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.
Oct. 17
1976 — Colts 31, Bills 13 — In Buffalo’s first game with Jim Ringo as head coach following the midseason resignation of Lou Saban, the Bills gave up 415 yards of offense (213 rushing) and were penalized 14 times for 106 yards against a Colts opponent that sat atop the AFC East division. O.J. Simpson gained 144 scrimmage yards (88 rushing) and took a pass from Joe Ferguson 33 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bills a 13-10 lead in the second quarter. The Colts, coached by future Bills offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda, finished the game on a 21-point run. Attendance at Rich Stadium was 71,009 but would dwindle to half of that later in the season as the Bills did not win another game.
1999 — Raiders 20, Bills 14 — A crowd of 71,113 watched another future Bills assistant coach Tyrone Wheatley rush for two touchdowns and 97 of Oakland’s 195 yards against a Buffalo league-leading run defense. Doug Flutie was inefficient completing 19 of 41 passes for 210 yards with a 12-yard TD pass to Eric Moulds, who was carted off with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter. Flutie did have a chance to drive the Bills for the winning score following a Raiders missed field goal but his pass to the end zone on the final play was intercepted. Antowain Smith had 57 yards rushing and a TD on only five carries. The loss dropped the Bills to 4-2.
2004 — Bills 20, Dolphins 13 — Buffalo’s first victory with Mike Mularkey as coach came after an 0-4 start against a Miami team that was also winless under coach Dave Wannstedt three weeks before he would get fired, and eight years before his terrible turn as Bills defensive coordinator. Takeo Spikes returned an interception for a touchdown early in this one, Drew Bledsoe passed for 212 yards with a go-ahead TD to tight end Mark Campell in the third quarter, and Willis McGahee rushed for 111 yards in his first NFL start, including a 31-yard run to close out the victory on the final drive. Attendance at Ralph Wilson Stadium was 72,714.
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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.