Most memorable opening game

[wjag]

5 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Can there be any other answer than 1980 Bills-Dolphins?

 

89 Dolphins and the 2003 Sam Adams 31-0 beat down of the Patriots are great games but there is nothing to compare to tearing down the goal posts, Fred Smerlas dancing with fans, and the start of a great season.  

Hands down winner..  The 70's decade against the Dolphins was B-R-U-T-A-L...   That was a sesimic win. I was at the game..  Unforgettable.  

[Augie]

For an “Opener”, I’ll go with 1973, the preseason opener vs the (then) Redskins that was also the opener for The Ralph. First game ever in our new home. That one stands out more than anything else, no contest! Traffic was unexpectedly brutal and we were still waiting to get inside as the opening kickoff took place. You could hear the crowd noise build as the ball was kicked…..and then… you could hear with wind leaving the sails as Herb Mulkey returned the kickoff for a touchdown. What a great start…..

[ColoradoBills]

1 hour ago, Beast said:

 

I agree with everyone that said that game!

I was stationed at Homestead AFB south of Miami when that game broke "The Streak" and watched it on Miami TV.

 

The Monday Miami Herald had the color version of that picture on the front page.

The headline read "It's Over".  I am so pissed I lost that newspaper after a number of years.

[Bills fan since 87]

6 hours ago, Just Jack said:

Sept 8, 2002 - Jets at Bills.  Jets won in OT on a kickoff return from Chad Morton who also returned a kickoff for a TD in the 2nd Quarter.  You could have heard a pin drop as the crowd went silent as he scored.  

 

 

I still have that, in the box, in my basement. 

 

I believe Bledsoe had completed a 4th and long for a game tying touchdown as time ran out.  And then *poof* the rug was pulled out from under us.

[Bermuda Triangle]

7 minutes ago, Bills fan since 87 said:

 

I believe Bledsoe had completed a 4th and long for a game tying touchdown as time ran out.  And then *poof* the rug was pulled out from under us.

It was a long TD on 4th down late in the 4th to Moulds, to tie it up.  I believe that the Morton KR return in OT was his 2nd TD return that day.

[KoalaLangdon]

As a young bills fan and seeing as last year was the first time I saw us win a playoff game, I would have to say that this is the most stoked I’ve ever been for an opening game. Even though I’ve always been a big fan I’ve never gone into a season thinking this is the year we can win the Super Bowl. I also used to live in the burge so it’ll be awesome to see the Bills beating the Steelers.

[hondo in seattle]

7 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

Most memorable for me was 1980 finally beating the Fish, and helping carry the goalposts up to Ralph’s box (yes, alcohol was involved).  But the best game I ever saw was the ‘74 opener against the Raiders.

 

The only game I ever saw live at the stadium in OP.    Monday Night Football!  As I recall, Madden's Raiders were undefeated on MNF.  Cosell and the gang were there.  OJ - the engine of the offense - gets hurt about halfway in.   No chance now.  

 

Yet the Bills score a TD with about 2 minutes left to take the lead.  But after a heartbreaking Bills fumble, the Raiders score a TD with about a minute left to regain their lead to preserve their perfect MNF record.   

 

And then amazingly, improbably, with precious seconds ticking by, young Fergie cooly leads the team down the field and with a perfect toss to Ahmad Rashad earns the victory!

[BillsFan619]

44 minutes ago, KoalaLangdon said:

As a young bills fan and seeing as last year was the first time I saw us win a playoff game, I would have to say that this is the most stoked I’ve ever been for an opening game. Even though I’ve always been a big fan I’ve never gone into a season thinking this is the year we can win the Super Bowl. I also used to live in the burge so it’ll be awesome to see the Bills beating the Steelers.

Welcome to TBD. So happy for people like you, Koala.

 

The only bills football you knew what is the drought. And now, you get to experience JA hopefully go all the way!

 

Go Bills!

[BillsPride12]

I have a feeling come Monday we'll be able to add this game against the Steelers to the list!

[ChasBB]

2 hours ago, Augie said:

For an “Opener”, I’ll go with 1973, the preseason opener vs the (then) Redskins that was also the opener for The Ralph. First game ever in our new home. That one stands out more than anything else, no contest! Traffic was unexpectedly brutal and we were still waiting to get inside as the opening kickoff took place. You could hear the crowd noise build as the ball was kicked…..and then… you could hear with wind leaving the sails as Herb Mulkey returned the kickoff for a touchdown. What a great start…..

Do you still have the commemorative coin handed out that game?

Edited September 7, 2021 by ChasBB
Add image link

[El Guapo]

8 hours ago, ProcessAccepted said:

For me has to be the 31-0 beatdown of the Pats in 2003.

 

Sadly the trip to Foxboro had the same score line but the other team winning.

