The 2004 Buffalo Bills season was their 45th in the National Football League. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 6–10, finishing 9–7. However, this was the fifth consecutive season in which the team missed the playoffs. Buffalo started the season with four straight losses. However, they rebounded with nine wins in their next eleven games. Having won six games in a row, they needed a win in the final game of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers to qualify for the playoffs (they also would've been only the second team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting 0-4 after the 1992 Chargers). However, despite the Steelers playing their third-stringers (which, notably, included Willie Parker, who would have his breakout performance in the game) and having a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter, Buffalo lost 29-24 and subsequently missed the playoffs. It was the only winning season that Buffalo had in the 2000s (2000–2009) and would be the Bills' last winning season until 2014. According to Football Outsiders, who has tracked every play in the NFL since the early 1990s, the 2004 Bills were statistically the best NFL team (in their record-keeping history) to have failed to qualify for the playoffs. The Bills set an NFL record by returning six kicks (3 punts + 3 kickoffs) for touchdowns in 2004. Their match with the Miami Dolphins in Week 6 is the only time in the NFL since 1968 that the last two winless teams have met each other.

Offseason

Free Agency

The Bills failed to re-sign guard Ruben Brown and cornerback Antoine Winfield Sr. Both would end up signing with NFC North teams, with Brown signing with the Chicago Bears and Winfield signing with the Minnesota Vikings. To replace the departed players, the Bills signed former Chicago Bears guard Chris Villarrial and former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent.

NFL Draft

The Bills drafted future starters Lee Evans from Wisconsin and J. P. Losman from Tulane in the first round of the 2004 Draft. Buffalo also signed undrafted tight end Jason Peters from Arkansas and converted him into a Pro Bowl offensive tackle. Buffalo traded their 2004 second round pick and 2005 first round pick to move into position to draft Losman.

Roster

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1

Standings