The Buffalo Bills have had no shortage of postseason heartbreak, including five straight seasons of falling short during the beginning of quarterback Josh Allen’s prime. Buffalo’s worst playoff loss in recent memory remains a 42-36 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 despite leading with 13 seconds left in regulation. However, before their recent stretch of playoff woes, the Bills did the near impossible, losing four straight Super Bowls from 1990 to 1993. Despite being more than 30 years in the rearview mirror, Bills fans had to relive the agony of four straight Super Bowl losses on Tuesday in a pre-Stanley Cup presser of all places.
Edmonton Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch: Uses 1990s Buffalo Bills as Reason for Downplaying Postseason Experience
After a brutal start to the season, the Edmonton Oilers parted ways with head coach Jay Woodcroft, making way for the hiring of AHL bench boss Kris Knoblauch. Edmonton pulled a completed 180 under Knoblauch, going 46-18-5 with their new frontman, with the Pacific Division squad now headed to the Stanley Cup, where they will face off with the Florida Panthers. The Oilers last competed in the Stanley Cup in 2005-06, while the Panthers made it the distance last year before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Knoblauch compared Florida’s Stanley Cup experience to the 1990s Buffalo Bills, downplaying its importance when asked about it.
The #Bills randomly caught a stray at an Edmonton Oilers press conference today:
Q: Is experience an edge in the finals?
HC Kris Knoblauch: "I don't know. Ask the Buffalo Bills how important Super Bowl experience is."
(Bills lost 4 straight Super Bowls)pic.twitter.com/CfkCP6cYDp
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 4, 2024
“Experience is good. I don’t know how much experience is beneficial. I don’t know. Ask the Buffalo Bills how important Super Bowl experience is,” said Knoblauch to the media on Tuesday. The Bills made the Super Bowl in 1990 before losing to the New York Giants, 20-19. Buffalo returned the next three seasons, each time failing to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Buffalo Bills: 1990s Dynasty
From 1990 to 1993, the Buffalo Bills went 49-14 while winning the division every season but once. Behind the stellar play of quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thuman Thomas, wideout Andre Reed, and pass rusher Bruce Smith, the Bills made the Super Bowl in 1990 before losing a nail-biter to the New York Giants. The quartet returned in 1991 (albeit Smith playing only five games), again making the Super Bowl but losing to the then-Washington Redskins.
The Bills took a small step back in 1992, finishing second in the division after Kelly threw only 23 touchdowns against 19 picks, but three straight playoff wins landed them back in the Super Bowl. Kelly and company would lose 52-17 to the Dallas Cowboys. Kelly’s struggles continued the following year, but a solid rushing season from Thomas and an All-Pro campaign from Smith catapulted Buffalo back to the Super Bowl for a fourth year. The Cowboys again bested the Bills, who, after four straight seasons of at least 11 wins, failed to make the postseason in 1994.
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