1989 Buffalo Bills season

Bickering Bills

The team was nicknamed the Bickering Bills because of a rash of internal conflicts within the team. During a Monday Night loss to the Denver Broncos, star quarterback Jim Kelly could be seen arguing with wide receiver Chris Burkett, which led to the latter's last game with the team, as he was released shortly after the game.

Kelly was injured in a Week 5 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts and subsequently blamed his offensive line's blocking, notably offensive tackle Howard Ballard, for contributing to his injury.

In the week leading up to a Week 8 matchup with Miami, assistant coaches Tom Bresnahan and Nick Nicolau got into a fistfight while the two were reviewing game film.

The biggest blowup occurred when starting running back Thurman Thomas, asking to address Jim Kelly's criticism of the offense, and the pass-catching ability of running back Ronnie Harmon in particular, criticized Kelly himself on a Rochester, New York television show. When asked what position the Bills could upgrade at, Thomas replied, "Quarterback." Thomas claimed at first that it was a joke, but later, when appearing on Paul Maguire's Budweiser Sportsline show, he stated that the team didn't appreciate Kelly's public criticism and that Kelly should elevate his level of play.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1989 NFL draft

Unable to select a first or second-round pick in the 1989 draft, the Bills were able to pick wide receiver Don Beebe. Beebe was a third-round pick from small Chadron State. He would be a productive wide receiver for the team for six seasons. Beebe would achieve something akin to folk hero status in Buffalo, when, in Super Bowl XXVII, as the Bills were being soundly defeated by Dallas, Beebe chased down Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett, stripped the ball from his hands and saved what would have been a sure touchdown.

The Bills also drafted future two-sport athlete Brian Jordan in the seventh round. Though the Bills cut him before the 1989 season began, Jordan would go on to play three productive seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, and fifteen seasons as a Major League Baseball outfielder.

Supplemental draft

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

Staff

• President – Ralph Wilson

• Vice-president of administration/general manager – Bill Polian

• Vice-president of football operations – Marv Levy

• Assistant general manager/director of pro personnel – Bob Ferguson

• Director of player personnel – John Butler

• Assistant director/collegiate scouting – A. J. Smith

• National scout – Norm Pollom

• Administrative assistant to the head coach – Chuck Dickerson

• Head coach – Marv Levy

• Offensive coordinator – Ted Marchibroda

• Running backs – Elijah Pitts

• Receivers – Nick Nicolau

• Tight ends – Chuck Dickerson

• Offensive line – Tom Bresnahan

• Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Walt Corey

• Defensive line – Ted Cottrell

• Defensive backs – Dick Roach

• Defensive Assistant/linebackers – Chuck Lester

• Special teams – Bruce DeHaven

• Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – Rusty Jones

Roster

47 active, 12 inactive, 4 practice squad

Regular season

Before the season, future Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith was offered a large contract by Denver (US$7.5 million over five years), one that the Bills chose to match to retain Smith. In 1989, Smith became the Bills' all-time sack leader when he reached his 52nd sack; he would end his 19-year career with 200, the most of any NFL player all-time.

Despite the internal strife the Bills experienced, they had some memorable wins. The Bills started the season with a last-second victory at Miami. The Dolphins led 24–13 in the fourth but Buffalo scored on a Flip Johnson touchdown catch, then with two seconds left on the clock, quarterback Jim Kelly dropped back to pass, but ran the ball in to the end zone as time expired, securing a 27–24 win.

In Week Three, the Bills traveled to the Houston Astrodome and faced the "Run, and Shoot" Oilers. The Bills raced to a 27–10 lead in the third, but the Oilers exploded and the two teams combined for 45 points to force overtime. In overtime, a missed Tony Zendejas kick allowed the Bills to win on Jim Kelly's 28-yard score to Andre Reed. The 47–41 win would become the highest-scoring game between the two franchises. Kelly finished with five touchdown throws.

In Week Six the Bills hosted the undefeated Los Angeles Rams, with backup quarterback Frank Reich subbing for an injured Jim Kelly. The two clubs combined for 26 fourth-quarter points, and with 77 seconds remaining Reich started a drive from the Buffalo 36 yard line and with sixteen seconds left Andre Reed caught the winning eight-yard touchdown.

In Week Thirteen, on Monday Night Football, the Bills lost to the Seattle Seahawks 17–16, which included Seahawk Steve Largent running in a botched extra-point attempt. Dave Krieg's 51-yard touchdown in the fourth was ultimately the 1-point difference.

The Bills then lost their next two games (to the Saints and 49ers) before securing the AFC East title with a shutout road win over the New York Jets.

