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1974 Buffalo Bills season

15th season in franchise history; first NFL playoff appearance

15th season in franchise history; first NFL playoff appearance

FieldValue
teamBuffalo Bills
year1974
record9–5
division_place2nd AFC East
coachLou Saban
ownerRalph Wilson
stadiumRich Stadium
playoffsLost Divisional Playoffs
(at Steelers) 14–32
pro_bowlersRB O.J. Simpson
CB Robert James
shortnavlinkBills seasons

(at Steelers) 14–32 CB Robert James

The 1974 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 5th season in the National Football League, and the 15th overall. Buffalo made the NFL playoffs for the first time and reached the postseason for the first time in eight seasons. In the divisional playoffs the Bills lost to the eventual champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers, 32–14, in Pittsburgh.

This was star running back O. J. Simpson's only playoff game of his career, as the Bills did not have another playoff team with him on the team. Simpson would be traded to the 49ers in 1978, but the 49ers did not make the playoffs that season nor the 1979 season, Simpson's final season in the NFL. In the game, Simpson would only rush for 49 yards on 11 carries and did not score a touchdown. He did, however, catch a touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Ferguson late in the 3rd quarter.

Buffalo debuted their new uniforms and helmets in 1974, replacing the red "standing buffalo" with the "streaking bison." This updated look was first displayed before a national audience on the first Monday Night Football game of the season, in a dramatic 21–20 victory over Oakland.

Simpson, coming off consecutive rushing titles, did not lead the league in 1974, but did cross the 1,000-yard barrier despite a sore knee.

Buffalo's defense was far more stout than it had been in previous years, as it gave up 3,489 yards in 1974, fifth-fewest in the NFL. The Bills' 1,611 passing yards allowed were the third-best in the league.

The 1974 Bills have the odd distinction of being the last team to go a full game without completing a pass, in Week Three of the season against the New York Jets. Despite this, they still managed to defeat the Jets, behind 223 combined Buffalo rushing yards—as well as only 2 completions by Jets quarterback Joe Namath in 18 attempts.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1974 NFL draft

Oklahoma State tight end Reuben Gant played his entire seven-year career with the Bills. Quarterback Gary Marangi was the Bills' backup quarterback for three seasons; in 1976, he started the final seven games of the season when starter Joe Ferguson was injured for the season with a back injury.

Personnel

Staff/Coaches

  • President – Ralph Wilson

  • Vice President and General Manager – Bob Lustig

  • Vice President – Pat McGroder

  • Head Coach – Lou Saban

  • Receivers – Bob Shaw

  • Offensive Line – Jim Ringo

  • Defensive Line – Stan Jones

  • Linebackers – John Ray

  • Defensive Backfield – Bill Atkins

  • Special Teams – Ed Cavanaugh

Roster

  • Ted Koy

Regular season

Schedule

Buffalo Billsyear=1974border=2}}"WeekBuffalo Billsyear=1974border=2}}"DateBuffalo Billsyear=1974border=2}}"OpponentBuffalo Billsyear=1974border=2}}"ResultBuffalo Billsyear=1974border=2}}"RecordBuffalo Billsyear=1974border=2}}"VenueBuffalo Billsyear=1974border=2}}"Recap1234567891011121314
September 16Oakland RaidersW 21–201–0Rich Stadium Recap
September 22Miami DolphinsL 16–241–1Rich Stadium Recap
September 29New York JetsW 16–122–1Rich Stadium Recap
October 6at Green Bay PackersW 27–73–1Lambeau Field Recap
October 13at Baltimore ColtsW 27–144–1Memorial Stadium Recap
October 20New England PatriotsW 30–285–1Rich Stadium Recap
October 27Chicago BearsW 16–66–1Rich Stadium Recap
November 3at New England PatriotsW 29–287–1Schaefer Stadium Recap
November 10Houston OilersL 9–217–2Rich Stadium Recap
November 17at Miami DolphinsL 28–357–3Miami Orange Bowl Recap
November 24at Cleveland BrownsW 15–108–3Cleveland Stadium Recap
December 1Baltimore ColtsW 6–09–3Rich Stadium Recap
December 8at New York JetsL 10–209–4Shea Stadium Recap
December 15at Los Angeles RamsL 14–199–5Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap

Game summaries

Week 1

  • Buffalo Snaps the Raiders MNF winning streak**

Week 8

Standings

Playoffs

;First quarter

  • PIT – Roy Gerela 21-yard field goal. Steelers 3–0.
  • BUF – Paul Seymour 22-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick). Bills 7–3. ;Second quarter
  • PIT – Rocky Bleier 27-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw. Steelers 9–7.
  • PIT – Franco Harris 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 16–7.
  • PIT – Franco Harris 4-yard run. Steelers 22–7.
  • PIT – Franco Harris 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 29–7. ;Third quarter
  • BUF – O. J. Simpson 3-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick). Steelers 29–14. ;Fourth quarter
  • PIT – Roy Gerela 22-yard field goal. Steelers 32–14. ;Top passers
  • BUF – Joe Ferguson – 11/26, 164 yards, 2 TD
  • PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 12/19, 203 yards, TD ;Top rushers
  • BUF – O. J. Simpson – 15 rushes, 49 yards
  • PIT – Franco Harris – 24 rushes, 74 yards, 3 TD ;Top receivers
  • BUF – J.D. Hill – 4 receptions, 59 yards
  • PIT – Lynn Swann – 3 receptions, 60 yards

References

References

  1. [http://www.gridironuniforms.com/bills.html The Gridiron Uniforms Database: Buffalo Bills]
  2. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4irnG4XuVVI Video: Oakland at Buffalo, Week 1, 1974, highlights] at [[YouTube]]
  3. Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich [http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/0312110731/soft-cover/ The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition], p. 270 Martin's Press, August 1994, {{ISBN. 0-312-11073-1
  4. "1974 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics".
  5. as of 2011 regular season
  6. "New York Jets at Buffalo Bills - September 29th, 1974".
  7. "1974 Buffalo Bills Statistics & Players".
  8. "1974 Buffalo Bills draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  9. "Oakland Raiders at Buffalo Bills - September 16th, 1974".
Info: Wikipedia Source

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