1973 Buffalo Bills season

The 1973 Buffalo Bills season was the 14th season for the team and their fourth season in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills finished in second place in the AFC East division and finished the 1973 NFL season with a record of 9 wins and 5 losses, the team's first winning record since 1966.[1]

1973 Buffalo Bills season
OwnerRalph Wilson
Head coachLou Saban
Home fieldRich Stadium
Results
Record9–5
Division place2nd AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Head coach Lou Saban began the second season of his second tenure with the Bills.[1] Saban had previously led the team to the 1964 and 1965 AFL championships.[2] It was the first season that the team played in Rich Stadium (now "Bills Stadium") after thirteen years playing at War Memorial Stadium ("The Rockpile").

The Bills were returning from 1–13 and 4–9–1 records in 1971 and 1972, respectively. Incumbent starting quarterback Dennis Shaw found himself in a battle with rookie Joe Ferguson for the starting job.

The season was defined by O.J. Simpson. The fifth-year running back became the first player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Behind Simpson's record-setting season, the Bills set an NFL record for most team rushing yards in a 14-game season, with 3,088[3] and averaged 5.1 yards per carry, higher than every Super Bowl championship team in all of league history. Simpson was returning from his best professional season, in which he earned his first All-Pro recognition and first rushing title.[4] In addition to establishing a then-record for single-season rushing yardage, with 2,003,[5] Simpson established the single-season record for rushing yards gained per game (143.1 yards per game on 23.7 rushes per game, an average of six yards per carry),[6] which still stands.[7] The explosive offense centered on O.J. Simpson was nicknamed the "Electric Company" for its ability to turn on "The Juice" (i.e. "O.J." Simpson)

Electric Company Era Begins

Although some describe the entire 1970s decade as the Electric Company era,[8] the 1973 season marked a new era in Bills history and is regarded by many as the beginning of the Electric Company era of the mid-1970s. The team ushered in a new stadium, new uniforms and a transformed team built through the draft and a few key trades.[9] With all the emphasis on rushing the team would only post two 100-yard receiving efforts.[10]

The Bills started the season 4–1 and then lost four of their next five before winning their final 4 games.[10] Rookie quarterback Joe Ferguson, who eventually would be the Bills starting quarterback for 12 seasons,[11] started all 14 games at quarterback.[10] Dennis Shaw who had been the starter the previous three seasons, saw action in four games.[12]

Simpson's Record-Breaking year
Simpson pictured in the game where he became the first running back to gain over 2,000 yards in a season on Dec. 16, 1973.

Running back O.J. Simpson broke the 2,000-yard barrier for rushing yards in a season, and was voted NFL Most Valuable Player. Simpson began and ended the fourteen-game season with bookend five-game streaks where he ran for at least 100 yards.[13] 1973 was the fifth of nine consecutive seasons that Simpson led the team in rushing yards.

It was also the first time Simpson would lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns, first time he would lead the league in yards from scrimmage and the second time he would lead the league in rushing yards.[14] (Although Simpson posted a career best 6.0 yards per carry in 1973, he was surpassed by Mercury Morris who posted a 6.4 yards per carry average for the 1973 Miami Dolphins. The only season that Simpson led the league in yards per carry was two years later when he averaged 5.5 yards per carry.)[15]

Although Simpson's 2003 yard total has now been eclipsed by 5 other runners,[16] as of 2010, his 143.1 yards per game remains an NFL single-season record due to being achieved in a fourteen-game season. (All subsequent 2,000-yard seasons took place in 16 games.)[17]

Simpson was named Associated Press Athlete of the Year.[18]

Offensive firepower

The "Electric Company" of Simpson, Jim Braxton, and rookie Paul Seymour and Joe DeLamielleure led a dramatic turnaround on the field. The "Electric Company" was the nickname of the offensive line (OG Reggie McKenzie, OT Dave Foley, Centers Mike Montler and Bruce Jarvis OG Joe DeLamielleure and OT Donnie Green) which "turned on the Juice" (i.e. O.J. Simpson). The offensive guards were a pair of young future All-Pro performers: Pro Football Hall of Famer DeLamielleure (drafted 26th overall in 1973) and College Football Hall of Famer McKenzie (drafted 27th overall in 1972).[19][20]

Paul Seymour, who would play his entire career with the Bills, became the team's starting tight end.[10] Seymour had been an All-American tackle for Michigan after having played two season at tight end.[21] Seymour went on to start at tight end for a total of five seasons.[22] replacing former tight end Jan White.[23]

