In the sunset season for the concrete cathedral so often overflowed with as many as 80,000 passionate patrons, WIVB News 4 Buffalo is taking a daily look back over 400 games played in the Orchard Park stadium’s 52 years.
Sept. 23
1979 — Bills 46, Jets 31 — Rookie receiver Jerry Butler exploded for 255 yards, a team record that stands to this day, and he caught four of Joe Ferguson’s five TD passes as Buffalo came back from down 24-12 for the win. Another standout rookie, nose tackle Fred Smerlas, returned a fumble for a touchdown, and tight end Joe Shipp scored the only touchdown of his NFL career. With attendance of 68,731 at Rich Stadium, this was the second straight high-scoring home game for the Bills after beating the Bengals 51-24 two weeks earlier. They would win just once more at home during the 7-9 season however.
1984 — Jets 28, Bills 26 — Wesley Walker caught three touchdown passes from Pat Ryan, and Freeman McNeil rushed for 112 yards as the Jets navigated the stadium winds in the comeback victory. Joe Ferguson had 340 yards passing and two touchdowns as Buffalo built an early 10-0 lead. But three drives into the red zone in the third quarter produced just three Joe Danelo field goals, dooming the Bills to an 0-4 start.
2024 — Bills 47, Jaguars 10 — Everybody ate in the primetime blowout attended by 70,316. Josh Allen threw for 247 yards with touchdowns to four different receivers before halftime. James Cook scored on the opening drive as Buffalo led 35-3 midway through the rout. It was the Bills’ biggest halftime lead in more than 30 years. Damar Hamlin made his first career interception in his first time playing on Monday Night Football since going into cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati two seasons prior.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.