Bills–Patriots rivalry

The Bills–Patriots rivalry is a professional American football rivalry between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots.

Buffalo Bills–New England Patriots

Buffalo Bills New England Patriots
First meeting	September 23, 1960 Bills 13, Patriots 0
Latest meeting	December 21, 2019 Patriots 24, Bills 17
Next meeting	November 1, 2020
Statistics
Meetings total	119 meetings[1]
All-time series	Patriots, 76–43–1
Postseason results	Patriots, 1–0 Last meeting December 28, 1963, Patriots 26–8
Largest victory	Patriots, 56–10 (2007)
Current win streak	Patriots, 7 (2016–present)
Playoff and Championship Success
AFL Championships (2) Bills (2) – 1964, 1965 Patriots (0) – none Super Bowl Championships (6) Bills (0) Patriots (6) – 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018 Super Bowl Appearances (15) Bills (4) – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Patriots (11) – 1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 AFL Eastern Division Championships (4) (1960–1969) Bills (3) – 1964, 1965, 1966 Patriots (1) – 1963 AFC East Divisional Championships (28) (1970–present) Bills (7) – 1980, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995 Patriots (21) - 1978, 1986, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 AFC Wild Card Berths (11) (1970—present) Bills (7) – 1981, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2017, 2019 Patriots (5) – 1976, 1982, 1985, 1994, 1998

Both teams are members of the East division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The teams play two scheduled games each season as a result. The series debuted in 1960 as part of the American Football League (AFL). As of March 2020, the Patriots lead the series 76–43–1; the two clubs have combined for thirteen AFL/AFC championships. Six Bills players, coach Marv Levy, and team founder Ralph Wilson are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while five Patriots players and coach Bill Parcells are presently enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

The series has been notable for its recent lopsidedness, especially during the career of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who compiled a record of 29–3 against the Bills with 68 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in the eighteen seasons he was Patriots starter between 2001 and 2019. Entering 2020, Brady has won more games in New Era Field than any quarterback for Buffalo since 2001.[2][3] Prior to Brady's career, Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly compiled a 12–8 career record against the Patriots with 29 touchdowns and 28 interceptions;[4] O.J. Simpson compiled a 10–4 record against the Patriots with 14 rushing touchdowns and three touchdown catches.[5]

History

1960–1969

The Bills and Patriots played for the first time in a preseason game during the first season of the American Football League on July 30, 1960. The game was played at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, and the Patriots won the game 28–7.[6] The teams met for their first regular season game during Week 3 of the inaugural season of the American Football League in 1960. The game was played at Nickerson Field at Boston University on Friday, September 23, 1960. The Bills scored a touchdown in each of the first two quarters and shut the Patriots out 13–0.[7]

The two teams met for their first and only playoff match in the AFL divisional game in December 1963. The Patriots won 26–8. In this game, Jack Kemp played quarterback for the Bills and Gino Cappelletti made four field goals and two extra points to help lift the Patriots to victory.[8]

Throughout the remainder of the decade, the teams would complete a 12–9 record in favor of the Patriots. The Bills won the AFL championship game in 1964 and 1965, and won the division in 1966. The Patriots lost to the San Diego Chargers in their only AFL championship appearance in 1963.

1970–1979

Both teams were placed into the AFC East after the AFL–NFL merger. During this time period, the Bills went 12–8 against the Patriots. The Bills sustained a winning streak of 9 games from 1971 to 1975.[1] The two teams played a pair of highly competitive games in the 1974 season. The Bills withstood a late Patriots rally at Rich Stadium to win, 30–28. Two weeks later, the Bills edged the Patriots, 29–28, when a last-second field goal attempt by the Patriots was blocked.

O.J. Simpson had one of the most dramatic games of his career on November 23, 1975 against the Patriots. Simpson ran in two touchdowns and caught two touchdown passes from Joe Ferguson as the Bills won, 45–31. Patriots rookie Steve Grogan threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted three times.

1976 was Simpson's final year in Buffalo; on October 24 Simpson rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns in a 26–22 Patriots win. Two weeks later on November 7 Simpson was held to just eight rushing yards and was ejected following a scuffle at midfield; Patriots rookie Mike Haynes ran back a second quarter punt 89 yards for a touchdown, the first such touchdown in Patriots history. The Patriots won the game, 20–10, their first season sweep of the Bills since 1968.