That was mine and my wife’s first Bills home game. It will always hold a spot at the top of our favorite games. 

[Augie]

6 minutes ago, ChasBB said:

Do you still have the commemorative coin handed out that game?

 

Wow! I don’t even remember that! We were in such a hurry to get in! Maybe they ran out? LOVE the stadium! Have a LOT of great memories there including some great concerts like the Stones in ‘75. I was a kid, and that was eye opening! It was a big part of my youth. Or Ute as Joe Pesci would say. 

[ChasBB]

8 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Wow! I don’t even remember that! We were in such a hurry to get in! Maybe they ran out? LOVE the stadium! Have a LOT of great memories there including some great concerts like the Stones in ‘75. I was a kid, and that was eye opening! It was a big part of my youth. Or Ute as Joe Pesci would say. 

It was just a plastic coin (Ralph is cheap) 

[BillsFan619]

49 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

I have a feeling come Monday we'll be able to add this game against the Steelers to the list!

Love the confidence, bro!

[dollars 2 donuts]

17-7.

 

Those who remember, know.

[BillsFan619]

1 hour ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

17-7.

 

Those who remember, know.

What if they don’t remember, but if they were reminded, they’d actually know? 😜🤣

 

Just having fun, bro. Go Bills!

[Hellcamino]

Couple less mentioned but memorable openers, one good and one bad.

 

'96 opener vs Giants on SNF.  Down 17-0,  Kelly rallys team to force OT and then win it 23-20!

 

I was at the bad one.  '98 opener in SD. the first Johnson/Flutie game.  Johnson sucked and then got hurt in 3rd qtr.  Bills were down 10-0.

Flutie comes in and hits Reed for 2 TDS to make it 16-14 SD.  Then he takes final drive deep and sets up chip shot FG for the win. 

Christie shanks it

[GunnerBill]

Maybe an odd answer but for the wrong reasons it is 2012 for me. After our hot start in 2011 had faded away we went out and spent some money, most notably on Mario Williams, to upgrade the roster and there was some talent on that team. Jackson and Spiller, Johnson, Glenn, Levitre, Wood, Kyle, Mario,  Bradham, Aaron Williams, Gilmore, Byrd..... and they got absolutely shellacked by Rex's Jets on opening day. I really had some hope that season that we were going to make a run at a wildcard spot. That hope was gone by half time of week one. That team only going 6-10 was an underachievement.  They didn't have superstars but they had the makings of a decent roster. Fitz regressed if anything and the coaching was really exposed week after week. 

 

Interesting fact - all three seasons of playoff football under McDermott have started by defeating the Jets on opening day. So at least we have got our own back a bit!

[Doc Brown]

31 minutes ago, Hellcamino said:

Couple less mentioned but memorable openers, one good and one bad.

 

'96 opener vs Giants on SNF.  Down 17-0,  Kelly rallys team to force OT and then win it 23-20!

I was just going to mention that.  SNF on TNT still felt really weird.  Bruce's strip sack won us the game in overtime.  It was like we sleepwalked to a victory.

[Greg S]

9 hours ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

17-7.

 

Those who remember, know.

 

I was 12. I remember it well. For the older fans 1980 is the answer.

[SoCal Deek]

I don’t think anyone mentioned the 1973 Road Opener against the Patriots. OJ went off for 250 yards in that game and you just KNEW you were about to witness something historic.

[oldmanfan]

12 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

I don’t think anyone mentioned the 1973 Road Opener against the Patriots. OJ went off for 250 yards in that game and you just KNEW you were about to witness something historic.

I remember that one well.  That was after an 0-6 pre-season too.  

[SoCal Deek]

28 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

I remember that one well.  That was after an 0-6 pre-season too.  

Six preseason games.  What was anyone thinking? 😉

[Big Turk]

31-0 Tom Brady game against the Pats was pretty memorable...

 

As was the game where we opened against New England and I believe Takeo Spikes sacked Brady on the first play of the game, caused a fumble and London Fletcher picked it up and ran it back for a TD. And I was like huh???  Did that really just happen on the first play of the NFL season??

[RoyBatty is alive]

Some good ones already listed.

 

 will go with one as a kid.

 

1973.  Patriots versus the Bills.    First play from scrimmage OJ Simpsons runs for 80 yards and a TD.  It was the start of the best year a running back ever had in the NFL leading to his 2003 yards.

[BillsFan619]

1 hour ago, oldmanfan said:

I remember that one well.  That was after an 0-6 pre-season too.  

Woah, I didn’t know that. Only 14 regular season games and SIX preseason games? That’s crazy!

 

I wonder why they thought they needed so many. I’m hoping we go down to two (teams do need a little preseason) and get 18 regular season games.

