2012 Buffalo Bills season

53rd season in franchise history From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2012 Buffalo Bills season

The 2012 season was the Buffalo Bills' 43rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 53rd overall, and their third and final season under head coach Chan Gailey. The team had hoped to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but instead extended the NFL's longest playoff drought.

Quick Facts Buffalo Bills season, Owner ...
2012 Buffalo Bills season
OwnerRalph Wilson
General managerBuddy Nix
Head coachChan Gailey
Home stadiumRalph Wilson Stadium
Results
Record6–10
Division place4th AFC East
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro BowlersRB C. J. Spiller
DT Kyle Williams
S Jairus Byrd
All-ProsS Jairus Byrd
Uniform
Thumb
Close

2012 was the final year on the Bills' current lease at Ralph Wilson Stadium, as well as the final year on the Bills Toronto Series agreement. The league had approved an additional five-year extension of the Toronto series, extending through 2017 on the condition that the Bills and Rogers Communications came to an agreement to do so,[1] a condition that both sides indicated willingness to do. The Bills and the league demanded significant and expensive renovations to Ralph Wilson Stadium as a condition of renewing the stadium lease.[2] The Buffalo News reported renovations could top $200 million.[3] The Bills and Erie County (the owners of Ralph Wilson Stadium) missed the deadline for a long-term agreement in September 2012;[4] however, on December 21, the Bills agreed with Erie County to a 10-year lease on Ralph Wilson Stadium, extending it for at least another seven years.[5]

Personnel changes

On January 2, 2012, one day after the conclusion of the season, George Edwards was fired from his position as defensive coordinator. Edwards had been the defensive coordinator for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Former NFL and college head coach Dave Wannstedt was promoted to defensive coordinator. (Bills head coach Chan Gailey had been the offensive coordinator under Wannstedt in 2000 and 2001, when Wannstedt was Miami's head coach.)

Roster changes

Summarize
Perspective
Thumb
Buffalo's defensive linemen at training camp in August 2012

In his annual season-ending press conference, general manager Buddy Nix laid out his priorities for the offseason. Nix stated that the team was eager to re-sign wide receiver Stevie Johnson, kicker Rian Lindell and offensive tackle Demetress Bell. Johnson and Lindell were successfully re-signed; Bell was signed by Philadelphia. He also stated that he wanted to re-sign running back Fred Jackson and have him retire as a Bill.[6] Jackson whose contract ran through the end of the 2012 season was having a career season before a mid season 2011 injury. Johnson renewed his contract with the Bills for five years and $36.2 million on March 5, 2012.[7]

On March 15, 2012, the Bills made the biggest free agent acquisition in team history, signing all-pro defensive end Mario Williams to a contract worth $100 million over six years, with $50 million guaranteed, the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history.[8] The recruiting of Williams took place over three days, starting with general manager Buddy Nix and defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt escorting Williams to Buffalo in a private jet. Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly was also part of the recruiting.

On March 21, 2012 Mark Anderson, who had 12.5 sacks with the Patriots over the 2011 regular season and playoffs, signed a four-year deal with Buffalo.[9] With announced plans to switch to the 4–3 defense the Bills could field Mario Williams at left end and Anderson on the opposite side in passing situations. Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus will anchor the middle of the defensive line.

On May 11, 2012 the Bills made yet another high-profile signing by signing QB Vince Young to a one-year contract to back up Ryan Fitzpatrick.[10] Young was the 3rd overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. He was nonetheless released in the middle of the preseason, with Gailey citing inconsistency as the reason, and replaced by Tarvaris Jackson, whom the Bills acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. Because Jackson was not ready for the start of the regular season, the Bills will go with four quarterbacks on its roster for the first several weeks of the season.

Kickoff specialist John Potter, a rookie, made the 53-man roster. He will specialize in kickoffs to ease pressure on the team's aging kickers, placekicker Rian Lindell and punter Brian Moorman, who handled the duties in the past. (Moorman would be released from the roster three weeks into the regular season.)

