This page will contain wikis about Buffalo Bills, as they become available.Buffalo Bills
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| Conference | AFC |
| Division | East |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Home Field | Ralph Wilson Stadium |
| City | Buffalo, New York |
| Colors | Red, white and blue |
| Head Coach | Mike Mularkey |
| All-Time Record (W-L-T) (At Start of 2005 Season) |
336-361-8 |
The Buffalo Bills are a Buffalo, New York-based National Football League team which plays its home games in the suburb of Orchard Park.
The Bufalo Bills were a founding member of the American Football League in 1960. After a public contest, the team adopted the same name as the former All-America Football Conference team in Buffalo. In the AFL, a predominantly offensive league, the Buffalo Bills were a great defensive team. With a linebacking corps of Harry Jacobs, Mike Stratton and John Tracey; and defensive line stalwarts like Tom Day, Tom Sestak, Jim Dunaway and Ron McDole.
AFL logo Bills logo (1960-1973)The 1964 Buffalo Bills squad was one of the great teams in professional football history. The 1964 Bills allowed their opponents only 300 rushing attempts and held them to 913 yards rushing during the regular season; a pro football record, just over 65 yards per game. The same defense registered fifty quarterback sacks, a team record that stands today, even though it was established in a 14-game season. They were the first American Football League team to win 13 games in a season.
In 1964, the Bills defense allowed only four touchdowns rushing all season, and started a string that would extend into the 1965 season: seventeen straight games without allowing an opponent to score a rushing touchdown. Eight members of the 1964 squad were on that year's AFL Eastern Division All-Star Team. Three were eventually named to the American Football League's All-Time Team, six to the second team, and sixteen are in the American Football League Hall of Fame. The only player ever inducted to the "pro football" hall of fame, without ever playing in the NFL, was a member of the 1964 Bills; guard Billy Shaw.
The Bills won AFL championships in both 1964 and 1965, were one of only three teams to appear in an AFL championship game for three consecutive years, and the only AFL team to play in the post-season for four straight years, 1963 through 1966. In addition to their defensive prowess, the Bills had offensive muscle as well, in stars such as fullback Cookie Gilchrist, quarterbacks Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica, and receivers Elbert Dubenion and Ernie Warlick. Tragedy struck the Bills in when Bob Kalsu, an offensive lineman, quit the team after his 1968 rookie season to serve in the Vietnam War, where he was killed in action in 1970.
Before the 1969 season, the Bills drafted running back O.J. Simpson, who would become the face of the franchise through the 1970s. The Bills became part of the NFL when the latter absorbed the AFL in a merger in 1970. In 1971, not only did the Bills finish in sole possession of the NFL's worst overall record at 1-13, but they also scored the fewest points (184) in the league that year while allowing the most (394); no NFL team has since done all three of those things in the same season in a non-strike year. Lou Saban, who had coached the Bills' AFL championship teams, was rehired in 1972.
1973 was a season of change: Joe Ferguson became their new quarterback, they moved into a new stadium, Simpson recorded a 2000-yard season and was voted NFL MVP, and the team had its first winning record since 1966. They made the NFL playoffs for the first time in 1974, but lost in the first round to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
After a mediocre 1975 season the Bills had internal troubles in 1976 as the team dropped to the bottom of the AFC East, where they stayed for the rest of the 1970s. After the 1977 season Simpson was traded to the San Francisco 49ers (his legal troubles were still years down the road). Chuck Knox was hired as head coach and he would end up leading the Bills back to the top.
1980 marked another breakthrough for the Bills. They beat the archrival Miami Dolphins for the first time in 11 years in their season opener, en route to winning their first AFC East title. The following season they lost their title to the Dolphins, but won their first NFL playoff game (over the New York Jets). They lost in the second round to the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. The team's players and fans alike adopted the informal slogan "We're Talkin' Proud" during this period. The following year — the strike-shortened season of 1982 — the Bills slipped to a 4-5 final record.
In the famous 1983 draft the Bills selected quarterback Jim Kelly as their replacement to an aging Joe Ferguson, but Kelly decided to play in the upstart United States Football League instead. Knox left his coaching position to take a job with the Seattle Seahawks, and new coach Kay Stephenson proved to be less than stellar. In 1984 and 1985 the Bills went 2-14.
After the USFL's demise, Jim Kelly joined the Bills for the 1986 season, and immediately proved to be worth the wait. In addition to new coach Marv Levy, a receiving game featuring Andre Reed and a defense led by first-overall draft pick Bruce Smith, the Bills started marching back to the top.
In 1988, the rookie season of running back Thurman Thomas, the Bills went 12-4 and finished atop the AFC East for the first of four consecutive seasons. After having an easy time with the Houston Oilers in the divisional playoff, they lost the AFC championship to the Cincinnati Bengals. 1989 was a relative disappointment, with a 9-7 record and a first-round playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns.
