Highlighted Year: Joe Ferguson, 1975

Quarterback, Buffalo Bills

Age: 25

3^rd season in pro football & with Bills

College: Arkansas

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 184

Prelude:

Ferguson passed for 4431 yards and 24 touchdowns in college and was chosen by the Bills in the third round of the 1973 NFL draft. He beat out veteran Dennis Shaw and started every game as a rookie, rarely throwing in a conservative offense that was geared around the running of record-setting HB O.J. Simpson. Ferguson went to the air only 164 times, completing 44.5 percent for 939 yards and four touchdowns against 10 interceptions. The team went 9-5 and did so again in ’74 as Ferguson showed much improvement, passing for 1588 yards and 12 touchdowns with as many interceptions.

1975 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 321 [12]

Most attempts, game – 41 at Miami 12/7

Completions – 169 [10]

Most completions, game – 20 vs. Miami 10/26, at Miami 12/7

Yards – 2426 [7]

Most yards, game – 296 at NY Jets 11/2

Completion percentage – 52.6 [16]

Yards per attempt – 7.6 [6]

TD passes – 25 [1, tied with Fran Tarkenton]

Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. New England 11/23

Interceptions – 17 [8]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Minnesota 12/20

Passer rating – 81.3 [7]

200-yard passing games – 6

Rushing

Attempts – 23

Most attempts, game – 3 (for 6 yds.) vs. Denver 10/5, (for 5 yds.) vs. Miami 10/26

Yards – 82

Most yards, game – 19 yards (on 2 carries) at St. Louis 11/27

Average gain – 3.6

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Bills went 8-6 to finish third in the AFC East while leading the NFL in rushing yards (2974), total yards (5467), touchdowns (57), and scoring (420 points).

Aftermath:

Ferguson missed half of the 1976 season due to injury but returned to pass for a league-leading 2803 yards in ’77, although also topping the NFL with 24 interceptions with a 3-11 team. He went on to display impressive durability thereafter despite a smallish build and didn’t miss another game until 1984, his last year with Buffalo. Ferguson guided the offense during playoff seasons in 1980 and ’81, completing 57.2 percent of his passes for 2805 yards and 20 TDs in ’80 and a career-high 3652 yards with 24 touchdowns in 1981. With the team in the doldrums, he was traded to Detroit following the ’84 season and ended his career with stints as a backup with the Lions, Buccaneers, and Colts. Overall, Ferguson threw for 29,817 yards and 196 touchdowns, and held many Buffalo career passing records at the time of his departure (and which to date still rank second only to Jim Kelly), including completions (2188), yards (27,590), and TD passes (181).

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1981: Chargers Overcome Bills with Fouts TD Pass in AFC Divisional Playoff Game

The NFL’s most productive passing offense was up against the top passing defense as the San Diego Chargers hosted the Buffalo Bills in an AFC Divisional Playoff game on January 3, 1981. Under Head Coach Don Coryell, the Chargers were highly potent through the air as QB Dan Fouts (pictured at right) broke his own season passing yardage record with 4715 and an unprecedented three receivers gained over a thousand yards – WR John Jefferson (1340), TE Kellen Winslow (1290), and WR Charlie Joiner (1132). The addition of RB Chuck Muncie in a midseason trade with the Saints added an effective rushing element. While overshadowed by the offense, the defensive line was strong and led the league with 60 sacks. The Chargers topped the AFC West with an 11-5 record and, having been upset by the Oilers in the first round of the playoffs the previous year, were hungry to win.

Buffalo under Chuck Knox, a defensive-minded coach formerly with the Rams, was back in the postseason for the first time since 1974 after winning the AFC East, also at 11-5. NT Fred Smerlas anchored a tough defensive line and inside linebackers Jim Haslett and Shane Nelson were solid. FS Bill Simpson, an ex-Ram, was inserted into the lineup when Jeff Nixon went down for the season with a knee injury with good results.  QB Joe Ferguson directed a ground-oriented offense that benefited from the addition of rookie RB Joe Cribbs, who gained 1600 yards from scrimmage and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

There were 52,253 fans in attendance for the Saturday afternoon contest at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Buffalo’s Joe Ferguson reinjured his ankle five plays into the game, but after it was re-taped, he returned to action (it was only well afterward that it was discovered he had a hairline fracture). Meanwhile, backup QB Dan Manucci was under center for the remainder of Buffalo’s series, but the Bills failed to score when Nick Mike-Mayer’s 44-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright.

San Diego also had injury problems in the early going, losing Gregg McCrary, their second tight end, and DE Charles DeJurnett for the remainder of the game. Still, the Chargers advanced to the Buffalo four and scored first on a 22-yard field goal by Rolf Benirschke.

On Buffalo’s second series, which stretched into the early moments of the second quarter, the Bills responded by driving 72 yards to a one-yard touchdown carry by FB Roosevelt Leaks. Mike-Mayer added the extra point that put the visitors up by 7-3.

