OJ had 273 yards rushing and the Bills lost...

[Buffalo716]

Is it even debatable that the Buffalo Bills have two of the five... If we're being generous two of the 10 best football players ever in the history of this hundred and 50 year old game? 

 

Bruce Smith and OJ Simpson both arguably the greatest ever at their position

 

And Joshua Allen is creeping towards that

Edited 23 hours ago by Buffalo716

[Ethan in Cleveland]

As I reflect on this it is weird. I have more knowledge of the AFL teams than I do most of the 1970s teams. I started watching in 1980. Love the comments and history lessons.

 

And I would defend the position that OJ is the most physically gifted RB to ever play. Brown was bigger but OJ combination of size and speed I still do not think has been matched. 

[hondo in seattle]

3 hours ago, The Frankish Reich said:

It somehow is a weird source of pride for me that my Bills have had both Nathan Peterman and Gary Marangi under center. #1 and #2 worst NFL QBs of all time (although Peterman getting garbage starts is ruining that)

 

Weirdly, I agree.

 

For some reason, Bills history is blessed with a bunch of really good RBs and a bunch of really bad QBs.  

[Pecker]

I’d have like the team to get cook a 300 yard game.  Challenge the OL to do it.  Even if it’s backups on the OL.  Woulda been a nice team building moment 

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Weirdly, I agree.

 

For some reason, Bills history is blessed with a bunch of really good RBs and a bunch of really bad QBs.  

There's still franchises that have never even had a Ferguson Kelly Allen 

[RangerDave]

I think that was the game that when the Bills got flagged for holding, the TV announcer stated, "That's okay, it will just give OJ 10 more rushing yards."  😆

[NoSaint]

9 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

I watched it! I was 9 at the time. It was a thanksgiving day game and while he was unstoppable, the Bills lost because they were rolling with the worst QB in franchise history, Gary Marangi. Marangi was 4 for 21 for 29 yards, a pick and 1-2 lost fumbles. Greg Landry had a Joe Montana-like day in comparison: 8 of 20 for 143 yards, 2 TDs, and a pick. That Bills team was TERRIBLE, mostly because Fergy missed the entire second half of the season. 

still just wild for a back to pop 273 and team only score 14

 

[Chandler#81]

17 hours ago, Virgil said:

Haha.  You’re old 😜

Lighten up, whippersnapper!

 

[machine gun kelly]

18 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

When Cook went over 200 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter I looked up the single game rushing record for the Bills. I thought it might be OJ and I was shocked to see he went for 273 in a loss!! I was only 6 at the time so I have no memory of this. 

Curious to hear what some members recall from that game.

That 273 yards is still 6th all time. OJ is only player in NFL history with two games of 250 yards or more. Derrick Henry has a 250 and 238. Bills have three rushing performances in the top 20 with OJ at 273 and 250 and Cookie at 243. 

I'm glad McDermott pulled Cook, but with that much time left and a Carolina defense that was giving up huge chunks, he could have easily gotten 250+. 

It’s not only that about OJ, but in 1973 when he went for 2003 yards, it was the most all time on a per game average.  The 2000 yard players besides him did it in 16 or 17 games.  OJ did it in 14 games as the seasons were shorter.  I even went back to Jim Brown in his 12 games as the seasons, and he didn’t run as much on a per game basis.

I should add I’m aware Jim Brown didn't accomplish 2000+ yards, but I’m looking at a season divided by games for an entire season, and the most on avg. per game for a season so that is how I did the math.

[BearNorth]

Before OJ, the record was held by Cookie Gilchrist.  243 yards 5 TD's 12/8/63.  Field was pretty much unplayable, standing puddles and mud holes on the field. Was funny watching DT's try to tackle a RB the same size as they were.  I was at the game with my dad, and we were FROZEN leaving the stadium.

[Gugny]

F*ck OJ. 
 

Rot in hell. 

[All_Pro_Bills]

It was a different set of rules back then too. All of OJ's running came before the NFL changed the rules to open up the passing game. Illegal contract and holding were not even a concept back then. Receivers faced physical corners off the line and would get cloth-lined or blindsided running their patterns and it was all fair game. Not anymore. A DB looks at a receiver funny or hurts their feelings with a little trash talk and he gets flagged for 15. Advantage offense which is why the focus is on the QB. Also, even in Kelly's era QB's got roughed up. You see classic games and by today's standards there might be 10 or 15 roughing the passer calls.

Edited 8 hours ago by All_Pro_Bills

[SoMAn]

Did I read it wrong or did Fox show a graphic stating Cook was the 12th Bill to have a 200 yd game? 

Either I read it wrong or somebody with the broadcast team messed up.  I knew immediately that it wasn't correct.

[Bongo]

18 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

As I reflect on this it is weird. I have more knowledge of the AFL teams than I do most of the 1970s teams. I started watching in 1980. Love the comments and history lessons.

 

And I would defend the position that OJ is the most physically gifted RB to ever play. Brown was bigger but OJ combination of size and speed I still do not think has been matched. 

I think Bo was right there but the freak injury shortened his career. Bo was freakishly big and fast.

[BearNorth]

OJ was 6-1 212 supposedly ran a 4.3 40.  At USC he was part of a relay team that set a world record at that time in the 440 yard dash  [402.34 metres] of 38.7 seconds.  His fastest 100 yard dash was timed at 9.53.  I believe Jim Brown's fastest 100 yard dash was 9.6 [at 232 pounds].

Edited 3 hours ago by BearNorth

[BearNorth]

21 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Is it even debatable that the Buffalo Bills have two of the five... If we're being generous two of the 10 best football players ever in the history of this hundred and 50 year old game? 

 

Bruce Smith and OJ Simpson both arguably the greatest ever at their position

 

And Joshua Allen is creeping towards that

The Athletic did a top 100 Ranking in 2021 and updated it in 2023.  Tom Brady was ranked 1 all time, Jim Brown was 2nd.  Followed by Jerry Rice, Lawrence Taylor, and Reggie White in the top 5.  Bruce was the top Bill at 20, The RB who ran for 2003 yards was #41. So yes it is debatable.

[Buffalo716]

1 minute ago, BearNorth said:

The Athletic did a top 100 Ranking in 2021 and updated it in 2023.  Tom Brady was ranked 1 all time, Jim Brown was 2nd.  Followed by Jerry Rice, Lawrence Taylor, and Reggie White in the top 5.  Bruce was the top Bill at 20, The RB who ran for 2003 yards was #41. So yes it is debatable.

That's crazy that Bruce Smith who is absolutely right there with Reggie White 

 

And played in a 3-4 has fallen that far in some people's eyes 

 

I can't see any world where he's not a top 10 football player of all time it's Bruce Smith.. and OJ was absolutely seen as Jim Brown's equal before all the extracurricular stuff

Edited 1 hour ago by Buffalo716

[Walking Tall]

6 hours ago, SoMAn said:

Did I read it wrong or did Fox show a graphic stating Cook was the 12th Bill to have a 200 yd game? 

Either I read it wrong or somebody with the broadcast team messed up.  I knew immediately that it wasn't correct.

It was the 12th time it happened. OJ six times, Glichrist, Thomas, Cook, Bell, Miller and Jackson one time each.