2005 Buffalo Bills season

46th season in franchise history

2005 Buffalo Bills season

Owner| Ralph Wilson
General manager| Tom Donahoe
Head coach| Mike Mularkey
Home field| Ralph Wilson Stadium
Results
Record| 5–11
Division place| 3rd AFC East
Playoff finish| Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers| P Brian Moorman
LS Mike Schneck

* <- 2004
* Bills seasons
* 2006 ->

The 2005 Buffalo Bills season was their 46th in the National Football League. The team was unable to improve upon their previous season’s output of 9–7, instead finishing 5–11.[1] This was the sixth consecutive season in which the team missed the playoffs.

Mike Mularkey coached the Bills for his second year.[2]

## Offseason[edit]

Drew Bledsoe, who had been the team’s quarterback from 2002–2004, was released by the Bills after the 2004 season to make way for backup quarterback J. P. Losman. It was the second time that Bledsoe’s team had let him go for a younger quarterback. When Bledsoe was later signed by the Dallas Cowboys, he expressed bitterness with the Bills for the move, stating "I can't wait to go home and dress my kids in little stars and get rid of the other team’s [Buffalo’s] stuff."[3]

The Bills failed to re-sign defensive tackle Pat Williams, who would sign with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2005 season. The Bills also lost starting offensive tackle Jonas Jennings to the San Francisco 49ers.

### Draft[edit]

Main article: 2005 NFL Draft

Buffalo had six draft picks in the 2005 draft. The Bills traded their only first round pick in 2005 to the Dallas Cowboys to move up in the previous draft, a pick they used to draft J. P. Losman.

2005 Buffalo Bills draft

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | College  | Notes
2  | 55  | Roscoe Parrish | WR | Miami (FL)  |
3  | 86  | Kevin Everett | TE | Miami (FL)  |
4  | 122  | Duke Preston | C | Illinois  |
5  | 156  | Eric King | CB | Wake Forest  |
6  | 197  | Justin Geisinger | OG | Vanderbilt  |
7  | 236  | Lionel Gates | RB | Louisville  |
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[4]

### Undrafted free agents[edit]

2005 Undrafted Free Agents of note  Player  | Position  | College

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Brad Cieslak | Tight end  | Northern Illinois
Liam Ezekiel | Linebacker  | Northeastern
Jim Leonhard | Safety  | Wisconsin

## Personnel[edit]

### Staff[edit]

2005 Buffalo Bills staff |

Front office

* Owner/founder – Ralph Wilson
* President/general manager – Tom Donahoe
* Assistant general manager – Tom Modrak
* Director of pro personnel – John Guy
* Coordinator of college scouting – Doug Majeski

Head coaches

* Head coach – Mike Mularkey

Offensive coaches

* Offensive coordinator – Tom Clements
* Quarterbacks – Sam Wyche
* Running backs – Eric Studesville
* Wide receivers – Tyke Tolbert
* Tight ends – Mike Miller
* Offensive line – Jim McNally
* Offensive line – Frank Verducci

|  |  | Defensive coaches

* Defensive coordinator – Jerry Gray
* Defensive line – Tim Krumrie
* Linebackers – Don Blackmon
* Defensive backs – Steve Szabo
* Defensive assistant – Chuck Lester

Special teams coaches

* Special teams – Bobby April

Strength and conditioning

* Strength and conditioning coordinator – Brad Roll
* Assistant strength and conditioning – John Allaire

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### Roster[edit]

2005 Buffalo Bills final roster

| Quarterbacks

*   * 10 Kelly Holcomb
*   * 7 J. P. Losman
*   * 6 Shane Matthews

Running backs

*   * 35 Joe Burns
*   * 25 Lionel Gates
*   * 44 Jon Goldsberry FB
*   * 21 Willis McGahee
*   * 31 Daimon Shelton FB
*   * 20 Shaud Williams

Wide receivers

*   * 89 Sam Aiken
*   * 83 Lee Evans
*   * 80 Eric Moulds
*   * 11 Roscoe Parrish KR/PR
*   * 82 Josh Reed
*   * 19 Jonathan Smith KR/PR
*   * 15 George Wilson

Tight ends

*   * 84 Mark Campbell
*   * 48 Brad Cieslak TE
*   * 87 Tim Euhus

|  | Offensive linemen

*   * 66 Bennie Anderson G
*   * 69 Mike Gandy T
*   * 73 Justin Geisinger G
*   * 76 Greg Jerman G
*   * 79 Dylan McFarland T
*   * 71 Jason Peters T
*   * 75 Duke Preston C
*   * 70 Trey Teague C
*   * 58 Chris Villarrial G
*   * 68 Mike Williams G/T

