BILLS LOSE FIRST PLAYOFF GAME EVER IN RICH

Jaguars upset Bills 30-27

December 28, 1996 - Orchard Park - In what turned out to be Jim Kelly's last game in pro football, the Bills let upstart Jacksonville Jaguars upset the Bills 30-27. Jim Jeffcoat, Bills defensive linesman, almost sacked Mark Brunell in the endzone, but Brunell was able to get rid of the ball before the sack. However, it was ruled intentional grounding and the Bills had the ball in Jaguar territory when they received the punt.

Thurman Thomas ran the ball five straight times and then on the sixth play from scrimmage during the drive, Kelly threw to Thomas, who managed to get wide open in the right side of the endzone.

However, Kelly tried a shovel pass and it was intercepted by Clyde Simmons and he tore down the field 20 yards for pay dirt. When Buffalo got the ball again, Kelly led them 68 yards down the field on 10 plays. Thomas capped off the drive by scoring from the two yard line. By scoring two touchdowns, Thurman Thomas put him on top of the playoff scoring list with 120 total points. However, Emmett Smith would tie Thomas the same afternoon in the Dallas game.

To cap off a wild first quarter, Jacksonville got a 27-yard field goal by Mike Hollis. Natrone Means put on his mean face and broke loose for a 30-yard touchdown run near the end of the first half. The Bills tied the score when Steve Christie kicked a 33-yard field goal and the half ended 17 all.

Christie started the second half where he left off, this time by kicking a 47-yarder to put the Bills up 20-17.

With the score tied at 20 (Hollis kicked a 24-yarder), Jeff Burris picked off a tipped pass and went the distance from 48 yards out and things were looking good for the Bills.

The Jags came back, however, when Mark Brunell connected with Jimmy Smith from two yards out and tied the score once again. Then the bottom fell out. Jim Kelly, scrambling was hit and got a concussion and fumbled the ball in the process. The Jags recovered the ball at their 42 and Jim was escorted from the field in a daze. Hollis was able to kick the game winner when he was successful with a 45-yard attempt. Kelly had played his last game as a Buffalo Bill, and his replacement, Todd Collins couldn't pass the muster.

Jim Kelly, who will go down as the greatest Bills quarterback ever, passed 32 times for 175 yards on 21 completions. He had one pick and one TD toss.

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