Think about a tough loss for the Buffalo Bills. Picture the scene at the game’s end, the players looking dejected. What uniforms are they wearing?
Chances are, it’s the white jerseys paired with blue pants.
Intrigued by this observation, a question arose: “What exactly is the Bills’ record when they wear blue pants?” It turns out, finding this specific data is surprisingly difficult. So, digging into the Sean McDermott era, we’ve compiled the numbers to see if there’s any merit to this uniform hunch. While it’s important to remember correlation isn’t causation, the data does paint a fascinating picture about Buffalo Bills Uniforms and their win percentages.
The Surprise Leader: Color Rush Uniforms (Red Jersey, Red Pants)
Against all expectations, the Buffalo Bills’ Color Rush uniforms, featuring a striking red jersey and red pants combination, boast the highest win percentage since 2017 at an impressive 80 percent (4-1). This uniform set has been donned in some memorable victories. Notably, the “Snowvertime” victory against the Indianapolis Colts in 2017, a crucial game on their playoff journey, and the dominant Sunday Night Football win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 both saw the Bills in their red-on-red attire. Interestingly, the Colts game marked the first time an NFL team sported Color Rush jerseys on a Sunday, adding another layer of uniqueness to the red uniform’s success.
Reliable and Stylish: Blue Jersey, White Pants
The classic blue jersey with white pants is not only a fan favorite for its sharp look but also a statistically strong choice for the Buffalo Bills. This combination holds a solid 65 percent win percentage (15-8) since 2017. Their last significant loss in this uniform pairing dates back to September 2019 against Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. However, the blue-on-white combo was proudly worn during both of the Bills’ playoff victories in 2020, solidifying its place as a winning uniform. In fact, the Bills have accumulated more wins in this combination than any other in recent years.
Clean and Competitive: White Jersey, White Pants
The white jersey and white pants uniform offers a clean and crisp aesthetic, further enhanced by the team’s recent switch to white facemasks. This all-white ensemble has a respectable 61 percent win percentage (13-8) since 2017. A highlight for this uniform was the victory over the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in 2021, a game that showcased some iconic moments. Remember #JoshAllenJumpingOverThings? Those memorable plays against both the Chiefs (2021) and the Minnesota Vikings (2018) were in the white-on-white uniforms. However, this pairing isn’t without its blemishes, including a Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 and a regular-season defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
The Underperforming Set: White Jersey, Blue Pants
The white jersey and blue pants combination might be considered the least lucky for the Buffalo Bills, with a win percentage of just 47 percent (9-10) since 2017. This uniform seems to be the inverse of the “look good, play good” theory for Buffalo. While it was worn during a significant Monday Night Football victory against the Patriots in 2020, marking the Bills’ ascension in the AFC East, notable losses overshadow the wins. This uniform has been present for a string of painful defeats in the Sean McDermott era, including the Wild Card games in 2017 and 2019, the “Hail Murray” game against the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, the 2020 AFC Championship game, and a loss to the Tennessee Titans in 2021. Essentially, many of the Bills’ most heartbreaking losses have occurred while wearing this white-on-blue combination.
Rare Sight, Mixed Results: Blue Jersey, Blue Pants
The all-blue uniform combination, sometimes jokingly referred to as the “Smurfs,” is the rarest of the Buffalo Bills uniforms. Since 2017, it has been worn in only 7 games, achieving a 43 percent win percentage (3-4). The most significant victory in this blue-on-blue look was on Thanksgiving Day in 2019. The Bills tend to bring out this uniform for high-profile matchups, but the results have been inconsistent.
Data Breakdown: Buffalo Bills Record by Uniform Combo (2017-Present)
To provide a clearer picture, here’s a breakdown of the Buffalo Bills’ performance by each uniform combination from 2017 to the present:
| Uniform | Wins | Losses | Total | Win Percentage | Notable Wins | Notable Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Jersey, White Pants | 13 | 8 | 21 | 61.90% | Chiefs 2021, Josh Allen’s Highlight Plays | Steelers 2021 |
| White Jersey, Blue Pants | 9 | 10 | 19 | 47.37% | 2020 MNF Patriots | Titans 2021, AFC Championship Game 2020, “Hail Murray”, Titans 2020, Wild Card 2019, Wild Card 2017 |
| Blue Jersey, White Pants | 15 | 8 | 23 | 65.22% | AFC Wild Card 2020, AFC Divisional Round 2020 | 2019 Season Finale |
| Blue Jersey, Blue Pants | 3 | 4 | 7 | 42.86% | Thanksgiving 2019 | |
| Red Jersey, Red Pants | 4 | 1 | 5 | 80.00% | 2020 SNF Steelers, “Snowvertime” | |
| Totals (All Uniforms) | 44 | 31 | 75 |
Data as of October 25, 2021
Conclusion: Are Blue Pants Bad Luck?
While wins are certainly not determined by pants color alone, the data suggests a compelling correlation between Buffalo Bills uniforms and game outcomes. The white pants, especially when paired with the blue jersey, appear to be associated with more victories, while the blue pants, particularly with the white jersey, seem to coincide with a higher number of losses and significant defeats. The unexpected success of the Color Rush red uniforms adds another intriguing dimension to this uniform analysis.
Ultimately, uniform choice is likely a small factor in the grand scheme of NFL games. However, for fans and perhaps even subconsciously for players, these visual cues can become intertwined with game day feelings and memories. If the equipment manager is looking for a data-driven uniform strategy, perhaps giving the blue pants a little less playing time might not be the worst idea.
