The 2010 season was the Buffalo Bills' 51st season in the National Football League (NFL), It was Buffalo's first season with Buddy Nix in the role of general manager and head coach Chan Gailey. The Bills hoped to improve on their 6–10 record from the 2009 season, and attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The Bills had the 9th pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft selecting C. J. Spiller, a running back from Clemson. This season marked the first 0–8 start since 1984, in which they finished 2–14. They were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 12, extending their playoff drought to 11 seasons. Despite the poor start, Buffalo became largely competitive after the bye in Week 9.
Their next four losses were by only three points each, all to teams that made the playoffs that year—Baltimore, Kansas City, Chicago and Pittsburgh (three of these losses went to overtime). The Bills eventually won four of their final eight games, which carried over into a strong start to the 2011 season. The 2010 season was marked by the emergence of wide receiver Stevie Johnson, who gained 1,073 receiving yards and nose tackle Kyle Williams, an All-Pro in 2010 who gained status as an elite defensive tackle.Pro Football Focus – Kyle Williams: Beast
Offseason The Bills had fired head coach Dick Jauron after Week 10 of the 2009 season; he had been replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. The remainder of the Jauron coaching staff was released at the end of the year, including Fewell. Former Dallas Cowboys and Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey was hired as the Bills' new head coach and Buddy Nix had taken over as general manager replacing Russ Brandon, who stayed on as CEO. Gailey installed the 3-4 defense (although the team would play in a 4–3 on certain downs)Football Outsiders: Four Downs – AFC East and the "Pistol" offensive formation. George Edwards was named defensive coordinator, and though Gailey stated he would call the offensive plays, Curtis Modkins was named the nominal offensive coordinator. On February 18, 2010, starting right tackle Brad Butler announced his retirement from professional football. Butler suffered a season ending (ultimately a career ending) knee injury vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 2 of the 2009 season. The Bills held an open competition for the starting quarterback position between Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm during training camp. Edwards was named starter prior to the first preseason game, but was released from the team after two poor performances. Fitzpatrick took over in Week 3 and, in 13 games, became the first Bills quarterback to throw for 3,000 passing yards in a season since J. P. Losman in 2006.[}]
2010 draft
+ 2010 Buffalo Bills Draft Selections Round Overall Player Position College1 9 C. J. Spiller RB Clemson2 41 Torell Troup DT UCF3 72 Alex Carrington DE Arkansas State4 107 Marcus Easley WR Connecticut5 140 Ed Wang OT Virginia Tech6 178 Arthur Moats DE James Madison6 192 Danny Batten DE South Dakota State7 209 Levi Brown QB Troy7 216 Kyle Calloway OT Iowa
In-season transactions
Come week three Fitzpatrick was named starter against the Patriots as Edwards was benched. In the game Fitzpatrick had surpassed Edwards' statistics for the first two games. This resulted in Edwards' release from the roster the following day on Monday, a day after the game, when his success in the preseason did not continue into the first two games of the regular season. He was picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars off waivers the next day on Tuesday.
Similarly, Marshawn Lynch was one of the starting running backs at the beginning of the regular season. He was only to be traded to the Seattle Seahawks after four games into the regular season with the rise of running backs Fred Jackson and first-round draft pick C. J. Spiller created a logjam. The draft picks were at first undisclosed. It was later announced that the Bills would receive a fourth-round draft pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional pick in the 2012 draft.
Staff Buffalo Bills 2010 staff Front office Owner/founder/president – Ralph Wilson CEO – Russ Brandon Executive vice president/general manager – Buddy Nix Senior vice president of football administration – Jim Overdorf Vice president of college scouting – Tom Modrak Assistant general manager/director of pro personnel – Doug Whaley Player Personnel Analyst – Kevin Meganck Pro Personnel Coordinator – Rob Hanrahan
Head coaches Head coach – Chan Gailey
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/running backs – Curtis Modkins Quarterbacks – George Cortez Wide receivers – Stan Hixon Tight ends – Bob Bicknell Offensive line – Joe D'Alessandris Assistant offensive line – Bobby Johnson Offensive quality control – Kevin Patullo Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – George Edwards Defensive line – Giff Smith Inside linebackers - DeMontie Cross Outside linebackers – Bob Sanders Defensive backs – George Catavolos Defensive quality control – Adrian White
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Bruce DeHaven Assistant special teams – Stan Kwan
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Eric Ciano Head strength and conditioning – John Gamble
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason The Bills preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010. The second preseason game, against the Indianapolis Colts, was held at the Rogers Centre in Toronto as part of the Bills Toronto Series.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Washington Redskins L 17–42 0–1 FedExField Recap 2 Indianapolis Colts W 34–21 1–1 Rogers Centre Recap 3 Cincinnati Bengals W 35–20 2–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 4 at Detroit Lions L 23–28 2–2 Ford Field Recap
Regular season Football statistics site Football Outsiders calculated that the Bills had the toughest schedule in the league in 2010, based on strength of opponent, whilst Pro Football Reference argued that the 2010 Bills had the toughest schedule for any NFL team since 1971, with nine games against opponents 10–6 or better.Pro Football Reference; 2010 Buffalo Bills Apart from their AFC East division games, the Bills played against the AFC North and NFC North according to the conference rotation, and played the Chiefs and Jaguars based on 2009 divisional positions.
