BillsZone.com needs your help!

[Dozerdog]

BillsZone.com is running the Bills History Section (http://nflhistory.net/bills) for the fantastic site NFL History Network (http://nflhistory.net/)


They have a section for the Bills Greatest Games- so I want to enlist your help in selecting the top 10 games in Buffalo Bills History.


Give me your best 5 games- they don't have to be Bills wins, or even playoff games.

[OpIv37]

I'm young so I don't know how much help this will be-

1. Comeback game against Houston- this is pretty much a given
2. 51-3 Playoff win over the Raiders
3. 34-24 Playoff win over the Dolphins
4. 2002 OT win in the shootout with Minnesota
5. *sigh*- Music City Mirage (Buffalo sports in a nutshell)

[LtBillsFan66]

Someone mentioned one the other day. The game against the Jets to clinch the playoffs in the late 80s.

[PUCKER]

1. 51-3 over the Raiders en route to our first Superbowl!
2. Houston Comeback
3. Kellys game-winning TD in Miami
4. Wide Right - Superbowl XXV
5. Music City Miracle

[OpIv37]

Regular season game against Jacksonville- I think it was '98. Flutie won the game running a QB bootleg on the last play- 18-17. Jacksonville was undefeated at the time.

[JJamezz]

I'd put the 'snow game' vs. the fins in there somewhere too - when was that, Dec. 2002?

[Dr. Optimist, SB]

1. Comeback game
2. 38 - 21 Snow Bowl 02
3. 31 - 0 Opener 03

[Mr. Cynical]

1. 51-3 over the Raiders en route to our first Superbowl!
2. Houston Comeback
3. Kellys game-winning TD in Miami
4. Wide Right - Superbowl XXV

Agree with these, but I don't ever want to see that f***ing Music City bulls**t EVER again as long as I live. So my # 5:

5. That win over the Jags that Op mentioned - Flutie won the game running a QB bootleg on the last play- 18-17. Jacksonville was undefeated at the time.

[NapalmDeath]

Agree with these, but I don't ever want to see that f***ing Music City bulls**t EVER again as long as I live. So my # 5:

5. That win over the Jags that Op mentioned - Flutie won the game running a QB bootleg on the last play- 18-17. Jacksonville was undefeated at the time.

Not to mention that was kind of a busted play. Flutie was suppossed to hand it off.

[NapalmDeath]

How about the victory over Miami in 1980, after going 0 - the 1970's against them?

[Dozerdog]

Just remember folks- the Bills span from 1960- 2004, not Super Bowl XXV- 2004 :;

My top 10

1) The Comeback
2) 1964 AFL Champ game
3) 51-3 Over the Raiders
4) 1965 AFL Champ game
5) Bills beat Miami to end 0- for the 1970's
6) Ferguson out duells Marino in Marino's first start
7) Bills beat Jets in 1981 playoffs
8) OJ breaks 2000 yards 1973 vs Jets
9) Kelly leads a big comeback Vs Miami 1988 - Last second dive for TD
10) MNF - Frank Reich's first start- and a thrilling comeback (3 TDs in the final 2 minutes)

[Billz_fan]

How about the victory over Miami in 1980, after going 0 - the 1970's against them?

Absolutely :up:

The Bills win on opening day. September 7th of the 1980 season. Final score Buffalo 17 Miami 7.

This game marked the end of the 20 game losing streak against the Dolphins. We tore down the goal posts that day. I was there. It was a great day :up:

[NapalmDeath]

Someone mentioned one the other day. The game against the Jets to clinch the playoffs in the late 80s.

This one belongs there too. Smerlas blocked a field goal 2 times to clinch it and the goal posts came down that day as well. AFC East Champoins in 1988 I believe

[NapalmDeath]

Absolutely :up:

The Bills win on opening day. September 7th of the 1980 season. Final score Buffalo 17 Miami 7.

This game marked the end of the 20 game losing streak against the Dolphins. We tore down the goal posts that day. I was there. It was a great day :up:

Not to mention that is the main reason why most Bills fans hate the fins. Although the Patsies are catching up

[NapalmDeath]

Here's one ( I am cheating now. The Media Guide Rocks!)

9/27/1997

Buffalo 37 - Indy 35

"The Bills Mounted the second largest comeback in NFL regular season history,when they overturned a 26 - 0 deficit. Rookie RB Antowain Smith capped off Buffalo's scoring frenzywhen he crashed through the line and scampered 54 yards. He had scored the go ahead TD (Made it 30 -29) on a one yard run in the previous series"

Note - Quote taken from The Buffalo Bills 2004 Media guide

[northernbillfan]

Well there are several games that are near and dear to my heart and the first one that comes to mind was a game in 1987 and it happens to be the first Bills game I witnessed in person.