San Diego had a chance to narrow the margin, but Benirschke was short on a 43-yard field goal attempt. With time running out in the first half, the Bills got a break on defense when CB Charles Romes forced Charlie Joiner to fumble and Bill Simpson recovered at the San Diego 33. Four plays later, Ferguson (pictured at left) passed to WR Frank Lewis for a TD with 16 seconds remaining on the clock. Mike-Mayer again converted and Buffalo took a 14-3 lead into the intermission.

Facing a potential upset, San Diego had first possession in the second half and went 70 yards in just four plays. Chuck Muncie had an 18-yard carry and Fouts connected with Joiner for a 45-yard gain to the Buffalo eight. Fouts went to Joiner again for a nine-yard touchdown and, with Benirschke adding the PAT, Buffalo’s lead was cut to 14-10.

The Bills had an opportunity to add to their lead, but an apparent 43-yard pass play from Ferguson to Lewis that would have put the ball on the San Diego 21 was nullified by a holding penalty.

Later in the period, the Bills were pinned back at their eight yard line and had to punt, giving the Chargers the ball at the Buffalo 49. After advancing to the one, and as the game entered the final period, an illegal procedure penalty moved them back and they settled for a 22-yard Benirschke field goal.

Down by a point, the Chargers again reached Buffalo territory but failed to score when WR Ron Smith couldn’t hold onto a pass that was picked off by Simpson at the Buffalo seven. The Bills had a chance to score after SS Mike Fuller fumbled on a punt return in his own territory, but, following two runs and a short pass, Mike-Mayer missed a 49-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in regulation.

It did not look promising for the Chargers on their next series, especially when a second-down pass was nearly intercepted by Romes, who stepped in front of Jefferson but couldn’t hold onto the ball that bounced off of his chest. Facing a third-and-ten situation with 2:08 left on the clock, the Chargers lined up with five receivers. Fouts threw to Smith, who gathered the ball in at the 24 just ahead of Simpson and went the distance for a 50-yard touchdown. Benirschke added the extra point and San Diego was ahead by six points.

There was still time remaining, but FS Glen Edwards intercepted a desperation pass by Ferguson, his second of the game, to seal the 20-14 win for the Chargers.

San Diego had the lead in total yards (397 to 214) and first downs (21 to 17). The teams were essentially even in rushing yards (97 to 96 in favor of the Bills) but the Chargers were far ahead in net passing yards (301 to 147). San Diego recorded three sacks, at a cost of 33 yards, while Buffalo had two for 13 yards. Each team turned the ball over three times.

Dan Fouts completed 22 of 37 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, giving up one interception. Chuck Muncie (pictured below) rushed for 80 yards on 18 carries and had 6 catches for 53 more yards. John Jefferson had 7 pass receptions for 102 yards while Charlie Joiner added 83 yards on four catches that included a TD.

Ron Smith caught only four passes during the regular season after being obtained from the Rams following the preseason. He had caught a long touchdown reception in LA’s upset of the Cowboys in the playoffs the previous year and his lone catch against Buffalo, following two drops, resulted in the game’s biggest play.

For the Bills, the hobbled Joe Ferguson put on a gritty performance and was successful on 15 of 29 throws for 180 yards and a TD, although he was intercepted three times. Joe Cribbs was held to 53 yards on 18 rushing attempts and compiled another 36 yards on four receptions. TE Mark Brammer led the team with 62 yards on his four catches and Frank Lewis contributed three receptions for 45 yards and a score.

“It’s one of the oldest plays in the book – throwing to the man who has the least amount of coverage,” explained Dan Fouts regarding the winning touchdown play.

“I saw the middle of the field open and I took advantage of it,” added Ron Smith. “Their defense was rotating to Jefferson and that left me one-on-one on their safety in the corner.”

“I had a pretty good game,” said Bill Simpson from the Buffalo perspective. “I had a fumble recovery, an interception, a lot of tackles. But everyone is going to remember that last play, including myself. That’s going from the penthouse to the outhouse in a matter of minutes.”

The Chargers faced the division-rival Oakland Raiders, who had qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card, for the AFC Championship and lost a close contest. They won a third consecutive division title in 1981. Buffalo again reached the postseason, this time as a Wild Card, and was again eliminated at the Divisional level.

Ron Smith was back with San Diego in 1981, but after catching three passes in nine games, he was released and picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles. He finished out the year with the Eagles and stayed with them during the strike-shortened ’82 season, when he had his most productive year in the NFL, catching 34 passes for 475 yards (14.0 avg.) and one touchdown. But the two most notable events in his career would be the playoff touchdowns for the Rams and Chargers. 

