| Year: | 2012 |
| Team: | Buffalo Bills |
| Coach: | Chan Gailey |
| General Manager: | Buddy Nix |
| Owner: | Ralph Wilson |
| Stadium: | Ralph Wilson Stadium |
| Record: | 6–10 |
| Division Place: | 4th AFC East |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | C. J. Spiller, RB Kyle Williams, DT Jairus Byrd, S |
| Ap All-Pros: | Jairus Byrd, S |
| Shortnavlink: | Bills seasons |
The 2012 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 43rd season in the National Football League (NFL), the 53rd overall and the third and final under head coach Chan Gailey. The team had hoped to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but failed and continue to own the NFL's longest playoff drought.
2012 was the final year on the Bills' current lease with Ralph Wilson Stadium as well as the final year on the current 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 come to an agreement extending the series,[1] a condition that both sides have 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 dollars.[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 through for at least another 7 years.[5]
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.)
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.)
See main article: 2012 NFL draft.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | South Carolina | |||
| 2 | 41 | Georgia | |||
| 3 | 69 | NC State | |||
| 4 | 105 | Florida State | |||
| 124 | Cornerback | LSU | |||
| 5 | 144 | Florida State | |||
| 147 | TCU | ||||
| 6 | 178 | Guard | Oregon | ||
| 7 | 251 | Western Michigan |
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.
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.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com 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 |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com 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 | |
| 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 | 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 | 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.With the loss, the Bills dropped to 3–6 and 0–11 against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
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.
Bills Toronto SeriesWith the loss, the Bills fall to 5–9 and are officially eliminated from postseason contention.
| 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 | |
| Tackles | Nick Barnett | 82 Tackles | |
| Sacks | Mario Williams | 9.5 Sacks | |
| Interceptions | Jairus Byrd | 5 INTs |
Stats correct through week 14.