Following the season, the Giants fired first-year defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, and replaced him with the former Buffalo Bills interim head coach, Perry Fewell.

On defense, New York wanted to be physical with Buffalo's wideouts, and play with extra defensive backs to concentrate on stopping the Bills passing game, while shifting focus away from trying to stop Buffalo's running game.

On second down, defensive lineman Bruce Smith sacked quarterback Jeff Hostetler in the end zone for a safety, increasing the Bills ' lead 12-3.

Despite their defensive problems, the Bills finished the season with an AFC best 13-3 regular season record.

After backup quarterback Gary Kubiak scored Denver's only touchdown with less than two minutes to go, the Bills then clinched the victory when defensive back Kirby Jackson forced and recovered a fumble from running back Steve Sewell on Denver's final drive of the game.

But Rypien promptly gave it back with an interception to Bills defensive back Kirby Jackson on the third play of the Redskins ' ensuing drive.

Then, on the Bills next drive, Washington defensive back Darrell Green intercepted a pass from Kelly at the Redskins 45-yard line.

The Bills subsequently advanced to midfield with the aid of a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett and a 21-yard reception by wide receiver Andre Reed.

On the Bills ' first play of their next drive, Dallas defensive end Charles Haley sacked Kelly and forced a fumble.

Some Bills fans appeared to be defensive about their team's presence in the game ; during Buffalo's victory in the AFC championship game a week earlier, one fan displayed a banner defiantly proclaiming, " We're back ; deal with it, America!

They were eventually forced to punt, but Cowboys defensive end Matt Vanderbeek downed John Jett's 43-yard punt at the Bills ' 1-yard line.

However, Bills defensive back Nate Odomes intercepted a pass intended for Irvin and returned it 41 yards to the Dallas 47-yard line with 1: 03 left in the half.

* Rex Kern, Football quarterback, Ohio State Buckeyes football 1968 National Championship team, All-American, College Football Hall of Fame ( 2007 ); played professionally as a defensive back for the NFL's Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Colts

The Dallas Cowboys defensive end had recovered one of the Bills ' record-setting five lost fumbles in late in the game and had slowed down as he approached the goal line to hold the ball out in an attempt to celebrate.

* Phil Hansen, retired American football player for the National Football League, Buffalo Bills defensive end 1991 – 2001, 3-time Super Bowl participant, currently resides in Detroit Lakes

* Ryan Neill ( born 1982 ), Football long snapper and defensive end for the Buffalo Bills.

George Thomas Saimes ( born September 15, 1941 in Canton, Ohio ) is a former American football defensive back and fullback for Michigan State University and the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, which produced American Football League Championships in 1964 and 1965.

Drafted in 1961 by the American Football League's Buffalo Bills, Billy Shaw of Georgia Tech was the prototypical " pulling guard " who despite his size held his own against much bigger defensive linemen like Ernie Ladd, Earl Faison and Buck Buchanan.

The Bills wanted to play me at either defensive end or an offensive line position.

Thomas Joseph Sestak ( March 9, 1936-April 3, 1987 ) was an American collegiate Professional Football defensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League.

Sestak would never play that position for the Bills, but instead became one of the league's greatest defensive tackles.

Joining the two legendary Buffalo Bills icons in Canton for enshrinement are defensive back Rod Woodson, offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, wide receiver Bob Hayes, and linebacker Derrick Thomas.

Roland Owen " Ron " McDole ( born September 9, 1939 in Chester, Ohio ) is a former American collegiate and Professional Football defensive end from the University of Nebraska, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Redskins.

McDole played at left defensive end for the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League from 1963 to 1970 after spending the 1962 season with the AFL's Houston Oilers, anchoring the left side of the Bills ' great defensive line.

A key to the Bills ' prolific offense was the blocking of its superb offensive line, led by All-Pro center Kent Hull and Pro Bowl left tackle Will Wolford.

After forcing Buffalo to punt on its ensuing possession, New York drove to the Bills ' 35-yard line.

The Bills managed to halt the drive at their own 3-yard line when linebacker Cornelius Bennett broke up Hostetler's third down pass, but Bahr kicked his second field goal to give New York a 20-19 lead.

On the Bills ' ensuing possession, they could only advance to their own 41-yard line before having to punt, enabling the Giants to take more time off the clock.

The Bills finally forced New York to punt and took the ball at their own 10-yard line with 2: 16 remaining.

Once again, the Bills offensive line was led by center Kent Hull along with Pro Bowl guard Jim Ritcher.

On Buffalo's first play after the botched field goal attempt, Bills quarterback Jim Kelly gave Washington another chance to score by throwing an interception to Redskins safety Brad Edwards, who returned it 21 yards to the Bills 12-yard line.

With 1: 46 left in the half, Bills special teams expert Steve Tasker downed Mohr's 48-yard punt at the Redskins 1-yard line.

The Redskins then increased their lead 24 – 0 just 16 seconds into the second half after linebacker Kurt Gouveia intercepted Kelly's pass on the first play of the third quarter and returned it 23 yards to the Bills ' 2-yard line.

After the turnover, Washington drove to the Bills 7-yard line and increased their lead to 34-10 with Lohmiller's 25-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter.

Then on the Bills ' ensuing drive, Kelly was sacked for a 9-yard loss by Stokes, threw an incomplete pass, and then threw his second interception of the game to Edwards, who returned it 35 yards to Buffalo's 33-yard line.

Bills special teams expert Steve Tasker then blocked the ensuing punt, knocking the ball out of bounds at the Cowboys 16-yard line.

On the next play, Dallas safety James Washington intercepted Jim Kelly's pass and returned it 13 yards to the Bills ' 47-yard line.

Early in the second quarter, Kelly's 40-yard completion to Reed gave the Bills a first down at the Cowboys 4-yard line.

Rather than attempt another fourth down play near the goal line, the Bills settled for Steve Christie's 21-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 14 – 10 with 3: 24 left in the half.

After a pair of completions by Aikman for 17 yards, Smith's 38-yard run gave the Cowboys a first down inside the Bills ' 20-yard line.

On the first play of the Bills ' ensuing drive, Thomas caught a swing pass, but fumbled the ball while being tackled by Lett, and Jones recovered it at the Bills 18-yard line.

Both teams were unable to score on each of their next possessions, but on the period's final play, Reich threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Bills receiver Don Beebe, despite Cowboy complaints that the touchdown should have been nullified because Reich, while scrambling to avoid the Cowboy rush, crossed the 40-yard line for what should have been ruled an illegal forward pass.

Then on the second play of the Bills ' next possession, Everett intercepted a pass from Reich and returned it 22 yards to Buffalo's 8-yard line, setting up another touchdown on Smith's 10-yard run.

After both teams lost a fumble on their next possessions, the Bills managed to advance to the Cowboys ' 31-yard line.