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Head coach Rex Ryan (weeks 1–16)Anthony Lynn (interim, week 17) | ||
The 2016 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League, its 57th overall, its fourth under leadership of general manager Doug Whaley and its second under head coach Rex Ryan. The Bills failed to make the playoffs for the 17th straight season, 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 Bills, after they failed to make the playoffs in his two years there.
Contents
- Draft
- Undrafted free agents
- Staff
- Regular season
- Week 2 vs New York Jets
- Week 3 vs Arizona Cardinals
- Week 4 at New England Patriots
- Week 5 at Los Angeles Rams
- Week 6 vs San Francisco 49ers
- Week 7 at Miami Dolphins
- Week 9 at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 11 at Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 12 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 13 at Oakland Raiders
- Week 15 vs Cleveland Browns
- Week 16 vs Miami Dolphins
- Week 17 at New York Jets
- References
Draft
Notes
Undrafted free agents
All undrafted free agents were signed after the 2016 NFL draft concluded on April 30 unless otherwise noted.
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 will also 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 Jets in their home opener in a game in which the defense cost the team the game, Ryan fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman and promoted running backs coach Anthony Lynn to the position.
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
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 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 17–6 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 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 are lost for the season.
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
With the loss, the Bills dropped to 6–6.
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.
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. With the loss, Buffalo ended the season 7–9.