2012 Draft

Notes

^[a] The team acquired an additional fourth-round selection (#124 overall) in a trade that sent wide receiver Lee Evans to the Baltimore Ravens.
^[b] The team acquired an additional fifth-round selection (#147 overall) as part of a trade that sent running back Marshawn Lynch to the Seattle Seahawks.
^[c] Compensatory selection.

Undrafted free agents

Stanford safety Delano Howell, Missouri State running back Chris Douglas, Virginia Tech cornerback Cris Hill, Colorado State offensive lineman Paul Madsen, Florida State punter Shawn Powell, Texas offensive lineman David Snow, Penn State safety Nick Sukay, Mercyhurst safety/long snapper Ian Wild, Texas A&M linebacker Garrick Williams and Richmond quarterback Aaron Corp.[11] Corp was later released.

Staff

Summarize
Perspective
2012 Buffalo Bills staff

Front office

  • President – Ralph Wilson
  • CEO – Russ Brandon
  • Executive vice president/general manager – Buddy Nix
  • Senior vice president of football administration – Jim Overdorf
  • Director of Football Administration – Don Purdy
  • Assistant general manager/director of player personnel – Doug Whaley
  • Player Personnel Analyst – Kevin Meganck
  • Director of pro personnel – Tom Gibbons
  • Pro Personnel Coordinator – Rob Hanrahan
  • Director of college scouting – Chuck Cook

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

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

Summarize
Perspective
2012 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 13 reserve, 10 practice squad

Schedule

Summarize
Perspective

Preseason

More information Week, Date ...
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 9 Washington Redskins L 6–7 0–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
2 August 17 at Minnesota Vikings L 14–36 0–2 Mall of America Field Recap
3 August 25 Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–38 0–3 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
4 August 30 at Detroit Lions L 32–38 0–4 Ford Field Recap
Close

Regular season

More information Week, Date ...
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 9 at New York Jets L 28–48 0–1 MetLife Stadium Recap
2 September 16 Kansas City Chiefs W 35–17 1–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
3 September 23 at Cleveland Browns W 24–14 2–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
4 September 30 New England Patriots L 28–52 2–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
5 October 7 at San Francisco 49ers L 3–45 2–3 Candlestick Park Recap
6 October 14 at Arizona Cardinals W 19–16 (OT) 3–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
7 October 21 Tennessee Titans L 34–35 3–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
8 Bye
9 November 4 at Houston Texans L 9–21 3–5 Reliant Stadium Recap
10 November 11 at New England Patriots L 31–37 3–6 Gillette Stadium Recap
11 November 15 Miami Dolphins W 19–14 4–6 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
12 November 25 at Indianapolis Colts L 13–20 4–7 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
13 December 2 Jacksonville Jaguars W 34–18 5–7 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
14 December 9 St. Louis Rams L 12–15 5–8 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
15 December 16 Seattle Seahawks L 17–50 5–9 Canada Rogers Centre (Toronto) Recap
16 December 23 at Miami Dolphins L 10–24 5–10 Sun Life Stadium Recap
17 December 30 New York Jets W 28–9 6–10 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
Close

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

 #  Indicates the game was part of the Bills Toronto Series.

Game summaries

Week 1: at New York Jets

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 7 71428
Jets 7 20 14748
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week One: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – Game summary

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: September 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 79,088
  • Referee: Robert Frazer
  • TV announcers (CBS): Marv Albert and Rich Gannon

Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 01717
Bills 7 14 14035
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Two: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: September 16
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), mostly sunny
  • Game attendance: 69,402
  • Referee: Robert Dalton
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein

Week 3: at Cleveland Browns

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 14 0 3724
Browns 0 7 7014
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Three: Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns – Game summary

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: September 23
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C), rain
  • Game attendance: 69,353
  • Referee: David Scott
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein

Week 4: vs. New England Patriots

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 0 143152
Bills 0 14 7728
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Four: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 70,684
  • Referee: John Parry
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf

Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 3 003
49ers 3 14 72145
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Five: Buffalo Bills at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

Week 6: at Arizona Cardinals

More information Quarter, OT ...
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Bills 9 0 70319
Cardinals 3 7 33016
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Six: Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: October 14
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EDT/1:05 p.m. Arizona time
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 60,385
  • Referee: Alberto Riveron
  • TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker

Week 7: vs. Tennessee Titans

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Titans 14 7 7735
Bills 14 6 14034
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Seven: Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: October 21
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), mostly sunny
  • Game attendance: 68,836
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Marv Albert and Rich Gannon

Week 9: at Houston Texans

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 6 309
Texans 7 0 7721
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Nine: Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans – Game summary

at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: November 4
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 71,698
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts

Week 10: at New England Patriots

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 17 7731
Patriots 10 14 7637
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Ten: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots – Game summary

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 68,756
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts

With the loss, the Bills dropped to 3–6 and 0–11 against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Week 11: vs. Miami Dolphins

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 7 0 0714
Bills 13 6 0019
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Eleven: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

By beating the Dolphins on a Thursday Night Football showdown, Buffalo improved to 4–6 and snapped an 8-game losing skid against division rivals.

Week 12: at Indianapolis Colts

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 3 3 0713
Colts 7 6 7020
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Twelve: Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 64,366
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Marv Albert and Rich Gannon

Week 13: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 10 0818
Bills 7 10 10734
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Thirteen: Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: December 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), rain
  • Game attendance: 53,971
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein (blacked out locally)

Week 14: vs. St. Louis Rams

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 0 01515
Bills 3 3 6012
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Fourteen: St. Louis Rams at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Week 15: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Bills Toronto Series

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 14 17 16350
Bills 7 10 0017
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

at Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • Date: December 16
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 40,770
  • Referee: Scott Green
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale

With the loss, the Bills fall to 5–9 and are officially eliminated from postseason contention.

Week 16: at Miami Dolphins

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 3 0710
Dolphins 7 7 10024
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Sixteen: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – Game summary

at Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: December 23
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 54,462
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui and Randy Cross

Week 17: vs. New York Jets

More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 3 6 009
Bills 7 7 01428
Close
More information Game information ...
Game information
Close
Week Seventeen: New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: December 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 28 °F (−2 °C), mostly sunny
  • Game attendance: 54,533
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (CBS): Marv Albert and Rich Gannon (blacked out locally)

Standings

More information AFC East, W ...
AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) New England Patriots 12 4 0 .750 6–0 11–1 557 331 W2
Miami Dolphins 7 9 0 .438 2–4 5–7 288 317 L1
New York Jets 6 10 0 .375 2–4 4–8 281 375 L3
Buffalo Bills 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 344 435 W1
Close

Statistics

Team leaders

More information Player(s), Value ...
Player(s)Value
Passing YardsRyan Fitzpatrick2471 Yards
Passing TouchdownsRyan Fitzpatrick20 TDs
Rushing YardsC. J. Spiller907 Yards
Rushing TouchdownsC. J. Spiller5 TDs
Receiving YardsStevie Johnson705 Yards
Receiving TouchdownsScott Chandler6 TDs
PointsRian Lindell83 Points
Kickoff Return YardsLeodis McKelvin453 Yards
Punt Return YardsLeodis McKelvin387 Yards
TacklesNick Barnett82 Tackles
SacksMario Williams9.5 Sacks
InterceptionsJairus Byrd5 INTs
Close

stats values are correct through Week 14. '

League rankings

  • Total Offense (YPG): 346.4 (17th)
  • Passing (YPG): 199 (26th)
  • Rushing (YPG): 147.9 (4th)
  • Total Defense (YPG): 368.5 (24th)
  • Passing (YPG): 229 (13th)
  • Rushing (YPG): 139.2 (30th)

Stats correct through week 14.

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.