Bob Lamb
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ONCE UPON A TIME:
September 26, 1994 – The Last Monday Night Game At Rich Stadium
It was a gala weekend of events as the Buffalo Bills pulled out all the stops to celebrate their 35th anniversary. Players, both famous and obscure, gathered in town for a week of festivities and memories.
Ralph Wilson recalled,
“When we started out it was a long shot that the AFL would be successful. I shook hands with Paul Neville (late Buffalo News editor) and promised that I’d stick it out for three years. Beyond that, I didn’t know what was going to happen. I look back at the early ‘60’s when you held your breath before a game, hoping the weather was good because we needed the gate receipts to keep us going. And most of the attendance was on the day of the game. I mean you could never envision it would turn out like this.”
“But it has been a great 35 years of enjoyment for me. I’ve enjoyed the last seven years more than any other time. Part of it’s because we have been successful. But a major part of it is the association with Marv Levy. He’s such a high class fellow. And he’s surrounded himself with a great bunch of assistants. And we’ve drafted very high caliber players.”
Ralph said he cherished the 1964 & 1965 AFL Championships, the end of the
20-game losing streak to Miami, Bill Simpson’s game saving interception against the NY Jets in 1981, the OT victory against the same Jets in 1988, and then the four Super Bowls. But his best memory? – “There have been so many great memories, it’s hard for me to single any one of them out … but if I had to single one out, the Comeback game was it. I just stood there in total disbelief. I said, ‘This cannot happen”’.
The alumni players were introduced to the Rich Stadium crowd prior to the game. The Bills also ran a full page tribute in the Buffalo News naming and thanking the 290 individuals and firms that had been season ticket holders from the very beginning.
And Then – The Game –
It was about 12:13 AM (DST) on a partly cloudy, partly rainy night when a Buffalo crowd of 75,373 entered the NFL nether world called “Elway Time”, could the Bronco’s #7 perform his fourth quarter magic once again? Trailing the Bills 27-20 with 25 seconds left, the Broncos had a fourth down at the Bills four-yard line. Elway took the snap and rolled right, looking for either Shannon Sharpe or Anthony Miller but both receivers were covered and as Cornelius Bennett leaped for the kill, John lofted a desperation pass to Cedric Tillman and watched it soar high and away. For one game – John failed.
Denver had started the season as an early favorite to easily make the playoffs, but the team arrived in Buffalo after a poor 0-3 start. There were whispers about the quarterback’s fading ability and more open comments about Wade Phillips coaching status.
The Buffalo Bills were 2-1, having lost their home season opener to the NY Jets 23-3 before beating the Patriots (38-35) and the Oilers (15-7) on the road. The Buffalo Bills offense was sputtering a bit and prior to this game, kicker Steve Christie had scored the Bills last 18 points and made it 21 points with a 36-yard field goal in the first quarter of this last, Monday night home game. The Broncos scored next on a 10-play, 72 yard drive finished by an 11-yard TD pass to Anthony Miller. After a Jeff Burris 65-yard punt return (TD) was called back on holding call, the Bills answered nicely with Thurman scoring twice in a period of 96 seconds – the first score on a 16-yard run. The rushing score was the Bills first in nearly 7 ½ quarters of play. After the ensuing kickoff, Bruce Smith sacked Elway and forced a fumble which was recovered by Cornelius Bennett (his 15th – a team record). Thomas scored again on a 27-yard run with 8 seconds left in the half and the Bills led 17-7.
Thurman Thomas was going to have his third consecutive 100-yard game (17-103) and both his scores came on the same draw play. Thurman said,
“It’s a little draw we got from a team I’m not going to name. It’s something we worked on all week because their defensive ends get up the field. I got in the groove and I was hitting the holes correctly. On both touchdowns, Kent Hull said, ‘Just follow me,’ which I did. He got a couple of good blocks.”
On the second score, Thurman got a block from Don Beebe who leveled the cornerback, Thurman leaped over Beebe and receiver Bill Brooks sealed off the safety as Thurman scored down the left side.
Kent Hull said, “I just pulled around the guard (Lacina). It was similar to what we did against Kansas City in the Championship game last year. Glenn Parker did a good blocking Mecklenburg on the outside and if I can beat my block, Thurman just has to beat the safety and he’s in.”
