In this sunset season for the concrete cathedral often overflowed with so 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.
1980 — Falcons 30, Bills 14 — Joe Ferguson threw a touchdown pass to Frank Lewis and Joe Cribbs rushed for a touchdown on Buffalo’s opening drives, but the Bills turned the ball over five times after that in allowing the visitors to score the game’s final 30 points. Ferguson threw three interceptions while passing for 270 yards, Jerry Butler had 140 yards from scrimmage, and Cribbs gained 58 yards with a lost fumble. It was the Falcons’ first victory in Orchard Park following a 3-0 loss three years prior. Buffalo had lost three of four games following a 5-0 start to the ’80 season.
1997 — Bills 9, Dolphins 6 — Buffalo prevailed in a field goal battle with quarterback Alex Van Pelt making his first NFL start on a rainy Sunday at Rich Stadium with 78,011 in attendance. A 29-yard run by rookie receiver Eric Moulds set up Steve Christie’s 39-yard winner from 39 yards out with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Van Pelt was 13 of 22 pasing for 89 yards with no touchdowns and no turnovers. Thurman Thomas had 68 of Buffalo’s 179 yards rushing. Bruce Smith got a late sack to seal the victory. Dan Marino was 5 of 15 passing for 76 yards before leaving the game with an ankle injury, and backup Craig Erickson was 8 of 18 for 121 yards, while the Dolphins rushed for only 54 yards. This was the second time in three weeks the Bills (5-4) won by a 9-6 score.
2008 — Jets 26, Bills 17 — In the same week the Bills gave coach Dick Jauron a contract extension, their once promising ’08 campaign crumbled further with a third loss in four games. Trent Edwards passed for 289 yards and an early touchdown to tight end Derek Fine. Edwards then got stripped by blitzing defensive back Darrelle Revis to set up a short field goal for the Jets, and Abram Elam returned an interception 92 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the first half. The Bills got their lick back when Jabari Greer intercepted Brett Favre and ran 42 yards for a score, but Revis at the peak of his powers picked off Edwards to thwart Buffalo’s late rally. The run game really struggled with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson combining for 31 yards on 16 carries. Attendance was 71,827.
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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.