Buffalo Bills

Guide Note:

The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team that play in the AFC East Division. The organization was established by current owner Ralph Wilson on October 28, 1959 in Lamar Hunt's AFL. Wilson initially tried to start a franchise in Miami, but was unable. He then turned to Buffalo and confirmed his success with a telegram to Hunt stating, "Count me in with Buffalo." The Buffalo Bills currently play in Orchard Park, New York at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Before getting a new stadium, the Bills occupied War Memorial Stadium in downtown Buffalo.

Fast Facts:

1. Franchise started in 1959
2. AFC Titles: 4
3. Super Bowl wins: 0
4. Won four consecutive AFC Championship games
5. Pre-1966 AFL Titles: 2 (last in 1965)
6. Home: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
7. Notable players:O.J. Simpson, Jack Kemp, Joe DeLamielleure, Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, and Thurman Thomas

While in the AFL, the Buffalo Bills won two-consecutive league championship in 1964 and 1965. The championship teams were lead by quarterback, Jack Kemp and running back Cookie Gilchrist.

As a result of the NFL-AFL merger, the Bills were now apart of the National Football League. The team was now represented by future Hall of Fame inductee, O. J. Simpson. However, with Simpson, the team only won one playoff game. In 1983, the Bills drafted USFL all-star Jim Kelly. Kelly did not join the team until the demise of the USFL in 1986. In two years the team was able to turn the franchise around and get to a 12-4 record. The success was in part due to the draft picks made by coach Marv Levy and general manager Bill Polian.

With the team's refinement of the "hurry-up" offense, The Bills were able to roll-through the 1990 NFL playoffs, appearing in their first Super Bowl against the New York Giants. They lost that contest 19-20 when kicker, Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal wide-right. The Bills went on to play in three of the proceeding Super Bowls, but failed to win in any of them.