1975: Bills Rally to Beat Jets on Long Ferguson-to-Simpson Touchdown

The Buffalo Bills were at 4-2, having lost two consecutive games after winning their first four, as they faced the New York Jets on November 2, 1975. The offense could score points and was spurred by star HB O.J. Simpson. FB Jim Braxton was an effective runner as well as blocker while QB Joe Ferguson (pictured above) had developed into a fine passer. However, the defense was another story and had been most notably weakened by the loss of CB Robert James for the entire year. Head Coach Lou Saban’s team was looking to get back on track after the two defeats.

New York had a 2-4 record and lost badly to the Bills in the season-opening contest. Coached by Charley Winner, the Jets still had QB Joe Namath to throw the ball, but at 32, “Broadway Joe” was too immobile and interception-prone playing behind a mediocre line. FB John Riggins was an effective runner and there were good receivers in WR Jerome Barkum and TE Rich Caster. But the defense was poor, although on this day it was focused on stopping Simpson.

It was a clear day at Shea Stadium with 58,343 fans in attendance. The Bills took the opening kickoff and drove 74 yards in 11 plays. O.J. Simpson was stopped for losses on both of his carries, but Joe Ferguson had completions to WR Bob Chandler for 16 yards and WR J.D. Hill for 32 and 21 yards as well as a four-yard gain on a quarterback sneak that converted a third down. A holding penalty backed the Bills up after they reached the one and scored an apparent touchdown, but Ferguson threw to Jim Braxton for an 11-yard TD that counted and John Leypoldt added the extra point.

The Jets had to punt after their first series came to a stop at the Buffalo 49 and this time it was Simpson (pictured at left) carrying the bulk of the load as the Bills advanced to their own 38. However, FS Delles Howell intercepted a Ferguson pass and returned it nine yards to the Buffalo 42. John Riggins carried three straight times to pick up 23 yards before the drive stalled at the 25 and Pat Leahy kicked a 42-yard field goal. Buffalo held a 7-3 lead at the end of the opening period.

Simpson and Braxton had good gains to close out the first quarter and the Bills drove methodically into New York territory. On a third-and-nine play, Ferguson threw to Braxton for a 26-yard gain to the 16 yard line. However, a penalty and a sack by DT Ed Galigher moved the visitors back to the 33 and they punted.

Starting from their own 11, it was the Jets’ turn to put together a long possession. Riggins and HB Emerson Boozer ran effectively and Joe Namath passed to WR Eddie Bell for a 22-yard gain. The advance finally was stopped at the Buffalo 24 and Leahy kicked a 41-yard field goal to make it a one-point game.

New York got the ball back a few plays later when a Ferguson pass was picked off by LB Godwin Turk, who returned it to near midfield. Following a five-yard carry by Boozer, HB Steve Davis ran for 22 yards to the Buffalo 24 and then, following the two-minute warning, he carried again for 11 yards. Boozer lost a yard on the next play and two Namath passes were incomplete, and the home team settled for a 31-yard Leahy field goal.

The Jets got the ball right back on the ensuing kickoff, however, when WR Vic Washington fumbled after running it back 24 yards and DB Ed Taylor recovered for New York at the Buffalo 23. Two plays later, Namath threw to Boozer for a 16-yard touchdown. Leahy added the point after and the Jets took a 16-7 lead into halftime.

The Jets had the first possession in the third quarter and drove 70 yards in seven plays. Riggins ran for 11 yards and caught a pass from Namath for 22 to the Buffalo 34. Three plays later Namath threw long for Bell at the goal line and the diminutive receiver caught it for a 31-yard TD. Leahy’s conversion put the home team ahead by a 23-7 score.

The Bills responded with a series that started off with Ferguson throwing to Braxton for 21 yards and, after catching a short pass, Simpson ran for 18 to the New York 34. Ferguson connected with Chandler for 18 yards but, after advancing to the 11, a holding penalty pushed the Bills back and they ended up with a 40-yard field goal by Leypoldt.

Riggins and Boozer picked up 22 yards between them on the next series and Namath completed a pass to Rich Caster that gained 29 yards. But a Namath pass intended for Bell was intercepted by CB Tony Greene, who fell into the end zone for a touchback. The Bills then went 80 yards in eight plays. Ferguson passed to Hill in the corner of the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown and, with Leypoldt’s PAT, the Bills were now down by just six points at 23-17.

New York was driving as the contest moved into the fourth quarter and reached the Buffalo 30 before a sack and holding penalty moved the ball back to the 45, from where the Jets had to punt. The Bills had to punt as well and the Jets took over at their 31. HB Carl Garrett ran for 11 yards but was twice stopped for no gain before Namath completed a pass to Barkum for 15 yards. Namath threw to Caster for 13 yards to reach the Buffalo 29 and Garrett ran twice to pick up another nine yards. However, Riggins was stopped for no gain on third-and-one and, going for it on fourth down, he was stopped short again as DE Earl Edwards slammed into him at the line.