In 1990 the Bills switched to a no-huddle offense and it started one of the most successful runs in NFL history. The team finished 13-3 and blew out the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Raiders in the playoffs on their way to Super Bowl XXV. The Bills were overwhelming favorites to beat the New York Giants, but the defensive plan laid out by coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick kept Buffalo in check (and without the ball) throughout the game. The game featured many lead changes, and with the score 20-19 in favor of New York with eight seconds left, Bills kicker Scott Norwood attempted a 47-yard field goal. It went wide to the right, and the Giants emerged victorious; however, some criticized Levy for not calling one more offensive play in an effort to make the field goal try shorter. Norwood's miss set the stage for future failures by the Bills in the early 1990s.
The Bills steamrolled through the 1991 regular season as well, finishing 13-3 again and with Thurman Thomas winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. They also had an easy time with the Kansas City Chiefs in their first playoff game and beat the Denver Broncos in a defensive struggle in the AFC Championship. The Bills looked to avenge their heartbreaking Super Bowl loss a year earlier by playing the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI, but it was not to be. The Redskins opened up a 24-0 halftime lead and never looked back, handing the Bills a 37-24 loss (an embarrassing moment occurred as the teams were leaving the field at the end of the first half when Bills center Adam Lingner angrily ordered a cameraman to "Get that f***in' camera out of my face;" the comment was picked up by a nearby microphone and everyone watching or listening to the game on television or radio would have had an opportunity to hear it).
The Bills lost the 1992 AFC East title to the Miami Dolphins and Jim Kelly was injured in the final game of the regular season. Backup quarterback Frank Reich started their wild card playoff game against the Houston Oilers, and they were down 35-3 by the third quarter. Undaunted, the Bills scored touchdowns on several consecutive possessions to tie the game and force overtime. Steve Christie kicked the game-winning field goal in the extra session to cap the biggest comeback in NFL history, 41-38. They then handily defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoff and upset the archrival Dolphins in the AFC Championship to advance to their third straight Super Bowl. Super Bowl XXVII, played against the Dallas Cowboys, turned out to be a mismatch. Buffalo committed 9 turnovers en route to a 52-17 thrashing. One of the sole bright spots for the Bills was Steve Tasker's rundown and strip of Leon Lett after Lett had returned a fumble inside the Bills five and was on his way to scoring. Lett held the ball out long enough for Tasker, who had made up a considerable distance to get to Lett, to knock it out of his hand.
By now the Bills had become laughingstocks, poster children for failure in the eyes of many. They looked to rectify the situation in the 1993 season, but the same result happened. They won the AFC East championship with a 12-4 record, and again won playoff games against the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, setting up a rematch with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII on January 30, 1994 . The Bills became the only team ever to play in four straight Super Bowls, and looked ready to finally win one when they led at halftime. A Thurman Thomas fumble returned for a touchdown by James Washington put Dallas in the lead, however, and the Bills were stunned again, 30-13.
The Bills would not get a chance to make it five straight in 1994. The team stumbled down the stretch and finished 7-9, fourth in the division and out of the playoffs. The outcome of Buffalo's 1994 season has proven to mark the start of what has become known as the "Super Bowl Runner-up Jinx:" Beginning with the 1993 Bills, no Super Bowl loser has since reached the conference championship game the following year in either the AFC or the NFC, and only one has advanced that far in the postseason in either of the next two seasons after losing a Super Bowl (the Steelers, who lost to Denver in the 1997 AFC Championship Game two years after having lost Super Bowl XXX to Dallas); furthermore, only one Super Bowl loser since the 1989 Denver Broncos (who lost the game the year before the first of Buffalo's four defeats) has won a Super Bowl in any season since losing one (the New England Patriots, who lost the game in 1996 but won it in 2001, 2003 and 2004) and starting with the 1998 Atlanta Falcons, five out of six Super Bowl losers have finished with losing records the season after. The 1993 Bills also proved to be the first of twelve different teams to lose the Super Bowl, with no NFL team doing so twice since then.
In 1995 Buffalo, with free agent linebacker Bryce Paup anchoring the defense, again made the playoffs with a 10-6 record, and defeated Miami in the wild card round. They would not get a chance to get back to the Super Bowl - the Pittsburgh Steelers beat Buffalo in the divisional playoff and ended up being the AFC's representative there.
In 1996 the Bills saw their commanding lead in the AFC East race disappear to a surging New England Patriots team. They still made the playoffs, but as a wild card - and the first victim of the cinderella Jacksonville Jaguars. Jim Kelly retired after the season, signalling an end to the most successful era in Bills history. Thurman Thomas gave way to new running back Antowain Smith. Kelly's loss was felt in 1997, with the Bills stumbling to 6-10. Coach Marv Levy retired after the season.
