The 2009 season was the Buffalo Bills' 40th season in the National Football League (NFL) the 50th overall and the fourth and final under the head coach Dick Jauron.
The Bills brought in star receiver Terrell Owens in an attempt to revitalize the fanbase and improve the receiving corps for embattled quarterback Trent Edwards. However, they were unable to improve upon their third consecutive 7–9 regular-season record (2006, 2007 and 2008) and failed to make the playoffs for the 10th consecutive year, the longest-standing playoff drought in the NFL which did not end until the 2017 season.
Jauron returned as head coach for a fourth season, the first Bills coach since Marv Levy to receive a contract extension beyond three years. He was fired on November 17 after a 3–6 start, and was replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, who was fired at the end of the season, but not before starting Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback for the rest of the season.
In addition, running back Fred Jackson emerged as an effective starter, eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards in the wake of Marshawn Lynch dealing with an early-season suspension and injuries.
With the 2009 season, the Bills became one of only two non-expansion teams to not make the playoffs in the 2000s (the other being the Detroit Lions).
Offseason
Notable roster additions WR Terrell Owens – Signed March 7. – Former Team: Dallas Cowboys CB Drayton Florence – Signed March 3. – Former Team: Jacksonville Jaguars QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – Signed February 27. – Former Team: Cincinnati Bengals C Geoff Hangartner – Signed February 28. – Former team: Carolina Panthers RB Dominic Rhodes – Signed April 18. But released September 5 – Former Team: Indianapolis Colts
Notable roster losses OG Derrick Dockery – Released February 26. Dockery re-joined the Washington Redskins. QB J. P. Losman – Allowed to leave as a free agent. After not receiving any interest from the NFL, signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League in June 2009. TE Robert Royal – Released February 26. Royal signed a contract to join the Cleveland Browns. LT Jason Peters – Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Traded for the 28th (Eric Wood) and 121st pick (Shawn Nelson) in the 2009 NFL draft and a conditional 6th round pick in the 2010 NFL draft. LT/RT Langston Walker – Released September 8. Re-signed with the Oakland Raiders.
NFL draft
The Bills drafted three players—Eric Wood, Andy Levitre and Jairus Byrd—who would later become starters on the team. Byrd was runner-up in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. First round pick Aaron Maybin was released from the Bills shortly before the 2011 season after two disappointing seasons with the team. = Pro Bowler Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.
Round Pick # Player Position College 1 11 Aaron Maybin Defensive end Penn State 1 28 Eric Wood Center Louisville 2 42 Jairus Byrdvoted to Pro Bowl as a rookie Safety Oregon 2 51 Andy Levitre Guard Oregon State 4 121 Shawn Nelson Tight end Southern Miss 5 147 Nic Harris Safety Oklahoma 6 183 Cary Harris Cornerback USC 7 220 Ellis Lankster Cornerback West Virginia
Undrafted free agents
+ 2009 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeNick HennesseyTackleColgateRyan ManalacLinebackerCincinnatiAshlee PalmerLinebackerOle MissGarrison SanbornLong snapperFlorida State
Staff Buffalo Bills 2009 staff Front office Owner/founder/president – Ralph Wilson
Head coaches Head coach – Dick Jauron Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator – Bobby April Assistant to the head coach/special projects – Chuck Lester
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Alex Van Pelt Running game coordinator/running backs – Eric Studesville Wide receivers – Tyke Tolbert Tight ends – Charlie Coiner Offensive line – Sean Kugler Assistant offensive line – Ray Brown Offensive quality control – Nathaniel Hackett Defensive coaches Interim head coach/defensive coordinator – Perry Fewell Defensive line – Bob Sanders Linebackers – Matt Sheldon Defensive backs – George Catavolos Defensive/special teams assistant – Cannon Matthews Defensive quality control – Adrian White Pass rush consultant – Joe Kim
Special teams coaches Special teams assistant/assistant linebackers – DeMontie Cross
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – John Allairie Strength and conditioning assistant – Dan Liburd
Roster
Preseason The Bills were selected to play against the Tennessee Titans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009; the game seeks to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American Football League. Bills owner Ralph Wilson was among the 2009 inductees to the Hall and is one of the two surviving original AFL owners, the other being Titans owner Bud Adams. Each team wore their AFL throwback uniforms, with the Titans in Houston Oilers uniforms, as the team played in Houston until the early-1990s.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap HOF August 9 vs. Tennessee Titans L 18–21 0–1 Fawcett Stadium Recap 1 Chicago Bears W 27–20 1–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 2 at Green Bay Packers L 21–31 1–2 Lambeau Field Recap 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 0–17 1–3 Heinz Field Recap 4 Detroit Lions L 6–17 1–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
