The 2022 season was the Buffalo Bills' 63rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 63rd as a franchise, their eighth full season under the ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula, and their sixth under the head coach/general manager tandem of Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane.
The Bills entered the 2022 season as two-time defending AFC East champions. The Bills clinched the AFC East for the third season in a row and improved on their 11–6 record from last season. The Week 17 game against Cincinnati was declared a no-contest after Bills' safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. He was given CPR for ten minutes before being rushed to the hospital. Despite the incident, the Bills won their last game of the season to finish 13–3, tied for the best record in the history of the franchise, but they lost control of their destiny to clinch the number 1 seed in the AFC as a result of the cancellation, which allowed Kansas City to clinch the number 1 seed in the AFC the day before their last game of the regular season despite having the head-to-head tiebreaker. In the playoffs, they defeated Miami, 34–31 in the wild-card round. However, they then fell to Cincinnati 27–10, losing in the divisional round for the second consecutive season.
2022 was the final season in the Bills' lease on Highmark Stadium signed back in 2012. Negotiations were finalized and approved for the construction of a new stadium for the team by May 2023, with construction beginning afterwards with a completion date before the 2026 season; the team had stated that it would not renew its lease on Highmark Stadium unless an agreement for a new stadium was struck by the end of the 2022 season.
Transactions
Arrivals Position Player 2021 team(s) Date signed Notes G Rodger Saffold Tennessee Titans March 14, 2022 1 year / $6.25 million DT DaQuan Jones Carolina Panthers March 16, 2022 2 years / $14 million LB Von Miller Denver Broncos / Los Angeles Rams March 16, 2022 6 years / $120 million DT Tim Settle Washington Football Team March 17, 2022 2 years / $9 million DT Jordan Phillips Arizona Cardinals March 17, 2022 1 year / $5 million DE Shaq Lawson New York Jets March 18, 2022 1 year / $1.1875 million QB Matt Barkley Tennessee Titans / Carolina Panthers / Atlanta Falcons March 21, 2022 1 year / $1.145 million C Greg Mancz Miami Dolphins March 21, 2022 1 year / $1.2725 million WR Jamison Crowder New York Jets March 22, 2022 1 year / $2 million RB Duke Johnson Miami Dolphins March 22, 2022 1 year / $1.2725 million T David Quessenberry Tennessee Titans April 21, 2022 1 year / $1.75 million WR Tavon Austin Jacksonville Jaguars June 2, 2022 1 year / $1.12 million G Greg Van Roten New York Jets June 13, 2022 1 year / $1.2725 million P Sam Martin Denver Broncos August 31, 2022 1 year / $1.2725 million T Justin Murray Arizona Cardinals September 27, 2022 1 year / $1.035 million CB Xavier Rhodes Indianapolis Colts September 28, 2022 1 year / $ .2772 million FS Jared Mayden Philadelphia Eagles October 10, 2022 1 year / $ .207 million WR John Brown Las Vegas Raiders / Denver Broncos / Jacksonville Jaguars / Tampa Bay Buccaneers November 26, 2022 1 year / $ .3582 million