The Bills, under new coach Wade Phillips signed two quarterbacks for the 1998 season, Rob Johnson and former Canadian Football League star Doug Flutie. This started one of the biggest controversies in the NFL at the time. Despite many Bills fans wanting Flutie to get the starting job, Phillips named Johnson to the position. After Johnson and the Bills stumbled to begin the season, Flutie came in and led the Bills to a playoff spot and 10-6 record. They faltered in their first playoff game against the Dolphins, though the game's poor officiating was one of many poorly called games which caused instant replay to be brought back in 1999.
Flutie's popularity continued into the 1999 season, with the Bills finishing 11-5, two games behind the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC East standings. However, Johnson was given the starting job in the first playoff game against the Tennessee Titans (the former Houston Oilers) in Nashville. The Bills scored a field goal with 16 seconds left to give them a 16-15 lead, but the Music City Miracle, a lateral from Frank Wycheck to Kevin Dyson that led to a Tennessee touchdown on the ensuing kickoff lost the game for Buffalo. Many Bills fans still think that the lateral was actually a forward pass, and the touchdown should not have counted. The Titans ended up advancing to the Super Bowl. Others believe it wouldn't be an issue, had Johnson not taken sack in the endzone early on, allowing Tennessee to get 2 points, and good field position, which they used to score a touchdown.
The final ties to the Bills' Super Bowl years were cut in 2000 when Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith were all cut. Antowain Smith, Eric Moulds and Marcellus Wiley respectively had long since eclipsed them on the depth chart. After a dismal 8-8 season, and the team still caught up in the Johnson vs. Flutie controversy, general manager John Butler departed for the San Diego Chargers - and took Flutie and Wiley with him. Doug Flutie left the Bills with a .677 winning percentage in 31 starts. Antowain Smith also left as a free agent for the New England Patriots, where he was the starting running back on their two Super Bowl championship teams. Both Flutie and Smith were dominant in their final game as Bills, in a rout of the Seahawks. Smith would be quickly replaced by rookie Travis Henry.
Titans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams took over as head coach for the 2001 season, which proved to be the worst in recent memory for the Bills. Rob Johnson went down in mid-season with an injury and Alex Van Pelt took over. Buffalo finished 3-13. The Bills even lost a much-hyped mid-season matchup with "Bills West" (the Flutie-led Chargers). After the season they traded for quarterback Drew Bledsoe, deemed expendable by the Patriots after Tom Brady led them to a Super Bowl victory.
Bledsoe revived the Bills for the 2002 season, leading them to an 8-8 record, setting 10 team passing records in the process. However, in a tough division with all other teams finishing 9-7, they were still in last place. Another Patriot castoff, safety Lawyer Milloy, joined the Bills days before the 2003 season began and gave the team an immediate boost on defense. After beating eventual champions New England 31-0 in the first game, and crushing the Jaguars in their second game, the Bills stumbled through the rest of the season, finishing 6-10. In one game, however, the Bills' fans gained a small measure of satisfaction when the defense sacked Rob Johnson multilpe times in his relief effort for Washington. Gregg Williams was fired as head coach after the 2003 season and replaced with Mike Mularkey. The Bills also drafted another quarterback, J.P. Losman, to be used if Bledsoe continued to struggle in 2004.
And indeed, Bledsoe did continue to struggle in 2004. The Bills started the 2004 season 0-4, with Bledsoe and his offense struggling in their run-first offense, averaging only 13 points per game. Additionally, each loss was heartbreakingly close. The team finally managed to turn things around with a victory at home against the also winless Miami Dolphins. This, along with the emergence of Willis McGahee taking over the starting running back role from the injured Travis Henry, and emergence of Lee Evans to give the Bills a second deep threat, sparked the Bills to go 7-2 in their next nine games. This string of victories allowed the Bills to be in the hunt for a final AFC wildcard playoff spot. Though they would lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the season, costing them a playoff berth, the late season surge gave the team a positive direction to approach 2005.
In the offseason, the Bills released quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who was then signed by the Dallas Cowboys. Many fans hope that replacement J.P Losman can lead the Bills to the playoffs in the 2005-2006 season.