Regular season The Bills played a 16-game schedule in 2009, in accordance with the NFL scheduling formula. The schedule consisted of six games against their AFC East divisional rivals (two each against the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets), four intra-conference games versus the AFC South (one game each against the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans), four inter-conference games against teams from the NFC South (one game each against the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and two games against the remaining two AFC teams that, like Buffalo, finished fourth in their respective divisions in 2008 (one game each versus the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs). For the first time, the Bills faced the Buccaneers in Buffalo; in the 33-year history of the Tampa Bay franchise, all previous regular-season games between the two teams were held in Tampa, Florida.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New England Patriots L 24–25 0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 September 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 33–20 1–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 3 September 27 New Orleans Saints L 7–27 1–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at Miami Dolphins L 10–38 1–3 Land Shark Stadium Recap 5 October 11 Cleveland Browns L 3–6 1–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 6 October 18 at New York Jets W 16–13 2–4 Giants Stadium Recap 7 October 25 at Carolina Panthers W 20–9 3–4 Bank of America Stadium Recap 8 November 1 Houston Texans L 10–31 3–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 9Bye 10 November 15 at Tennessee Titans L 17–41 3–6 LP Field Recap 11 November 22 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 15–18 3–7 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Recap 12 November 29 Miami Dolphins W 31–14 4–7 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 13 New York Jets L 13–19 4–8 Rogers Centre Recap 14 December 13 at Kansas City Chiefs W 16–10 5–8 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 15 December 20 New England Patriots L 10–17 5–9 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 16 December 27 at Atlanta FalconsL 3–31 5–10 Georgia Dome Recap 17 January 3 Indianapolis Colts W 30–7 6–10 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Regular season
Week 1
The Bills began their season at Gillette Stadium for an AFL Legacy duel with their AFC East rival, the New England Patriots, in the first game of a MNF doubleheader. Buffalo got off to a fast start in the first quarter as quarterback Trent Edwards completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Shawn Nelson. The Patriots would respond in the second quarter as running back Fred Taylor got a 1-yard touchdown run, yet Buffalo came right back as defensive end Aaron Schobel returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown. New England would close out the half with kicker Stephen Gostkowski getting a 20-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Bills would add to their lead as kicker Rian Lindell made a 40-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots replied with Gostkowski nailing a 28-yard field goal. Buffalo would increase their lead as Edwards completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to running back Fred Jackson. With just over 5 minutes to play, The Patriots would strike back as quarterback Tom Brady completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Benjamin Watson (with a failed two-point conversion). On the ensuing kickoff, cornerback Leodis McKelvin got the kickoff from his own endzone and got as far as the Bills 31-yard line, where he was stripped of the ball and New England's Gostkowski recovered. This would eventually set up Brady's 16-yard touchdown pass to Watson (with another failed two-point conversion). With under a minute to play Buffalo tried to respond, but the Patriots' defense was too much to overcome.
With the bitter loss, the Bills began their season at 0–1.
Week 2
Hoping to rebound from a tough loss to the Patriots, the Bills would play their Week 2 home opener in an interconference duel with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This would be the first time that Buffalo ever hosted Tampa Bay in a regular season game, having played a preseason game with each other in 1977. In the first quarter, the Bills came out firing as quarterback Trent Edwards completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lee Evans, safety Donte Whitner returning an interception 76 yards for a touchdown and kicker Rian Lindell making a 31-yard field goal. The Buccaneers would get on the board in the second quarter as quarterback Byron Leftwich completed a 42-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kellen Winslow, while Buffalo replied with Lindell getting a 43-yard field goal. Tampa Bay would close out the half as Leftwich completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. After a scoreless third quarter, the Bills began to pull away as Lindell got a 43-yard field goal and Edwards completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terrell Owens. The Buccaneers tried to rally as Leftwich completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jerramy Stevens (with a failed two-point conversion), yet Buffalo closed out the game with Lindell nailing a 20-yard field goal. With the win, the Bills improved to 1–1.
Week 3
Coming off their win the Buccaneers, the Bills stayed at home for a Week 3 interconference duel with the New Orleans Saints. Buffalo would trail early as Saints running back Lynell Hamilton got a 1-yard touchdown run. The Bills would answer in the second quarter on a fake field goal attempt, punter Brian Moorman threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to defensive end Ryan Denney. New Orleans would close out the half with kicker John Carney's 27-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, the Saints took control in the fourth quarter with running back Pierre Thomas' 34-yard touchdown run, Carney's 35-yard field goal and Thomas' 19-yard touchdown run. With the loss, Buffalo fell to 1–2.
Week 4
Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Saints, the Bills flew to Land Shark Stadium for a Week 4 AFC East duel with the Miami Dolphins. After a scoreless first quarter, Buffalo would find themselves trailing in the second as Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter got a 33-yard field goal, followed by cornerback Vontae Davis returning an interception 23 yards for a touchdown. The Bills would get on the board with a 35-yard field goal from kicker Rian Lindell, but Miami would answer with running back Ronnie Brown's 1-yard touchdown run.