The 2016 season was the Buffalo Bills' 47th in the National Football League (NFL), their 57th overall, their fourth under general manager Doug Whaley and their second under head coach Rex Ryan. The Bills hoped to improve on their 8–8 record from 2015, the team's first since 2002, but a 34–31 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 eliminated the Bills from playoff contention for a 17th season in a row, extending the longest active drought among all four North American major professional sports leagues. It would be Ryan's final season as head coach of the team, as he and his brother, assistant head coach Rob, were fired with one game remaining in the regular season.
Offseason
Roster changes
Signings Position Player 2015 Team Date signed NotesSource RB Mike Gillislee Buffalo Bills January 4, 2016 1-year extension/$600,000 RB James Wilder, Jr. Cincinnati Bengals January 20, 2016 1 year/$525,000 (Reserve/Future)RB Reggie Bush San Francisco 49ers August 1, 2016 1 year/$3 million TE Jim Dray Cleveland Browns March 16, 2016 1 year/$760,000 WR Greg Salas Buffalo Bills January 4, 2016 1-year extension/$600,000 WR Leonard Hankerson Buffalo Bills April 4, 2016 1 year/$840,000WR Kain Colter Minnesota Vikings August 1, 2016 1 year/$450,000 OG Richie Incognito Buffalo Bills March 8, 2016 3-year extension/$15.75 million OG Fernando Velasco Carolina Panthers April 7, 2016 1 year/$965,000 OT Jordan Mills Buffalo Bills March 30, 2016 1 year tender/$1.67 millionOT Chris Martin Miami Dolphins June 13, 2016 1 year/$525,000 OT Cordy Glenn Buffalo Bills May 3, 2016 5-year extension/$65 millionOT Justin Renfrow San Francisco 49ers June 17, 2016 1 year/$450,000 DT Corbin Bryant Buffalo Bills March 7, 2016 1 year tender/$1.67 millionDT Casey Walker Dallas Cowboys July 30, 2016 1 year/$525,000 LB Zach Brown Tennessee Titans April 4, 2016 1 year/$1.25 million LB Lorenzo Alexander Oakland Raiders April 13, 2016 1 year/$885,000 CB Mario Butler Buffalo Bills January 4, 2016 1-year extension/$600,000 CB/KR Javier Arenas New York Jets February 3, 2016 1 year/$600,000 (Reserve/Future) CB Corey White Arizona Cardinals April 4, 2016 1 year/$840,000 CB Sterling Moore Tampa Bay Buccaneers April 5, 2016 1 year/$840,000 SS Robert Blanton Minnesota Vikings March 18, 2016 1 year/$840,000 SS Colt Anderson Indianapolis Colts April 13, 2016 1 year/$840,000 P Colton Schmidt Buffalo Bills January 4, 2016 1-year extension/$600,000 WR Percy Harvin Buffalo Bills November 1, 2016
Free agents lost Position Player 2016 Team Date signed NotesSource WR Chris Hogan New England Patriots March 11, 2016 3 years/$12 million DT Stefan Charles Detroit Lions March 10, 2016 1 year/$1.75 million LB Nigel Bradham Philadelphia Eagles March 9, 2016 2 years/$7 million CB Ron Brooks Philadelphia Eagles March 9, 2016 3 years/$5.5 million CB Leodis McKelvin Philadelphia Eagles March 10, 2016 3 years/$9 million
Cuts Position Player DateSourceRB Boobie Dixon March 1, 2016WR Davonte Allen August 1, 2016TE MarQueis Gray March 1, 2016TE Jacob Maxwell April 29, 2016T Tyson Chandler April 15, 2016T Keith Lumpkin June 13, 2016G Kraig Urbik March 1, 2016C Ronald Patrick May 2, 2016DE Mario Williams March 1, 2016DE Cedric Reed July 30, 2016DE Claudell Louis June 13, 2016DE Jarius Wynn May 2, 2016LB Tony Steward April 19, 2016CB Leodis McKelvin March 4, 2016CB Cam Thomas April 18, 2016CB Julian Whigham June 9, 2016CB Merrill Noel May 2, 2016 S Phillip Thomas June 17, 2016K Marshall Morgan August 1, 2016
Retirements PositionPlayerDateLB A.J. Tarpley April 6, 2016
Draft
Pre-Draft Prior to the draft, the Bills held visits for 47 players; 8 had previous visits, 23 players visited during the NFL Scouting Combine, 2 at the East–West Shrine Game, 19 had private visits, and 3 had private workouts.
Previously, the Bills traded their 2016 seventh-round selection (240th overall) and their 2015 fifth-round selection (137th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for quarterback Matt Cassel and the Vikings' 2015 sixth-round selection (188th overall).
Day-of Activity
The Bills traded their 2016 second-round pick (49th overall) and fourth-round pick (117th overall) to the Chicago Bears in return for Chicago's 2016 second-round pick (41st overall).
Undrafted free agents All undrafted free agents were signed after the 2016 NFL draft concluded on April 30 unless otherwise noted.
Position Player College Notes QB Joe Licata Buffalo Tryout basis. Signed with Cincinnati Bengals before training camp. FB Glenn Gronkowski Kansas State Brother of Chris, Dan and Rob Gronkowski. Signed with New England Patriots after training camp to reunite with his brother Rob. WR Davonte Allen Marshall WR Garry Chambers Arizona State OT Keith Lumpkin Rutgers OG Jamison Lalk Iowa State OG Marquis Lucas WVU C Robert Kuglar Purdue DT Justin Zimmer Ferris DE Bryson Albright Miami LB Eric Striker Oklahoma CB Julian Whigham Syracuse LS Reid Ferguson LSU K Marshall Morgan Georgia
Staff On January 10, 2016, one week after the 2015 season ended, Doug Whaley signed a three-year contract extension to remain the Bills general manager. That same day, it was announced that Ryan had hired his twin brother, Rob, to the Bills coaching staff to serve as an assistant head coach and work with the defense. Three days later, Ryan hired former NFL standout Ed Reed to be an assistant defensive backs coach.
