The 2013 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 44th season in the
National Football League (NFL) and the first under
head coachDoug Marrone. It was also the final season under the ownership of
Ralph Wilson, who died in March 2014 at the age of 95. The team equaled their record from
2012 and missed the playoffs, increasing their
playoff drought to 14 seasons. This was the first year of renewed leases on
Ralph Wilson Stadium and for the
Bills Toronto Series, both of which were signed in the preceding offseason.
The Toronto series was originally set to expire in 2017, but was cancelled in December 2014; the lease on Ralph Wilson Stadium expired in 2022 and was presumably the last long-term agreement with the aging stadium, as the lease specifies that the process of exploring a
new stadium began during the lease period. The Bills also started the 2013 season with a new starting quarterback, first-round draft pick
EJ Manuel, after previous starter
Ryan Fitzpatrick refused a pay cut and was subsequently released.
^[a] The Bills traded their first- and third-round selections (8th and 71st overall) to the
St. Louis Rams in exchange for the Rams' first-, second-, third- and seventh-round selections (16th, 46th, 78th and 222nd overall).
Buffalo trailed for most of their Week 2 game against the Panthers but took the lead with two seconds left after Stevie Johnson caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from EJ Manuel. Dan Carpenter kicked the extra point to give the Bills a 24–23 win.
With the win, Buffalo improved to 1–1.
Week 3: at New York Jets
Week Three: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – Game summary
The Bills defense intercepted Ravens quarterback
Joe Flacco five times in this game, as Flacco completed only 50% of his passes. Despite the five turnovers, the game was still somewhat close, but the Bills won the game 23–20.
With the win, the Bills improved to 2–2.
Week 5: at Cleveland Browns
Week Five: Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
EJ Manuel left the game for the Bills with a knee injury, and was replaced by
Jeff Tuel. The Bills had a 24–17 lead in the third quarter, but the Browns, who also lost quarterback
Brian Hoyer, won the game with
Brandon Weeden at the helm.
T. J. Ward returned an interception 44 yards to seal the game.
With the loss, the Bills fell to 2–3.
Week 6: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week Six: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
The Bills trailed 24–10 in the fourth quarter, but came back to tie the game after
Marquise Goodwin caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from
Thad Lewis and force overtime. In the extra period, the Bills got the ball first, but were forced to punt after they went three-and-out. The Bengals returned the punt 39 yards to set them up in field goal range. A couple of plays later,
Mike Nugent kicked the game winning 43-yard field goal.
With the tough loss, the Bills fell to 2–4.
Week 7: at Miami Dolphins
Week Seven: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Despite Buffalo's defense not allowing a touchdown, the offense gave up two turnover returns for touchdowns in the second half. With the loss, the Bills fell to 3–6.
Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Ten: Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
With the win, the Bills improved to 6–9. This was also the last home game that the Bills didn't sell out. Since the next game (Week 2 of the
2014 season against the Dolphins), every Bills home game has been sold out.
Week 17: at New England Patriots
Week Seventeen: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots – Game summary
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
The 2013 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 44th season in the
National Football League (NFL) and the first under
head coachDoug Marrone. It was also the final season under the ownership of
Ralph Wilson, who died in March 2014 at the age of 95. The team equaled their record from
2012 and missed the playoffs, increasing their
playoff drought to 14 seasons. This was the first year of renewed leases on
Ralph Wilson Stadium and for the
Bills Toronto Series, both of which were signed in the preceding offseason.
The Toronto series was originally set to expire in 2017, but was cancelled in December 2014; the lease on Ralph Wilson Stadium expired in 2022 and was presumably the last long-term agreement with the aging stadium, as the lease specifies that the process of exploring a
new stadium began during the lease period. The Bills also started the 2013 season with a new starting quarterback, first-round draft pick
EJ Manuel, after previous starter
Ryan Fitzpatrick refused a pay cut and was subsequently released.
^[a] The Bills traded their first- and third-round selections (8th and 71st overall) to the
St. Louis Rams in exchange for the Rams' first-, second-, third- and seventh-round selections (16th, 46th, 78th and 222nd overall).
Buffalo trailed for most of their Week 2 game against the Panthers but took the lead with two seconds left after Stevie Johnson caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from EJ Manuel. Dan Carpenter kicked the extra point to give the Bills a 24–23 win.
With the win, Buffalo improved to 1–1.
Week 3: at New York Jets
Week Three: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – Game summary
The Bills defense intercepted Ravens quarterback
Joe Flacco five times in this game, as Flacco completed only 50% of his passes. Despite the five turnovers, the game was still somewhat close, but the Bills won the game 23–20.
With the win, the Bills improved to 2–2.
Week 5: at Cleveland Browns
Week Five: Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
EJ Manuel left the game for the Bills with a knee injury, and was replaced by
Jeff Tuel. The Bills had a 24–17 lead in the third quarter, but the Browns, who also lost quarterback
Brian Hoyer, won the game with
Brandon Weeden at the helm.
T. J. Ward returned an interception 44 yards to seal the game.
With the loss, the Bills fell to 2–3.
Week 6: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week Six: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
The Bills trailed 24–10 in the fourth quarter, but came back to tie the game after
Marquise Goodwin caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from
Thad Lewis and force overtime. In the extra period, the Bills got the ball first, but were forced to punt after they went three-and-out. The Bengals returned the punt 39 yards to set them up in field goal range. A couple of plays later,
Mike Nugent kicked the game winning 43-yard field goal.
With the tough loss, the Bills fell to 2–4.
Week 7: at Miami Dolphins
Week Seven: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Despite Buffalo's defense not allowing a touchdown, the offense gave up two turnover returns for touchdowns in the second half. With the loss, the Bills fell to 3–6.
Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Ten: Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
With the win, the Bills improved to 6–9. This was also the last home game that the Bills didn't sell out. Since the next game (Week 2 of the
2014 season against the Dolphins), every Bills home game has been sold out.
Week 17: at New England Patriots
Week Seventeen: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots – Game summary
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.