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Many fans hope that
replacement J.P Losman can lead the Bills to the playoffs in the 2005-2006 season. The team finally managed to turn things around with a victory at home against the also winless Miami Dolphins. Louis Baseball Cardinals" or "the St. Additionally, each loss was heartbreakingly close. Sports fans and local news coverage got into the habit of saying "the St. The Bills started the 2004 season 0-4, with Bledsoe and his offense struggling in their run-first offense, averaging only 13 points per game. Louis was home to two big-league Cardinals teams, baseball and football. And indeed, Bledsoe did continue to struggle in 2004. Between 1960 and 1987, St. Losman, to be used if Bledsoe continued to struggle in 2004. Louis' KMOX radio. His son Joe Buck took over for Jack as the radio and television announcer for the Cardinals in 1991. The Bills also drafted another quarterback, J.P. For much of the last half of the 20th century, the legendary broadcaster, Jack Buck, was the voice of the Cardinals, calling play-by-play on St. Gregg Williams was fired as head coach after the 2003 season and replaced with Mike Mularkey. "The Bambino". In one game, however, the Bills' fans gained a small measure of satisfaction when the defense sacked Rob Johnson multilpe times in his relief effort for Washington. The Cardinals were unceremoniously swept by the Sox in four games, with the Sox winning their first World Series championship since 1918 and burying the so-called "Curse of the Bambino." Ironically the last out of the World Series came off of the bat of Edgar Renteria, wearing the number three jersey, the same number worn by Babe Ruth, a.k.a. After beating eventual champions New England 31-0 in the first game, and crushing the Jaguars in their second game, the Bills stumbled through the rest of the season, finishing 6-10. Louis' troubles in the Series: Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds, the normally fearsome 3-4-5 hitters for the Cards, were a dismal 6-for-45 with 1 RBI. Another Patriot castoff, safety Lawyer Milloy, joined the Bills days before the 2003 season began and gave the team an immediate boost on defense. The best demonstration of St. However, in a tough division with all other teams finishing 9-7, they were still in last place. And the Cardinals apparently were not. Bledsoe revived the Bills for the 2002 season, leading them to an 8-8 record, setting 10 team passing records in the process. As TV announcer (and former Cardinal) Tim McCarver said, "They are playing with a world of confidence". After the season they traded for quarterback Drew Bledsoe, deemed expendable by the Patriots after Tom Brady led them to a Super Bowl victory. The Cardinals also had the misfortune of meeting a Red Sox team that had just made baseball history by taking 4 straight against their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees after losing the first 3 in their ALCS matchup, and the BoSox had major momentum. The Bills even lost a much-hyped mid-season matchup with "Bills West" (the Flutie-led Chargers). However, the spirit and zest of the Cardinals seemed to elude them in this championship series, as the Red Sox retained a leading position through the entire series. Buffalo finished 3-13. The Cardinals then played the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 World Series, the third time the teams have faced each other in the Fall Classic. Rob Johnson went down in mid-season with an injury and Alex Van Pelt took over. Louis win Game 7 to clinch the series, and was named MVP. Titans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams took over as head coach for the 2001 season, which proved to be the worst in recent memory for the Bills. The next night, Albert Pujols helped St. Smith would be quickly replaced by rookie Travis Henry. Jim Edmonds hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 12th to win the game. Both Flutie and Smith were dominant in their final game as Bills, in a rout of the Seahawks. Coming home for Game 6, the Cardinals took a 4-3 lead into the 9th inning, but blew it. Antowain Smith also left as a free agent for the New England Patriots, where he was the starting running back on their two Super Bowl championship teams. In the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cardinals rolled, winning the series 3-1. Facing off against rival Houston in the NLCS, the Cards took a 2-0 lead, then lost three straight in Houston. Doug Flutie left the Bills with a .677 winning percentage in 31 starts. Louis posted the best record in the National League, tallying their most wins since the 1940s and earning home advantage for the NLDS and NLCS. Flutie controversy, general manager John Butler departed for the San Diego Chargers - and took Flutie and Wiley with him. In 2004, St. Antowain Smith, Eric Moulds and Marcellus Wiley respectively had long since eclipsed them on the depth chart. After a dismal 8-8 season, and the team still caught up in the Johnson vs. The biggest shock of all came just four days after Buck's passing when ace pitcher Darryl Kile died suddenly of heart failure while in Chicago for a series against the Cubs. The final ties to the Bills' Super Bowl years were cut in 2000 when Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith were all cut. Just ten months earlier, Buck stirred emotions when he addressed the crowd at Busch Stadium when Major League Baseball resumed after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Others believe it wouldn't be an issue, had Johnson not taken sack in the endzone early on, allowing Tennessee to get 2 points, and good field position, which they used to score a touchdown. On June 