freddyjj

Corrected as had the venues confused. KC vs SD in 66 was just a typo. Sorry for confusion Sorry just a typo in my part. Knew it was KC too

As a lifelong Bills fan, I can remember the tail end of the 60's playoff run and was in HS or College for the 1974 and 1980, 1981 playoffs. Thought some background might be helpful for younger fans. Enjoy! The 1963 Bills lost a Win and In game playoff due to being tied in regular season to Patriots at the Rockpile, 1964 won in WMS vs AS and 1965 Won in SD for AFL Championship. In 1966 Bills lost to KC in Rockpile with chance to go to the first Superbowl. It was called the World Championship Game initially. The 63-65 teams were coached by Lou Saban who went to the playoffs in 3 of his 4 years four years during his first tenure (1962-1965, 2-1 in playoffs with 2 championships and 2 COTY)) as Bills head Coach. Joe Collier was coach of the 1966 Bills. Some interesting notes from Wikipedia about this era and the first Super Bowl: The AFL–NFL merger agreement of June 1966 called for a "world championship game" between the league champions. When a date of January 15, 1967, was established, the AFL title game was moved to January 1, same as the NFL championship game in Dallas. The AFL game was at 1 p.m. EST, televised by NBC, and the NFL game followed at 4 p.m. on CBS.[4] Like the NFL, the host team for the title game was alternated between the divisions, with the Eastern hosting in even-numbered years and the Western in odd. Home-field advantage was not adopted until 1975. In 1974 the OJ Simpson era Bills led again by Saban in his 2nd tenure (1972-1976) lost in the divisional Round to the eventual SB Champion Pittsburgh Steelers in 3 Rivers Stadium. The Bills led briefly 7-3 before surrendering 26 unanswered points in Q2 to trail 29-7 at the half. They eventually lost 32-14 with OJ Simpson rushing for only 49 yds. This was the only playoff appearance for OJ and the last one for Saban who coached into the 1976 season. The Chuck Knox era began in 1978 and took off in a magical 1980 season specifically. On opening day 1980 at Rich Stadium in OP, the Bills won breaking the Dolphins 20 game winning streak over the Bills - and down came the goalposts! It was a very energized fan base like this year as the Bills O, featuring a veteran QB in Joe Ferguson, a great rookie RB in Joe Cribbs, a clutch WR duo in Jerry Butler and Frank Lewis, started off 5-0 eventually finishing at 11-5, taking the AFC East Title. The Bills D was known as the Bermuda Triangle with NT Fred Smerlas, ILB Shane Nelson and ILB Jim Haslett) forming the tough interior of that Defense. Sports Illustrated's Paul Zimmerman wrote about the Bills' 1980 season, "It was a euphoric kind of year for Buffalo. Chuck Knox and his defensive coordinator, Tom Catlin, built the defense into No. 1 in the NFL with virtually the same people who had been lousy in '79 (#3 in pts against, #1 in Yds against). The Bills even beat Miami for the first time in a generation. And then Quarterback Joe Ferguson picked exactly the wrong time of year to sprain his ankle -- the playoffs. And San Diego ended the dream." The 1980 Bills lost to SD 20-14 in Jack Murphy Stadium in the divisional round. The following synopsis sums it up best: Wrote Paul Zimmerman in Sports Illustrated's 1981 NFL preview, "If Charley Romes intercepts the pass that bounces off his chest in the last few minutes of the playoff game against San Diego, then the Chargers don't score on the next play, and the Bills win the game. And Buffalo then gets to play Oakland at home -- where the Bills crushed the Raiders earlier in the season. And Buffalo's in the Super Bowl." The following year the 1981 Bills, starting to show signs of age, went 10-6 to finish first in the AFC East earning them a wildcard. The highlight of the regular season was a week 12 Hail Mary toss from Fergy to Roland Hooks at Rich Stadium that beat the Patriots. In the playoffs, the Bills were consigned to the road. In the Wildcard Game at Shea Stadium, the Jets fumbled the opening kickoff and Charles Romes, CB picked it up and ran it in for a 7-0 lead. The Bills went out to a Q2 24-0 lead before the Jets got 10 points by the end of the first half. The Jets stormed back in the 3rd quarter scoring 17 points but the Bills countered with a Q4 TD by Cribbs on a 45 yd swing pass. The gamewas sealed by a Bill Simpson INT of a Richard todd 11 yd pass into the Bills end zone as time expired. This was the Bills first playoff win since their 1965 Season Championship game! The following week saw the 1981 Bills going to Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati to face the Ken Anderson led #1 seed Bengals. The Bills fell behind 14-0 before 2 Joe Cribbs rushing TDs tied the game up in the 3rd quarter. The teams traded TDs again with a Jerry Butler TD reception from Fergy knotting the game at 21. The Bengals got a late 16 YD Anderson to Chris Collingsworth (yes that one) to take a 28-21 lead. The Bills dreams ended with a 4th down incompletion. The Bengals went on and eventually advanced to the SB where they lost to the 49ers, the first of their SB victories. So I hope this helps all the under 50 year old fans know what happened in the Bills playoff history before the Marv Levy SB era Bills and afterward. The vibe around WNY now really mirrors the Chuck Knox era as those teams had a mix of vets and youth, played tough D and had a ball control offense with some gifted pass catchers. They were the first team I really identified with.