Starting from their 20 with 5:19 left on the clock, the Bills picked up nine yards on a Ferguson pass to Braxton and then the quarterback ran the ball up the middle for another seven and a first down. After a pass fell incomplete, Ferguson threw across the middle to Simpson, who split the defenders and ran down the left sideline for a 64-yard touchdown. Leypoldt kicked the all-important extra point and, in electrifying fashion, the visitors were in front by one.

The Jets had two more shots in the time remaining but couldn’t get out of their end of the field. They punted from their own 24 after the first series and, regaining the ball at their 19 following a clipping penalty on Buffalo’s ensuing punt, Namath was sacked twice. The Bills held on to win by a final score of 24-23.

Buffalo had the edge in total yards (435 to 366) while the Jets had more first downs (25 to 22). New York also gained more yards on the ground (199 to 148). The Bills turned the ball over three times, to one suffered by the Jets, although they recorded four sacks, to one for New York.

O.J. Simpson was largely kept in check as he rushed for 94 yards on 21 carries, but his 66 yards on two catches included the game-deciding touchdown. Joe Ferguson completed 15 of 29 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, although he was intercepted twice. Jim Braxton ran for 43 yards on 10 attempts and pulled in four passes for 67 yards and a TD and J.D. Hill gained 88 yards on his four receptions that also included a score. Bob Chandler contributed five catches for 75 yards.

For the Jets, Joe Namath was successful on 16 of 31 throws for 208 yards and two TDs while giving up one interception. John Riggins (pictured at right) gained 108 yards on 24 carries, but it was the one yard he couldn’t get on fourth down that drew the most comment. Jerome Barkum had five catches for 44 yards, Rich Caster added four for 56 yards, while Eddie Bell topped the club with 60 yards on three receptions that included a touchdown.

“We only needed less than a yard,” explained Coach Charley Winner of the fateful decision to pass up a possible game-clinching field goal in the fourth quarter and try and convert a fourth down instead. “The players all thought they could make it. Who knows what the percentage is if you try to kick a field goal? We were making yardage all day long. We thought we could make one foot.”

The Bills lost their next two games on the way to a disappointing 8-6 record that placed third in the AFC East. Ultimately, offensive prowess couldn’t overcome defensive vulnerability. New York won only once more all year to end up at the bottom of the division along with the Patriots at 3-11. Coach Winner was gone after nine games and Ken Shipp finished up in the interim.

O.J. Simpson was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection for the fourth straight year as he led the league in rushing with 1817 yards, total yards with 2243, touchdowns with a then-record 23, and scoring with a total of 138 points. Joe Ferguson tied for the NFL lead in touchdown passes with 25 along with Minnesota’s Fran Tarkenton.

John Riggins became the first Jet to rush for a thousand yards with 1005 on 238 carries (4.2 avg.) and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Joe Namath passed for 2286 yards and 15 touchdowns, but led the league in interceptions for the second consecutive year with 28.

1974: Ferguson to Rashad TD Passes Propel Bills Past Raiders

Coming into the 1974 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills appeared to be a team on the rise. Following six straight losing records, the Bills had gone 9-5 in ’73, just missing out on a playoff berth. A key to the club’s improvement had been the return of Lou Saban as head coach in 1972 (he had coached the team from 1962 to ’65, during which it won back-to-back AFL titles), and his decision to build the offense around HB O.J. Simpson, who had been something of a disappointment after coming out of USC in 1969. The decision paid off in back-to-back league rushing titles by the star halfback, including a record 2003 yards during a sensational 1973 season.

At quarterback in ’73 had been rookie Joe Ferguson, a third round draft choice out of Arkansas who threw just 164 passes during the course of the year. Thus, the offense had been decidedly one-dimensional with Simpson, behind an outstanding line, carrying the load and the improving defense that included DE Earl Edwards, LB Jim Cheyunski, and CB Robert James keeping opponents from scoring often. For the team to advance, Ferguson would need to throw the ball, and to help in this regard Saban dealt for WR Ahmad Rashad (pictured above) from the Cardinals to join the capable holdovers J.D. Hill and Bob Chandler.

The Bills opened the ’74 season at home on September 16 in a Monday night contest against the Oakland Raiders. Oakland, under Head Coach John Madden, was a perennially contending team that had yet to win a title since the AFL merged with the NFL. They were coming off a 9-4-1 record in 1973 and were still a formidable challenger. Ken Stabler had bypassed Daryle Lamonica as the starting quarterback and he had veteran WR Fred Biletnikoff plus up-and-coming WR Cliff Branch to throw to, FB Marv Hubbard to hand off to, and a tough defense to harass opponents.

There was a big crowd of 79,791 on hand for the nationally-televised game at Rich Stadium. Following a scoreless first quarter, Buffalo scored on Ferguson’s four-yard TD pass to J.D. Hill. It capped a 54-yard drive that benefited from a spearing penalty called on Oakland DB Warren Bankston. Early in the second quarter, George Blanda, on the eve of his 47^th birthday, kicked a 47-yard field goal for the Raiders. That was it for the first half scoring, but an ominous development occurred for the Bills in the final minute of the second quarter when O.J. Simpson suffered an ankle sprain and was sidelined for the second half.

