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. 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.
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.
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
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
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
Standings
References
External links 2004 Buffalo Bills at jt-sw.com 2004 Buffalo Bills at ProFootballArchives.com 2004 Buffalo Bills at Pro-Football-Reference.com