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1

First quarter

• BUF – Scott Norwood 34 yard field goal, 2:34. ''Bills 3–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
• MIA – Troy Stradford 1-yard run (Pete Stoyanovich kick), 8:48. ''Dolphins 7–3. '''Drive:'''''
• MIA – Pete Stoyanovich 29-yard field goal, 0:03. ''Dolphins 10–3. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
• BUF – Larry Kinnebrew 2-yard run (Scott Norwood kick), 11:58. ''Tie 10–10. '''Drive:'''''
• MIA – Marc Logan 2-yard blocked punt return (Pete Stoyanovich kick), 7:03. ''Dolphins 17–10. '''Drive:'''''
• BUF – Scott Norwood 37-yard field goal, 2:11. ''Dolphins 17–13. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
• MIA – Andre Brown 8-yard pass from Dan Marino (Pete Stoyanovich kick), 4:17. ''Dolphins 24–13. '''Drive:'''''
• BUF – Flip Johnson 26-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick), 2:50. ''Dolphins 24–20. '''Drive:'''''
• BUF – Jim Kelly 2-yard run (Scott Norwood kick), 0:00. ''Bills 27–24. '''Drive: 51 yards.''''' ;Top passers
• BUF – Jim Kelly – 25/40, 265 yards, TD
• MIA – Dan Marino – 25/38, 255 yards, TD, 2 INT ;Top rushers
• BUF – Thurman Thomas – 13 rushes, 94 yards
• MIA – Troy Stradford – 12 rushes, 43 yards, TD ;Top receivers
• BUF – Thurman Thomas – 8 receptions, 65 yards
• MIA – Ferrell Edmunds – 5 receptions, 58 yards

Week 2

The Bills lost on Monday Night Football 28–14, giving up a safety when Jamie Mueller was downed in the Bills endzone in the first quarter. It never got better as Jim Kelly was intercepted three times by the Broncos. John Elway and four Broncos backs rushed for 201 yards and won despite ten penalties for 71 yards. Kelly got into a confrontation with receiver Chris Burkett. In the game, Burkett had only one catch for six yards; Burkett was cut and quickly signed by the Jets.

Week 3

The Bills traveled to the Astrodome and the ensuing game against the Oilers became the highest-scoring meeting in the two clubs' history. With Buffalo up 13–10 on the final play of the second quarter a blocked Oilers field goal attempt was run back for a 76-yard Bills touchdown by Mark Kelso. The Bills clawed to a 27–10 lead but the Oilers scored two quick touchdowns in the third, the second a Cris Dishman score on a blocked punt. Warren Moon was drilled as he rifled a touchdown to Ernest Givens and Givens literally jumped over three Bills defenders as he landed in the endzone; a Kelly interception led to a Lorenzo White score, but after a Thurman Thomas touchdown and the overturning of a Bills pick-six, Moon drove down for Tony Zendejas's game-tying 52-yard field goal. Zendejas missed another kick in overtime, and Kelly's 28-yard strike to Andre Reed ended the game, a 47–41 overtime Bills win.

Week 4: vs. New England Patriots

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• NE – Doug Flutie – 15/41, 176 yards, TD, INT
• BUF – Jim Kelly – 12/17, 278 yards, 3 TD ;Top rushers
• NE – Bob Perryman – 15 rushes, 68 yards
• BUF – Thurman Thomas – 21 rushes, 105 yards, TD ;Top receivers
• NE – Cedric Jones – 4 receptions, 48 yards, TD
• BUF – Andre Reed – 4 receptions, 114 yards

Week 6

Week 8

This game would set a Bill's record for the highest attendance at Rich Stadium for a Bill's game to date.

Week 9

This would be the final win of the season for Atlanta.

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• CIN – Boomer Esiason – 11/26, 136 yards, INT
• BUF – Jim Kelly – 10/15, 123 yards, 3 TD ;Top rushers
• CIN – James Brooks – 20 rushes, 105 yards
• BUF – Thurman Thomas – 26 rushes, 100 yards ;Top receivers
• CIN – Tim McGee – 5 receptions, 89 yards
• BUF – Ronnie Harmon – 1 receptions, 42 yards, TD Bills first win vs Bengals since 09/11/1983

Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks

First quarter

• SEA – Norm Johnson 29-yard field goal, 11:04 (SEA 3–0)
• SEA – Curt Warner 1-yard run (Steve Largent run), 6:56 (SEA 10–0) Second quarter
• BUF – Andre Reed 61-yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick), 12:52 (SEA 10–7)
• BUF – Scott Norwood 32-yard field goal, 1:08 (Tied 10–10) Third quarter
• BUF – Scott Norwood 40-yard field goal, 12:131 (BUF 13–10)
• BUF – Scott Norwood 43-yard field goal, 6:40 (BUF 16–10) Fourth quarter
• SEA – John L. Williams 51-yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick), 5:38 (SEA 17–16) Top passers
• BUF – Jim Kelly: 10/23, 144 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
• SEA – Dave Krieg: 20/40, 298 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• BUF – Thurman Thomas: 21 car, 79 yds
• SEA – Curt Warner: 16 car, 57 yds, 1 TD Top receivers
• BUF – Andre Reed: 2 rec, 77 yds, 1 TD
• SEA – John L. Williams: 5 rec, 80 yds, 1 TD Team – pass – rush – total – to
• BUF – 135 – 97 – 232 – 2
• SEA – 277 – 78 – 355 – 2

Week 14

• The Bills had the chance to clinch the AFC Eastern Title this game.
• John Fourcade was the named starter for the Saints ahead of Bobby Hebert.

Week 15

• For the second week in a row, the Bills had the chance to clinch the AFC Eastern Division title with a win.
• The 49ers sat Joe Montana as they clinched all they needed the prior week, therefore, backup Steve Young was the starter for San Francisco in this game.

Week 16

• Bills clinch AFC Eastern Division title with the win.

Standings

Playoffs

AFC Divisional Playoff

Buffalo Bills (9–7) at Cleveland Browns (9–6–1) In a shootout, Browns linebacker Clay Matthews intercepted Bills quarterback Jim Kelly at the Cleveland 1-yard line with 3 seconds remaining to preserve a 34–30 victory. Kelly threw for 405 yards and 4 touchdowns while Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. Browns receiver Webster Slaughter had the best postseason performance of his career with 3 receptions for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Buffalo scored first with wide receiver Andre Reed's 72-yard touchdown reception. But Cleveland struck back with a 45-yard field goal by Matt Bahr and a 52-yard touchdown pass from Kosar to Slaughter. Kelly's 33-yard touchdown pass to James Lofton put the Bills back in the lead, 14–10, but Browns retook the lead with Ron Middleton's 3-yard catch shortly before the end of the first half.

On the opening drive of the second half, Kosar hooked up with Slaughter for another touchdown pass, this one 44-yards, to increase their lead to 24–14. Buffalo responded with a 6-yard touchdown catch by running back Thurman Thomas, who tied an NFL playoff record with 13 receptions for 150 yards. But Browns running back Eric Metcalf returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 31–21 lead by the end of the third quarter. After an exchange of field goals, Thomas caught a three-yard touchdown pass. But the extra point failed, forcing the Bills to attempt to score a touchdown instead of a field goal on their final drive. With time running out, Kelly led the Bills to Cleveland's 11-yard line, but halfback Ronnie Harmon dropped a potential game-winning catch in the end zone, and Matthews intercepted Kelly on the next play.

Awards and records

• Shane Conlan, Pro Bowl Selection
• Kent Hull, Pro Bowl Selection
• Bruce Smith, Pro Bowl Selection
• Thurman Thomas, Pro Bowl Selection
• Thurman Thomas, NFL Combined Yards from Scrimmage Leader

References

References

1. (June 20, 2011). "Buffalo Rumblings: Worst Moments In Bills History, No. 22: Bickering Bills".
2. (June 13, 2009). ["Buffalo Rumblings: Top 50 All-Time Bills, No. 41: OT Howard Ballard]"](http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2009/6/13/906079/top-50-all-time-bills-no-41-ot).
3. (January 18, 1991). "Thomas Is Above Criticism Now : Bills: Running back spoke out against Kelly last season, but he is still an essential part of a now-happy family in Buffalo". [[Los Angeles Times]].
4. (December 14, 1989). ["Bickering Bills aim criticism at Kelly]"](http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1989_671230/bickering-bills-aim-criticism-at-kelly.html). [[Houston Chronicle]].
5. "1989 Buffalo Bills draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
6. "1989 Buffalo Bills Media Guide".
7. "1989 Buffalo Bills starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
8. Retrieved December 30, 2011
9. Warren, Matt. (2011-06-26). "Best Moments in Bills History, No. 22: Jim Kelly's Last-Second Plunge Sinks Miami".
10. "Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills — September 18th, 1989".
11. "Buffalo Bills at Houston Oilers — September 24th, 1989".
12. "Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills — October 16th, 1989".
13. "Buffalo Bills at Atlanta Falcons — November 5th, 1989".
14. "Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills — November 12th, 1989".
15. "Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots — November 19th, 1989".
16. "Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots — November 19th, 1989".
17. "1989 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees".
18. "Buffalo Bills at New York Jets — December 23rd, 1989".
19. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 292