Stranded in Boston

Wolf Blitzer

Wait, what? Did Burkett rip off Bruce Smith -- or vice versa? The Pee Wee Herman was Bruce's signature sack dance his rookie year, if I recall correctly.

LOL, I had the same thought. I remember clear as day the crowd exploding when TO caught that ball, and going wild when he did that "T.O." celebration arm thing on the sideline, facing the crowd. How could it not have been a home game? Just YouTubed it: indeed it was in Jacksonville -- but there were probably more Bills fans there than Jaguars fans!

LMAO, I hear you, Spartacus. My brothers and I literally covered our ears and turned our heads when they played that commercial; it still makes me cringe 45(!) years later. The worst part was that smarmy little elbow-high strut they would do. I remember when the Shout song came around (late 80s?), my first thought was, "Thank god we're done with the Talkin' Proud song"!

Ah, those were only long runs at home. Nonetheless, the Juice indeed busted an 88-yarder against Pittsburgh in '75 -- but he also had an 80-yarder against the Pats in the 1973 opener, when he broke Willie Ellison's single game rushing record. But something else funny in that video: no matter how fast and frantic Thurmon and Kenny Davis were in the open field -- James Lofton was just gliiiiding along next to them, barely breaking a sweat. 😀

Thanks, St. Pete. I was a huge Ike Harrison fan, but I had forgotten that he came to the Bills in '72 as a WR (he even caught a few passes that year). Lou Saban converted him to right cornerback in 1973, playing opposite the brilliant Robert James. Ike was a fantastic corner throughout the mid-70s,, even piling up 8 picks in '75 season. It always irked me that he sort-of got "marked" by the refs as a serial interferer later in his career; his last season with the Bills it seemed he couldn't even breathe on receivers without drawing a flag. Apparently the poor guy had a tough time after his NFL years, likely suffering from post-concussion problems, and he passed away in 2024. RIP, Ike.

Yeah, Wilson was a decent safety — a rangy cover guy who could also lower the boom. I remember him baiting Tom Brady into throwing a pick at the Bills’ goal line in that glorious 2011 home win over the Pats.

None other than the Bills’ George Wilson!

What a game! OJ shredded one of the best defenses in football, loaded with pro bowlers and future HOFers -- Buck Buchanon, Willie Lanier, Curly Culp, Bobby Bell, et al. Besides eclipsing 1000 yards in only 7 games (has any other RB ever accomplished that since?), I recall OJ broke an NFL record for most carries in a game that night, with 39. He just kept moving the chains.

Hey Chan, as resident Bills historian, please give me a hand here: I'm as nostalgic as the next Bills fan, but I believe the red helmets had a bit of an inglorious origin. Now this might be a false memory (seems I have lots of those as I age) -- but didn't the Bills switch to the red helmets in the early 80s solely to help out Joe Ferguson? Fergy was clearly starting to fade around then, and I dimly recall the red helmets were intended as a crutch to help him spot his receivers better. It didn't really help, but the red helmets stuck after Fergy was traded to Detroit in '85. So ... did they really start as a crutch for a fading QB??

He didn't play special teams for long, but Jason Peters was an absolute wrecking ball on kick returns. That was back when the wedge blocking formation was still legal -- and Peters would obliterate the wedge singlehandedly. The dude was 300+ lbs. and really pretty fast; helluva lot of momentum. You could almost see the startled look on the returner's face when his blockers just dissolved.

Thanks, Chan. That was (just a tad) before I was aware of the Bills, but did anyone in Buffalo actually refer to Jack Kemp as "Jackie" back then, or was that just a highlight-reel thing? Also, my brothers and I sure didn't care for Joe Namath back in the day (with his shaving cream and panty-hose commercials and all that, LOL), but I have to admit -- he did throw a nice ball.

Thanks, Chan, you made my morning! Pity that Bobby Burnett blew his knee out later and never had a chance to build on that promising rookie year. Also, can you believe that George Blanda was already a *17* year veteran in 1966!

Chan, I like it better when you post old videos of wins ... 😵‍💫

Oh yeah, Moulds was one mean SOB with the ball in his hands. He would look for safeties to knock over.

LOL, I remember my high school bowling team -- barely a vowel among them!

No Kent Hull, Chan?

Not ranking, but Ben Williams and Sherm White were stalwarts on the Bills defensive line mid 70s - mid 80s. White had 63 career sacks between Bills and Bengals. They were overshadowed by the "Bermuda Triangle" in early 80s, but both of those guys were dangerous pass rushers and very stout against the run.

Yeah ... I'm at the age where I'm generally the one saying "I don't get it", and my boys are like "me neither", while cracking up.

Geez Chan ... did you really have to bring that one up? 😵‍💫 And we had even beaten them in the regular season, on the road. So many missed chances in that freakin' game, plus Fergy playing on a fractured ankle. Well, screw it ... just one before we die, brother!! 😀

Thanks d2d; I realize that's the line I've been groping for for decades! 😀

Nice story; thanks Ray -- and Merry Xmas! (But putting snowballs in the freezer? I take it your kids haven't spent a winter in WNY! 😀 )

Ah, you young'ns! Or you could set the DeLorean to 1965 and go to the original Laux Sporting Goods at the Boulevard Mall -- and pick up some groceries at Acme Market while you're there. 😀

"gutted and grilled" ... that's some fine old-time sports-writing, Chan! 😆 My boys will never understand why I still hate the Fish more than the Pats. I just tell them, "It's a 70s thing!"