In the third quarter, the Raiders drove 58 yards on their first series and HB Clarence Davis ran for a 15-yard touchdown on a third-and-nine play, surprising the Bills defense in an apparent passing situation. A big play along the way was a 14-yard Stabler pass to Branch in a third-and-nine situation at the Buffalo 34.

Seven minutes later, Oakland added to its tally with another Blanda field goal, this time from 41 yards. The Bills fought back on offense and advanced into Oakland territory, but a 46-yard field goal attempt by John Leypoldt was wide to the left in the waning seconds of the period. The Raiders held a 13-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Early in the final period, Stabler was picked off by FS Tony Greene, giving Buffalo possession at the Oakland 36. Nine plays later, the Bills faced fourth-and-goal at the one and Coach Saban chose to go for it. They came up empty when LB Dan Conners of the Raiders halted Simpson’s replacement, HB Gary Hayman, with a hard hit for no gain and knocked him out of the contest as well.

Buffalo got the ball back in good field position at the Oakland 41 following a punt by the Raiders after their ensuing possession, but the Bills came up empty again when once more they failed to convert a fourth down, this time on a pass at the 25. However, following a fumble by Marv Hubbard at his own 33, and with 1:56 left in the game, Ferguson threw to Ahmad Rashad for an eight-yard touchdown, finally coming through on a fourth-down play. Leypoldt’s successful extra point made it 14-13 in favor of the Bills.

Buffalo’s spirited defense held the Raiders as Stabler threw three incomplete passes. The offense regained possession on its own 31, but on the first play FB Jim Braxton fumbled and DT Art Thoms picked it up and ran for a touchdown. With 1:14 now remaining, Oakland was back in front at 20-14.

Following the kickoff, the Bills took possession at their 28 and put together an eight-play, 72-yard drive that was helped along by two penalties on the Raiders. Ferguson, who completed four passes during the series, again went to Rashad for a 13-yard touchdown and, with the successful PAT, a one-point lead with the clock down to 31 seconds.

The Raiders fought back, going from their 41 to the Buffalo 33 in three plays. But with six seconds left, Blanda missed a 50-yard field goal that fell short and was wide to the right. Having come through in an exciting last two minutes of play, the Bills won by a final score of 21-20.

Buffalo led in total yards (306 to 252) and first downs (22 to 18). The Raiders suffered two damaging turnovers, to one by Buffalo, and penalties were a big factor as Oakland was flagged 10 times at a cost of 104 yards, often in critical situations.

Joe Ferguson (pictured below) completed 10 of 20 passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns with none intercepted – in the fourth quarter alone, he was 6 for 12 and 84 yards with two TDs. He picked on Oakland CB Skip Thomas, although the winning touchdown was scored on All-Pro CB Willie Brown. In his half of play, O.J. Simpson rushed for 78 yards on 12 carries. In picking up the slack, Jim Braxton ran 19 times for 69 yards and Gary Hayman added 31 yards on 7 attempts. Ahmad Rashad caught 5 passes for 68 yards and the two big touchdowns.

For Oakland, Ken Stabler was successful on just 9 of 22 throws for 122 yards and had one picked off. HB Charlie Smith led the team with 64 yards on 14 carries while Clarence Davis was right behind at 61 yards on 10 attempts that included a TD (Marv Hubbard was held to 27 yards on 10 rushes and had the one key fumble). Cliff Branch caught 4 passes for 60 yards.

“There’s more than O.J. on this offense,” summed up O.J. Simpson afterward.

“The Bills are more than O.J. Simpson,” echoed John Madden. “You can’t over-key on anyone. You have to give credit to them. They’re a vastly improved team.”

Buffalo lost to Miami in Week 2 but then ran off six straight wins before turning around and losing four of their last six to finish at 9-5 and second in the AFC East. It was enough to put them in the postseason for the first time since 1966 as a Wild Card entry, but they were soundly defeated by Pittsburgh in the Divisional round. Oakland lost only once more during the regular season, topping the AFC West for the fourth time in five years since the merger with a 12-2 record. They won an epic Divisional round game over the Miami Dolphins but came up short of a trip to the Super Bowl by losing the AFC Championship contest to the Steelers.

O.J. Simpson’s injury was not serious and he returned to action the next week, although leg problems proved to be chronic and he had a lesser year than the record-shattering ’73 season. Still, he was a consensus first-team All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1125 yards.

Joe Ferguson showed marked improvement in his second year, passing for 1588 yards with 12 touchdowns as well as 12 interceptions. In his lone season in Buffalo, Ahmad Rashad had 36 catches for 433 yards (12.0 avg.) and four touchdowns. J.D. Hill remained the primary deep threat with 32 receptions for 572 yards (17.9 avg.) and six TDs.