Defensive linemen

*   * 95 Sam Adams DT
*   * 77 Tim Anderson DT
*   * 97 Justin Bannan DT
*   * 92 Ryan Denney DE
*   * 99 Jason Jefferson DT
*   * 90 Chris Kelsay DE
*   * 94 Aaron Schobel DE

|  | Linebackers

*   * 55 Angelo Crowell OLB
*   * 50 Liam Ezekiel MLB
*   * 59 London Fletcher MLB
*   * 53 Mario Haggan OLB
*   * 96 Jeff Posey OLB
*   * 57 Josh Stamer OLB

Defensive backs

*   * 26 Rashad Baker FS
*   * 22 Nate Clements CB/PR
*   * 33 Jabari Greer CB
*   * 29 Eric King CB
*   * 42 Jim Leonhard SS
*   * 24 Terrence McGee CB/KR
*   * 36 Lawyer Milloy SS
*   * 23 Troy Vincent FS

Special teams

*   * 9 Rian Lindell K
*   * 8 Brian Moorman P
*   * 54 Mike Schneck LS

|  | Reserve lists

*   * 98 Ron Edwards DE (IR)
*   * 85 Kevin Everett TE (IR)
*   * 88 Ryan Neufeld TE (IR)
*   * 72 Lawrence Smith G (IR)
*   * 93 Lauvale Sape DT (IR)
*   * 51 Takeo Spikes LB (IR)
*   * 28 Kevin Thomas CB (PUP)
*   * 27 Coy Wire S (IR)

Practice squad

*   * 67 LaWaylon Brown DT
*   * 60 Jasen Esposito T
*   * 40 Wendell Hunter LB
*   * 39 Rob Lee CB
*   * 72 Marques Ogden T
*   * 91 Eric Powell DE

Rookies in italics
53 active, 8 inactive, 6 practice squad

## Schedule[edit]

In addition to their regular games with AFC East rivals, the Bills played teams from the AFC West and NFC South as per the schedule rotation, and also played intraconference games against the Bengals and the Texans based on divisional positions from 2004.

Week  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Record  | Attendance

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1  | September 11, 2005  | Houston Texans | W 22–7  | 1–0  | 71,781
2  | September 18, 2005  | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 3–19  | 1–1  | 64,777
3  | September 25, 2005  | Atlanta Falcons | L 16–24  | 1–2  | 72,032
4  | October 2, 2005  | at New Orleans Saints (San Antonio) | L 7–19  | 1–3  | 58,688
5  | October 9, 2005  | Miami Dolphins | W 20–14  | 2–3  | 72,160
6  | October 16, 2005  | New York Jets | W 27–17  | 3–3  | 72,045
7  | October 23, 2005  | at Oakland Raiders | L 17–38  | 3–4  | 42,779
8  | October 30, 2005  | at New England Patriots | L 16–21  | 3–5  | 68,756
9  | Bye
10  | November 13, 2005  | Kansas City Chiefs | W 14–3  | 4–5  | 72,093
11  | November 20, 2005  | at San Diego Chargers | L 10–48  | 4–6  | 65,602
12  | November 27, 2005  | Carolina Panthers | L 9–13  | 4–7  | 71,440
13  | December 4, 2005  | at Miami Dolphins | L 23–24  | 4–8  | 72,051
14  | December 11, 2005  | New England Patriots | L 7–35  | 4–9  | 71,810
15  | December 17, 2005  | Denver Broncos | L 17–28  | 4–10  | 71,887
16  | December 24, 2005  | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 37–27  | 5–10  | 65,485
17  | January 1, 2006  | at New York Jets | L 26–30  | 5–11  | 76,822

## Standings[edit]

AFC East

* view
* talk
* edit

| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK
(4) New England Patriots | 10  | 6  | 0  | .625  | 5–1  | 7–5  | 379  | 338  | L1
Miami Dolphins | 9  | 7  | 0  | .563  | 3–3  | 7–5  | 318  | 317  | W6
Buffalo Bills | 5  | 11  | 0  | .313  | 2–4  | 5–7  | 271  | 367  | L1
New York Jets | 4  | 12  | 0  | .250  | 2–4  | 3–9  | 240  | 355  | W1

## Season summary[edit]

### Week 1 vs Texans[edit]

Week One: Houston Texans (0–0) at Buffalo Bills (0–0)

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Texans | 0 | 7 | 0| 0| 7
Bills | 6 | 13 | 0| 3| 22

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

* Date: September 11, 2005
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 71,781
* Referee: Ron Winter
* TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones
* Box Score

Game information

First quarter

* BUF – Rian Lindell 35-yard field goal, 9:24. Bills 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 5:36.
* BUF – Rian Lindell 21-yard field goal, 1:43. Bills 6–0. Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 5:45.

