- 2006 Buffalo Bills season
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Ralph Wilson Stadium ,Orchard Park, New York Dressed up in their 1960s throwback jerseys, the Bills played their Week 3 home-opener against their fellow division rival, the
New York Jets . Buffalo started off with QBJ.P. Losman throwing a 51-yard TD pass to WRRoscoe Parrish for the only score in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Jets tied the game up with a 3-yard TD run by RBKevan Barlow . The Bills managed to get a 36-yard Field Goal by KickerRian Lindell , but the Jets managed to take the lead, as QBChad Pennington completed a 1-yard TD pass to TEChris Baker within the closing seconds of the half. In the second half, the Bills fell behind as LBVictor Hobson returned a Buffalo fumble 32 yards for a touchdown, which would be the only score of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Bills tried to close the gap, as Lindell kicked a 28-yard field goal. However, the Jets increased their lead with RBCedric Houston getting a 5-yard TD run. The Bills would get another touchdown, as Losman ran 12 yards for a touchdown. Even though the Bills recovered their onside kick; the Jets made the Bills go three-and-out for Buffalo's defeat. With the loss, the Bills dropped to 1-2.Week 4: vs Minnesota Vikings
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Ford Field ,Detroit, Michigan The Bills flew to
Ford Field to take on another NFC North team, theDetroit Lions . From the start, the winless Lions were dominated the first quarter, as kickerJason Hanson kicked a 43-yard field goal, while RBKevin Jones got a 7-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Buffalo got into the game, as QBJ.P. Losman completed a 44-yard TD pass to WRRoscoe Parrish . However, Detroit responded, as QBJon Kitna completed a 28-yard TD pass to WR Roy Williams. The Bills would get kickerRian Lindell to get a 53-yard field goal to end the half . After a scoreless third quarter, Lions kicker Hanson got a 29-yard field goal, putting Detroit up 20-10. The Bills tried to catch-up, as Losman completed a 4-yard TD pass to TERyan Neufeld . The Lions ended up getting win #1 as the Bills fell to 2-4.Week 7: vs New England Patriots
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RCA Dome ,Indianapolis, Indiana
Fresh off of their victory over the Packers, the Bills flew to theRCA Dome for a Week 10 match-up with theIndianapolis Colts . In the first quarter, Buffalo got off to a fast start with kickerRian Lindell making a 22-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, Indianapolis struck back with QBPeyton Manning completing a 1-yard TD pass to WRReggie Wayne . The Colts would follow-up with kickerAdam Vinatieri kicking a 31-yard field goal. The Bills defense made a stand, as CBTerrence McGee returned a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Indianapolis regained the lead with RBJoseph Addai completing a 5-yard TD run. Buffalo would respond with Lindell making a 30-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Bills drew closer with Lindell's 43-yard field goal and had a chance to take the lead late in the game, but a 41-yard try went wide right, sealing the victory for the Colts. With the loss, the Bills fell to last place in the AFC East at 3-6.Week 11: at Houston Texans
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Ralph Wilson Stadium ,Orchard Park, New York Keeping some slim playoff hopes alive, the Bills stayed at home, donned their throwback jerseys again, and faced a fierce Week 13 challenge against the
San Diego Chargers . In the first quarter, the Chargers struck first with kickerNate Kaeding getting a 42-yard field goal, while RBLaDainian Tomlinson got a 51-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Buffalo continued to struggle as QBPhilip Rivers completed an 11-yard TD pass to TEAntonio Gates for the only score of the period. In the third quarter, the Bills scored with QBJ.P. Losman completing a 5-yard TD pass to TERobert Royal , while RBWillis McGahee got a 2-yard TD run. However, in the fourth quarter, Tomlinson got a 2-yard TD run. A 6-yard TD pass from Losman to WRPeerless Price closed the gap, abut a failed onside kick sealed any chance of Buffalo's comeback victory. With the loss, the Bills fell to 5-7.Week 14: at New York Jets
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Ralph Wilson Stadium ,Orchard Park, New York After the victory over Miami, the Bills stayed at home for a Week 16 intraconference game with the
Tennessee Titans . The Titans (like the Bills) were 7-7 and also hunting for a wildcard berth.In the first quarter, Buffalo scored first with kicker
Rian Lindell getting a 21-yard field goal. Tennessee would respond with QBVince Young completing a 22-yard TD pass to WRBobby Wade . The Bills came back with RBWillis McGahee 's 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Titans regained the lead with kickerRob Bironas getting a 42-yard and a 20-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Bills came back with Lindell kicking a 36-yard and a 45-yard field goal. Then, Tennessee went back into the lead with Young's 36-yard TD run. Buffalo would kick a 21-yard field goal from Lindell before halftime. In the third quarter, QBJ.P. Losman completed a 37-yard TD pass to WRLee Evans and afterwards Lindell kicked a 24-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Titans won the game with Young completing a 29-yard TD pass to WRBrandon Jones and Bironas' 30-yard field goal.J.P. Losman led the Bills on one final drive down to the Titans 28, but driving against a wind that was gusting up to 20 mph, the Bills elected not to try a potential game-winning field goal. With the loss, not only did the Bills fall to 7-8, but it also knocked them out of the playoff race.Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
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M&T Bank Stadium ,Baltimore, Maryland The
Buffalo Bills ended their season with a loss to theBaltimore Ravens . Bills' quarterbackJ.P. Losman . threw for 237 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.Willis McGahee rushed for 23 yards on 11 carries. Wide receiverLee Evans had 7 receptions and 145 yards with 1 touchdown.In the first quarter, Ravens' kicker
Matt Stover made a 26-yard field goal, bringing the Ravens up 3-0 at the end of the first.Just before
halftime , Stover made another field goal, this time from 37 yards out. Ravens were leading 6-0 at halftime.In the third quarter, Stover made his third field goal of the day, bringing the Ravens up 9-0. But a few moments later, Losman threw a deep pass to Lee Evans for a 44-yard
touchdown . This brought the Bills in the game and down by only two points. A few minutes later, Losman threw a pass that was intercepted byChris McAlister and returned for a touchdown.In the fourth quarter, Matt Stover made his fourth and final field goal that increased the Ravens' lead.
The Bills lost and their final record was 7-9. However, this record was an improvement over last year's 5-11 record.
Random Facts of the 2006 Bills season
* The Bills won their first eight coin tosses in 2006, and scored a team record eleven times in the opening drives, breaking the old mark of eight. The Bills were outscored 123-59 in the fourth quarter of those games.
* Buffalo joined the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans as teams without an appearance on primetime in 2006.
* The Bills season opener at New England marked the first time the Bills did not open at home since 1999.
* Due to the NFL's Flex Schedule a few of the Bills' late season games had their start time moved from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m..
* The Bills played all of their games on Sunday afternoons this season.
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