[Ned Flanders]

I was at the 1980 Fish opener...brutally hot day and the post game rush to the field was a result of 10 years of built up frustration.  

 

That 1980 team had the make-up and momentum of a Super Bowl winner...if we had only had home field advantage.  Two losses to the lowly Colts took care of that...sigh...

[GunnerBill]

4 minutes ago, BillsFan619 said:

Woah, I didn’t know that. Only 14 regular season games and SIX preseason games? That’s crazy!

 

I wonder why they thought they needed so many. I’m hoping we go down to two (teams do need a little preseason) and get 18 regular season games.

 

I am hoping for two pre-season, the season starting a week earlier, no additional regular season games but an additional bye. 

[Greg S]

9 minutes ago, BillsFan619 said:

Woah, I didn’t know that. Only 14 regular season games and SIX preseason games? That’s crazy!

 

I wonder why they thought they needed so many. I’m hoping we go down to two (teams do need a little preseason) and get 18 regular season games.

 

I think this is what we will end up getting eventually. 17 games is just dumb. 

[Beast]

41 years ago today.

[Mango]

Unfortunately, Sept 9, 2007. Opening kickoff vs. the Broncos. I think about Kevin Everett every time the season is about to start and how scary those moments were on the field. 

[BillsFan619]

59 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

I think this is what we will end up getting eventually. 17 games is just dumb. 

I’m grateful that they did get to the 17th game. More football, even one more game, is awesome.

 

But yeah, I’m really hoping that they go to 18 games soon. I think it will allow for teams to play two more games in their conference instead of one out of conference game because of the 17th game. Getting to 18 games could set up more meaningful football because you’re playing more teams in your conference.

[Ned Flanders]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I am hoping for two pre-season, the season starting a week earlier, no additional regular season games but an additional bye. 

Collinsworth said on the telecast last Sunday night that he thinks the league will soon go to 18 games with NO preseason.  We'll see.

 

To me, the NFL has always been "less is more."  I liked the 16 game schedule; every game is significant.  Plus, I don't think the human body can withstand an 18 game schedule.  Your best teams may come down to who has the better backups.  Again, we'll see about an expanded schedule, but it won't start until after Labor Day, as is current custom.  The NFL would like to have the Super Bowl played on President's Day weekend, giving many the ability to take the next day off...I think that's been the plan for awhile. 

[SoCal Deek]

2 hours ago, Ned Flanders said:

I was at the 1980 Fish opener...brutally hot day and the post game rush to the field was a result of 10 years of built up frustration.  

 

That 1980 team had the make-up and momentum of a Super Bowl winner...if we had only had home field advantage.  Two losses to the lowly Colts took care of that...sigh...

I've shared this many time on here over the years. I was at the Streak Ending game against the Dolphins. I carry the ticket stub around with me in my wallet to this very day.  For the younger crowd....that's just how much that game meant to Bills fans at the time.

[Patrick Duffy]

On 9/6/2021 at 12:07 PM, ProcessAccepted said:

For me has to be the 31-0 beatdown of the Pats in 2003.

 

Sadly the trip to Foxboro had the same score line but the other team winning.

Yeah that one is hard to forget. The Bledsoe and Milloy arrivals. That excitement didn't take long to die down lol

[Gugny]

Patriots at Buffalo - 2013

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/330908002

 

It was a loss, but it was also a game the Bills almost (and should have) won.

 

EJ's first start.  And my first TBDAHOT.

[BillsFan619]

14 minutes ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

Yeah that one is hard to forget. The Bledsoe and Milloy arrivals. That excitement didn't take long to die down lol

Yeah, I hear you. I really thought Bledsoe being here was just going to continue our success.

 

Oh well, we’re back!

[Golden*Wheels]

I can still see Sam rolling towards the end zone in my head. What a game.

[CLTbills]

31-0 against the Pats was certainly memorable, but the most memorable to ME, and this is because I was there, was a beatdown on Seattle in 2008. Seattle was coming off of a 10-6 season, won their division and a playoff game. They came to OP and we put a beatdown on them to open up the year. That game included a fake FG for a touchdown as well - Brian Moorman to Ryan Denney, if I recall. It also included another special teams touchdown with a Roscoe Parrish punt return.

 

It was a fun game to be at because we beat the living snot out of a really good team from the year before (a team that would end up going 4-12 that season). It started off our season with, as many seasons during that time frame, high hopes. High hopes that would eventually come crashing down, but it was fun in the stadium that day.

Edited September 7, 2021 by CLTbills

[Just Jack]

8 hours ago, Big Turk said:

As was the game where we opened against New England and I believe Takeo Spikes sacked Brady on the first play of the game, caused a fumble and London Fletcher picked it up and ran it back for a TD. And I was like huh???  Did that really just happen on the first play of the NFL season??

 

Looks like it was this game.