1980–1989

The 1980s was a dominant decade for the Patriots, as they won the decade series 13–6. The Patriots also completed their own 11-game winning streak over the Bills from January 1983 to September 1988. The Bills began to rebuild their team in the late 1980s with the additions of Jim Kelly at quarterback, Thurman Thomas as running back, Andre Reed as a receiver, Bruce Smith on defense, and Marv Levy as coach. The Bills bested the Patriots to win the AFC East division four years in a row from 1988–92. During the final stretch of the 1980s, the Bills took three out of four meetings with the Patriots.[1]

1990–1999

In the 1990 season, the Bills reached the Super Bowl for the first time, playing against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV. Although obviously not a game in the rivalry, the 1990 Giants were coached by Bill Parcells (who had been linebackers coach with the Patriots in 1980) and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick; both would become head coach of the Patriots. The Giants won 20–19.

The Bills continued to dominate the Patriots in the early 1990s, winning eight of the first nine games, including five straight. New England, however, made the rivalry more competitive with the addition of Drew Bledsoe as quarterback and the hiring of Parcells as head coach. The Bills also saw many of their Super Bowl players leave during this time period. By the end of the 1990s, the Bills led the decade with 12 wins to the Patriots' 8 wins.[1] Throughout the decade, the two teams combined to win the AFC East six times, with the Patriots reaching the Super Bowl in 1996 and the Bills reaching the Super Bowl in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993.

The decade saw several memorable games between the two. On September 11, 1994, Buffalo led 28–14 at the half and 35–21 at the start of the fourth quarter after Mike Lodish grabbed a Patriots fumble at the New England goalline. The Patriots scored two touchdowns to tie the game, but Buffalo won 38–35 after Steve Christie booted a 32-yard field goal as time expired.

Late that season the Bills hosted the Patriots. Buffalo was 7–7 while the Patriots were 8–6. The Patriots erased a 17–3 gap by scoring 38 unanswered points. Frank Reich, replacing Jim Kelly, was intercepted twice and the Bills fumbled three times; Ricky Reynolds ran back a Buffalo fumble for a touchdown. The 41–17 Patriots win eliminated Buffalo from the playoffs.

1996 was Jim Kelly's last season; his Bills won 17–10 on September 8 on a 63-yard touchdown throw to Quinn Early and then on a last-second goal line stand. On October 27, the Bills had an 18–15 lead at the two-minute warning; Curtis Martin ran in a ten-yard score, then Willie McGinest intercepted Kelly and ran in a 46-yard touchdown, but Kelly then completed a 48-yard touchdown off two Patriots defenders to Andre Reed; the onside kick failed and the Patriots won 28–25.

The 1998 season saw the return of Doug Flutie, who'd been Patriots quarterback in 1988–89; he replaced Rob Johnson as Bills quarterback after Buffalo started 1–3. Flutie led the Bills to win four of his first five starts, including a 13–10 victory over the Patriots at Rich Stadium on November 15, but on November 29 in Flutie's return to Foxboro Stadium the Patriots, despite a broken index finger for Drew Bledsoe, rallied to a controversial last-second touchdown to Ben Coates and a 25–21 Patriots win that was aided by a pass interference penalty against the Bills as time expired.

2000–2009

Bills QB J. P. Losman gets tackled by New England's Ty Warren for the Patriots' game-winning safety in 2006

QB Tom Brady commanding the Patriots offense against the Bills in 2006

The 2000s was the most lopsided decade for the rivalry to date. On November 5, 2000 Flutie and the Bills defeated the Patriots and new head coach Bill Belichick at Foxboro Stadium 16–13 in overtime. But after this the Patriots won 18 of the next 19 against the Bills.

This decade also saw several notable personnel changes. Following New England's 2001 championship year, Drew Bledsoe was traded by New England to Buffalo in 2002. Lawyer Milloy was then cut after the 2003 preseason and was immediately signed by Buffalo.[9] Doug Flutie, released by the Bills after 2000, joined the Patriots by way of the San Diego Chargers in 2005.

