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. 24
1976 — Patriots 26, Bills 22 — O.J. Simpson rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns but that wasn’t quite good enough in Buffalo’s third of 10 straight losses to close out the ’76 season. With Joe Ferguson lost for the season to a back injury early on, backup quarterback Gary Marangi was 6 for 22 passing for 61 yards with a touchdown to Bob Chandler and an interception, along with 74 yards rushing. Sam Cunningham gained 161 scrimmage yards for New England, while Steve Grogan totaled 124 yards with touchdowns rushing and passing. The teams combined for 11 fumbles (seven lost) with the Bills on the losing end of the split. Attendance at Rich Stadium was 45,144.
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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.