The 1973 Buffalo Bills season was the 14th season for the team and their 4th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills finished in 2nd place in the AFC East division and finished the 1973 NFL season with a record of 9–5, the team's first winning record since 1966.
Head coach Lou Saban began the second season of his second tenure with the Bills. Saban had previously led the team to the 1964 and 1965 AFL championships. This was the first season that the team played in Rich Stadium (which changed names over a decade later) after thirteen years playing at War Memorial Stadium ("The Rockpile").
The Bills were returning from 1–13 and 4–9–1 records in 1971 and 1972, respectively. Incumbent starting quarterback Dennis Shaw found himself in a battle with rookie Joe Ferguson for the starting job.
The season was defined by O. J. Simpson. The fifth-year running back became the first player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Behind Simpson's record-setting season, the Bills set an NFL record for most team rushing yards in a 14-game season, with 3,088Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by descending Rushing Yds and averaged 5.1 yards per carry, higher than every Super Bowl championship team in all of league history. Simpson was returning from his best professional season, in which he earned his first All-Pro recognition and first rushing title. In addition to establishing a then-record for single-season rushing yardage, with 2,003 yards,The record was later broken by Eric Dickerson in 1984) Simpson established the single-season record for rushing yards gained per game (143.1 yards per game on 23.7 rushes per game, an average of six yards per carry),1973 Buffalo Bills Statistics And Players from Pro Football Reference which still stands. The explosive offense centered on O. J. Simpson was nicknamed the "Electric Company" for its ability to turn on "The Juice" ("O. J." Simpson).
After 12 years, this was the final season to feature the standing red bison logo on the helmets. The next season, the team introduced a new logo depicting a blue buffalo silhouette charging to the right with a red stripe extending from the animal's eye to its back. The updated logo remains in use by the team.
Electric Company era begins
Although some describe the entire 1970s decade as the Electric Company era, the 1973 season marked a new era in Bills history and is regarded by many as the beginning of the Electric Company era of the mid-1970s. The team ushered in a new stadium, new uniforms and a transformed team built through the draft and a few key trades. With all the emphasis on rushing the team would only post two 100-yard receiving efforts.
The Bills started the season 4–1 and then lost four of their next five before winning their final 4 games. Rookie quarterback Joe Ferguson, who eventually would be the Bills starting quarterback for 12 seasons, started all 14 games at quarterback. Dennis Shaw who had been the starter the previous three seasons, saw action in four games.
Simpson's record-breaking year
Running back O. J. Simpson broke the 2,000-yard barrier for rushing yards in a season, and was voted NFL Most Valuable Player. Simpson began and ended the fourteen-game season with bookend five-game streaks where he ran for at least 100 yards. 1973 was the fifth of nine consecutive seasons that Simpson led the team in rushing yards.
It was also the first time Simpson would lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns, first time he would lead the league in yards from scrimmage and the second time he would lead the league in rushing yards. (Although Simpson posted a career best 6.0 yards per carry in 1973, he was surpassed by Mercury Morris who posted a 6.4 yards per carry average for the 1973 Miami Dolphins. The only season that Simpson led the league in yards per carry was two years later when he averaged 5.5 yards per carry.)
Although Simpson's 2003 yard total has now been eclipsed by 5 other runners, , his 143.1 yards per game remains an NFL single-season record due to being achieved in a fourteen-game season. (All subsequent 2,000-yard seasons took place in 16 games.)
Simpson was named Associated Press Athlete of the Year.
Offensive firepower
The "Electric Company" of Simpson, Jim Braxton, and rookie Paul Seymour and Joe DeLamielleure led a dramatic turnaround on the field. The "Electric Company" was the nickname of the offensive line (OG Reggie McKenzie, OT Dave Foley, Centers Mike Montler and Bruce Jarvis OG Joe DeLamielleure and OT Donnie Green) which "turned on the Juice" (i.e. O. J. Simpson). The offensive guards were a pair of young future All-Pro performers: Pro Football Hall of Famer DeLamielleure (drafted 26th overall in 1973) and College Football Hall of Famer McKenzie (drafted 27th overall in 1972).
Paul Seymour, who would play his entire career with the Bills, became the team's starting tight end. Seymour had been an All-American tackle for Michigan after having played two season at tight end. Seymour went on to start at tight end for a total of five seasons. replacing former tight end Jan White.
Running backs Braxton and Larry Watkins shared the fullback duties with each accumulating over 400 yards rushing. Braxton's 4.6 yards per carry were eighth-most in the NFL.
Wide receiver Bob Chandler led the team in receiving yards, the first of four years he would do so. During the season, Wallace Francis, who finished second in the league in kickoff return average, was the only player in the league to return two kickoffs for touchdowns. John Leypoldt's 70% field goal percentage ranked fifth in the league.
Awards, accolades and legacy
The 1973 Bills had three participants in the 1974 Pro Bowl and two members of the All-Pro team.
1973 was the second Pro Bowl and first All-Pro season for cornerback Robert James. Offensive tackle Foley was also voted to the Pro Bowl. Guard McKenzie's was voted to the All-Pro team. Simpson made this third Pro Bowl and second All-Pro team. Both Simpson and James were returning Pro Bowl selections.
The team was featured in the video game Madden NFL '96 as one of the game's "classic" teams, along with 1990–1993 Bills, who won four consecutive AFC Championships.
Offseason On April 19, 1973, the Bills traded linebackers Edgar Chandler and Jeff Lyman and fullback Wayne Patrick to the New England Patriots for linebacker Jim Cheyunski, Halvor Hagen and Mike Montler. Although Patrick had been the Bills' Fullback, he lost the starting job to Jim Braxton in 1972.