The Patriots assembled a five-game winning streak over the Bills in the beginning of the decade, which was snapped when Buffalo defeated the Patriots 31–0 in 2003 season. However, the Patriots then defeated the Bills by the same score later in the season. That win began a 15-game winning streak for the Patriots against the Bills stretching through 2010. The Bills did come close to winning on two occasions, but lost both times due to fourth quarter gaffes, surrendering a safety in 2006 to lose 19–17,[10] and fumbling a kickoff return to set up New England's game-winning touchdown in 2009.[11]

On December 28, 2008, the 10–5 Patriots needed a win and help from other teams to win the AFC East, while the 7–8 Bills were wrapping up the ninth straight season without a playoff berth. Played with severe wind gusts that required stadium officials to use ropes to keep the goalposts from swaying, the game was a 13–0 Patriots win as Matt Cassel, subbing for injured Tom Brady, threw only eight passes. However, the Patriots fell short of the division title.

2010–present

Bills RB C. J. Spiller rushing against the Patriots in 2013

The game on September 26, 2010 was noteworthy on several levels. The Patriots won 38–30, marking the 400th win in the history of the Patriots franchise (regular-season and playoffs). It was first start of the season for Buffalo's former backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Randy Moss caught two touchdowns; they turned out to be his last with the Patriots.

On September 25, 2011, the Bills came back from a 21–0 deficit to defeat the Patriots 34–31 and snap the Patriots' 15-game winning streak.[12] Despite this win, the Patriots won the final meeting of the season, on January 1, 2012, erasing a 21–0 Bills lead to win 49–21[13]

On September 30, 2012 the Patriots erased a 21–7 Bills lead in the third quarter by outscoring them, 45–7 on six straight touchdowns, winning 52–28.[14] On November 11 the Bills stayed toe to toe with the Patriots; down, 37–31, the Bills were driving until Devin McCourty intercepted a Fitzpatrick pass in the endzone.[15]

Following the death of long time Bills owner Ralph Wilson, the Bills were sold to Buffalo Sabres owners Terry Pegula and his wife Kim.[16] In his first game as Bills owner the Bills team hosted the Patriots on October 12, 2014, a 37–22 Patriots win. Tom Brady threw for 361 yards - his 60th 300-yard game - and four touchdowns, including a 43-yard strike to Brian Tyms.[17] In Week 17, the Bills won their first matchup at Gillette Stadium since the facility’s construction. It was Buffalo's first regulation win in New England in over 20 years. Having clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs, played Brady during the first half of the game only then played Jimmy Garoppolo in his place in the second half. Neither found the endzone in the 17–9 Buffalo win.[18]

After the 2014 season, Buffalo hired former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan.[19] When asked if the Jets would be his focus during the 2015 season, Ryan admitted that the Patriots would still be his number one target.[20]

2016 saw the Patriots hosting the Bills in week 4. The Patriots faced a shortage at quarterback, as Tom Brady was suspended in the aftermath of the Deflategate scandal and primary backup Jimmy Garoppolo was sidelined with an injury. As a result, third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett made the start for the Patriots.[21] Unable to overcome a strong defensive showing from the Bills and an efficient performance by quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Brissett and the Patriots lost 16–0. It was the first shutout loss at home for New England since 1993.[22] The rematch later in 2016, which the Patriots won 41–25 with Brady’s return, earned notoriety as a spectator tossed a sex toy onto the field in the middle of a play.[23][24]

During a game with playoff implications on December 3, 2017, Patriots tight-end and Buffalo native Rob Gronkowski hit Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White with a flying elbow after White intercepted Tom Brady in garbage-time. Though the game was already decided at that point with the Patriots going on to win 23–3, the play added tension between the teams.[25] During the rematch just three weeks later, Buffalo raced to a 16–13 lead in the third quarter, but ultimately lost 37–16 as Brady led three consecutive touchdown drives. Another controversial moment occurred when Bills receiver Kelvin Benjamin had a touchdown reception overturned during the second quarter.[26]

