The Buffalo Bills opened the schedule with an unusual 4 game home stand in which the entire AFL West division came through. Buffalo disposed of their west coast guests by a combined score of 117-53, compiling an undefeated record of 4-0, and tied with the Boston Patriots on top of the Eastern division.

While the Buffalo defense dominated the opposition, not everything was sunny in Buffalo. The team’s leader on and off the field, QB Jack Kemp- was struggling miserably. After a hot start in the first quarter of game 1 against the Chiefs, flat performances the following 3 weeks brought the flashy and younger Daryle Lamonica off the bench. Each appearance by the 2nd year QB sparked a lethargic Buffalo offense and helped direct a pair of comebacks against vastly inferior teams. While Kemp was again named starter in game 5, head coach Lou Saban let it be known that he would not hesitate to pull out the quick hook.

If there was an opportunity for a breakout game for Kemp, this would be it. The 2-3 Houston Oilers came into the game with 3 rookies patrolling their secondary- Ben Nelson, W.K. Hicks, and Pete Jaquess. The Bills had the perfect game plan. Saban wanted to pass, pass, and pass again. The result would be a career game for Kemp, and the Bills breaking a franchise record for total yards with 565 on 58 offensive plays.

Elbert Dubenion got the ball rolling with a 55 yard reception on the game’s second play. The result was a 1 yard TD plunge by Cookie Gilchrist. A fumble by Jack Kemp set up a Sid Blanks TD run by the Oilers to tie the game 9:11 into the first. Bills WR Glenn Bass, sparingly used since his big opening day on the season, had a breakout game. On the ensuing drive, Kemp hit Dubenion again with another long pass, this time for 45 yards. Just 1:46 after the Oilers had tied the game, Bass hauled in a 9 yard TD- his 3rd on the season giving the Bills a 14-7 lead.

In the second, Kemp’s hot start seemed to die off. Two interceptions halted Bills scoring drives. But the Bills defense got it back. Harassing QB George Blanda all game, they forced him to throw an interception to Booker Edgerson. Set up at the Oiler 19, Kemp struck paydirt hitting Dubenion on the next play for a 21-7 Bills lead. Blanda responded with a FG with 2:24 remaining in the half, but the Bills were far from done.

Ed Rutkowski of the Bills fumbled the ensuing kickoff falling on the ball at his own 4 yard line. Following a safe 1 yard run by Gilchrist, Kemp unloaded a bomb to the speedy Glen Bass who hauled in the over-the-shoulder pass and streaked for the longest scoring play in Bills history- a 94 yard bomb with 1:13 in the half. The Bills defense and special teams provided one last score. After a three-and-out by the Oilers, LB John Tracey cruised in unmolested on Oiler punter Jim Norton and blocked the kick- setting up a quick Pete Gogolak FG to close the half out with a huge 31-10 Bills lead.

Blanda tried to ignite the Oilers with a 53 yard bomb to Charlie Hennigan on the second play of the second half. But it was too little too late. Buffalo would score 17 more points in garbage time to close out the game 48-17. The offensive numbers were staggering. Kemp had a career high 378 yards on only 14 completions (a 27 yard per reception average) on 26 attempts, and 3 interceptions to go with 3 TD passes. Glen Bass finished with 5 receptions for 147 yards and a pair of TDs, while Dubenion finished with 5 receptions for 183 yards and a score. Cookie Gilchrist had 140 total yards- 92 yards on the ground to go with another 48 through the air and 2 rushing TDs. The Oilers would be held to a mere 137 total yards of offense.

The 5-0 Bills travel to Kansas City next week