The 1975 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's sixth season in the NFL, and its 16th overall. The Bills failed to improve on their 9–5 record from last year and finished 8–6. They enjoyed their third consecutive winning season, but they still failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1973.
The Bills led the league in points scored, with 420 (30.0 per game). This amount is the most points scored by any team in a 14-game season after the merger,[1] and the most points scored by any team in the 1970s.[2] The Bills were the only team in NFL history to average at least 30 points per game and miss the playoffs, until being joined by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004.
Buffalo won their first four games by an average of 17 points. They were 5–2 at the halfway point of the season, and one game behind the 6–1 Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. Buffalo then lost four of their final seven games, ultimately falling two games short of the division title.
Bills' running back O. J. Simpson rushed for 1817 yards on the season, and set a then-record with 23 touchdowns scored for the season. Fullback Jim Braxton had 823 yards rushing. Buffalo's ground game dominated the league, with a total of 2974 rushing yards, over 300 yards more than the second best rushing total.[3]
The 1975 Bills have the distinction of giving up the most total passing yards (3,080) in a 14-game schedule during the merger era.[4][5][6] However, the Bills' 45 takeaways on defense led the league in 1975. Defensive back Robert James and safety Doug Jones were lost to the season with knee injuries.
Buffalo's defense gave up the fourth-most yards in the NFL in 1974, and so the Bills' first two picks in the 1975 draft were a pair of Nebraska linebackers – Tom Ruud and Bob Nelson—both of whom played for Buffalo for three seasons. N.C. State running back Roland Hooks played in every Bills game from 1976–1981. He is best known for his "Hail Mary" reception against New England in Week Twelve of the 1981 season, a catch which was instrumental in putting Buffalo into the postseason that year.
1975 Buffalo Bills staff
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Front office
Coaching staff
Offensive coaches
Defensive/Special teams coaches
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1975 Buffalo Bills roster
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
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Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
1
|
September 21
|
New York Jets
|
W 42–14
|
1–0
|
Rich Stadium
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77,837
|
2
|
September 28
|
at Pittsburgh Steelers
|
W 30–21
|
2–0
|
Three Rivers Stadium
|
49,348
|
3
|
October 5
|
Denver Broncos
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W 38–14
|
3–0
|
Rich Stadium
|
79,864
|
4
|
October 12
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at Baltimore Colts
|
W 38–31
|
4–0
|
Memorial Stadium
|
43,907
|
5
|
October 20
|
New York Giants
|
L 14–17
|
4–1
|
Rich Stadium
|
79,428
|
6
|
October 26
|
Miami Dolphins
|
L 30–35
|
4–2
|
Rich Stadium
|
79,141
|
7
|
November 2
|
at New York Jets
|
W 24–23
|
5–2
|
Shea Stadium
|
58,343
|
8
|
November 9
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Baltimore Colts
|
L 35–42
|
5–3
|
Rich Stadium
|
77,320
|
9
|
November 17
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at Cincinnati Bengals
|
L 24–33
|
5–4
|
Riverfront Stadium
|
56,666
|
10
|
November 23
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New England Patriots
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W 45–31
|
6–4
|
Rich Stadium
|
65,655
|
11
|
November 27
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at St. Louis Cardinals
|
W 32–14
|
7–4
|
Busch Memorial Stadium
|
41,899
|
12
|
December 7
|
at Miami Dolphins
|
L 21–31
|
7–5
|
Miami Orange Bowl
|
78,701
|
13
|
December 14
|
at New England Patriots
|
W 34–14
|
8–5
|
Schaefer Stadium
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58,393
|
14
|
December 20
|
Minnesota Vikings
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L 13–35
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8–6
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Rich Stadium
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54,993
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Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- Bills – O. J. Simpson 5 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 21–7
- Jets – Eddie Bell 12 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick) – Bills 21–14
Third quarter
- Bills – Paul Seymour 2 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 28–14
- Bills – Joe Ferguson 1 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 35–14
Fourth quarter
- Bills – Pat Toomay 44 yard interception return (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 42–14
|
Jets
- Joe Namath
14/36, 173 Yds, 2 TD, 4 INT
- John Riggins
10 Rush, 61 Yds
- Rich Caster
6 Rec, 103 Yds, TD
Bills
- Joe Ferguson
7/13, 67 Yds, 2 TD
- O. J. Simpson
32 Rush, 173 Yds, 3 TD
- Bob Chandler
3 Rec, 34 Yds
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|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bills (1-0)
|
0
|
10
|
13
|
7 |
30 |
Steelers (1-0)
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
14 |
21 |
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Broncos |
0 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
14 |
• Bills |
10 |
14 | 14 | 0 |
38 |
- Date: October 5
- Location: Rich Stadium
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C), wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
|
|
|
[7]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bills (3-0)
|
10
|
14
|
7
|
7 |
38 |
Colts (1-2)
|
14
|
7
|
7
|
3 |
31 |
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Giants |
0 |
7 | 0 | 10 |
17 |
Bills |
7 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Dolphins (4-1)
|
0
|
14
|
7
|
14 |
35 |
Bills (4-1)
|
13
|
10
|
0
|
7 |
30 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bills (4-2)
|
7
|
0
|
10
|
7 |
24 |
Jets (2-4)
|
3
|
13
|
7
|
0 |
23 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Colts (3-4)
|
0
|
21
|
0
|
21 |
42 |
Bills (5–2)
|
7
|
21
|
0
|
7 |
35 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bills (5-3)
|
3
|
7
|
7
|
7 |
24 |
Bengals (7-1)
|
6
|
14
|
3
|
10 |
33 |
MNF
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Patriots (3-6)
|
7
|
14
|
7
|
3 |
31 |
Bills (5-4)
|
14
|
10
|
7
|
14 |
45 |
Week 11 at Cardinals
edit
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bills (6-4)
|
6
|
7
|
6
|
13 |
32 |
Cardinals (8-2)
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
14 |
Thursday game
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bills (7-4)
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
7 |
21 |
Dolphins (8-3)
|
7
|
14
|
3
|
7 |
31 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bills (7-5)
|
6
|
7
|
14
|
7 |
34 |
Patriots (3-9)
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
7 |
14 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Vikings (11-2)
|
14
|
7
|
14
|
0 |
35 |
Bills (8-5)
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0
|
7
|
6
|
0 |
13 |
Saturday game
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1970 to 1977, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1970 to 1979, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For.
- ^ Pittsburgh, 2633
- ^ Post-Merger 14-game schedule era: 1970–1977
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1970 to 1977, in the regular season, sorted by descending opp Passing Yds
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, in 1975, in the regular season, sorted by descending opp Passing Yds
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com