The 2003 Buffalo Bills season was their 44th in the league. The team failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 8–8, and finished at 6–10. The team missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
The Bills started the season strong, opening the season with a dominating 31–0 blowout of the New England Patriots.They would not win another game against the Patriots until 2011. This was a revenge game for newly signed safety Lawyer Milloy, who had been cut by New England a few days earlier. It was their largest margin of victory in a season opener since 1992, and their first regular-season shutout in four years. The Bills' second game was a convincing three-touchdown win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, Buffalo lost seven of their next nine games, and finished the season with three consecutive losses. The Bills' final game of the season was a 31–0 shutout loss to the Patriots – the complete reverse of the score by which the Bills beat New England in Week One.
Head coach Gregg Williams' contract was not renewed after the 2003 season.Williams was replaced by Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey in 2004.
Van Miller, the team's longtime play-by-play announcer, announced his retirement after week 2 of the season; his retirement took effect at the end of the season.
Offseason
Free agency The Bills bolstered their defense by signing former Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Sam Adams, former Denver Broncos safety Izell Reese, former Houston Texans linebacker Jeff Posey and former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes during the offseason.
The Bills also traded for tight end Mark Campbell and signed kicker Rian Lindell during the offseason.
During the preseason, the Bills signed Lawyer Milloy after he was released by the New England Patriots. Additions SubtractionsS Lawyer Milloy (Patriots) CB Chris Watson (Lions)LB Takeo Spikes (Bengals) TE Jay Riemersma (Steelers)K Rian Lindell (Seahawks) WR Peerless Price (Falcons)TE Mark Campbell (Browns) C Bill Conaty (Patriots)DT Sam Adams (Raiders) WR Charlie Rogers (Dolphins)S Izell Reese (Broncos) K Mike Hollis (Giants)LB Jeff Posey (Texans) DE Chidi Ahanotu (49ers)DE Keith McKenzie (Packers) FB Larry Centers (Patriots)WR Bobby Shaw (Jaguars)
NFL draft
The Bills traded away their first pick in the 2003 draft (#14 overall) to the New England Patriots for Drew Bledsoe in the previous draft. They obtained their first pick (#23 overall) from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Peerless Price.
Roster
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 7 New England Patriots W 31–0 1–0 Ralph Wilson Stadium 73,262 Recap 2 September 14 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 38–17 2–0 Alltel Stadium 58,613 Recap 3 September 21 at Miami Dolphins L 7–17 2–1 Pro Player Stadium 73,458 Recap 4 September 28 Philadelphia Eagles L 13–23 2–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium 73,305 Recap 5 October 5 Cincinnati Bengals W 22–16 3–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,615 Recap 6 October 12 at New York Jets L 3–30 3–3 Giants Stadium 77,740 Recap 7 October 19 Washington Redskins W 24–7 4–3 Ralph Wilson Stadium 73,149 Recap 8 October 26 at Kansas City Chiefs L 5–38 4–4 Arrowhead Stadium 78,689 Recap 9Bye 10 November 9 at Dallas Cowboys L 6–10 4–5 Texas Stadium 63,770 Recap 11 November 16 Houston Texans L 10–12 4–6 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,677 Recap 12 November 23 Indianapolis Colts L 14–17 4–7 Ralph Wilson Stadium 73,004 Recap 13 November 30 at New York Giants W 24–7 5–7 Giants Stadium 78,481 Recap 14 December 7 New York Jets W 17–6 6–7 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,791 Recap 15 December 14 at Tennessee Titans L 26–28 6–8 The Coliseum 68,809 Recap 16 December 21 Miami Dolphins L 3–20 6–9 Ralph Wilson Stadium 73,319 Recap 17 at New England Patriots L 0–31 6–10 Gillette Stadium 68,436 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. New England Patriots
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Drew Bledsoe 19/25, 314 yds, 2 TD Eric Moulds 7 Rec, 133 yds, 1 TD
Standings
Notes
References
External links 2003 Buffalo Bills at jt-sw.com 2003 Buffalo Bills at ProFootballArchives.com 2003 Buffalo Bills at Pro-Football-Reference.com