The comeback goes without saying as perhaps the geatest Bills game ever.

Others that make my personal list are:

Dec 87 vs New England, they lost 13-7, but the historical note on that game was that Flutie came in for the injured Steve Grogan for a series near the end of the game.

Snow bowl '02 will definitely make my list. I love frozen fish.

Jan 1993 Vs KC. The last AFC championship game they ever played. That was the game that pretty much ended Montana's career. The look on his face in the fourth quarter after one of many Smith sacks is indelibly stamped in my memory.

1974 against Pittsburg in the play offs (Can't remember the date) Their only playoff appearance during the '70s and the first game I can remember watching as a Bill fan. My Dad was a Steelers fan so I had to root against him. It was a loss of course.

[The_Philster]

Here's one ( I am cheating now. The Media Guide Rocks!)

9/27/1997

Buffalo 37 - Indy 35

"The Bills Mounted the second largest comeback in NFL regular season history,when they overturned a 26 - 0 deficit. Rookie RB Antowain Smith capped off Buffalo's scoring frenzywhen he crashed through the line and scampered 54 yards. He had scored the go ahead TD (Made it 30 -29) on a one yard run in the previous series"

Note - Quote taken from The Buffalo Bills 2004 Media guide
I remember that one. We were all yelling for Kelly to come out of the booth because Collins had started off so poorly. :eek:

[NapalmDeath]

Jan 1993 Vs KC. The last AFC championship game they ever played. That was the game that pretty much ended Montana's career. The look on his face in the fourth quarter after one of many Smith sacks is indelibly stamped in my memory.

I was at this game as well. Unfortunatly for me, I was stuck in the endzone. This is the only game I had tickets for the endzone. I do not understand the joy of having endzone seats. This was the first and only time I sat in the endzone. When all the action takes place in "your" endzone, it rocks. Unfortunatly for me, it didn't work out that way.

Still, this was my only playoff game I have ever attended.

[Historian]

1984-Bills 14 Cowboys 3
1980-Bills 17- Fish 7
1981-Bills 31 Fish 21 MNF
Wild Card Comeback
1979-Bills 46 Jets 31

[northernbillfan]

1984-Bills 14 Cowboys 3
1980-Bills 17- Fish 7
1981-Bills 31 Fish 21 MNF
Wild Card Comeback
1979-Bills 46 Jets 31
Nice list. How many of these have you attended in person?

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

Sorry, I was born in 1970 so I can't speak for games before then. Are you asking for the greatest games or the greatest Bills games. As much as I love the 51-3 game against the Raiders, it wasn't exactly a great game.

The no-punt game against the 49ers, Bills win 34-31
Comeback game
Bills beat the Jets 31-27 in the AFC Wildcard game in 1981
Bills lose to Cleveland in the playoffs 34-30 (the infamous Ronnie Harmon drop)
Bills beat the Dolphins in '92 44-34
Bills lose to the Giants in Super Bowl XXV
Bills comeback against the Raiders in 1990 on Sunday Night Football
Bills beat Miami in 1983 38-35 in OT
Bills comeback against the Colts 34-23 after trailing 17-0.
Bills comeback against the Rams on Monday night in 1989 and win 23-20
Bills win in OT against the Houston Oilers when Reed caught the TD pass in OT
Bills beat the Vikings in OT as Peerless Price takes a Drew Bledsoe pass and goes all the way for the TD.
Bills beat San Diego in 1981 game 28-27

The game when Kelly dove into the endzone to win the game can go on, but the Bills actually didn't play very well that game.

[chernobylwraiths]

Sorry, I was born in 1970 so I can't speak for games before then. Are you asking for the greatest games or the greatest Bills games. As much as I love the 51-3 game against the Raiders, it wasn't exactly a great game.

The no-punt game against the 49ers, Bills win 34-31
Comeback game
Bills beat the Jets 31-27 in the AFC Wildcard game in 1981
Bills lose to Cleveland in the playoffs 34-30 (the infamous Ronnie Harmon drop)
Bills beat the Dolphins in '92 44-34
Bills lose to the Giants in Super Bowl XXV
Bills comeback against the Raiders in 1990 on Sunday Night Football
Bills beat Miami in 1983 38-35 in OT
Bills comeback against the Colts 34-23 after trailing 17-0.
Bills comeback against the Rams on Monday night in 1989 and win 23-20
Bills win in OT against the Houston Oilers when Reed caught the TD pass in OT
Bills beat the Vikings in OT as Peerless Price takes a Drew Bledsoe pass and goes all the way for the TD.
Bills beat San Diego in 1981 game 28-27

The game when Kelly dove into the endzone to win the game can go on, but the Bills actually didn't play very well that game.

