NOVEMBER 27, 1975 AT THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
In 1975 and 1977, the struggling St. Louis Cardinals replaced Dallas as the host of one of the annual Thanksgiving Day games.
It was an unpopular move by the NFL, ratings for Cardinal games were much lower than Cowboy games, and “America’s Team” was quickly, and permanently, returned to their traditional slot.
The Buffalo Bills were the Cardinals’ opponent in 1975. A snowstorm delayed the Bills arrival in St. Louis until just two hours before kickoff but that had little effect on the Bills, who crushed the Cardinals, 32-14. Buffalo entered the game led by O.J. Simpson, who was leading the NFL rushing, but it was another Buffalo running back, Jim Braxton, who would have the game of his life. Simpson rushed 23 times for 85 yards and a touchdown, but Braxton rushed for a career-high 160 yards and three scores.Quarterback Joe Ferguson completed 11 passes for 128 yards.
The win pulled the Bills to within a half-game of the division leading Miami Dolphins.