Today in Bills stadium history: Oct. 22

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. 22

1978 — Bills 5, Bengals 0 — Tom Dempsey kicked a 20-yard field goal, Lou Piccone made a tackle for a safety on punt coverage, and Buffalo’s defense had five takeaways in a shutout victory that a hockey town could appreciate. In the only NFL game to end in a 5-0 score, the Bills were unspectacular in producing 226 yards and failing to score a touchdown while taking 10 penalties. Curtis Brown had 100 of Buffalo’s 170 yards rushing, Mario Clark made two interceptions, and beating the winless Bengals improved the Bills’ record to 3-5 midway through Chuck Knox’s first season as coach. Attendance at Rich Stadium was 47,754.

1989 — Bills 34, