The Buffalo Bills are in a position to enter the 2020 season as the favorite in the AFC East. This has not happened since the 90's when they made the playoffs eight times throughout the decade. After making the playoffs twice in the last three years, football in Buffalo is on its way back.
There has not been a steady quarterback in Buffalo since Jim Kelly, and a short window of Drew Bledsoe. Josh Allen showed big time growth in his second season and that has a chance to continue. The Bills got Allen a new weapon in Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings. This is a team that can win double-digit games and get their first division crown since 1995.
Bills' Mafia is hoping for another special season in franchise history just like these three were. Here are the three best teams in Bills' history.
3. 1991
The 1991 Bills finished 13-3 and won the AFC East for the fourth consecutive year. They had one of the best offenses in the NFL behind Kelly and league MVP Thurman Thomas, who finished with 1,407 yards and seven touchdowns. Kelly led the league in passing touchdowns with 33 and the Bills averaged 28.6 points per game.
Buffalo scored 35 points seven times in 1991. Their offensive dominance continued in the divisional round of the playoffs with 37 points against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bills had a disappointing end to the season. They were held scoreless in the first half of the Super Bowl and fell behind 24-0 to the Washington Redskins. This would end up being the Bills' second straight loss in the Super Bowl.
Despite the finish, this team continues to be one of the best in franchise history because of what they were able to do on the offensive end.
2. 1988
The Bills began their turnaround in 1988. They were coming off four straight losing seasons before going 12-4 in Mark Levy's second season. Levy was honored as Coach of the Year after the season.
Buffalo did it on defense. They allowed just 14.8 points per game and held opponents to 10 or less seven times. The Bills lost three of their final four games during the regular season but were able to pick up a playoff win over the Houston Oilers. They would lose the AFC Championship to the Cincinnati Bengals but it was clear that the Bills were on their way up.
1. 1990
There is a painful, everlasting image of the 1990 season for Bills' fans. But before Scott Norwood pushed a late game field goal attempt wide right, there was true dominance in Buffalo. They averaged 26.8 points per game and eight of their 13 wins came by at least two touchdowns. Their average margin of victory is still the best in franchise history at 10.4 points.
Bruce Smith was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1990. The Bills won their third straight AFC East titled and cruised into the postseason. Their dominance continued with a 44-34 win over the Miami Dolphins in the divisional round followed by a 51-3 blowout of the Oakland Raiders. This was Buffalo's first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
The rest is history. The Bills trailed the New York Giants by one with eight seconds left. Norwood lined up for a 47-yard field goal and in the words of the great Al Michaels, “no good, wide right.” It was a disappointing ending to the season but the 1990 Bills made games look easy like no one else in franchise history.
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