18, beloved broadcaster Jack Buck passed away at the age of 77. The Titans ended up advancing to the Super Bowl. The year was also marred with tragedy for the Cardinal family. Many Bills fans still think that the lateral was actually a forward pass, and the touchdown should not have counted. In 2002, the Cardinals won the Central Division and this time defeated the Diamondbacks 3 games to none to reach the NLCS, but lost 4 games to 1 to the San Francisco Giants. The Bills scored a field goal with 16 seconds left to give them a 16-15 lead, but the Music City Miracle, a lateral from Frank Wycheck to Kevin Dyson that led to a Tennessee touchdown on the ensuing kickoff lost the game for Buffalo. Many St. Louisians were unhappy with this decision and refer to the 2001 Cardinals as "co-division champions," along with Houston. Flutie's popularity continued into the 1999 season, with the Bills finishing 11-5, two games behind the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC East standings. However, Johnson was given the starting job in the first playoff game against the Tennessee Titans (the former Houston Oilers) in Nashville. Louis received a wild card berth. They faltered in their first playoff game against the Dolphins, though the game's poor officiating was one of many poorly called games which caused instant replay to be brought back in 1999. Since Houston won the season series against the Cardinals, Houston was declared the division champion and St. After Johnson and the Bills stumbled to begin the season, Flutie came in and led the Bills to a playoff spot and 10-6 record. Since the two teams finished tied in the standings, the league went to a tie breaker to determine the division champion. Despite many Bills fans wanting Flutie to get the starting job, Phillips named Johnson to the position. The Houston Astros, also in the National League Central, finished with an identical record. This started one of the biggest controversies in the NFL at the time. In 2001, the Cardinals finished the season with a 93-69 record. The Bills, under new coach Wade Phillips signed two quarterbacks for the 1998 season, Rob Johnson and former Canadian Football League star Doug Flutie. The eventual World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Cardinals in a five-game playoff series. Coach Marv Levy retired after the season. In 2001, the Cardinals advanced to the post-season as a "Wild Card" team after posting the second-best record in the National League, but losing the division to the Houston Astros. Kelly's loss was felt in 1997, with the Bills stumbling to 6-10. In 2000, the Cardinals lost to the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. Thurman Thomas gave way to new running back Antowain Smith. McGwire went on to finish with 70, a record that stood until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001. Jim Kelly retired after the season, signalling an end to the most successful era in Bills history. McGwire broke Roger Maris's 37 year-old record of 61 on September 8 with a low line drive over Busch Stadium's left field fence. They still made the playoffs, but as a wild card - and the first victim of the cinderella Jacksonville Jaguars. In 1998 Cardinals' first baseman Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs battled to set the record for most home runs in one season. In 1996 the Bills saw their commanding lead in the AFC East race disappear to a surging New England Patriots team. Louis in 1998. They would not get a chance to get back to the Super Bowl - the Pittsburgh Steelers beat Buffalo in the divisional playoff and ended up being the AFC's representative there. Mark McGwire broke the single-season home run record while playing with St. In 1995 Buffalo, with free agent linebacker Bryce Paup anchoring the defense, again made the playoffs with a 10-6 record, and defeated Miami in the wild card round. The Cards reached the playoffs 1996, but the Atlanta Braves defeated them for the National League pennant. The 1993 Bills also proved to be the first of twelve different teams to lose the Super Bowl, with no NFL team doing so twice since then. The Cardinals again won the National League in 1987, losing to Minnesota 4 games to 3 in the World Series. The outcome of Buffalo's 1994 season has proven to mark the start of what has become known as the "Super Bowl Runner-up Jinx:" Beginning with the 1993 Bills, no Super Bowl loser has since reached the conference championship game the following year in either the AFC or the NFC, and only one has advanced that far in the postseason in either of the next two seasons after losing a Super Bowl (the Steelers, who lost to Denver in the 1997 AFC Championship Game two years after having lost Super Bowl XXX to Dallas); furthermore, only one Super Bowl loser since the 1989 Denver Broncos (who lost the game the year before the first of Buffalo's four defeats) has won a Super Bowl in any season since losing one (the New England Patriots, who lost the game in 1996 but won it in 2001, 2003 and 2004) and starting with the 1998 Atlanta Falcons, five out of six Super Bowl losers have finished with losing records the season after. In the 9th inning, umpire Don Denkinger called Royals batter Jorge Orta safe at first base - a call later refuted by instant replay. The Cardinals, leading 1-0 at the time of the play and needing that victory to clinch the title, went on to lose Game 6 and ultimately Game 7 by the score of 11-0 the following night. The team stumbled down the stretch and finished 7-9, fourth in the division and out of the playoffs. The 1985 World Series, christened the "I-70 Series" because it featured in-state rival Kansas City, is perhaps the most controversial in Cardinal