The Buffalo Bills–a team that was as good as it gets for an extended period–are never included on the list of NFL dynasties. I think they should.
We’ve seen a number of dynasties during the NFL’s so-called “Modern Era.” In the 1960s, it was the Green Bay Packers. The 1970s saw the Pittsburgh Steelers stand in the spotlight. The San Francisco 49ers did the same in the 1980s, as did the Dallas Cowboys during the ’90s. And the New England Patriots have owned the league for as long as young NFL fans can remember.
All these teams captured Super Bowl titles.
But does winning ‘The Big One’–and doing it more than once–represent the turnkey to dynastic status? Some would say, of course. I say, ‘Wait a minute!”
Let’s face facts. In the early 1990s, the Buffalo Bills were as good as it gets for a solid 4-5 years. For one thing, Marv Levy’s team went to four straight Super Bowls. Think about that for a minute. Not even the Patriots have done that. The problem. of course, is that the Bills lost all four times.
But let’s forget that result for just a minute. Focus on the team that was able to achieve the feat.
Head coach Marv Levy and his staff created a unique offense, The K-Gun, that QB Jim Kelly ran to near perfection– mainly because the Bills had the personnel to do it.
Thurman Thomas, the ultimate dual-threat RB, was elusive, intelligent, and sturdy. That man left it on the field week after week. It’s one reason why he wears a Gold Jacket today, as does Kelly.
Andre Reed, who often drew double coverage, was one of the best wide receivers in the game. That left veteran James Lofton, who played opposite Reed, in one-on-one coverage. Smart and crafty, Stanford-grad Lofton made a living of schooling NFL cornerbacks. Then there was little ole’ Don Beebe. Beebe never put up big numbers, but he always seemed to come through at crunch time.
The Bills’ offense was the original ‘Fast and Furious,’ running plays every 15 – 20 seconds, which often kept the defense on the field, tired and confused.
But this wasn’t a one-dimensional team. The Bills had a ferocious defense led by another Hall of Famer, Bruce Smith. Smith, a sack master, still holds the record for most all-time sacks. He wasn’t alone, either. Cornelius Bennett, Phil Hansen, Jeff Wright, Darryl Talley and role players (e.g., James Williams, Nate Odomes) all did their jobs.
And on Special Teams, the Bills had another smart and crafty guy. Northwester-bred Steve Tasker was one of the best ST players in NFL history. Think that’s hyperbole? Not a chance!
And if ‘That Kick” (Scott Norwood’s errant Super Bowl field goal attempt against the Giants) hadn’t gone wide right, perhaps I wouldn’t have had to write this article.
The Buffalo Bills would have their rightful standing–along with the Packers, Steelers, 49ers, Cowboys, and Patriots–as an NFL dynasty.
Heck, the Bills should be there now. Sadly, they’re not.
1st) Tasker SHOULD be in HOF.
2) Living in buffalo And trying to explain my daughter how amazing this team was without her looking at me like I’m telling her the sky is falling is taxing.