colts 35 at Buffalo Bills 37, Sunday, September 21, 1997". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  4. "Buffalo Bills NFL Primetime 8". YouTube.
  5. "Buffalo Bills at New York Jets — September 7th, 1997". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  6. "Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs — September 14th, 1997". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
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