Today in Bills stadium history: Oct. 20

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. 20

1974 — Bills 30, Patriots 28 — Buffalo became the hottest team in football on a frigid October afternoon at Rich Stadium, as O.J. Simpson rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown while scoring on a 29-yard reception and Paul Seymour caught two touchdown passes from Joe Ferguson to overtake the previously unbeaten Patriots for the division lead. Most of the scoring came in the first quarter when the Bills built a 20-7 lead. Ferguson completed 8 of 12 passes for 153 years, more efficient than opposing QB Jim Plunkett, who was intercepted by Tony Greene while Ferguson did not turn the ball over. Sam Cunningham rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns for New England. While this game determined first place in the AFC East with both teams 5-1 near midseason, the Pats finished 7-7 and the Bills 9-5, while the Dolphins won eight of nine to take the division title with an 11-3 record. 

1975 — Giants 17, Bills 14 — An infamous Monday Night Football moment at Rich Stadium when one daring individual in the crowd of about 80,000 climbed across television cables suspended high above. “Dangerous, disgraceful, and absurd,” Howard Cosell commented on the national TV broadcast. Legend goes that upon returning safely to his section, the fan asked a security guard for a beer. As for the action on the field, O.J. Simpson rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown and Joe Ferguson threw a touchdown pass to J.D. Hill to give Buffalo a big lead early, but the visitors did all the scoring after that in a game the Bills were favored by two touchdowns. New York won on George Hunt’s 37-yard field goal on the final play, having recovered seven of nine own fumbles along with Buffalo’s one. Ferguson also threw a couple interceptions.

1985 — Bills 21, Colts 9 — Attendance at Rich Stadium was 28,430 as Buffalo extracted its first victory of the season after an 0-6 start. Greg Bell rushed for two touchdowns and had 126 scrimmage yards, Joe Cribbs added 53 yards in his first game back with the Bills after two seasons playing in the USFL, and Vince Ferragamo threw a 3-yard TD pass to Pete Metzelaars set up by Dean Prater’s blocked punt in the fourth quarter. Ferragamo and Colts QB Mike Pagel combined to complete 15 of 42 passes (37%) for 116 net yards (counting five sacks) with three interceptions, two by Bills defenders Martin Bayless and Rodney Bellinger. One of only four games that season in which the Bills scored 20 or more points. 

2019 — Bills 31, Dolphins 21 — Tre’Davious White forced two turnovers leading to Josh Allen touchdown passes to John Brown and Cole Beasley, and Micah Hyde returned an onside kick for a touchdown as Buffalo stampeded from behind with a 22-point fourth quarter. And while the Bills improved to 5-1 for the only time in Allen’s career, trailing for half the game against a winless Dolphins opponent decimated by injuries tempered the enthusiasm. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 282 yards with TDs passing and rushing and seemed to be leading Miami to victory until White’s diving interception at the 2-yard line late in the third quarter. Attendance at New Era Field was 68,340. 

2024 — Bills 34, Titans 10 — Amari Cooper scored a touchdown on his first reception after joining the Bills in a trade, Josh Allen threw for 323 yards with another TD pass to Ty Johnson, and the Bills (5-2) bounced back from consecutive losses with a 34-point flourish after falling behind 10-0 early on. Keon Coleman led Buffalo with 125 yards receiving, Ray Davis and James Cook each had scoring runs, and Damar Hamlin got his first career interception. Attendance was 70,842.