history. Game 6 of that series featured "The Call". The Bills would not get a chance to make it five straight in 1994. The 1980s era Cardinals included stars Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee (who won two batting titles in a Cardinal uniform), John Tudor, Tom Herr, Jack Clark, Bruce Sutter, Keith Hernandez, Terry Pendleton, and Joaquín Andujar. A Thurman Thomas fumble returned for a touchdown by James Washington put Dallas in the lead, however, and the Bills were stunned again, 30-13. In his 11 years as Cardinal manager, Herzog won three National League pennants, and a 1982 World Series title. The Bills became the only team ever to play in four straight Super Bowls, and looked ready to finally win one when they led at halftime. Herzog's brand of baseball, known in St. Louis as "Whiteyball", featured speed on the base paths, sparkling defense, and unconventional roster moves. They won the AFC East championship with a 12-4 record, and again won playoff games against the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, setting up a rematch with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII on January 30, 1994 . After a less-than-successful 1970s, new Cardinal manager Whitey Herzog revived the winning tradition at Busch Stadium. They looked to rectify the situation in the 1993 season, but the same result happened. The Cards then lost to the Detroit Tigers in a closely contested 7 game affair in 1968, the last series before baseball adopted a divisional format. By now the Bills had become laughingstocks, poster children for failure in the eyes of many. Hall of Famers such as Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, and Orlando Cepeda led the "Redbirds" to World Series titles in 1964 over the Yankees and in 1967 over the Boston Red Sox. Lett held the ball out long enough for Tasker, who had made up a considerable distance to get to Lett, to knock it out of his hand. Louis. One of the sole bright spots for the Bills was Steve Tasker's rundown and strip of Leon Lett after Lett had returned a fumble inside the Bills five and was on his way to scoring. The 1960s brought three National League pennants to St. Buffalo committed 9 turnovers en route to a 52-17 thrashing. The Cardinals did not sign a black regular until Curt Flood in 1958. Super Bowl XXVII, played against the Dallas Cowboys, turned out to be a mismatch. National League president Ford Frick threatened to ban any players who boycotted any games, and the boycott never happened. They then handily defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoff and upset the archrival Dolphins in the AFC Championship to advance to their third straight Super Bowl. The alleged ringleader of the boycott was Enos Slaughter. Undaunted, the Bills scored touchdowns on several consecutive possessions to tie the game and force overtime. Steve Christie kicked the game-winning field goal in the extra session to cap the biggest comeback in NFL history, 41-38. In 1947, the Cardinals (who were effectively the South's only major league team until the 1960s) gained notoriety by attempting to boycott games against the Brooklyn Dodgers to protest the Dodgers' signing of a black player, Jackie Robinson. Backup quarterback Frank Reich started their wild card playoff game against the Houston Oilers, and they were down 35-3 by the third quarter. In 1968, a statue of Musial was constructed outside Busch Stadium. The Bills lost the 1992 AFC East title to the Miami Dolphins and Jim Kelly was injured in the final game of the regular season. Known to loyal fans as "Ol' Number 6", Musial spent 23 years in a Cardinal uniform. The Redskins opened up a 24-0 halftime lead and never looked back, handing the Bills a 37-24 loss (an embarrassing moment occurred as the teams were leaving the field at the end of the first half when Bills center Adam Lingner angrily ordered a cameraman to "Get that f***in' camera out of my face;" the comment was picked up by a nearby microphone and everyone watching or listening to the game on television or radio would have had an opportunity to hear it). Outfielder Stan "The Man" Musial led the ’44 team. The Bills looked to avenge their heartbreaking Super Bowl loss a year earlier by playing the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI, but it was not to be. The Cardinals beat the Browns 4 games to 2 to win the 1944 World Series. The Bills steamrolled through the 1991 regular season as well, finishing 13-3 again and with Thurman Thomas winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. They also had an easy time with the Kansas City Chiefs in their first playoff game and beat the Denver Broncos in a defensive struggle in the AFC Championship. Louis Browns, in the "trolley car Series". Norwood's miss set the stage for future failures by the Bills in the early 1990s. In the World Series they met their crosstown rivals, the St. It went wide to the right, and the Giants emerged victorious; however, some criticized Levy for not calling one more offensive play in an effort to make the field goal try shorter. In the 1940s, the Cardinals dominated the National League, and in 1944 they posted the best record in team history at 105-49. The game featured many lead changes, and with the score 20-19 in favor of New York with eight seconds left, Bills kicker Scott Norwood attempted a 47-yard field goal. Dean's country humor made him a popular favorite, particularly in the rural south and midwest where Cardinals fans were numerous. The Bills were overwhelming favorites to beat the New York Giants, but the defensive plan laid out by coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick kept Buffalo in check (and without the ball) throughout the game. Dizzy, whose real name was Jerome Herman Dean, won 30 of them, with Paul (nicknamed "Daffy") contributing 19 wins. The team finished 13-3 and blew out the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Raiders in the playoffs on their way to Super Bowl XXV. In 1934, Dean and his younger brother, Paul, combined to win 49 games - still a single season record for brothers. In 1990 the Bills switched to a no-huddle offense and it started one of the most successful runs in NFL history. Highlights from Cardinal history include the 1930s era "Gas House Gang" featuring Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick, Pepper Martin, and Enos Slaughter. 