Which player currently holds the Buffalo Bills record for most sacks in a single game?
Bruce Smith is considered one of the best, if not the best, pass rusher in NFL history. He was a key part of a Buffalo Bills defense that was one of the best during the 1990s and a big part of their success reaching four straight Super Bowls.
However, he doesn't have the franchise record for most sacks, a stat that started to be recorded during 1982, in a single game. That record belongs to Mario Williams who would have 4.5 sacks against the Carolina Panthers in 2013 in a thrilling game where the Bills won 24-23 over Carolina on a last second touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Stevie Johnson.
Mario Williams joined the Buffalo Bills as a free agent in 2012 after agreeing to one of the biggest contracts at the time for a player who wasn't a quarterback. The contract was a six-year deal worth $100 million with $50 million guaranteed and was the first time a defensive player signed a contract worth $100 million.
At this point in time, the Buffalo Bills were desperate to end a playoff drought that had already extended more than 10 years. The Bills were not considered a top franchise that free agents wanted to play for and the signing of Williams started to shift some of that preception.
While the Buffalo Bills didn't end their playoff drought during Williams' time with the franchise, he was a very good pass rusher during that period. He would make two Pro Bowls, and be named to first-team All-Pro once and second-team All-Pro once.
Mario Williams would have double digit sacks in three of the four seasons in Buffalo along with 15 or more QB hits in the same three seasons. The debate is open in terms of whether or not this was a good move but the former first overall pick was certainly productive during his time with the franchise.