1975: Bert Jones Rallies Colts Past O.J. Simpson & Bills

After getting off to a 1-4 start in the 1975 NFL season, the Baltimore Colts had won two straight games. For the once-proud franchise that had most recently suffered through three straight losing seasons, including a miserable 2-12 in ’74, it was a sign of improvement under new Head Coach Ted Marchibroda. On November 9 they were at Buffalo to take on the division-rival Bills at Rich Stadium.

The Bills, coached by Lou Saban in his second stint with the team, had been 9-5 in each of the previous two years and started off fast by winning their first four games in ’75 (including one at Baltimore) before losing twice. Still, they were 5-2 and very much in contention. The key to the offense was star RB O.J. Simpson behind an outstanding line, but third-year QB Joe Ferguson was on the rise and had good wide receivers in Bob Chandler and J.D. Hill. However, Buffalo’s once-formidable defensive backfield had been decimated by injuries.

Buffalo’s defense took a further hit when CB Ike Harrison reinjured a groin pull in the first quarter and sat out the rest of the game. However, it didn’t seem to be a matter of immediate concern when Simpson ran 44 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bills a 7-0 lead after a quarter of play.

Buffalo poured it on in the second quarter, and Simpson was having a big day as he scored on pass plays that covered 22 and 32 yards. The home team was up by 21-0 and appeared to be in control.

The Colts, led by third-year QB Bert Jones (pictured above), struck quickly to get back into the game. First, Jones threw to WR Glenn Doughty for a 63-yard gain. Following a running play, Jones passed to all-purpose HB Lydell Mitchell for a nine-yard TD. The Bills came back, however, and Ferguson threw a scoring pass to Chandler that covered 19 yards and stretched their lead to 28-7.

With 2:28 left in the first half and facing a fourth-and-two situation, the Colts lined up for a field goal attempt, but holder Marty Domres, the backup quarterback, faked and threw a 15-yard TD pass to FB Bill Olds.

Baltimore’s defense kept Buffalo to a short possession and the Colts got the ball back once more before the half. Jones threw a bomb to fleet WR Roger Carr for an 89-yard touchdown and it was a 28-21 tally going into halftime.

There was no scoring during the third quarter, but on the fourth play of the fourth quarter, Mitchell scored from 11 yards out to cap a five-play, 72-yard drive for the Colts. With Toni Linhart’s extra point, the game was now tied at 28-28. It didn’t stay that way long as LB Stan White intercepted a Ferguson pass to give Baltimore the ball at the Buffalo 23 and two plays later the mobile Jones ran 19 yards for the go-ahead TD.

Late in the game, QB Gary Marangi came in for the injured Ferguson, who suffered a concussion, and was intercepted by CB Lloyd Mumphord at the Buffalo 41 - he returned the pickoff to the 13. Two plays later, Mitchell ran for a 12-yard touchdown with just over three minutes on the clock, effectively putting the game away for the Colts.

Buffalo scored once more as Marangi threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Chandler with 1:38 to go, but that was it. Baltimore came away with a 42-35 win.

The Colts outgained the Bills (498 yards to 418) and had more first downs (25 to 20). Both offenses were effective rushing as well as passing – Baltimore gained 299 net yards through the air and 199 on the ground while Buffalo rolled up 179 yards on the ground and 239 through the air. Each team turned the ball over three times and was penalized on seven occasions. The Colts recorded four sacks while Jones was dumped twice by the Bills.


Bert Jones completed 14 of 22 passes for 306 yards with two touchdowns and one interception; he also ran the ball 9 times for 59 yards and a TD. Lydell Mitchell (pictured at right) had 27 carries for 112 yards and two scores and also had 4 pass receptions for 25 yards and another touchdown. Glenn Doughty caught 3 passes for 102 yards and Roger Carr, thanks to the long scoring reception, gained 136 yards on just two catches.

O.J. Simpson ran for 123 yards on 19 carries with one TD, but 105 of those yards came in the first half as the Colts held him to 18 yards on 5 attempts in the second half; he also caught three passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Joe Ferguson went to the air 21 times and had 12 completions for 234 yards and three touchdowns, with one intercepted. In relief, Gary Marangi was successful on just two of 10 pass attempts for 33 yards with a TD and one picked off. Bob Chandler had 7 catches for 118 yards and two scores.

“I think we were too concerned with stopping O.J. Simpson in the first half,” said Ted Marchibroda afterward. “The best thing you can do is just go out and play football. We kept our poise and our line started coming off the ball.”

“I’ve never been that far behind,” added Bert Jones. “Twenty-one points is a long way to come.”

“At this stage we're just too crippled to play pass defense,” Coach Lou Saban said from Buffalo’s perspective. “When Ike (Harrison) went out today we knew we were in trouble. We're scoring 35 to 40 points a game and we're having a heck of a time.”