The Bills also acquired of the Miami Dolphins' top draft selection Mike Kadish in exchange for guard Irv Goode. The Bills traded defensive tackle Al Cowlings to Houston in exchange for defensive end Earl Edwards. Longtime Bills linebacker Mike Stratton, who had spent the last ten seasons with Buffalo, left the team to play his final season with the San Diego Chargers.
NFL draft
The team drafted several players in the 1973 NFL draft who contributed to the offense as starters during this record-setting season. Offensive linemen Paul Seymour and Joe DeLamielleure became cornerstones of the Bills' "Electric Company" offensive line. DeLamielleure was voted to five consecutive Pro Bowls for the Bills (1975–1979), to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, and to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
Quarterback Joe Ferguson played 164 games at quarterback in 12 seasons for the Bills, a franchise-record. Ferguson retired as the team's all-time leading passer, and his 27,590 passing yards are still second in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
Personnel Staff/coaches
Final roster
Source:Pro-Football-Reference
Regular season
Schedule On Week 1, (played on September 16), against the New England Patriots, O. J. Simpson sets record with 250 yards to go with two touchdowns. On Week 14, (played on December 16), against the New York Jets. O. J. Simpson rushes for 200 yards to reach a season total of 2,003. He became the first running back to eclipse 2,000 yards and broke Jim Brown's season record of 1,863 set ten years earlier. Seven players have since rushed for 2,000 yards, with Simpson being passed in 1984, but Simpson is the only one to have done his mark in a fourteen-game season, and his 143.1 yards per game for that season still ranks as the best in NFL history.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 16 at New England Patriots W 31–13 1–0 Schaefer StadiumRecap 2 September 23 at San Diego Chargers L 7–34 1–1San Diego StadiumRecap 3 September 30 New York Jets W 9–7 2–1Rich StadiumRecap 4 October 7 Philadelphia Eagles W 27–26 3–1Rich StadiumRecap 5 October 14 Baltimore Colts W 31–13 4–1Rich StadiumRecap 6 October 21 at Miami Dolphins L 6–27 4–2Miami Orange BowlRecap 7 Kansas City Chiefs W 23–14 5–2Rich StadiumRecap 8 November 4 at New Orleans Saints L 0–13 5–3Tulane StadiumRecap 9 November 11 Cincinnati Bengals L13–16 5–4Rich StadiumRecap 10 November 18 Miami Dolphins L 0–17 5–5Rich StadiumRecap 11 November 25 at Baltimore Colts W 24–17 6–5Memorial StadiumRecap 12 December 2 at Atlanta Falcons W 17–6 7–5Atlanta StadiumRecap 13 December 9 New England Patriots W 37–13 8–5Rich StadiumRecap 14 December 16 at New York Jets W 34–14 9–5Shea StadiumRecap
Standings
NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 296
O. J. Simpson O. J. Simpson had three 200-yard rushing games, six 150-yard rushing games and eleven 100-yard rushing games. He only had 30 rushes in a game twice all season, but totaled 2,003 yards due to a 6.0 yards-per-carry average. Over the course of the season Simpson also caught six pass receptions. DateHome/AwayOpponentResultRushesYardsYards/AttemptTouchdownsReceptionsYards September 16, 1973A NWE W 31–13 292508.62200 September 23, 1973A SDG L 7–34 221034.68100 September 30, 1973HNYJ W 9–7 241235.130215 October 7, 1973HPHI W 27–26 271716.331333 October 14, 1973HBAL W 31–13 221667.55200 October 21, 1973A MIA L 6–27 14553.93000 October 29, 1973HKAN W 23–14 391574.03200 November 4, 1973A NOR L 0–13 20793.95000 November 11, 1973HCIN L 13–16 20994.95100 November 18, 1973HMIA L 0–17 201206.000122 November 25, 1973A BAL W 24–17 151248.27100 December 2, 1973A ATL W 17–6 241375.71000 December 9, 1973HNWE W 37–13 222199.95100 December 16, 1973A NYJ W 34–14 342005.88100
Game summaries
Week 1
Simpson rushed for 250 yards on 29 carries, setting a new NFL single-game rushing record. He surpassed Willie Ellison's 247-yard performance in 1971. Although the Bills had gone 0–6 in their exhibition schedule, they started the season with a 31–13 victory in Chuck Fairbanks's debut as New England Patriots coach. Simpson scored on an 80-yard run in the first quarter and a 22-yard run in the third quarter. Backup back Larry Watkins also had a strong day with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Week 2
The Bills surrendered an opening kickoff return touchdown, 3 quarterback sacks and 4 interceptions, despite 103 yards rushing by Simpson and 118 yards receiving by Hill. The Bills surrendered 27 consecutive points after Simpson tied the score 7–7 with a 6-yard second quarter run.
Week 3
The Bills' Rich Stadium debut was a sellout of 80,200 with 2595 no-shows. Simpson rushed for 123 yards, giving him 476 in his first three games. The Bills scored on three Leypoldt field goals. He made a 42-yarder in the first quarter and added two more in the fourth quarter. The Jets almost became the Bills' first shutout victim since 1965, but Al Woodall (playing in place of an injured Joe Namath) hit Jerome Barkum for 34 yards with two seconds left.
Week 4
The Bills opted for a 47-yard Leypoldt field goal with four minutes remaining after driving 42 yards to Eagles' 40-yard-line. The score held up in the final minutes. On the day, Simpson's 171-yard rushing performance offset a pair of 100-yard performances by Tom Sullivan and Norm Bulaich.
Week 5