Running backs Braxton and Larry Watkins shared the fullback duties with each accumulating over 400 yards rushing.[10] Braxton's 4.6 yards per carry were eighth-most in the NFL.[24]

Wide receiver Bob Chandler led the team in receiving yards, the first of four years he would do so.[1] During the season, Wallace Francis, who finished second in the league in kickoff return average, was the only player in the league to return two kickoffs for touchdowns.[15] John Leypoldt's 70% field goal percentage ranked fifth in the league.[15]

Awards, Accolades and Legacy

The 1973 Bills had three participants in the 1974 Pro Bowl and two members of the All-Pro team.

1973 was the second Pro Bowl and first All-Pro season for cornerback Robert James.[25] Offensive tackle Foley was also voted to the Pro Bowl.[26] Guard McKenzie's was voted to the All-Pro team.[19] Simpson made this third Pro Bowl and second All-Pro team.[14] Both Simpson and James were returning Pro Bowl selections.[27]

The team was featured in the video game Madden NFL '96 as one of the game's "classic" teams, along with 1990–1993 Bills, who won four consecutive AFC Championships.[28]

Offseason

On April 19, 1973, the Bills traded linebackers Edgar Chandler and Jeff Lyman and fullback Wayne Patrick to the New England Patriots for linebacker Jim Cheyunski and offensive linemen Halvor Hagen and Mike Montler.[29] Although Patrick had been the Bills' Fullback, he lost the starting job to Jim Braxton in 1972.[30]

The Bills also acquired of the Miami Dolphins' top draft selection Mike Kadish in exchange for offensive lineman Irv Goode. The Bills traded defensive tackle Al Cowlings to Houston in exchange for defensive end Earl Edwards. Long-time Bills linebacker Mike Stratton, who had spent the last ten seasons with Buffalo, left the team to play his final season with the San Diego Chargers.[9]

NFL draft
Main article: 1973 NFL Draft

The team drafted several players in the 1973 NFL Draft who contributed to the offense as starters during this record-setting season. Offensive linemen Paul Seymour and Joe DeLamielleure became cornerstones of the Bills' "Electric Company" offensive line. DeLamielleure was voted to five consecutive Pro Bowls for the Bills (1975–1979), to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, and to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Quarterback Joe Ferguson played 164 games at quarterback in 12 seasons for the Bills, a franchise-record. Ferguson retired as the team's all-time leading passer, and his 27,590 passing yards are still second in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.

RoundPickPlayerPositionCollege
17Paul SeymourOffensive TackleMichigan
126Joe DeLamielleureOffensive GuardMichigan State
232Jeff WinansDefensive TackleUSC
357Joe FergusonQuarterbackArkansas
377Bob KampaDefensive TackleCalifornia
5110Wallace FrancisWide ReceiverArkansas State
6136John SkorupanLinebackerPenn State
7162Brian McConnellLinebackerMichigan State
8190Lee FobbsRunning BackGrambling
10240Matthew ReedQuarterbackGrambling
14344Merv KrakauLinebackerIowa State
15369Joe RizzoLinebackerKings Point
= Pro Bowler = Hall of Famer

Personnel

Staff/Coaches
1973 Buffalo Bills staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Final roster
1973 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

*Notes: Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule
  • On Week 1, (played on September 16), against the New England Patriots, O.J.Simpson sets record with 250 yd rushing and two touchdowns.
  • On Week 14, (played on December 16), against the New York Jets. O.J. Simpson rushes for 200 yd and rushes for 2003 yd becoming the first RB to eclipse 2000 yd. Simpson breaks Jim Brown's record of 1863 set 10 years earlier.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 16 at New England Patriots W 31–13 1–0 Schaefer Stadium Recap
2 September 23 at San Diego Chargers L 7–34 1–1 San Diego Stadium Recap
3 September 30 New York Jets W 9–7 2–1 Rich Stadium Recap
4 October 7 Philadelphia Eagles W 27–26 3–1 Rich Stadium Recap
5 October 14 Baltimore Colts W 31–13 4–1 Rich Stadium Recap
6 October 21 at Miami Dolphins L 6–27 4–2 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
7 October 29 Kansas City Chiefs W 23–14 5–2 Rich Stadium Recap
8 November 4 at New Orleans Saints L 0–13 5–3 Tulane Stadium Recap
9 November 11 Cincinnati Bengals L13–16 5–4 Rich Stadium Recap
10 November 18 Miami Dolphins L 0–17 5–5 Rich Stadium Recap
11 November 25 at Baltimore Colts W 24–17 6–5 Memorial Stadium Recap
12 December 2 at Atlanta Falcons W 17–6 7–5 Atlanta Stadium Recap
13 December 9 New England Patriots W 37–13 8–5 Rich Stadium Recap
14 December 16 at New York Jets W 34–14 9–5 Shea Stadium Recap

