Billsology for 10/3/03

by Dave Gennocro

This Week in Billsology...

1961-With Warren Raab starting at quarterback in place of the injured MC Reynolds, the Bills defeat the AFL Champion Oilers 22-12 at Jeppesen Stadium, in a game where Houston Coach Lou Rymkus had guaranteed victory.

1964-The Bills set a new team record for offensive output, as the rack up 565 yards in a 48-17 thrashing of the Houston Oilers.

1970-OJ Simpson first fumbles a kickoff, then picks it up and scampers 95 yards for a touchdown, as the Bills defeat the Jets 34-31 at War Memorial Stadium.

1972-The Bills traded former first round wide receiver Haven Moses to Denver for cornerback Dwight Harrison. Coach Saban made the trade because he felt that Moses didn't want to help block for OJ Simpson.

1977-The Bills win the lowest scoring game in the history of the franchise, a 3-0 sleeper over the Falcons, in front of a mere 27,348 fans at Rich Stadium.

1987-The "Counterfeit Bills" defeat the New York Giants 6-3 on a Todd Schlopy field goal, before 15,737 die hard fans at Rich Stadium. Lawrence Taylor crossed the picket line and played in the game, but was a non-factor.

1988-The Bills, making their first Monday Night Football appearance in four years, crush the Jets at the Meadowlands, 37-14.

1989-Led by quarterback Frank Reich, the Bills come back in the final minute to defeat the LA Rams, 23-20 in a Monday Night thriller at Rich Stadium.

1998-With 13 seconds left on the clock, quarterback Doug Flutie rolls to the left, and scores a TD on a one yard run, lifting the Bills past the visiting Jaguars, 17-16.

1999-The Bills travel down to Miami for a Monday night contest with the fish, and filet them 22-18.

2002Buffalo loses a shoot out at the Ralph to the eventual AFC Champion Raiders, 49-31.

This Week in Fishology...

1967-The fish are shredded by the Boston Patriots, 41-10, the second week in a row their defense gave up 41 points to an opponent.

1981-In what ABC Commentator Howard Cosell called, "The worst performance ever by a Shula coached team, " The Bills crush the fish 31-21 on Monday Night Football at Rich Stadium. Joe Ferguson put on a passing clinic, throwing for 221 yards and three touchdowns (two to Jerry Butler) in the first half alone.

1997-Dan Marino o-fish-ially takes Jimmy Johnson off his Christmas card list.

Memorable Games...

Bills Vs Jets, 12/23/89.
On a sunny, but blustery Saturday at the Meadowlands, the Bills erupted for 20 points in the third quarter, and easily clinched their second AFC East title, before the Jets smallest home crowd (21,148) since 1963, when they were known as the Titans. The Bills got TD runs from Larry Kinnebrew, Ken Davis, and Thurman Thomas, as well as TD receptions by James Lofton and Ronnie Harmon. The Bills D pitched their first shutout since 1987, and allowed the Jets only 54 rushing yards the entire game. The win secured the Bills a playoff spot against the Central Division Champions, the Cleveland Browns.

Billsology Alumni...

Walt Patulski was the Bills #1 draft pick in 1972. He was a 6'6 252 LB defensive end from Notre Dame University. Patulski was drafted by recently rehired Coach Lou Saban to add some beef the a terrible Bills defensive line that allowed an average of 328 yards per game in 1971. He played well in his rookie year, but faltered in his sophomore season, relegating him to second string. Patulski never really got out of Saban's dog house, and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. After hearing the news of his exile from the Bills, Patulski commented, "Its like a business executive. You have to move every three or four years. But I'm really going to miss the chicken wings and the Genesee Beer."

Happy Birthday Alumni...

Jerry Butler...Oct 12
Jeff Nixon....Oct 13
Willis McGahee...Oct 21
Doug Flutie...Oct 23
Pat Williams....Oct 24
Travis Henry....Oct 29
Chris Kelsay...Oct 31