Are we witnessing the greatest Bills era ever?

With their fifth consecutive division title secured and sixth consecutive double-digit winning season under wraps, the “Josh Allen era” is among the best in Buffalo Bills history.

But is it the greatest of all Bills eras?

In the franchise’s 65 years, the Bills have had many notable moments, players, coaches and seasons. However, the past team’s successes have been short-lived, seeing players peak quickly and coaches’ tenures end with a flicker.

The Bills have had only a small handful of notable periods over their history where success was sustainable year after year.

Here are the top Bills eras in chronological order:

Jack Kemp era (1962-1966)

Seasons: 5
Winning Percentage: .643
Head Coach: Lou Saban
Key Players: Jack Kemp, Mike Stratton, Tom Sestek, Butch Byrd, Billy Shaw, Elbert Dubenion

Although the NFL merger wouldn’t come to fruition for another half-decade, the mid-‘60s’ Bills put together a string of four consecutive division championships and won the franchise’s only league championships in 1964 and 1965.

The 1964 team led the AFL in total offense and total defense and is considered by Bills historians to be the most complete Bills team in franchise history.

The Electric Company era (1973-1975)

Seasons: 3
Winning Percentage: .619
Head Coach: Lou Saban
Key Players: OJ Simpson, Joe DeLamielleure, Reggie McKenzie, Dave Foley, Robert James

Although the Electric Company “turned on the juice” for more than three years, the Bills and OJ Simpson were at their peak from 1973-1975 when they made a playoff appearance in 1974
and led the league in total offense in 1975.

This era was in the heart of OJ Simpson’s career success. He won MVP in 1973 and received First-Team All-Pro honors in all three of these seasons.

The Super Bowl era (1988-1993)

Seasons: 6
Winning Percentage: .729
Head Coach: Marv Levy
Key Players: Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Kent Hull, Cornelius Bennett, Jim Ritcher

Many Bills fans who were alive to witness it consider the “Super Bowl years” the greatest time to be a Bills fan.

Beginning in 1988, the Bills won their division five out of six seasons and reached the Super Bowl in four consecutive seasons beginning in 1990.

Led by 1991 MVP Thurman Thomas, these Bills would rank top-3 in total offense in four consecutive seasons (1989-1992).

Hall of Famers from these teams include: Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, James Lofton, Marv Levy and a multitude of others who receive strong consideration year over year.

Wade Phillips era (1998-2000)

Seasons: 3
Winning Percentage: .604
Head Coach: Wade Phillips
Key Players: Eric Moulds, Doug Flutie, Ruben Brown, Bruce Smith, Ted Washington, Sam Cowart

Sandwiched between the “Super Bowl years” and “The Drought”, there was an overachieving three-year period that saw the Bills reach the playoffs twice and the emergence of quite possibly the greatest pound-for-pound wide receiver in Bills history.

The Doug Flutie to Eric Moulds connection, though brief, was electric. But make no mistake—the defensive-minded Wade Philips-led Bills were all about defense and would rank top-10 in yards allowed in all three seasons under Phillips.

“Coming out of the Drought” era

Seasons: 4
Winning Percentage: .516
Head Coach: Doug Marrone, Rex Ryan, Anthony Lynn, Sean McDermott
Key Players: Kyle Williams, Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Tyrod Taylor, LeSean McCoy, Lorenzo Alexander

Very few Bills fans can pull any kind of light out of “The Drought” years of 2000-2016.

However, the final three years of this period into 2017 provided a spark and can be considered the precursor to the Sean McDermott/Josh Allen years.

Although these “middle of the road” teams were pretty average and saw four different head coaches in four seasons, believe it or not, it is one of only five Bills eras that saw a positive winning percentage over three consecutive seasons.

And who can’t forget that fabled New Year’s Eve night in 2017 when Andy Dalton slayed the Ravens to not only end the drought, but to start the beginning of possibly the most fruitful time in Bills history?

Josh Allen era (2018-present)

Seasons: 7 and counting
Winning Percetage: .673
Head Coach: Sean McDermott
Key Players: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Matt Milano, Greg Rousseau, Dion Dawkins

No Super Bowls. This is the only downfall of the Josh Allen Era. Luckily, the Bills have their all-time best quarterback on their side. And hopefully for at least ten more seasons.

Not only have these Bills won their fifth consecutive division title (most in team history) and will reach the playoffs for the sixth straight season (tying the 1988-1993 team for most in team history), their offense has been top-10 for five straight years and their defense has been top-10 in four of the past six seasons.

Many currently rank the Josh Allen era Bills second behind the Super Bowl era Bills and it’s justified because the Super Bowl is a higher tier and division titles, playoff appearances and team rankings are meaningless in the dawns of history.

Time will tell what these Josh Allen-led Bills teams will accomplish, but if 65 years of most Bills futility is any indication, we may be witnessing the greatest era in Buffalo Bills franchise history.