Today in Bills stadium history: Oct. 9

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. 9

1977 — Jets 24, Bills 19 — Buffalo’s record flopped to 0-4 after Joe Ferguson lost a fumbled snap late in the game leading to Clark Gaines running in the winning score for New York two plays later. The Bills got 10 points off fumble recoveries in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 17. O.J. Simpson had 162 total yards (122 rushing) and Ferguson threw touchdown passes to Lou Piccone and Bob Chandler. Jets QB Richard Todd had touchdowns passing and running, and ran out of the end zone for a safety in the closing seconds. Attendance was only 32,016 for the first Jets trip to Rich Stadium since trading Joe Namath.

1988 — Bills 34, Colts 23 — A more robust crowd of 76,018 watched Buffalo bounce back from its first loss of the ’88 season the week before in Chicago. But not before the Bills fell behind 17-0 in this divisional contest. Jim Kelly threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback, two of those going to Andre Reed, who had 124 yards receiving. Fullback Jamie Mueller led the Bills with 70 yards rushing, and the defense tallied three takeaways with four sacks. Eric Dickerson, the NFL rushing champion that year, was held to 66 yards. The Bills improved to 5-1 for first time in eight seasons and fourth time in history. 

1994 — Bills 21, Dolphins 11 — Thurman Thomas rushed for 125 yards with two touchdowns and Kenneth Davis put the game away with a scoring run in the fourth quarter as Buffalo responded again from a loss in Chicago to beat a division rival. Jim Kelly had only 130 yards passing on a windy day, and Dan Marino threw for 212 yards with a late TD to O.J. McDuffie. Attendance was 79,491 and the Bills moved to 4-2 pulling even with the Dolphins in the AFC East a few weeks before the wheels fell off the circling wagons for the ’94 season.

2005 — Bills 20, Dolphins 14 — Nate Clements forced a Ronnie Brown fumble that was recovered in the red zone late in the fourth quarter as Buffalo held on to win after nearly surrendering a 17-0 advantage. Willis McGahee rushed for 86 yards and Kelly Holcomb had 137 net yards passing with a touchdown to Eric Moulds in his first start after the Bills benched second-year quarterback J.P. Losman. Clements and Vincent also had interceptions, as did Terrence McGee, and the Bills forced five turnovers against a Dolphins offense quarterbacked by Gus Frerotte. 

2011 — Bills 31, Eagles 24 — A Buffalo defense that was leading the NFL in takeaways got five more in a runaway victory in front of 69,803 at The Ralph. Bills linebacker Nick Barnett returned one of Mike Vick’s four interceptions for a touchdown, Fred Jackson had 196 total yards (111 rushing) with a touchdown, Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a scoring pass to David Nelson, and Brad Smith rushed for a TD that gave the Bills a 28-7 lead before the Eagles rallied to make the final score respectable. LeSean McCoy had 107 total yards (80 rushing) and a touchdown for Philly in his first time playing at the stadium.

2022 — Bills 38, Steelers 3 — Josh Allen passed for a career-best 424 yards and three touchdowns in another big win that got the Bills to 4-1. Gabe Davis scored twice, including a 98-yarder, and finished with 171 yards on three receptions. Stefon Diggs also went over 100 yards receiving with a touchdown, and Khalil Shakir scored his first TD in an NFL game. The Bills led 31-3 at halftime and the starters didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Kaiir Elam recorded his first interception and Taron Johnson recovered a fumble for a Buffalo defense that allowed 364 yards. The Bills had 552 yards of offense, which ranks sixth in team history and third among games played at the stadium. Attendance was 70,764.