The Colts won all the rest of their games to close out the regular season with a 10-4 record, placing them at the top of the AFC East. The run came to an end in the Divisional round of the playoffs with a loss to Pittsburgh. Buffalo ended up third in the division at 8-6.

Bert Jones was the third-ranked passer in the NFL (89.1 rating) as he threw for 2483 yards and 18 touchdowns with just 8 interceptions. His 2.3 interception percentage was best in the league.

Joe Ferguson led the AFC in TD passes (25), which also tied him for the NFL lead with Minnesota’s Fran Tarkenton. He had the highest percentage of scoring passes (7.8) and threw for 2426 yards with 17 interceptions.


Following the game against the Colts, O.J. Simpson (pictured at left) had 1128 yards rushing, and he went on to lead the NFL for the third time in four years with 1817 yards on 329 carries with 16 touchdowns. He also scored 7 TDs on pass receptions and led the league with 23 touchdowns (the NFL record at the time) and 138 points.

Lydell Mitchell ran the ball 289 times for 1193 yards, to rank third in the NFL, and was second (tied with Reggie Rucker of the Browns) with 60 pass receptions, for 544 yards. He was fourth with 15 touchdowns (11 rushing, 4 receiving) and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

1983: Ferguson Passes for 419 Yards & 5 TDs as Bills Beat Dolphins in OT

The Buffalo Bills were 3-2 under new Head Coach Kay Stephenson as they took on the Miami Dolphins on October 9, 1983. To be sure, the Bills had lost badly to the Jets the previous Monday night, but had run the ball effectively with RB Joe Cribbs in the three preceding wins. 33-year-old QB Joe Ferguson (pictured above), coming off of a poor year in a tumultuous ’82 season for the whole organization, was playing well.

On the other hand, the Dolphins seemed to be in trouble. The defending AFC Champions were also 3-2 (including a 12-0 win at Buffalo in the opening game), but Head Coach/GM Don Shula was concerned about the offense. QB David Woodley had performed badly in the second half of the previous year’s Super Bowl loss against Washington and was having difficulty in ’83, especially after a knee injury removed WR Jimmy Cefalo. Rookie first draft pick Dan Marino out of Pittsburgh had relieved Woodley in the previous two games and was now drawing his first starting assignment against the Bills.

There were 59,948 fans present at the Orange Bowl, and they saw the home team get a break on the opening kickoff when Buffalo RB Robb Riddick fumbled and LB Rodell Thomas recovered for the Dolphins. Miami had the ball at the Buffalo 17, but two plays later a pass by Marino was tipped and intercepted by FS Steve Freeman to snuff out the threat.

The teams traded punts back and forth as neither offense was able to move the ball until the Bills took over at their 16 with 5:14 remaining in the opening period. Ferguson connected on back-to-back passes covering 18 and 11 yards to WR Frank Lewis and then 18 yards to Cribbs to advance to the Miami 37. Buffalo continued to methodically move down the field, finishing off the 11-play drive with a 10-yard Ferguson pass to WR Byron Franklin in the end zone for a touchdown. The score was 7-0 after a quarter of play.


Following another Miami punt, the Bills took possession with good field position at their 48 yard line. They scored again in five plays, highlighted by a 21-yard Ferguson pass to Lewis and a second TD throw to Franklin, this time covering 30 yards.

Marino was again intercepted, but following a Buffalo punt the Dolphins put together a long scoring drive. The rookie quarterback completed three passes as the team moved from its 14 yard line to the Bills’ six. On a third-and-five play, Marino’s pass to WR Mark Duper was broken up, but an interference call gave the Dolphins a first down at the one (it also removed Buffalo CB Charles Romes from the game, who was ejected when he argued the call). FB Woody Bennett powered in for a TD and the Buffalo lead was cut to 14-7.

With just under five minutes remaining in the first half, Ferguson came out passing and completed a 25-yard throw to WR Jerry Butler, who made a diving catch, and then followed up with a 14-yard gain to the Miami 27. However, the drive came up empty when Joe Danelo’s 27-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright. Buffalo’s seven-point margin stood at halftime.

The teams traded punts to start the third quarter. On Miami’s second possession, Marino threw to Duper (pictured below), who took off down the sideline, eluded two Buffalo defenders at the 15, and continued on to the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown.


With the score tied at 14-14, RB Van Williams returned the kickoff 40 yards to give the Bills good field position at their 47 yard line. Helped along by a 37-yard pass interference penalty, Ferguson capped the 53-yard drive with an 11-yard scoring pass to FB Booker Moore that again put Buffalo in the lead at 21-14.

Miami responded with an 80-yard, six-play drive that culminated in a trick play when Clayton, taking the ball on a reverse, fired a pass to Duper who caught it at the Buffalo 23 and ran the rest of the way for a 48-yard touchdown. Uwe van Schamann’s extra point again tied the score at 21-21.