In the third quarter, Denver received the kickoff but Mickey Washington promptly picked off Elway and returned the ball 27 yards to the Bills 25-yard line. Carwell Gardner scored his first TD of the year on a three yard plunge while Kenny Davis ran 15 times for 45 yards after Thomas left the game with a sprained knee. The Bills finished with 149 rushing yards – their highest total for the four games of the season. Thurman also became the third Bills player to have 60 TD’s in a career following OJ Simpson and Andre Reed.
Despite an almost seven minute advantage in TOP, Denver could just not get a running game going on the wet field, the team finishing with only 77 yards of which 37 were by Elway. Leonard Russell scored on a two yard rush to make the game 24-13. The teams then traded 28-yard field goals and with the Bills ground attack gone anemic without #34, the Broncos drove again in the fourth quarter and managed a 43-yard FG by Jason Elam to make the game 27-20. The Bills took the ball but soon had to punt – a 33 yard effort by Chris Mohr. Glyn Milburn fielded the ball on the bounce and took off for what seemed a sure TD, but Mohr caught his ankle from behind and the Broncos had the ball on their own 47-yard line. Elway drove the team downfield one last time but the last pass sailed high and away as the Bills sent the Broncos packing with an 0-4 record.
Wade Philips said, afterwards, “They’ve got a good football team and they’re tough to beat here. It’s always been that way. They look like the team they’ve had the last few years … the last four years.”
The victory was the Bills 250th (250-270-8) and evened their MNF record at 14-14. Jim Kelly passed Joe Ferguson on the all time pass completion list with 2,191-2,188. Kelly had also passed Ferguson in TD passes in Week 2 with 183.
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That's not what the Bears are saying.... but yeah, that's about how I figure it, too.
Remember the Don Pierson quote from the Hall of Fame induction?
"...But I’m from Chicago, and 20 TD passes in one season is more than any Bears quarterback has thrown in 38 of the last 39 years.”
Odds are, they make it 39 out of 40.
Interesting stat from ESPN Radio - the Bears are the first team to start three different QB's in six of the last seven seasons - and the waiver wire is (or will) be dripping with former Bears QB's
Mr. Hutchinson is looking mighty shakey right now
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San Diego's came on CD Rom - get with the times !
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This is going to be controversial, if anyone really cares
I will be about a half hour away from RWS, but I don't know exactly where I will be.
You see, 9/11 is my 6th wedding anniversary. I will be somewhere in the general vicinity of Niagara Falls. That's where my wife and I will be spending the weekend.
So close, yet so far away...
Mike
Apparently, you didn't explain the facts of life to your Mrs. or realized that getting married during football season was a bad idea.
I will be somehwere in Zip Code 14127
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Expect to pay $70 + Ticketmaster
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There was a "catered" tailgate available - $30/head - sold out. There will plenty of Bills fans there all around the parking lot
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I tried to watch the opening game with you guys last year at Blind Melon, but the burnout bartenders couldn't get the game on. Waited for about a half an hour or so and then jammed to another bar up the street. What's up with that? Is it going to be different this year?
I don't go there often - it's too far from my house - can't really say but I have seen games there.
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All the SD Bill's Backers events are sold out (including the Tailgate) and there is a waiting list. You can get game tickets trhough Ticketmaster and there will be planty of action around town for the game
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Outside of a few idiots I see few folks arguing that a Casino is some panacea which is going to save the region. Some developers who are going to make a mint indiviudally if there site is chosen versus some other developers site in Niagara Falls may make this argument, but most folks seem to be fairly hard bitten about this and they see the big limitations of a casino but on balance they want the specific benefits they might be able to get.
There is a legit argument that in addition to not being a real development engine (it merely recycles local money unless you do a lot of other things to attract out of towners here. Folks will not come gamble in Buffalo when increasingly they can gamble at home in Indian Casinos or the Internet or other sites like Vegas are entrenched or building additional reasons to come to that destination) that on whole the extra costs which will come from the additional social service need and crime associated with gambling abuse makes it a bad deal for the region as a whole.
However, on balance I think that the argument that gambling opportunities in Naigara Falls and Canada are close enough that we will have to pay for the social service associated with abuse will happen anyway and that we probably should support a Buffalo casino as a defense measure to stop Erie County dollars from going to Niagara County and US dollars from going to Canada and we get left with the social service impacts of gambling abuse by Buffalo residents.
Casinos are not a development strategy at all but they may be a neccessary evil since NYS and others are bellying up to this bar.
Just a comment - not aimed at FFS
Aside from Las Vegas, Monaco and a few of the Asian hot spots - casinos do not drive the economy. Go check out Atlantic City if you need clarification.
