For some of you young, spoiled fans, here’s what the rest of us had to deal with. 1984 Buffalo Bills

[Ethan in Cleveland]

1 hour ago, chris heff said:

I’m afraid you will have to.

Bell was one of the pieces of the Cornelius Bennett trade.  He went to the Rams.   He had a decent career - three 1000 yard seasons - one with Buffalo his rookie year and two with the Rams.  Didn't live up to first round draft status but not a bust either.  He had a ProBowl and was comeback player of the year his first year with the Rams.    

[BillsPride12]

On 5/17/2025 at 8:12 AM, I'm Spartacus said:

Ironically I had season tickets those 2 years. What was I thinking?

Was it just a thing to do if you were a college kid living in WNY back then?

 

I had season tickets in the early 2000 drought days and we knew we sucked but it was just an excuse to get together and party with your friends every weekend!

[chris heff]

3 hours ago, billsfan714 said:

Bell was used in the trade for C. Bennett, I think that's what he was referring to.

Ah, Bell and draft picks to Rams, for Dickerson and draft picks to Colts, Bills get Bennett and draft picks. Rams got screwed.

1 hour ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Bell was one of the pieces of the Cornelius Bennett trade.  He went to the Rams.   He had a decent career - three 1000 yard seasons - one with Buffalo his rookie year and two with the Rams.  Didn't live up to first round draft status but not a bust either.  He had a ProBowl and was comeback player of the year his first year with the Rams.    

Now I get it I forgot it was Bell.

[I'm Spartacus]

14 hours ago, BillsPride12 said:

Was it just a thing to do if you were a college kid living in WNY back then?

 

I had season tickets in the early 2000 drought days and we knew we sucked but it was just an excuse to get together and party with your friends every weekend!

You hit the nail on the head. A few SUNY Fredonia graduates got seasons together. Had a great time despite the suckitude of the team back then.

[John Gianelli]

On 5/17/2025 at 8:48 AM, I'm Spartacus said:

Was sitting in the endzone as Bell ran 80 yards right at us. Amazing run! I also remember buying a seat next to us. Had a 5 gallon igloo cooler with vodka and cider! Can't believe they let us in with that back in the day. 🤪

I was there in the end zone, too. But I don't remember which end zone it was!

 

[Chandler#81]

22 hours ago, Pete said:

You could see Bills were on the cusp in 1987.  You saw glimpses of what the Offense, Defense, and Special Teams could do, and it was an exciting time to be a Bills fan.  It tasted sweeter after 0 for the 70s against the Fins and a rough 80s. 1988 Bills rocked, and you saw their greatness

I was impossible following the Bills ‘87 season, working in Ft. Worth TX. “Bills are gonna be in the playoffs in ‘88!” A co-worker -who gambled a lot- challenged me with a $500 bet that they wouldn’t. I was scared as we had 2 small children then but I had to back up my mouth. Bills delivered in spectacular fashion, clinching the playoffs with an 11-1 record with an OT win over the Jets. The Chandlers had a great Christmas that year but I never bet much after that.

Edited 8 hours ago by Chandler#81

[thurst44]

On 5/17/2025 at 7:23 AM, Chandler#81 said:

Back to Back horrible seasons!

 

Thanks for posting this (it brought me back in although I've mostly lurked most of my time here which I think goes back to the '90s when I lived in Buffalo). Weirdly, it was the 2-14 years that made me a die hard fan. I grew up in NYC, but my family was from Lockport. By age 7 in 1980, I was already a definite fan as I remember my aunt telling me in a car that the Bills were in the playoffs and being happy about it, but it was in the bad years that I started following them more closely. I still remember sharply my uncle shaking his head ruefully about the signing of Vince Ferragamo.  It certainly affixed my perspective and made me tend to be thankful for the good seasons (and even the positives in the bad seasons) and maybe made me TOO positive of a fan, nearly toxically so.

 

The four Super Bowls were my college years at UB. While it would have been nice to win one, it was fun having a chance years round. And after 17 years in the absolute wilderness, it's great to be a contender every season. I've been moonlighting as a DoorDash driver in North Jersey, wearing an old-time Bills cap and almost every day lately, I've got a "Go Bills!" or at least a positive comment from people in other fanbases (one customer from Orchard Park gave me the "just one before I die." They're an easy team for whom to root. While I don't agree with all the choices, I do love the teambuilding philosophy and the whole "come to Buffalo and be your best self." It shouldn't matter, but it's been amazing to watch the unique nature of the Bills fanbase get a national (and mostly beloved) presence. If you told me years ago that the Bills would be one of the top TV draws, I'd say you're crazy. 

 

In any case, this year feels oddly different. It could all blow up... it often does, but the schedule, the spirit, and the thoughtfulness around what they are doing makes me feel like this could be that "just one"! Go Bills!

 

 

[Dan Darragh]

And yet I watched every game

[uticaclub]

Are we really expected to be satisfied with only a generation quarterback without a functional defense or other playmakers, just because of 1984?

Edited 7 hours ago by uticaclub

[Pete]

1 hour ago, Chandler#81 said:

I was impossible following the Bills ‘87 season, working in Ft. Worth TX. “Bills are gonna be in the playoffs in ‘88!” A co-worker -who gambled a lot- challenged me with a $500 bet that they wouldn’t. I was scared as we had 2 small children then but I had to back up my mouth. Bills delivered in spectacular fashion, clinching the playoffs with an 11-1 record with an OT win over the Jets. The Chandlers had a great Christmas that year but I never bet much after that.

Haha one of my best buddies is a Fish fan.  In 1987 he said Bills were not making playoffs, and he gave me 10-1 odds, I bet $100.  He sweated the whole season, and was shocked when Buffalo made playoffs, and I won the bet. $1,000 is a lot of $ today, and a lot more in 88.  He gave me his sports card collection as payoff, and I was fine with that.  I didn’t want to take my buddies $, and the Bills made the playoffs- so I was pumped.

[JP51]

On 5/17/2025 at 10:47 AM, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

Actually, the only thing he really anchored was a poolside lounge chair at the Transit Valley Country Club.

Eating Baby Ruth's and throwing half in the pool... LOL 

[buffalostu2]

On 5/17/2025 at 6:12 AM, I'm Spartacus said:

Ironically I had season tickets those 2 years. What was I thinking?

Just those two seasons?

[Buffalo Boy]

On 5/17/2025 at 8:36 AM, PonyBoy said:

Yeah....

But! Beating the Cowboys of all teams to break that goose egg was pretty sweet! 😄

I actually remember that day.

i went fishing in Ellicott creek while my Mom went shopping. When she picked me back up, the Bills were winning. I still remember how surprising it was😜

[machine gun kelly]

4 hours ago, JP51 said:

Eating Baby Ruth's and throwing half in the pool... LOL 

 

That was a cute movie.  I liked it when I was young.

[JP51]

5 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

 

That was a cute movie.  I liked it when I was young.

LOL forgot about that... I was thinking Caddy Shack when someone threw the Baby Ruth in the pool at the country club and everyone freaked out... 

 

 

[kickedface]

this was the first year i watched. i've said as long as the bills don't have the same record as this particular team i'm pretty much ok with things. though i've gotten a bit spoiled watching the team in the 90s and now josh killing it.