In a game reminiscent of the first Bills–Patriots game of 2011, the two teams met at New Era Field in September 2019 with undefeated records and the division lead on the line. However, this time around the game was a defensive struggle as opposed to an offensive shootout, with both Tom Brady and Bills quarterback Josh Allen being held to under 153 passing yards apiece. The Patriots emerged victorious after holding an early 13–0 lead, which proved too much for Buffalo to overcome due to numerous turnovers and Allen leaving the game in the fourth quarter due to injury. The final score was 16–10 in favor of New England.[27] The two teams again met later in the season on a Saturday NFL Network Special with the division title on the line; as with the first matchup, the final result was within one touchdown's score, with the Patriots prevailing 24–17 after the Patriots staged a successful goal-line stand in the closing minutes of the game. (Both teams had already clinched a wild-card bid at minimum.)[28] This would be Brady's final win as a Patriot, as he later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency during the offseason.[29]

Results

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots Season-by-Season Results
1960s (Patriots, 12–8–1) Season Season series at Buffalo Bills at Boston Patriots Overall series Notes 1960 Bills 2–0 Bills 38–14 Bills 23–0 Bills 2–0 Inaugural season for both teams and the AFL 1961 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 23–21 Patriots 52–21 Tie 2–2 1962 Patriots 1–0–1 Tie 28–28 Patriots 31–0 Patriots 3–2–1 Only tie in the history of the rivalry 1963 Tie 1–1 Bills 28–21 Patriots 17–7 Patriots 4–3–1 1963 Playoffs Patriots 1–0 Patriots 26–8 Patriots 5–3–1 AFL Eastern Division playoff, only playoff meeting between the two teams 1964 Tie 1–1 Patriots 36–28 Bills 24–14 Patriots 6–4–1 Bills win 1964 AFL Championship 1965 Bills 2–0 Bills 24–7 Bills 23–7 Tie 6–6–1 Bills win 1965 AFL Championship 1966 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 20–10 Patriots 14–3 Patriots 8–6–1 1967 Tie 1–1 Patriots 23–0 Bills 44–16 Patriots 9–7–1 1968 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 16–7 Patriots 23–6 Patriots 11–7–1 1969 Tie 1–1 Bills 23–16 Patriots 35–21 Patriots 12–8–1
1970s (Bills, 12–8) Season Season series at Buffalo Bills at Boston/N.E. Patriots Overall series Notes 1970 Tie 1–1 Patriots 14–10 Bills 45–10 Patriots 13–9–1 AFL–NFL merger. Both teams placed in AFC East. 1971 Tie 1–1 Bills 27–20 Patriots 38–33 Patriots 14–10–1 Patriots change name to "New England Patriots," open Foxboro Stadium (then known as Schaefer Stadium) 1972 Bills 2–0 Bills 38–14 Bills 27–24 Patriots 14–12–1 1973 Bills 2–0 Bills 37–13 Bills 31–13 Tie 14–14–1 Bills open New Era Field (then known as Rich Stadium) 1974 Bills 2–0 Bills 30–28 Bills 29–28 Bills 16–14–1 Patriots' potential game-winning field goal is blocked at the end of the game at New England 1975 Bills 2–0 Bills 45–31 Bills 34–13 Bills 18–14–1 Bills win nine straight meetings 1976 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 26–22 Patriots 20–10 Bills 18–16–1 1977 Tie 1–1 Patriots 20–7 Bills 24–14 Bills 19–17–1 1978 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 14–10 Patriots 26–24 Tie 19–19–1 1979 Tie 1–1 Patriots 26–6 Bills 16–13(OT) Tie 20–20–1
1980s (Patriots, 13–6) Season Season series at Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots Overall series Notes 1980 Tie 1–1 Bills 31–13 Patriots 24–2 Tie 21–21–1 1981 Bills 2–0 Bills 20–17 Bills 19–10 Bills 23–21–1 1982 Patriots 1–0 no game Patriots 30–19 Bills 23–22–1 Game in Buffalo cancelled due to Players strike reducing season to 9 games. 1983 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 31–0 Patriots 21–7 Patriots 24–23–1 1984 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 21–17 Patriots 38–10 Patriots 26–23–1 1985 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 17–14 Patriots 14–3 Patriots 28–23–1 Patriots lose Super Bowl XX 1986 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 23–3 Patriots 22–19 Patriots 30–23–1 1987 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 13–7 Patriots 14–7 Patriots 32–23–1 Patriots win 11 straight meetings 1988 Bills 2–0 Bills 23–20 Bills 16–14 Patriots 32–25–1 1989 Tie 1–1 Bills 31–10 Patriots 33–24 Patriots 33–26–1