[31]

Standings
AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Miami Dolphins 12 2 0 .857 7–1 9–2 343 150 W1
Buffalo Bills 9 5 0 .643 6–2 7–4 259 230 W4
New England Patriots 5 9 0 .357 1–7 3–8 258 300 L2
New York Jets 4 10 0 .286 4–4 4–7 240 306 L2
Baltimore Colts 4 10 0 .286 2–6 2–9 226 341 W2

[32]

O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson had three 200-yard rushing games, six 150-yard rushing games and eleven 100-yard rushing games. He only had 30 rushes in a game twice all season, but totaled 2,003 yards due to a 6.0 yards-per-carry average. Over the course of the season Simpson also caught six pass receptions.[13]

Date Home/Away Opponent Result Rushes Yards Yards/Attempt Touchdowns Receptions Yards
September 16, 1973ANWEW 31–13292508.62200
September 23, 1973ASDGL 7–34221034.68100
September 30, 1973HNYJW 9–7241235.130215
October 7, 1973HPHIW 27–26271716.331333
October 14, 1973HBALW 31–13221667.55200
October 21, 1973AMIAL 6–2714553.93000
October 29, 1973HKANW 23–14391574.03200
November 4, 1973ANORL 0–1320793.95000
November 11, 1973HCINL 13–1620994.95100
November 18, 1973HMIAL 0–17201206.000122
November 25, 1973ABALW 24–17151248.27100
December 2, 1973AATLW 17–6241375.71000
December 9, 1973HNWEW 37–13222199.95100
December 16, 1973ANYJW 34–14342005.88100

Week 1
Week 1: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots[33]
1 234Total
• Buffalo Bills (1–0) 7 3714 31
New England Patriots (0–1) 6 070 13

Simpson rushed for 250 yards on 29 carries, setting a new NFL single-game rushing record. He surpassed Willie Ellison's 247-yard performance in 1971. Although the Bills had gone 0–6 in their exhibition schedule, they started the season with a 31–13 victory in Chuck Fairbanks's debut as New England Patriots coach. Simpson scored on an 80-yard run in the first quarter and a 22-yard run in the third quarter.[34] Backup back Larry Watkins also had a strong day with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Week 2
Week 2: Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers[35]
1 234Total
Buffalo Bills (1–1) 0 700 7
• San Diego Chargers (1–1) 7 7146 34
  • Location: San Diego Stadium (grass)
    San Diego
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 47,588
  • Game weather: 67 degrees, relative humidity 70%, wind 11 mph

The Bills surrendered an opening kickoff return touchdown, 3 quarterback sacks and 4 interceptions, despite 103 yards rushing by Simpson and 118 yards receiving by Hill. The Bills surrendered 27 consecutive points after Simpson tied the score 7–7 with a 6-yard second quarter run.[35]

Week 3
Week 3: New York Jets at Buffalo Bills[36]
1 234Total
New York Jets (1–2) 0 007 7
• Buffalo Bills (2–1) 3 006 9

The Bills' Rich Stadium debut was a sellout of 80,200 with 2595 no-shows. Simpson rushed for 123 yards, giving him 476 in his first three games. The Bills scored on three Leypoldt field goals. He made a 42-yarder in the first quarter and added two more in the fourth quarter. The Jets almost became the Bills' first shutout victim since 1965, but Al Woodall (playing in place of an injured Joe Namath) hit Jerome Barkum for 34 yards with two seconds left.[37]

Week 4
Week 4: Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills[38]
1 234Total
Philadelphia Eagles (0–3–1) 6 1073 26
• Buffalo Bills (3–1) 10 1403 27

The Bills opted for a 47-yard Leypoldt field goal with four minutes remaining after driving 42 yards to Eagles' 40-yard-line. The score held up in the final minutes.[39] On the day, Simpson's 171-yard rushing performance offset a pair of 100-yard performances by Tom Sullivan and Norm Bulaich.[38]