Departures Position Player 2022 team Date signed Notes RB Antonio Williams New York Giants January 27, 2022 2 years / $1.585 million QB Davis Webb New York Giants February 7, 2022 1 year / $ .945 million DT Harrison Phillips Minnesota Vikings March 16, 2022 3 years / $19.5 million G Jon Feliciano New York Giants March 16, 2022 1 year / $3.25 million QB Mitchell Trubisky Pittsburgh Steelers March 17, 2022 2 years / $14.285 million CB Levi Wallace Pittsburgh Steelers March 17, 2022 2 years / $8 million RB Matt Breida New York Giants March 21, 2022 1 year / $1.1875 million DE Efe Obada Washington Commanders March 23, 2022 1 year / $1.1875 million DE Mario Addison Houston Texans May 10, 2022 2 years / $7.7 million DE Jerry Hughes Houston Texans May 11, 2022 2 years / $10 million P Matt Haack Indianapolis Colts August 24, 2022 1 year / $1.035 million CB Nick McCloud New York Giants August 31, 2022 2 years / $1.765 million FS Josh Thomas Arizona Cardinals September 1, 2022 1 year / $ .207 million WR Isaiah Hodgins New York Giants November 2, 2022 2 years / $1.575 million DT Justin Zimmer Miami Dolphins November 23, 2022 1 year / $1.035 million WR Marquez Stevenson Cleveland Browns December 14, 2022 1 year / $ .207 million CB Xavier Rhodes Dallas Cowboys January 7, 2023 1 year / $ .3582 million T Daryl Williams — Free Agent Released March 14, 2022 DT Vernon Butler — Free agent Contract Expired March 16, 2022 DE Bryan Cox Jr. — Free agent Contract Expired March 16, 2022 DT Star Lotulelei — Free agent Released March 18, 2022 WR Emmanuel Sanders — Retired Retired September 7, 2022 WR Tavon Austin — Free agent Released October 5, 2022 LB Andre Smith — Free agent Released October 17, 2022 WR Tanner Gentry — Free agent Released January 17, 2023 LB Joe Giles-Harris — Free agent Released January 17, 2023
Trades Position Arrived From Date of trade Departed QB Case Keenum Cleveland Browns March 20, 2022 7th-round pick G 2023 5th-round pick Arizona Cardinals August 22, 2022 Cody Ford RB Nyheim Hines Indianapolis Colts November 1, 2022 Zack Moss 2023 Conditional 6th-round pick FS Dean Marlowe Atlanta Falcons November 1, 2022 2023 7th-round pick
Draft
2022 Buffalo Bills Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 23 Kaiir Elam CB Florida from Ravens 25 Traded to the Baltimore Ravens 2 57 Traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 60 Traded to the Cincinnati Bengals from Buccaneers 63 James Cook RB Georgia from Bengals 3 89 Terrel Bernard LB Baylor 4 130 Traded to the Baltimore Ravens 5 148 Khalil Shakir WR Boise State from Bears 168 Traded to the Chicago Bears 6 180 Matt Araiza P San Diego State from Buccaneers 185 Christian Benford CB Villanova from Panthers 203 Traded to the Chicago Bears 209 Luke Tenuta OT Virginia Tech from Bengals 7 231 Baylon Spector LB Clemson from Falcons 246 Traded to the Cleveland Browns Draft trades
Undrafted free agents 2022 Buffalo Bills Undrafted Free Agents Name Position College Ref. Alec Anderson OT UCLA Raheem Blackshear RBVirginia Tech C. J. Brewer DT Coastal Carolina Prince Emili Penn Travon Fuller CB Tulsa Ja'Marcus Ingram Buffalo Kingsley Jonathan DE Syracuse Derek Kerstetter OT Texas Tanner Owen Northwest Missouri State Neil Pau'u WR BYU Will Ulmer OT Marshall Malik Williams WR Appalachian State Jalen Wydermyer TE Texas A&M
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Bills' preseason opened with a last-second win against Indianapolis, after trailing 24–10 late in the 4th quarter. This extended their preseason win streak to a record 9 games. Following a Week 2 win over Denver, their streak ended at 10 games with a loss in Week 3 to Carolina.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Indianapolis Colts W 27–24 1–0 Highmark Stadium Recap 2 Denver Broncos W 42–15 2–0 Highmark Stadium Recap 3 at Carolina Panthers L 0–21 2–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
Regular season On May 9, the NFL announced that the Bills would host the Tennessee Titans at 7:15 p.m. ET on , as part of ESPN's Week 2 Monday Night doubleheader.