1990s (Bills, 12–8) Season Season series at Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots Overall series Notes 1990 Bills 2–0 Bills 14–0 Bills 27–10 Patriots 33–28–1 Bills lose Super Bowl XXV 1991 Tie 1–1 Bills 22–17 Patriots 16–13 Patriots 34–29–1 Bills lose Super Bowl XXVI 1992 Bills 2–0 Bills 16–7 Bills 41–7 Patriots 34–31–1 Bills lose Super Bowl XXVII 1993 Bills 2–0 Bills 38–14 Bills 13–10(OT) Patriots 34–33–1 Bills lose Super Bowl XXVIII 1994 Tie 1–1 Patriots 41–17 Bills 38–35 Patriots 35–34–1 Patriots score 38 unanswered points after trailing 17–3 in Buffalo 1995 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 35–25 Patriots 27–14 Patriots 37–34–1 1996 Tie 1–1 Bills 22–17 Patriots 16–13 Patriots 38–25–1 Patriots lose Super Bowl XXXI 1997 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 31–10 Patriots 33–6 Patriots 40–35–1 1998 Tie 1–1 Bills 13–10 Patriots 25–21 Patriots 41–36–1 Former Patriots QB Doug Flutie faces his former team with the Bills 1999 Bills 2–0 Bills 17–7 Bills 13–10(OT) Patriots 41–38–1
2000s (Patriots, 18–2) Season Season series at Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots Overall series Notes 2000 Tie 1–1 Patriots 13–10(OT) Bills 16–13(OT) Patriots 42–39–1 2001 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 12–9(OT) Patriots 21–11 Patriots 44–39–1 Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVI 2002 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 38–7 Patriots 27–17 Patriots 46–39–1 Patriots open Gillette Stadium. Patriots trade QB Drew Bledsoe to Bills 2003 Tie 1–1 Bills 31–0 Patriots 31–0 Patriots 47–40–1 Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVIII 2004 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 31–17 Patriots 29–6 Patriots 49–40–1 Patriots win Super Bowl XXXIX 2005 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 35–7 Patriots 21–16 Patriots 51–40–1 2006 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 28–6 Patriots 19–17 Patriots 53–40–1 Patriots win in Foxboro with DT Ty Warren sacking Bills QB J. P. Losman for a safety in 4th quarter 2007 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 56–10 Patriots 38–7 Patriots 55–40–1 Patriots complete 16–0 regular season, lose Super Bowl XLII 2008 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 13–0 Patriots 20–10 Patriots 57–40–1 2009 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 17–10 Patriots 25–24 Patriots 59–40–1 Bills KR Leodis McKelvin fumbles kickoff in 4th quarter of New England home game, leading to Patriots win
2010s (Patriots, 17–3) Season Season series at Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots Overall series Notes 2010 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 34–3 Patriots 38–30 Patriots 61–40–1 Patriots win 15 straight meetings 2011 Tie 1–1 Bills 34–31 Patriots 49–21 Patriots 62–41–1 Bills come back from 21–0 deficit to win 34–31 in Buffalo. Patriots lose Super Bowl XLVI 2012 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 52–28 Patriots 37–31 Patriots 64–41–1 2013 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 23–21 Patriots 34–20 Patriots 66–41–1 2014 Tie 1–1 Patriots 37–22 Bills 17–9 Patriots 67–42–1 Bills first win at New England since 2000. Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX 2015 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 40–32 Patriots 20–13 Patriots 69–42–1 2016 Tie 1–1 Patriots 41–25 Bills 16–0 Patriots 70–43–1 Patriots win Super Bowl LI 2017 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 23–3 Patriots 37–16 Patriots 72–43–1 Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski elbows Bills CB Tre'Davious White. Patriots lose Super Bowl LII 2018 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 25–6 Patriots 24–12 Patriots 74–43–1 Patriots win Super Bowl LIII 2019 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 16–10 Patriots 24–17 Patriots 76–43–1 Patriots clinch 11th consecutive AFC East Division title with win in Foxborough. This game was also Tom Brady's final win in a Patriots uniform.
Summary of Results Season Season series at Buffalo Bills at Boston/N.E. Patriots Notes AFL regular season Patriots 11–8–1 Patriots 5–4–1 Patriots 6–4 NFL regular season Patriots 64–35 Patriots 31–18 Patriots 33–17 AFL and NFL regular season Patriots 75–43–1 Patriots 36–22–1 Patriots 39–21 AFL and NFL postseason Patriots 1–0 Patriots 1–0 no games Regular and postseason Patriots 75–43–1 Patriots 36–22–1 Patriots 39–21