The Bills came right back on a 63-yard drive that extended into the early fourth quarter and was highlighted by a Ferguson pass to Cribbs that gained 26 yards to the Miami 25. The veteran quarterback found Cribbs again in the middle of the end zone for a four-yard TD on a third-and-goal play, and Buffalo was once again in front by a touchdown. But both offenses were seemingly unstoppable. The Dolphins drove down the field, with Marino throwing to Clayton for a 39-yard gain to the Bills’ 13, and while the rookie quarterback fumbled the snap on two successive plays, he finished off the possession with a one-yard scoring pass to WR Nat Moore on a rollout. With the successful PAT, the score was once more tied at 28-28 with 7:35 left in regulation.

The back-and-forth scoring barrage was interrupted on Buffalo’s next possession when Ferguson was intercepted by CB Fulton Walker near midfield. Seven plays later, Marino passed to Clayton for a 14-yard touchdown (his first in the NFL), and it was the Dolphins taking the lead at 35-28 with just over three minutes to go.

Taking over at their 20, the Bills advanced as Ferguson completed his first two passes, to Cribbs for ten yards and TE Mark Brammer for six. However, following a sack by safety Mike Kozlowski, Buffalo faced a third-and-16 situation. Ferguson kept the drive alive with a completion to Franklin for 20 yards and then followed up with a 19-yard throw to WR Perry Tuttle that put the ball at the Miami 37 at the two minute warning.

Forced to scramble, Ferguson completed a pass to Butler for a 12-yard gain. Two pass completions later, the Bills had a first-and-goal at the Miami 8. A first pass was thrown away to stop the clock, and a second intended for Cribbs was underthrown and incomplete. On third down, Ferguson completed a throw to Butler who was stopped short at the one, forcing the Bills to use their last time out with 28 seconds on the clock. On the fourth-and-goal play, Ferguson threw his fifth touchdown pass to Cribbs, and with Danelo’s successful extra point, the game was tied once more at 35-35 and went into overtime.

The Dolphins got the first possession of the extra period and Marino immediately completed a pass to Duper for a 31-yard gain. However, the drive stalled at the Buffalo 35 and von Schamann’s 52-yard field goal attempt was wide to the left.

The Bills went three-and-out and punted. Greg Cater’s kick bounced over Clayton’s head at the 13 and, forced to chase it down, he lost 11 yards on the return which caused the Dolphins to have to take over at their two yard line. Still, Miami’s offense moved the ball effectively, and in 14 plays got to the Buffalo 25. But once again, von Schamann was wide on his field goal attempt, this time from 43 yards.

The Bills took over with 5:15 to go in the overtime period, and on a critical third-and-ten play Ferguson connected with WR Mike Mosley for a 35-yard gain to the Miami 29. Following three running plays, it was time for Danelo to attempt a game-winning field goal, and he was successful from 36 yards. Buffalo came away with a dramatic 38-35 win.

Both teams rolled up plenty of yards, with the Dolphins holding a slight edge (488 to 483) as they also did in first downs (31 to 28). Miami was more effective on the ground (153 yards on 43 running plays to 76 yards on 23 carries for the Bills) while Buffalo had the advantage in net passing yards (407 to 335). Each club turned the ball over twice. The Bills were flagged a whopping 15 times, compared to four penalties called on Miami.

Joe Ferguson had an outstanding performance, completing 38 of 55 passes for a career-high 419 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. Joe Cribbs (pictured below) led the Bills in both rushing, with 49 yards on 11 carries, and pass receiving, with 9 catches for 93 yards and two TDs. Jerry Butler also caught 9 passes, for 89 yards.


Dan Marino, giving a hint of things to come, was successful on 19 of his 29 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns, against two that were picked off. Mark Duper gained 202 yards on his 7 catches that included two scores. RB Andra Franklin led the running attack with 65 yards on 17 attempts.

Buffalo topped out at 5-2 with a win the next week, but went 3-6 the rest of the way to finish third in the AFC East with an 8-8 record. Miami, on the other hand, lost only once more and won the division with a 12-4 tally. The Dolphins were beaten by Seattle in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Dan Marino was a big part of Miami’s surge as he completed 173 passes (58.4 %) for 2210 yards with 20 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions. Mark Duper had a Pro Bowl year, catching 51 passes for 1003 yards and 10 TDs. Mark Clayton’s scoring reception against the Bills was his only one of the season as he caught just six passes and was used primarily as a punt returner (his touchdown pass was the only one of his 11-year NFL career). All three would rise to greater heights in 1984.

Joe Ferguson’s season reflected his team’s overall inconsistency. He was in the league’s top ten in pass attempts (508) and completions (281) and ranked fourth in TD passes (26, along with Joe Montana of the 49ers and Cleveland’s Brian Sipe) but third in interceptions (25). He averaged only 5.9 yards per attempt in throwing for 2995 yards, and his career descended thereafter. But in a dramatic game at the Orange Bowl, he turned in a memorable performance.