That just about covers mine as well. I agree, the Raiders Championship game wasn't that good if you aren't a Bills fan.

Mine:

vs San Francisco (no punt game)
vs San Diego ( first championship? shot heard round the world)
vs NYG ( sb XXV)
vs Houston (comeback)
vs Miami (Kelly QB sneak as time expires)

[R. Rich]

Here's 2 that I've been to that I would put on my top 5 list.

One we won:

The '88 win over the Jets that clinched the AFC East title. What a crazy scene after the game!


And one we didn't:

The '97 game against Denver where Christie hit a 55 yard FG in windy, rainy conditions to send the game into overtime, only to have Marv call that stupid reverse pass play w/Andre Reed attempting to throw a pass.

[SABURZFAN]

we lost in the playoffs to the Chargers,in the early 80's,and ferguson had a bummed ankle or something.fergy played his ass off and we still fell short.

it was a good game though.i think we lost 20-14 or something like that. :sad:



The Comeback is the greatest game in Bills history though. :up:

[DaBillzAhDaShiznit]

In no particular order:

1) I think 1988 Bills/Jets to win the AFC East...fans stormed the field and took down the goal posts. I was there, on the field, did not get arrested because I was 14. My brother in law did get arrested. I almost got killed by stampeding drunks.


2) Bills vs Raiders 51-3.

3) Flutie beats Jags on Naked Bootleg

4) Music City Miracle--great game and best I ever saw RJ play..up until
that damn "throwback".

5) Bledsoe's first game w/Buffalo--vs Jets at home when Morton ran back two kicks.

6) of course the comeback game

7) The playoff loss in Cleveland when Ronnie Harmon dropped the pass...wasn't that when Beebe landed on his head?

8) 1st Superbowl loss "wide right"

9) Comeback game vs Miami when Jimbo had the sneak to win it.

10) 93 AFC championship vs. KC

[kgun12]

1. 51-3 over the Raiders en route to our first Superbowl!
2. Houston Comeback
3. Kellys game-winning TD in Miami
4. Wide Right - Superbowl XXV
5. Music City Miracle

I agree with these 4
However my order would be best to worst:

1. SB 25
2. Houston comeback
3. kelly's winning TD against Miami
4. Norwood FG to clinch against Jets
5. 51-3 win against Oakland

[Dozerdog]

Maybe I'll break up the section- Keep them coming guys!


Like top 5 most significant


Top 5 wildest finishes


Top 5 Upsets


Top 5 toughest defeats


Top 5 "Milestone" games

[chernobylwraiths]

Please! Don't pick the Raiders thrashing in the Championship game. It was NOT a good game. Bills fans like us love it, but it was a horrible game. The Music City Miracle had an unbelieveable finish, but it wasn't that good of a game either, and Rob Johnson stunk during the game until the final drive. Same with the Rams Monday night comeback win. Reich stunk all game until the final minutes.

How about starting a greatest finishes thread?
Some of mine are:

Music City Miracle
Wide Right
Just give it to him game
Morton taking the kickoff all the way in overtime
Ronnie Harmon's drop against Cleveland

and the good ones

Kelly QB sneak
barn burner in Houston OT
Hollis hits the upright getting the field goal sending the Minnesota game into overtime where Peerless wins it with a long one
Roland Hooks catches Hail Mary pass to beat New England
greatest comeback

[OpIv37]

Just remember folks- the Bills span from 1960- 2004, not Super Bowl XXV- 2004 :;

I'm aware of that but I was only 11 when the Bills played in SB XXV- I don't recall too many games before that.

[SABURZFAN]

Roland Hooks catches Hail Mary pass to beat New England



i was at that game.i remember these guys laughing at everybody in the parking lot because they missed it.

[Dozerdog]

i was at that game.i remember these guys laughing at everybody in the parking lot because they missed it.


What set that hail mary up was an incredible one handed diving catch by Hooks near midfield. Fergie killed the clock on the next play- then the hail mary.

[chernobylwraiths]

What set that hail mary up was an incredible one handed diving catch by Hooks near midfield. Fergie killed the clock on the next play- then the hail mary.

You know what, I used to like guys like Hooks and Rob Riddick. Good players that could do it all well, but nothing great. Too bad they played for crappy teams.

BTW, did you go to that game? I remember listening to it on the radio.

[clumping platelets]

1) Comeback Game
2) 2002 Snow Game vs Miami
3) Super Bowl XXV (yes, I know we lost :( )
4) 51-3
5) Season opener vs Tennessee after "Illegal Forward Pass"

[G. Host]

Two games many will not think of:

* No punt game against SF
* Comeback II where Todd Collins and A. Smith came back from 2nd greatest deficit in a game against Colts