1989 was a relative disappointment, with a 9-7 record and a first-round playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns. By the mid-1920s, the Cardinals began to turn their fortunes around, and soon they would become the city's favorite team once again. After having an easy time with the Houston Oilers in the divisional playoff, they lost the AFC championship to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cardinals became the Browns' tenants in 1920. In 1988, the rookie season of running back Thurman Thomas, the Bills went 12-4 and finished atop the AFC East for the first of four consecutive seasons. The Cardinals languished for some 40 years after their mid-1880s triumphs, while their crosstown rivals, the American League's version of the Browns, were competitive, though not victorious. In addition to new coach Marv Levy, a receiving game featuring Andre Reed and a defense led by first-overall draft pick Bruce Smith, the Bills started marching back to the top. They were briefly called the Perfectos in 1899 before settling on their present name, a name reportedly inspired by switching their uniform colors from brown to red. After the USFL's demise, Jim Kelly joined the Bills for the 1986 season, and immediately proved to be worth the wait. The Browns joined the National League in 1892 following the bankruptcy of the American Association. In 1984 and 1985 the Bills went 2-14. The Maroons had the misfortune of arriving at the time when the Browns were in their glory, and they soon folded. Knox left his coaching position to take a job with the Seattle Seahawks, and new coach Kay Stephenson proved to be less than stellar. Louis entry, the Maroons, which had come in from the Union Association. In the famous 1983 draft the Bills selected quarterback Jim Kelly as their replacement to an aging Joe Ferguson, but Kelly decided to play in the upstart United States Football League instead. During the mid-1880s, the National League also had a St. The following year — the strike-shortened season of 1982 — the Bills slipped to a 4-5 final record. Louis rivalry continues to this day. The team's players and fans alike adopted the informal slogan "We're Talkin' Proud" during this period. The vigorous Chicago-St. They lost in the second round to the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. Louis won the 1886 Series outright. The following season they lost their title to the Dolphins, but won their first NFL playoff game (over the New York Jets). St. They beat the archrival Miami Dolphins for the first time in 11 years in their season opener, en route
to winning their first AFC East title. The Series of 1885
ended in dispute and with no resolution. 1980 marked another breakthrough for the Bills. The Browns squared off against the
National League's Chicago White Stockings twice in the early version of the
World Series. Chuck Knox was hired as head coach and he
would end up leading the Bills back to the top. The team was formed as part of the American Association in 1882 where they enjoyed a
four-year dynasty under flamboyant owner Chris von der Ahe.
Initially they were known as the "Brown Stockings", which was quickly shortened to "Browns". After the
1977 season Simpson was traded to the San Francisco 49ers (his legal troubles were still years down the road). After a mediocre 1975 season the Bills had internal troubles in 1976 as the team dropped to the bottom of the AFC East, where they stayed for the rest of the 1970s. Louisians were unhappy with this decision and refer to the 2001 Cardinals as "co-division champions," along with Houston. They made the NFL playoffs for the first time in 1974, but lost in the first round to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Many St. 1973 was a season of change: Joe Ferguson became their new quarterback, they moved into a new stadium, Simpson recorded a 2000-yard season and was voted NFL MVP, and the team had its first winning record since 1966. Louis received a wild card berth. Lou Saban, who had coached the Bills' AFL championship teams, was rehired in 1972. Since Houston won the season series against the Cardinals, Houston was declared the division champion and St. In 1971, not only did the Bills finish in sole possession of the NFL's worst overall record at 1-13, but they also scored the fewest points (184) in the league that year while allowing the most (394); no NFL team has since done all three of those things in the same season in a non-strike year. Since the two teams finished tied in the standings, the league went to a tie breaker to determine who would be the division champion and who would be the National League Wild-Card winner. The Bills became part of the NFL when the latter absorbed the AFL in a merger in 1970. The Houston Astros, in the same division as the Cardinals finished with the same record. Simpson, who would become the face of the franchise through the 1970s. * In 2001, the Cardinals finished the season with a record of 93-69. Before the 1969 season, the Bills drafted running back O.J. They are the defending