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1972 Buffalo Bills season

The 1972 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise’s third season in the National Football League, and thirteenth overall. It was also their last season at War Memorial Stadium which had been their home field since the franchise started in 1960.

Season summary

The 1972 season marked the return of former Bills coach Lou Saban,[a] who had previously led the team to two AFL Championships.

Saban had a new offensive philosophy for Buffalo in 1972. In his first three seasons, former number one overall pick O. J. Simpson had only carried the ball an average of 161 times per season. Saban rushed Simpson 292 times in 1972,[1] the second-most in the league behind the Giants' Ron Johnson.[2]

Despite losing two starting offensive lineman – center Bruce Jarvis and guard Jim Reilly—in the season opener,[3] O. J. Simpson still led the league in rushing with 1,251 yards. This would be was Simpson’s first of four rushing titles over the next five seasons.

Although the Bills had a potent, yard-gaining rushing attack, they could not put enough points on the scoreboard, scoring only 257 points (18.3 per game) all season, ninteeenth in the league out of 26 teams.[4] Furthermore, Buffalo's defense gave up 377 points (23.5 per game), the third-most in the NFL in 1972.[5]

As of 2023, this season was the most recent in which the Bills recorded a tie game.

Offseason

NFL Draft

[6]

Personnel

Staff/Coaches

Roster

Regular season

In his fourth NFL season, running back O. J. Simpson gained over 1,000 yards rushing for the first time. The 23–24 loss on October 22 was the closest margin of victory for the Dolphins in the NFL’s only perfect season.[9]

Schedule

[10]

Season summary

Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week Two: San Francisco 49ers (1–0) at Buffalo Bills (0–1)

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

  • Date: September 24
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 60 °F (15.6 °C); wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
  • [11]

Week 13: vs Detroit Lions

Week Thirteen: Detroit Lions (7–5) at Buffalo Bills (3–9)

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C), wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn), wind chill 24 °F (−4.4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 41,583
  • [12]

Standings

Notes

  1. ^ Saban had coached the Bills from 1962 to 1965 before leaving for the University of Maryland
  2. ^ Made 1973 First Team All-Pro and Second Team All-Pro in 1974 and 1975.

References

  1. ^ "O. J. Simpson". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "1972 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. ^ Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; Korch, Rich (August 1994). "Pro Football". The Sports Encyclopedia (12th ed.). Martin's Press. p. 234. ISBN 0-312-11073-1.
  4. ^ "1972 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "1972 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  6. ^ Buffalo Bills 1972 NFL Draft
  7. ^ Wallace, William N. (October 17, 1972). "Morrall perfectly cast as Griese's substitute". New York Times. p. 51.
  8. ^ "Broncos deal end to Bills". Schenectady Gazette. (New York). Associated Press. October 17, 1972. p. 28.
  9. ^ Salguero, Armando (2020). 100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3.
  10. ^ "1972 Buffalo Bills Schedule". National Football League.
  11. ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills — September 24th, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  12. ^ "Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills — December 10th, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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