The remainder of the Bills' 2022 schedule was announced on May 12.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 at Los Angeles Rams W 31–10 1–0 SoFi Stadium Recap 2 Tennessee Titans W 41–7 2–0 Highmark Stadium Recap 3 September 25 at Miami Dolphins L 19–21 2–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 4 October 2 at Baltimore Ravens W 23–20 3–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 5 October 9 Pittsburgh Steelers W 38–3 4–1 Highmark Stadium Recap 6 October 16 at Kansas City Chiefs W 24–20 5–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 7Bye 8 October 30 Green Bay Packers W 27–17 6–1 Highmark Stadium Recap 9 November 6 at New York Jets L 17–20 6–2 MetLife Stadium Recap 10 November 13 Minnesota Vikings L 30–33 6–3 Highmark Stadium Recap 11 November 20 Cleveland Browns W 31–23 7–3 Ford Field Recap 12 November 24 at Detroit Lions W 28–25 8–3 Ford Field Recap 13 at New England Patriots W 24–10 9–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 14 December 11 New York Jets W 20–12 10–3 Highmark Stadium Recap 15 Miami Dolphins W 32–29 11–3 Highmark Stadium Recap 16 at Chicago Bears W 35–13 12–3 Soldier Field Recap 17 at Cincinnati BengalsNo contest 18 January 8 New England Patriots W 35–23 13–3 Highmark Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams NFL Kickoff Game
The Bills put up 31 points over the defending Super Bowl champions in a primetime win. Josh Allen had 4 total touchdowns while Matthew Stafford was held to just 1.
Week 2: vs. Tennessee Titans
Stefon Diggs had 3 touchdowns on Monday Night Football and the Bills thumped the defending #1 seed in the AFC Titans 41–7 after losing to them the last 2 seasons. The defense held the Titans to 187 yards of total offense and Matt Milano had an interception returned for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Bills would lose Dane Jackson and Micah Hyde to neck injuries during the game, with Hyde later being ruled out for the season with a herniated disc.
Week 3: at Miami Dolphins
The Bills sideline was in the sweltering sun while the home Dolphins were on the shaded side of Hard Rock Stadium, a major factor contributing to the Dolphins home field advantage. After trading touchdowns in the first half, the Bills had a 17–14 lead going into the fourth quarter, but Chase Edmonds scored his 2nd touchdown of the game to give the Dolphins a 21–17 lead. The Bills responded with an 8-minute drive, but on 4th and Goal from the 1-yard line, Josh Allen's pass fell incomplete and turned the ball over on downs. The Bills forced a Dolphins punt, but Thomas Morstead's kick hit Trent Sherfield in the buttocks and deflected backwards and out of the end zone for a safety to make the score 21–19. The play instantly became known as "The Butt Punt."
The Bills, only needing a field goal instead of a touchdown to win, got the ball back with no timeouts. With 18 seconds left, Allen avoided a sack and passed the ball to Isaiah McKenzie who tried to get out of bounds at the MIA-35 but was tackled just short of the sideline. The Bills hustled to get back to the line of scrimmage in time, but the clock hit all zeros and players on both teams collapsed in exhaustion. The Bills lost 21–19 in an instant classic, and fell to 2–1. The Dolphins became the only 3–0 team in the AFC.
Week 4: at Baltimore Ravens
Despite Baltimore climbing to a 20–3 lead at one point in the second quarter, with 10 of the Ravens' points coming off Bills turnovers, the Bills scored 20 unanswered points of their own and shut out Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense in the second half. A key interception of Jackson by Bills safety Jordan Poyer in the fourth quarter set up Buffalo's game-winning field goal, as Ravens head coach John Harbaugh controversially opted to go for a touchdown on fourth and goal instead of attempting a go-ahead field goal. This was Buffalo's first win by one score since the 2020 season and their biggest comeback win since defeating the New England Patriots after being down 21–0 in week 3 of .
Week 5: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
After a close win in Baltimore, the Bills came back home to play the Steelers, resulting in a 38–3 blowout victory. Josh Allen threw for a career-high 424 yards, also matching a career high of four passing touchdowns, in addition to matching the franchise record for the longest play from scrimmage when he threw a 98-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Davis on the third play of the game. Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett made his first career start during the game, taking the place of previous starter and former Bills backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. With the win, Buffalo improved to 4–1.
Week 6: at Kansas City Chiefs