champions of the National League. Tragedy struck the Bills in when Bob Kalsu, an offensive lineman, quit the team after his 1968 rookie season to serve in the Vietnam War, where he was killed in action in 1970. They are in the Central Division of the National League. In addition to their defensive prowess, the Bills had offensive muscle as well, in stars such as fullback Cookie Gilchrist, quarterbacks Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica, and receivers Elbert Dubenion and Ernie Warlick. Louis Cardinals are a Major League Baseball team based in Saint Louis, Missouri. The Bills won AFL championships in both 1964 and 1965, were one of only three teams to appear in an AFL championship game for three consecutive years, and the only AFL team to play in the post-season for four straight years, 1963 through 1966. The St. The only player ever inducted to the "pro football" hall of fame, without ever playing in the NFL, was a member of the 1964 Bills; guard Billy Shaw. Johnson City Cardinals. Three were eventually named to the American Football League's All-Time
Team, six to the second team, and sixteen are in the American Football League Hall of Fame. Palm Beach Cardinals The same defense registered fifty quarterback sacks, a team record that stands today, even though it was established in a 14-game season. Pitching ERA: 1.12 Bob Gibson (1968). The 1964 Bills allowed their opponents only 300 rushing attempts and held them to 913 yards rushing during the regular season; a pro football record, just over 65 yards per game. Pitching Strikeouts: 274 Bob Gibson (1970). The 1964 Buffalo Bills squad was one of the great teams in professional football history. Pitching Wins: 30 Dizzy Dean (1934). With a linebacking corps of Harry Jacobs, Mike Stratton and John Tracey; and defensive line stalwarts like Tom Day, Tom Sestak, Jim Dunaway and Ron McDole. Walks: 162 Mark McGwire (1998). In the AFL, a predominantly offensive league, the Buffalo Bills were a great defensive team. Strikeouts: 167 Jim Edmonds (2000). After a public contest, the team adopted the same name as the former All-America Football Conference team in Buffalo. Hitting Streak: 33 games - Rogers Hornsby (1922). The Bufalo Bills were a founding member of the American Football League in 1960. Stolen Bases: 118 Lou Brock (1974). The Buffalo Bills are a Buffalo, New York-based National Football League team which plays its home games in the suburb of Orchard Park. Triples: 25 Tom Long (1915). Drew Bledsoe. Doubles: 64 Joe Medwick (1936). Scott Norwood K. Runs: 141 Rogers Hornsby (1922). Ruben Brown LG. Hits: 250 Rogers Hornsby (1922). Ernie Warlick. Batting Average: .424 Rogers Hornsby (1924) (Major League Record). Ted Washington DT. Runs Batted In: 154 Joe Medwick (1937). John Tracey. Home Runs: 70 Mark McGwire (1998). Thurman Thomas RB. 85 August "Gussie" Busch (owner). Steve Tasker WR-Special Teams. 45 Bob Gibson. Bruce Smith DE. 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball). Andre Reed WR. 20 Lou Brock. Frank Reich QB. 17 Dizzy Dean. Reggie McKenzie OL. 14 Ken Boyer. Ron McDole. 9 Enos Slaughter. Paul Maguire P. 6 "Stan the Man" Musial. Daryle Lamonica QB. 2 Red Schoendienst. Doug Flutie QB. 1 Ozzie Smith. Phil Hansen DE. Rogers Hornsby (has retirement honors, as he played in the era prior to uniform numbers). Cookie Gilchrist. Branch Rickey. Booker Edgerson. Tony La Russa. Jim Dunaway. Walt Jocketty. Tom Day. Whitey Herzog. Shane Conlan. August "Gussie" Busch. Wray Carlton. Sam Breadon. Larry Centers FB. Todd Worrell. Butch Byrd. Tony Womack. Cornelius Bennett LB. Bill White. Don Beebe WR. John Tudor. The 12th Man (Fans). Joe Torre. (Founder). Fernando Tatis. Wilson Jr. Bruce Sutter. Ralph C. Lee Smith. Marv Levy (Head Coach). Ted Simmons. Patrick J. McGroder (Vice President). Edgar Rentería. Eddie Abramowski (Trainer). Wally Moon. Darryl Talley. Mark McGwire. Mike Stratton. Willie McGee. Fred Smerlas. Tim McCarver. Simpson. Tino Martinez. J. Pepper Martin. O. Marty Marion. Billy Shaw. Arlie Latham. Tom Sestak. Darryl Kile. George Saimes. Jim Kaat. Jack Kemp. Keith Hernández. Jim Kelly. Joe Garagiola. Bob Kalsu (1945 - 1970, one of only two pro football players to die in the Vietnam War). Curt Flood. Robert James. Drew. Kent Hull. J.D. Joe Ferguson. Charles Comiskey. Elbert Dubenion. Vince Coleman. Joe Delamielleure. Bob Caruthers. 12 - Jim Kelly. Nelson Briles. Losman QB. Harry Brecheen. J.P. Oyster Burns (RF). Mike Williams OT. Curt Welch (CF). Troy Vincent CB/FS. Tip O'Neill (LF). Takeo Spikes LB. Arlie Latham (3B). Aaron Schobel DE. Bill Gleason (SS). Eric Moulds WR. Yank Robinson (2B). Lawyer Milloy S. Charlie Comiskey (1B and manager). Willis McGahee RB. Doc Bushong (C). Terrence McGee CB. Adonis Terry (SP). Travis Henry RB. Silver King (SP). London Fletcher LB. Dave Foutz (SP). Lee Evans WR. Bob Caruthers (SP). Nate Clements CB. 24 Joe Pettini (bench). Sam Adams DT. 11 José Oquendo (third base). Rozelle Award winner Van Miller. Hal McRae (hitting). McCann Award winner Larry Felser. 39 Dave McKay (first base). James Lofton. 38 Marty Mason (bullpen). Simpson. 18 Dave Duncan (pitching). J. Coaches
O. 10 Tony La Russa. Billy Shaw. Manager
Joe Delamielleure. Hoyt Wilhelm. Bobby Wallace. Dazzy Vance. Ozzie Smith. Enos Slaughter. Red Schoendienst. Wilbert Robinson. Kid Nichols. Stan Musial. Johnny Mize. Joe Medwick. John McGraw. Rabbit Maranville. Miller Huggins. Rogers Hornsby. Jesse Haines. Chick Hafey. Burleigh Grimes. Bob Gibson. Pud Galvin. Frankie Frisch. Dennis Eckersley. Leo Durocher. Dizzy Dean. Roger Connor. Orlando Cepeda. Steve Carlton. Jesse Burkett. Mordecai Brown. Lou Brock. Roger Bresnahan. "Sunny" Jim Bottomley. Jake Beckley. Walter Alston. Pete Alexander. |