Super Bowl XXV

In 1989, the Buffalo Bills were a talented team full of big personalities, including future Hall-of-Famers Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed. Dysfunction and infighting ran as deep as the talent in their locker room, but the team known as “The Bickering Bills” would soon transform themselves into an elite force. From 1990 through 1993, the Bills went on an unprecedented run of AFC Championship victories, appearing in a record four straight Super Bowls. But what’s been remembered most is how those Super Bowl appearances played out, with the Bills losing all four. Along the way though, the Bills took part in some of the defining NFL moments of the era. Theirs is a heartbreaking tale, yet one that ultimately proves Jim Kelly and the Bills to be among the most perseverant group of players in NFL lore.

Super Bowl XXI, played on January 25, 1987, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, saw the New York Giants defeat the Denver Broncos 39-20, capturing their first-ever Super Bowl title. The Giants’ victory was a combination of stellar defense, efficient offense, and a strong performance from their quarterback, Phil Simms, who delivered one of the most memorable games of his career.

Super Bowl XXVI, played on January 26, 1992, at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, featured a matchup between the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills. For Washington, this was a chance to cap off one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history, while Buffalo, appearing in its second consecutive Super Bowl, was looking to redeem itself after the heartbreaking “wide right” loss in Super Bowl XXV.

Super Bowl XXVII, played on January 31, 1993, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, marked the resurgence of the Dallas Cowboys as an NFL powerhouse. Facing the Buffalo Bills, who were making their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, Dallas looked to reclaim its place at the top of the league after a long championship drought.

Super Bowl XXVIII, played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, saw the Dallas Cowboys defeat the Buffalo Bills 30-13, securing their fourth Super Bowl title in franchise history. The Cowboys’ victory capped off a dominant season, while the Bills’ loss marked their fourth consecutive Super Bowl defeat, a record they still hold.