Week 5
Week 5: Baltimore Colts at Buffalo Bills[40]
1 234Total
Baltimore Colts (1–4) 3 307 13
• Buffalo Bills (4–1) 0 10714 31
  • Date: October 14, 1973
  • Location: Rich Stadium (astroturf)
    Orchard Park, New York
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 78,875
  • Game weather: 58 degrees, relative humidity 58%, wind 27 mph

O.J. posted 166 yards, giving him his fifth 100-yard rushing effort in five games and giving him 813 for the season. The Colts had given Simpson 1-yard losses on his first two carries. Ferguson got the scoring started by connecting with Larry Watkins for 10-yards and later scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. Simpson scored on a 3-yard run in the third quarter and on a 78-yard run in the fourth "thrilled a crowd of 78,875".[41]

Week 6
Week 6: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins[42]
1 234Total
Buffalo Bills (4–2) 3 003 6
• Miami Dolphins (5–1) 3 2130 27
  • Date: October 21, 1973
  • Location: Orange Bowl (astroturf)
    Miami, Florida
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 65,241
  • Game weather: 80 degrees, relative humidity 77%, wind 17 mph

Miami took over first place in the AFC East by halting Simpson's streak of consecutive 100-yard performances. They held him to 55 yards on 14 carries before he left the game with an ankle sprain in the fourth quarter. Miami posted a 21-point second quarter highlighted by a pair of touchdown passes from Bob Griese to Jim Mandich. The Bills made no first downs in the first half.[43] Leypoldt and Garo Yepremian opened and closed the scoring by swapping field goals. The Dolphins' other touchdown came when a 21-yard Paul Warfield reception set up a Mercury Morris 4-yard touchdown.[44]

Week 7
Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills[45]
1 234Total
Kansas City Chiefs (3–3–1) 0 707 14
• Buffalo Bills (5–2) 14 090 23
  • Date: October 29, 1973
  • Location: Rich Stadium (astroturf)
    Orchard Park, New York
  • Game start: 9:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 76,071
  • Game weather: 45 degrees, relative humidity 92%, wind 19 mph

Simpson set an NFL record for yards in the first seven games by surpassing 1,000 yards with a 157-yard effort. His total of 1,025 was 54 ahead of Brown's pace. Simpson set the NFL single-game record for carries with 39 surpassing the 38 by Jim Nance in 1966 and Harry Newman in 1934. In the game, the Chiefs fumbled on their opening possession on their own 15-yard-line, leading to a Bills touchdown on four consecutive rushes. Three plays into the Chiefs' second possession Cheyunski intercepted Len Dawson and returned it 31 yards to the 4-yard-line leading to another Simpson score, giving them a 14–0 lead 3:37 into the game. Leypoldt added three field goals.[46]

Week 8
Week 8: Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints[47]
1 234Total
Buffalo Bills (5–3) 0 000 0
• New Orleans Saints (4–4) 3 1000 13
  • Date: November 4, 1973
  • Location: Tulane Stadium (astroturf)
    New Orleans
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 74,770
  • Game weather: 73 degrees, relative humidity 83%, wind 9 mph

Simpson had totaled 1025 yards in the first half of the season, which was ahead of the 971 Brown had gained in his first seven games.[48] The Saints posted all their scoring in the first half and kept the Bills to under 200 yards of total offense while shutting them out.[47]

Week 9
Week 9: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills[49]
1 234Total
• Cincinnati Bengals (5–4) 6 703 16
Buffalo Bills (5–4) 3 370 13
  • Date: November 11, 1973
  • Location: Rich Stadium (astroturf)
    Orchard Park, New York
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 76,927
  • Game weather: 34 degrees, relative humidity 69%, wind 14 mph, wind chill 25

Simpson posted 99 yards on 20 carries including a 32-yard game-tying touchdown run in the third quarter. He had a 1,203 total for nine games. It appeared the game would end in a tie until the Bengals' Horst Muhlmann made a 33-yard field goal with three seconds remaining.[43]

Week 10
Week 10: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills[50]
1 234Total
• Miami Dolphins (9–1) 7 1000 17
Buffalo Bills (5–5) 0 000 0
  • Date: November 18, 1973
  • Location: Rich Stadium (astroturf)
    Orchard Park, New York
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 77,138
  • Game weather: 37 degrees, relative humidity 70%, wind 12 mph, wind chill 28