LOL - I was born during Bills first training camp. 1st vivid memory of Bills is listening to AFC Championship game on radio New years day 1967 when they lost to KC in the Rockpile prior to Super Bowl 1. Bandwagon, heck fans my age built the wagon!

Promo, they traded Josh Dobbs to Jags after Foles injury and then activated Duck Hodges

slippery mitts cuz he ain't got no napkins eating those stolen crabs legs and all those Ws - LOL - a true coach killer QB - that is Jameis!

Agreed my friend! Since week 4 Josh Allen has a 15:3 TD to INT ratio and an add'l 6 Rushing TDs. Last 10 week average QB rating of 95 and ESPN QBR of 53. Both are better than Brady YTD

Curious stat on Frank vs Pats. In first game he had 109 yrs with a 41 yd run. 6.7 YPC ! Only other backs over 100 yrs vs Pats this year were Mixon, Chubb and Ingram. All bullish RBs btw. Singletary missed first matchup. Gotta believe Bills will try to run at slower Pats LBs in the rematch. Frank the Tank and Devin tag team on SAT!

Guessing those 3 guys couldn't spell ESPN if we spotted them the E and the N (tip of the hat to Terry Bradshaw). So assuming by their narrative that SUN was first game they watched. Fat guy in middle missed Dallas game as he went through Turkey Day buffet line 3 times. Small market and 1 pm starts means 80% of country couldn't tell you Bills team colors. Condemnation prior to investigation - some call it ignorance.

Nice post OP! The talent was upgraded on OL, TE and RB. The DTs and LBs are playing the scheme better as only Fins in game 1 with them and the Iggles really ran it down our throats this year. Consistency on D has been achieved. Not sure the Offense has enough talent to be consistent every week yet. Will be a focus in off season I guess.

FUBOtv 7 day free trial offer is another way to get it. In ROC, WHEC has posted ways to view without cable or satellite https://www.whec.com/news/how-to-watch-bills-v-patriots-without-cable-or-satellite/5581258/

Can't see past her nose....really

Duly noted. Which way to the woodshed?

Russ is obviously not a Process Guy. Put himself above the team. Too bad. Don't quit before the miracle happens. Words to live by.

Yessir

Very ironic. As punishment, he will likely go from outhouse (NYG) to the penthouse (a playoff team) by MON. Thus his "Thank you Very Much, bout time" reaction

Correct - forgot the estimable Harvey Johnson, a Ralph Wilson lackey - coached 1971after Rauch left & before Saban's return in 1972

Not sure I will get them all but I will try - will skip interim ones for simplicity's sake: Rauch, Saban, Ringo, Knox, Stephenson, Bullough, Levy, Philips, Williams, Mularkey, Jauron, Gailey, Marrone, Rex, McDermott 15? Yikes

Duke doesn't bring anything to WR corps that's unique except he has some size. Doesn't gain separation vs Outside CBs. He like Andre would be 4th or 5th WR. Duke can't play STs, can't get deep, can't run jet sweep or Reverse. McKenzie and Foster bring speed advantage and Foster is a gunner on STs. Think that is the reason we see him over Duke. Andre is a returner other teams fear btw.

7 offensive TDs in last 6 games by Steelers. The D and ST returns are an anomaly that can't be counted on game to game.

Amani Toomer is 45. Perhaps Amari Cooper instead?

Wow you took the words right out of my mouth. If Foster comes back to QB and jumps through that ball as its coming down he gets the call. Here's hoping OBD drafts/signs a big WR and also a game changer / speed demon type with gadget and return capability. McKenzie and Roberts would be expendable then.

On the 53 man roster just not dressing for games.

I hurt MY foot thinking about Sammy! Pass

OBD might use Lorax in the DE rotation (Shaq, Jerry at RDE, Murphy Zo and Johnson at LDE) to help seal the edge and use just 2 LBs in Milano and Edmunds. The 5th DB (Neal, Marlowe, T Johnson) will be big nickel and help with the 3rd TE in formation. Hollywood Brown was quiet yesterday but Bills might have to play some different coverages to take him away.