Though the Bills were the last team to record their first win in 2010, starting the season with eight consecutive losses, they improved greatly in the second half of the season, with a record of 4–4 to finish the year. Nine of the Bills' twelve losses were to teams that qualified for the postseason, including both representatives in Super Bowl XLV – Pittsburgh and Green Bay. Six of the twelve losses were by eight points or less. Four Buffalo losses had a margin of three points or less and three losses were in overtime, all to eventual playoff teams (Week 7 at Baltimore, Week 8 at Kansas City and Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh).
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 Miami Dolphins L 10–15 0–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 2 September 19 at Green Bay Packers L 7–34 0–2 Lambeau Field Recap 3 September 26 at New England Patriots L 30–38 0–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 4 October 3 New York Jets L 14–38 0–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 5 October 10 Jacksonville Jaguars L 26–36 0–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 6Bye 7 October 24 at Baltimore Ravens L 34–37 0–6 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 8 October 31 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–13 0–7 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 9 November 7 Chicago Bears L 19–22 0–8 Rogers Centre Recap 10 November 14 Detroit Lions W 14–12 1–8 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 11 November 21 at Cincinnati Bengals W 49–31 2–8 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 12 November 28 Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–19 2–9 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 13 December 5 at Minnesota Vikings L 14–38 2–10 Mall of America Field Recap 14 December 12 Cleveland Browns W 13–6 3–10 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 15 December 19 at Miami Dolphins W 17–14 4–10 Sun Life Stadium Recap 16 December 26 New England Patriots L 3–34 4–11 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 17 January 2 at New York Jets L 7–38 4–12 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Conference
Regular season results
Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Buffalo Bills began their season at home with an AFC East duel with the Miami Dolphins. In the 1st quarter, Buffalo trailed early when Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter nailed a 32-yard field goal. The deficit was increased in the 2nd quarter when running back Ronnie Brown got a 1-yard TD run. The Bills eventually replied when kicker Rian Lindell made a 51-yard field goal.
In the 4th quarter, Miami increased their lead with Carpenter hitting a 43-yard field goal. Buffalo replied with a touchdown pass from quarterback Trent Edwards making a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roscoe Parrish. The final score was made when long snapper Garrison Sanborn snapped the ball to Brian Moorman out of bounds for a safety, giving the Dolphins 2 more points and the Bills a loss.
With the loss, the Bills began at 0–1.
Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Dolphins, the Bills flew to Lambeau Field for an interconference duel with the Packers. In the 1st quarter Buffalo trailed early as kicker Mason Crosby made a 44 and a 24-yard field goal, followed by RB Brandon Jackson getting a 1-yard TD run. The Bills made their only score of the game in the 2nd quarter when RB Fred Jackson made a 3-yard TD run. In the third quarter the Bills struggled further when QB Aaron Rodgers completed a 7-yard TD pass to WR Donald Driver, followed by Rodgers scrambling 9 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. The Packers increased their lead in the fourth when Rodgers made a 30-yard touchdown pass to WR James Jones.
With the loss, Buffalo fell to 0–2.
Week 3: at New England Patriots
Still looking for a win the Bills flew to Gillette Stadium for an AFC East rivalry match against the Patriots. In the first quarter Buffalo took the early lead when kicker Rian Lindell nailed a 39-yard field goal. Then they fell behind when QB Tom Brady made a 7-yard TD pass to WR Randy Moss. The Bills replied in the second quarter with Lindell making another 39-yard field goal, which was followed by QB Ryan Fitzpatrick getting a 5-yard TD pass to RB C. J. Spiller. The Patriots replied and took the narrow lead when Danny Woodhead made a 22-yard TD run. The Bills got the lead back when Lindell made a 34-yard field goal, which didn't last very long after kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 43-yard field goal. The Bills fell further behind in the third quarter when Brady found Moss again on a 35-yard TD pass, but straight after the PAT, Buffalo scored when C. J. Spiller returned a kickoff and ran 95 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. The Patriots increased their narrow lead when Brady made a 5-yard TD pass to TE Rob Gronkowski, followed in the fourth quarter by RB BenJarvis Green-Ellis getting a 7-yard TD run. The Bills tried to come back into the game when Fitzpatrick made a 37-yard touchdown pass to WR Stevie Johnson, but the Patriots defense prevented anything else from happening, giving the Bills a loss and their 14th straight vs. the Patriots.
With the loss, Buffalo fell to 0–3. The next day Trent Edwards was released. He was picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars off wavers the next day.
Week 4: vs. New York Jets