If the arguement is your community needs a casino because the "other" guy has one - you're missing the bigger picture.
Hard business drives an economy - how's that new Peace Bridge doing ?
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I agree with you, and I don't think the terrorists would attack in Orchard Park...but the main reason why I won't be there is 9/11 is my sixth wedding anniversary.
If I told my wife we were going to a football game on our anniversary, she'd kill me. She's not a football fan, and once told me she thought the Bills had won one of those Super Bowls.
The terrorists believe that they are fighting the "Great Satan"...and they once believed that we were a paper tiger...I doubt many of Osama's allies feel that way any more, but they believe in fighting until the death.
Mike
That's the problem with terrorists - they generally pick on the defenseless
When we got married - I told my wife - stuff like that doesn't happen during football season
- We did it in May - 27 years ago She's no real football fan - hasn't been to a game since 1985-6 (I forget) when she froze her ass off in the upper deck watching Green Bay
She is coming to the game in San Diego on November 20th - but I won't sit next to her - too many questions
Happy Anniversery - you know how to celebrate !
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How soon everyone forgets!
The Bills practiced for years on the campus
of Niagara University
How many of you went there when they held
training camp there?
How about when the Bills stayed at the Roycroft in East Aurora ? The players walked from the practice fields through town to the lodging - no golf carts then
Fredonia was intimate - SJF is all about $$$
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Do you really think that any terrorist would have a chance against a typical Buffalo tailgate crowd ? They wouldn't last long - even with automatic weapons
There are more important things to worry about
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Unfortunately - you can't listen on-line - they don't cover live sports on your PC - don't know why
I have the base unit in my house - never put it in my car - don't spend enough time driving around anymore - good thing at $2.71 per/gallon
Get the chaise lounge out with a beer cooler and order some food - recline by the car
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The team from Saudi Arabia (all Americans) is playing Japan currently.
One 12 year old on the Saudi team is 6"5" and the one Japanese player is 4'10"
ESPN did a promo shot with the little one (effectively) hiding behind the big one
Japan leads 3-0
The team from my adopted home town, Vista (CA) plays at noon -
All o f N. County is abuzz
Baseball at noon - Bills at 3 PM - not a lot else getting done today
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Supposed to be on Channel 125
See you in the chat room
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Marriott always seems to do well with properties like these.
Somebody told me (it may have been on this board, I don't remember) that the Hyatt had to be the world's worst Hyatt Hotel. It was run-down, the service was spotty, and the rooms were too cramped.
Hopefully, the renovations will do the trick and the new Marriott can become a jewel.
Mike
A change of ownership and hence management can and has done wonders. Hotels are easy (but expensive) to re-do - but the people running them are all the difference.
Paul Snyder has always been a magician when it comes to using other people's money = too bad about the Buffalo Braves (water over the Falls)
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This is something that we will never know, but the first game of GW's career as a coach was the Saints game. The Bills defense, with Cowart in there, played perhaps the best half of football a defense a Bills team has ever played, as well as the game last year against the Browns. I am not sure the Saints even made one first down until a couple minutes left in the half and they were shut out. When Cowart went down, the entire defense faded, and for the entire season, for the most part. Granted, we were a crappy team. But I honestly think that Cowart healthy that year could have been the difference in 3-4 games. That is what you call an MVP for a team.
Certain players can elevate the performance pf their teammates on a limited basis.
At the LB position Chris Spielman and Darryl Talley fulfilled that role in the past.
The difference maker in 3-4 games ? Probably not - but the concept exists
Leonard Smith was used up by the time the Bills had him - but his charisma was an intangible - and sometimes that works
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Right, MadCap!
your suggestion has led to this change this year:There WILL be a donation box (decorated by the CNJBBB "artist" Kaz) to help offset wing expenses for those who wish to do so. checks are fine (and safer! make them out to Rich Gudgel)
We also will accept donations of canola oil and frank's hot sauce
RichNJoisy
Pres
CNJBBB
www.cnjbbb.org
I am bringing you a "special" hot sauce - flavor over fire !
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#76
Don't Ask for her sister's cell phone #
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Pandas are actually a member of the racoon family and no specimen over 300 lbs has been documneted (in recent times).
In zoo pregnanacies - two embryos are often confirmed by sonogram - but so far only one ever seems to be delivered and survive - nature's way
Once Upon A Time -
in The Stadium Wall Archives
Posted
This game did not sell out