Second quarter

* BUF – Rian Lindell 42-yard field goal, 13:57. Bills 9–0. Drive: 4 plays, 9 yards, 1:09.
* BUF – Rian Lindell 39-yard field goal, 11:07. Bills 12–0. Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 2:34.
* HOU – David Carr 1-yard run (Kris Brown kick). Bills 12–7. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 4:30.
* BUF – Jason Peters 1-yard pass from J.P. Losman (Rian Lindell kick), 0:29. Bills 19–7. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 6:08.

Third quarter

* No scoring

Fourth quarter

* BUF – Rian Lindell 31-yard field goal, 7:11. Bills 22–7. Drive: 6 plays, 10 yards, 2:31.

Top passers

* HOU – David Carr – 9/21, 70 yards, 3 INT
* BUF – J.P. Losman – 17/28, 170 yards, TD

Top rushers

* HOU – Domanick Williams – 17 rushes, 48 yards
* BUF – Willis McGahee – 22 rushes, 117 yards

Top receivers

* HOU – Mark Bruener – 1 reception, 19 yards
* BUF – Lee Evans – 3 receptions, 68 yards

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* The Bills wore throwback AFL "standing buffalo" helmets
* J.P. Losman 1st career start

## References[edit]

1. ^ 2005 Buffalo Bills
2. ^ Second of two total years; Mularkey would resign from the Bills after the 2005 season
3. ^ N.F.L. ROUNDUP; Bledsoe Rejoins Parcells, With Eye on Starting Job at The New York Times
4. ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2017-Jan-01.

* v
* t
* e

Buffalo Bills

* Founded in 1960
* Based and headquartered in Orchard Park, New York

Franchise|

* Franchise
* History
* Players
* Seasons
* Pro Bowl selections
* First-round draft picks
* Starting quarterbacks
* Coaches
* NFL in Toronto

Stadiums|

* War Memorial Stadium
* Highmark Stadium
* Rogers Centre (Bills Toronto Series)
* New Highmark Stadium (set to open in 2026)

Culture|

* Ralph Wilson
* Billy Buffalo
* Buffalo Jills
* Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson
* Tim Russert
* Buffalo '66
* Second String
* Flutie Flakes
* "Shout" song
* "3 Acts of God"
* Elway to Marino
* Four Falls of Buffalo
* Zubaz
* "No one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills!"

Lore|

* Electric Company
* Wide Right
* No Punt Game
* The Comeback
* Music City Miracle
* Snowvertime
* Hail Murray
* 13 Seconds

Rivalries|

* Kansas City Chiefs
* Miami Dolphins
* New England Patriots
* New York Jets
* Tennessee Titans

Division championships (14)|

* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1980
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1993
* 1995
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Conference championships (4)|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993

League championships (2)|

* 1964
* 1965

Wall of Fame|

* Simpson
* Kemp
* McGroder
* Sestak
* Shaw
* Wilson
* 12th Man
* Dubenion
* Stratton
* Ferguson
* Levy
* DeLamielleure
* James
* Abramoski
* Kalsu
* Saimes
* Kelly
* Smerlas
* Hull
* Talley
* Ritcher
* Thomas
* Reed
* Tasker
* Smith
* Edgerson
* Hansen
* Polian
* Miller
* Saban
* Gilchrist

Media|

* Broadcasters
* Radio
* Radio Network
* WGR 550
* Television
* MSG Western New York
* Personalities:
* John Murphy
* Chris Brown
* Van Miller
* Eric Wood
* Steve Tasker

Owners|

* Ralph Wilson
* Pegula family
* Terry
* Kim

Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League (1970–present)
* Conference: American Football Conference
* Division: East Division

Former league affiliation|

* League: American Football League (1960–1969)

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Buffalo Bills seasons

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Bold indicates AFL Championship or Super Bowl victory
Italics indicates AFL Championship or Super Bowl appearance

* v
* t
* e

2005 NFL season

| AFC| East | North| South| West| East| North| South| West | NFC

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Buffalo | Baltimore| Houston| Denver| Dallas| Chicago| Atlanta| Arizona
Miami | Cincinnati| Indianapolis| Kansas City| NY Giants| Detroit| Carolina| St. Louis
New England | Cleveland| Jacksonville| Oakland| Philadelphia| Green Bay| New Orleans| San Francisco
NY Jets | Pittsburgh| Tennessee| San Diego| Washington| Minnesota| Tampa Bay| Seattle

* 2005 NFL Draft
* NFL playoffs
* Pro Bowl
* Super Bowl XL

This article relating to an American football season is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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* v
* t
* e

*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[PCT]: Winning percentage
*[DIV]: Win–Loss record within their division
*[CONF]: Win–Loss record within their conference
*[PF]: Points For (Total points scored)
*[PA]: Points Against (Total points allowed)
*[STK]: Current Winning or Losing Streak
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template