Connections between the teams

There have been several players who have played for the Bills and Patriots, including:

• Doug Flutie[30] – New England Patriots (1987–1989; 2005) and Buffalo Bills (1998–2000)
• Drew Bledsoe[31] – New England Patriots (1993–2001) and Buffalo Bills (2002–2004)
• Lawyer Milloy[32] – New England Patriots (1996–2002) and Buffalo Bills (2003–2005)
• Antowain Smith[33] – Buffalo Bills (1997–2000) and New England Patriots (2001–2003)
• Fred Smerlas[34] – Buffalo Bills (1979–1989) and New England Patriots (1991–1992)
• Sam Gash[35] – New England Patriots (1992–1997) and Buffalo Bills (1998–1999; 2003)
• Larry Centers[36] – Buffalo Bills (2001–2002) and New England Patriots (2003)
• Charles Johnson[37] – New England Patriots (2001) and Buffalo Bills (2002)
• Sammy Morris[38] – Buffalo Bills (2000–2003) and New England Patriots (2007–2010)
• Brandon Spikes[39] – New England Patriots (2010–2013) and Buffalo Bills (2014; 2016)
• Scott Chandler[40] – Buffalo Bills (2010–2014) and New England Patriots (2015)
• Chris Hogan[41] – Buffalo Bills (2012–2015) and New England Patriots (2016–2018)
• Stephon Gilmore[42] – Buffalo Bills (2012–2016) and New England Patriots (2017–)
• Mike Gillislee[43] – Buffalo Bills (2015–2016) and New England Patriots (2017)
• Alan Branch[44] – Buffalo Bills (2013) and New England Patriots (2014–2017)

In addition to players, the two teams have shared head coaches. Lou Saban was the first coach in Patriots history but was fired after five games of the 1961 season. He took over the Bills in 1962 and won two American Football League titles (1964–65). After a five-season period in Denver he returned to the Bills for the 1972–76 period.[45]

Hank Bullough coached both teams: He was co-head coach (with Ron Erhardt) for the Patriots at the end of 1978 and coached the Bills for the final twelve games of 1985 and the first nine games of 1986.[46]

Pepper Johnson joined the Bills coaching staff in 2014 after fourteen seasons on the Patriots staff.[47]

Brian Daboll was hired as the Bills' offensive coordinator on January 14, 2018, having previously served as the Patriots' tight-end coach.[48]

In popular culture

The Bills–Patriots rivalry was satired in the Family Guy episode "3 Acts of God" in which the roles were reversed. In the first part of the episode, Peter Griffin—along with his family and friends—attends a game between the Patriots and Bills at Gillette Stadium, which the Patriots lose following a last-minute blunder, leading to their 10th straight loss. The episode also features Bills players Mario Williams and C. J. Spiller guest starring as themselves.[49]

References

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35. "Sam Gash". NFL.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
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37. "Charles Johnson". NFL.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
38. "Sammy Morris". NFL.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
39. "Brandon Spikes". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
40. "Scott Chandler". NFL.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
41. "Chris Hogan". NFL.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
42. "Stephon Gilmore". NFL.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
43. "Mike Gillislee". NFL.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
44. "Alan Branch". NFL.com. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
45. Lou Saban Archived October 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
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49. Miller, Dallas (March 17, 2014). "Bills make primetime appearance on Family Guy". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2018.