Today in Bills stadium history: Nov. 4

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.

Nov. 4

1979 — Patriots 26, Bills 6 — Nick Mike-Mayer made 2 of 5 field goal attempts in the first half to give Buffalo a 6-0 lead but five turnovers and 10 penalties doomed the Bills in a gloomy division loss. Joe Ferguson completed 50% of his passes for 150 net yards, throwing two interceptions and taking seven sacks. Buffalo’s defense did its best to stay in the game, keeping the Patriots off the scoreboard until the last 10 seconds before halftime. Tony Greene intercepted Steve Grogan on the opening drive to give the Bills a short field for their first field goal, while Mike Kadish and Fred Smerlas forced fumbles. The Pats improved to 7-3 and the Bills dropped to 4-6, but would win the next three in a prelude to the Talkin’ Proud movement. Attendance was at Rich Stadium was 67,935.

1984 — Browns 13, Bills 10 — A crowd of 33,343 braved the cold November rain to watch this sloppy showdown between teams that combined for a single victory through the first nine weeks of the season. Both of the game’s touchdowns were scored on fumble returns as the Bills and Browns together tallied 467 yards, five turnovers and 15 penalties for 153 yards. Chuck Nelson missed a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter on Buffalo’s only snap in the red zone, and Nelson made a 42-yarder later on. Former Bills linebacker Marty Schottenheimer got his first coaching victory in his second week since taking over the Browns, while the 0-10 Bills remained winless under coach Kay Stephenson going back to the previous season.  

2001 — Colts 30, Bills 14 — Peyton Manning scored on a career-long 33-yard run while passing for 199 yards and another touchdown in a breezy win before 63,786 fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Nate Clements returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter but the Bills offense didn’t score until Rob Johnson threw a touchdown pass to Jay Riemersma with 3:39 remaining in the game after the Colts had built a 27-7 lead. Jake Arians had a 48-yard field goal attempt blocked in the third quarter that would’ve cut the lead to 17-10. Johnson was ineffective completing 52% of his passes for 148 net yards, taking six sacks and losing two fumbles. It would be Johnson’s last start in the stadium, as the quarterback got benched for Alex Van Pelt after the following week’s loss at Seattle. 

2007 — Bills 33, Bengals 21 — Marshawn Lynch had 160 yards from scrimmage, breaking a backfield tackle on a 56-yard touchdown, and the rookie running back also threw a touchdown pass to Robert Royal, in front of 70,745 at The Ralph. J.P. Losman started for an injured Trent Edwards and passed for 295 yards with a touchdown to Lee Evans, who had 165 yards on nine receptions, and Buffalo got field goals from Rian Lindell on four straight possessions before Lynch’s touchdowns in the last 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. Buffalo’s defense held Cincinnati to 299 yards and two scoring drives, as the Bengals also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. The Bills improved to 4-4.

2018 — Bears 41, Bills 9 — With Josh Allen and Derek Anderson injured, the Bills started Nathan Peterman at quarterback, with a predictable result. Peterman was only intercepted three times, and only one was returned for a touchdown, but future Bills defender Leonard Floyd. But newly-signed Bills receiver Terrelle Pryor had a fumble returned 65 yards for a touchdown, and Mitchell Trubisky protected the football for the Bears with only one turnover to win easily with just 190 yards of total offense. The teams combined for 24 accepted penalties for 292 yards. Peterman completed 63% of his passes for a net gain of 213 yards on 61 plays, counting four sacks and eight scrambles against a Bears defense that was missing star Khalil Mack. The Bills dropped to 2-7 while the Bears were 5-3. Attendance was 68,749.