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. 4
1981 — Bills 23, Colts 17 — Joe Cribbs totaled 179 scrimmage yards (159 rushing) as Buffalo beat Baltimore for the second time in four weeks before 77,811 at Rich Stadium. Joe Ferguson threw an early touchdown pass to Jerry Butler, and Roosevelt Leaks ran for a score to give the Bills a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Buffalo’s defense sacked Bert Jones four times, Bill Simpson had an interception and Lucious Sanford recovered a fumble in the red zone. Following consecutive losses, the Bills improved to 3-2.
1987 — Colts 47, Bills 6 — In the first of two games played at Rich Stadium during the NFL players strike, a mere 9,860 fans watched the Indianapolis imitators rout the Buffalo facsimiles. The Bills were out-gained 463 yards to 163, trailed 28-0 at halftime and 47-0 after three quarters, before Willie Totten’s touchdown pass to Marc Brown broke the shutout with under nine minutes left to play. Totten, who set NCAA Division I-AA records as Jerry Rice’s quarterback in college, had 34 net yards with five fumbles playing in the second half. Gary Hogeboom, one of the few NFL veterans who crossed the picket line and played during the strike, had 259 yards passing and five touchdowns for the Colts.
1992 — Dolphins 37, Bills 10 — The last time Buffalo scored 30 or more points in four consecutive games to start the season, the run came crashing to a halt against a division rival. Despite both teams coming in to the game with unbeaten records, the Bills were favored by 10 points. Jim Kelly threw four interceptions, three to Miami cornerback Louis Oliver, who returned one 103 yards for a touchdown. After Kelly’s touchdown pass to Andre Reed made it 17-10 before halftime, the Dolphins scored 20 unanswered points in the second half. Miami leverage this victory into winning the AFC East and hosting Buffalo in the conference championship game. Attendance was 80,368.
1998 — Bills 26, 49ers 21 — San Francisco’s offense with Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens and Garrison Hearst came in leading the NFL in both passing and rushing yards, but turned the ball over four times and didn’t score until the fourth quarter. Rob Johnson passed for 254 yards and a touchdown to Quinn Early that gave the Bills a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. The 49ers tied an NFL record with 22 penalties, while the Bills drew a dozen flags. Antowain Smith rushed for a touchdown, Phil Hansen had two of the Bills’ five sacks, Bruce Smith chased down Young for a strip sack, and Thurman Thomas recovered the onside kick with a minute left to play after the 49ers rallied within a touchdown late. Wade Phillips was showered with Gatorade following his first win as Buffalo’s coach. Attendance was 76,615.
2015 — Giants 24, Bills 10 — Eli Manning threw for three touchdowns, the last one to running back Rashad Jennings who broke three tackles on his 51-yard run to the end zone in the fourth quarter. Buffalo receiver Robert Woods fumbled on the next play, and the Bills dropped to 2-2 in Rex Ryan’s first season. The Bills beat themselves with 17 penalties, and an offense missing injured stars LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins struggled to get going until late in the game. Tyrod Taylor passed for 274 yards and a touchdown to Karlos Williams.
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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.
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