On January 20, 2016, the Bills promoted Kathryn Smith to special teams quality control coach, making her the first female full-time coach in NFL history. On September 16, 2016, less than 24 hours after losing 37–31 to the New York Jets in their home opener in a game in which the defense failed to stop Jets running back Matt Forte, instead of firing defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman, Ryan pretty much sealed his own fate by firing offensive coordinator Greg Roman and promoting running backs coach Anthony Lynn to the position.
Lynn would later be promoted to interim head coach on December 27, 2016, when the Ryan brothers were fired after the 34–31 overtime loss to the Dolphins eliminated the team from the playoffs.
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Indianapolis Colts L 18–19 0–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 2 New York Giants W 21–0 1–1 New Era Field Recap 3 at Washington Redskins L 16–21 1–2 FedExField Recap 4 at Detroit Lions L 0–31 1–3 Ford Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 at Baltimore Ravens L 7–13 0–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 2 New York Jets L 31–37 0–2 New Era Field Recap 3 September 25 Arizona Cardinals W 33–18 1–2 New Era Field Recap 4 October 2 at New England Patriots W 16–0 2–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 5 October 9 at Los Angeles Rams W 30–19 3–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap 6 October 16 San Francisco 49ers W 45–16 4–2 New Era Field Recap 7 October 23 at Miami Dolphins L 25–28 4–3 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 8 October 30 New England Patriots L 25–41 4–4 New Era Field Recap 9 at Seattle Seahawks L 25–31 4–5 CenturyLink Field Recap 10Bye 11 November 20 at Cincinnati Bengals W 16–12 5–5 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 12 November 27 Jacksonville Jaguars W 28–21 6–5 New Era Field Recap 13 December 4 at Oakland Raiders L 24–38 6–6 Oakland Alameda Coliseum Recap 14 December 11 Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–27 6–7 New Era Field Recap 15 December 18 Cleveland Browns W 33–13 7–7 New Era Field Recap 16 Miami Dolphins L 31–34 7–8 New Era Field Recap 17 January 1 at New York Jets L 10–30 7–9 MetLife Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 2: vs. New York Jets
The Bills saw the return of their red Color Rush uniforms from 2015 in this game. With the loss, not only did the Bills drop to 0–2, but head coach Rex Ryan fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman, promoting running backs coach Anthony Lynn to offensive coordinator the next day. They also lost wide receiver Greg Salas for the season to a groin injury and lost wide receiver Sammy Watkins for several weeks to a foot injury.
Week 3: vs. Arizona Cardinals
With the win, the Bills improved to 1–2 in Lynn's first game as offensive coordinator.
Week 4: at New England Patriots
With the win, not only did the Bills improve to 2–2, but Ryan got his first career regular season victory at Gillette Stadium (he was 0–7 as head coach entering the game, including six straight losses as New York Jets head coach).
Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams
With the win, the Bills improve to 3–2 and their first three-game winning streak since 2011 (the team started that season 3–0).
Week 6: vs. San Francisco 49ers
With the win, the Bills improve to 4–2 and their first four-game winning streak since 2008 (the team started that season 4–0 in Dick Jauron's last full season as head coach).
Week 7: at Miami Dolphins
The Bills led 17–14 by the start of the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins came back to win 28–25, causing the Bills to drop to 4–3.
Week 8: vs. New England Patriots
Week 9: at Seattle Seahawks
With the loss, not only did the Bills drop to 4–5, but they also lost center Eric Wood for the season.
Week 11: at Cincinnati Bengals
With the win, the Bills improved to 5–5, but running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver Robert Woods and safety Robert Blanton left the game with injuries.
Week 12: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
With the win, the Bills improved to 6–5, but defensive tackle Corbin Bryant and wide receiver Walt Powell had to miss the rest of the season.
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
With the loss, the Bills dropped to 6–6.
Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 15: vs. Cleveland Browns
With the win, the Bills improved to 7–7 and keep their slim playoff chances alive. The team set a new franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season (27) with LeSean McCoy's second rushing score of the game. This was also the 400th regular-season win in franchise history.
Week 16: vs. Miami Dolphins
After the Bills took the lead with a touchdown inside the two-minute warning at the end of the fourth quarter, the Dolphins took the game to overtime with a 55-yard field goal with six seconds on the clock. They then secured the win with 47 seconds left in the extra period with another field goal from 27 yards. The loss for the Bills meant they were eliminated from playoff contention for the 17th consecutive season. Two days later, the Bills fired head coach Rex Ryan and assistant head coach Rob Ryan.
Week 17: at New York Jets
Anthony Lynn served as interim head coach, and EJ Manuel made his first start of the season, though he was benched in the 4th quarter as Cardale Jones took over. With the loss, Buffalo ended the season 7–9. This game included a notable flaw on Bills' special teams during a botched kickoff play. Jets' kicker Nick Folk made the ball bounce inside the field, over the heads of Bills' special teamers and into the endzone, only to see the surrounding Bills' players miscommunicate and fail to secure the live ball; Jets' specialist Doug Middleton then fell on the ball inside the endzone, giving New York their last touchdown of the game.
Standings
Division
Conference
References
External links