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.
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, 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.Bailey, Budd (December 31, 2011). 2011 in review: In sports, high hopes and painful losses. The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 1, 2012. The Buffalo News reported renovations could top $200 million. The Bills and Erie County (the owners of Ralph Wilson Stadium) missed the deadline for a long-term agreement in September 2012;Jewell-Gee, Denise (September 12, 2012). Bills, county agree they need one-year extension of stadium lease. The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 12, 2012. 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.
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
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.Buffalo Rumblings: Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix Lays Out Team's Off-Season Priorities 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.
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 at the time. 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. 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 would 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. 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 went 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 specialized 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
Round Selection Player Position College 1 10 Stephon Gilmore Cornerback South Carolina 2 41 Cordy Glenn Guard Georgia 3 69 T. J. Graham Wide receiver NC State4 105 Nigel Bradham Outside linebacker Florida State 124 Ron Brooks Cornerback LSU5 144 Zebrie Sanders Tackle Florida State 147 Tank Carder Inside Linebacker TCU 6 178 Mark Asper Guard Oregon 7 251 John Potter Kicker Western Michigan Notes The team acquired an additional fourth-round selection (#124 overall) in a trade that sent wide receiver Lee Evans to the Baltimore Ravens. 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. 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. Corp was later released.
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Washington Redskins L 6–7 0–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 2 at Minnesota Vikings L 14–36 0–2 Mall of America Field Recap 3 Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–38 0–3 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 4 at Detroit Lions L 32–38 0–4 Ford Field Recap
Regular season 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 3–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 7 October 21 Tennessee Titans L 34–35 3–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 8Bye 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 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 Rogers Centre 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 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
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3: at Cleveland Browns
Week 4: vs. New England Patriots
Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 6: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 7: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 9: at Houston Texans
Week 10: at New England Patriots
With the loss, the Bills dropped to 3–6 and 0–11 against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Week 11: vs. Miami Dolphins
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
Week 13: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
With the win, the Bills improved to 5-7 and finished 1-3 against the AFC South.
Week 14: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 15: vs. Seattle Seahawks Bills Toronto Series
With the blowout loss, the Bills fell to 5-9 (1-3 against the NFC West) and they were eliminated from playoff contention for the 13th straight season.
Week 16: at Miami Dolphins
With the loss, the Bills fell to 5-10 and they finished 2-6 on the road.
Week 17: vs. New York Jets
With the win, the Bills finished the 2012 season at 6-10 (2-4 against the AFC East) and 4-4 at home.
Standings
Statistics
Team leaders Player(s) Value Passing yards Ryan Fitzpatrick 2471 Yards Passing touchdowns Ryan Fitzpatrick 20 TDs Rushing yards C. J. Spiller 907 Yards Rushing touchdowns C. J. Spiller 5 TDs Receiving yards Stevie Johnson 705 Yards Receiving touchdowns Scott Chandler 6 TDs Points Rian Lindell 83 Points Kickoff Return Yards Leodis McKelvin 453 Yards Punt return Yards Leodis McKelvin 387 Yards TacklesNick Barnett 82 Tackles Sacks Mario Williams 9.5 Sacks Interceptions Jairus Byrd 5 INTs 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
External links