| 2021 Buffalo Bills season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Terry and Kim Pegula |
| General manager | Brandon Beane |
| Head coach | Sean McDermott |
| Home field | Highmark Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–6 |
| Division place | 1st AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Patriots) 47–17 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Chiefs) 36–42 (OT) |
| Pro Bowlers | OT Dion Dawkins WR Stefon Diggs |
| AP All-Pros | SS Jordan Poyer (1st team) FS Micah Hyde (2nd team) |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The 2021 season was the Buffalo Bills' 52nd in the National Football League (NFL), seventh full under the ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula, and their fifth under the head coach/general manager tandem of Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane.
Although unable to match their 13–3 record from the previous season, the Bills clinched the AFC East for a second consecutive year, their first consecutive division title since 1991. They finished the regular season at 11–6 to obtain the #3 seed for the playoffs, also marking their third consecutive postseason berth and fourth in five years. Statistically, the Bills had the No. 1-ranked defense, as well as the highest point differential and margin of victory.[1] All of the team's victories were by multiple possessions, but they lost every game that was within one possession.
The Bills defeated their AFC East rival New England Patriots in the wild card round, a game marked by them becoming the first NFL team to score a touchdown on every offensive drive. Facing the Kansas City Chiefs in a Divisional Round matchup, the Bills lost amid a quarterback duel between Buffalo's Josh Allen and Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes. Although the Bills were able to take a three-point lead with 13 seconds remaining, the Chiefs scored a game-tying field goal on their following drive and won in overtime, with Josh Allen and the Bills' offense never getting to touch the ball in overtime. The defeat marked the second consecutive year the Bills were eliminated by the Chiefs.
The season also saw Pittsburgh-based health insurance company Highmark purchase the rights to the Bills' stadium, resulting in it being named Highmark Stadium.[2]
- ^ "Bills defense ends the 2021 regular season as the NFL's best". www.buffalobills.com. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ Williams, Charean (March 29, 2021). "Bills rename stadium to Highmark Stadium after naming-rights deal". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved March 29, 2021.