The Dolphins clinched the East Division title with a 17–0 shutout of the Bills. Miami's first touchdown drive included two fourth-and-one conversions by Jim Kiick. With Miami leading 10–0, Buffalo drove from their own 20-yard-line to the Dolphins' 4-yard-line and then turned the ball over on downs four plays later at the 1-yard-line.[51] In the game, the Bills were shut out despite a pair of 100-yard rushing efforts by Simpson and Braxton who posted 120 and 119 yards respectively.[50]

Week 11
Week 11: Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Colts[52]
1 234Total
• Buffalo Bills (6–5) 3 7014 24
Baltimore Colts (2–9) 7 0010 17
  • Date: November 25, 1973
  • Location: Memorial Stadium (grass)
    Baltimore
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 52,250
  • Game weather: 61 degrees, relative humidity 78%, wind 16 mph

The Bills built a 10–7 halftime lead on the strength of a 58-yard Simpson touchdown run. Marty Domres connected with Tom Mitchell and George Hunt added a field goal to give Baltimore a 17–10 lead. Late in the game the Colts gave the Bills good field position following an 18-yard punt by David Lee. Ferguson passed for 38-yards to Bob Chandler to tie the score with 1:34 remaining. Then Dwight Harrison recorded a 31-yard interception return with 1:11 remaining to give the Bills their final margin of victory.[53] The game marked only the second and final time all season the Bills passed for 100 yards.[10]

Week 12
Week 12: Buffalo Bills at Atlanta Falcons[54]
1 234Total
• Buffalo Bills (7–5) 7 370 17
Atlanta Falcons (8–4) 0 600 6
  • Date: December 2, 1973
  • Location: Atlanta Stadium (grass)
    Atlanta
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 54,607
  • Game weather: 52 degrees, relative humidity 62%, wind 12 mph

Braxton, who totaled 80 yards on 23 carries accounted for both of the Bills' touchdowns. Simpson posted 137 yards on 24 carries. The Falcon's scoring came from future Bills kicker Nick Mike-Mayer who posted two field goals.[54]

Week 13
Week 13: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills[55]
1 234Total
New England Patriots (5–8) 3 370 13
• Buffalo Bills (8–5) 7 10173 37
  • Date: December 9, 1973
  • Location: Rich Stadium (astroturf)
    Orchard Park, New York
  • Game start: 1:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 72,470
  • Game weather: 30 degrees, relative humidity 88%, wind 9 mph, wind chill 22

After New England posted a first-quarter field goal, Francis returned the kickoff 90 yards to give the Bills a lead they would not relinquish. Simpson posted 219 yards on 22 carries including a 6-yard touchdown that put the Bills ahead 14–3 in the second quarter. Chandler caught two touchdown passes from Ferguson and Leypoldt added three field goals.[55] The effort earned Simpson his third NFL Offensive Player of the Week honor.[56]

Week 14 at Jets
Week Fourteen: Buffalo Bills (8–5) at New York Jets (4–9)
1 2 34Total
Bills 7 14 7634
Jets 7 0 0714

at Shea Stadium • Flushing, New York

  • Date: December 16
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Flurries • 31 °F (−1 °C) • Wind 17 miles per hour (27 km/h; 15 kn)
  • Game attendance: 47,740
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com

Simpson entered the final game needing 61 yards to eclipse Brown's record of 1863 yards and the team entered the game needing 177 rushing yards to break the team record of 2960 set by the 1972 Miami Dolphins.[56] He posted 200 yards on 34 carries to bring his total to 2003 in Weeb Ewbank's final game as Jets coach. He became the first to accumulate 200 yards in a game three times in a season. In O.J.'s post-game press conference, he brought the entire Electric Company to meet the media. Before he would field any questions, he introduced each of his teammates.[57]

Awards and records

Milestones
  • O.J. Simpson, First 2,000 Yard Rushing Season in NFL History[16]
  • Single-season record: 143.1 rushing yards per game[17]
  • Single-season record: 2,243 yards from scrimmage[61]
  • Single-season record: 23 touchdowns[62]
  • Single-game record: 250 rushing yards[63]
  • First back-to-back 200-yard rushing games[64]
  • Single-game carries record (39)[46]
  • Consecutive 100-yard rushing games (7, ending with week 5).[65]
  • Single-season record: 3 200-yard games[64]
  • Single-season record: 11 100-yard games[64]

References
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  5. The record was later broken by Eric Dickerson in 1984)
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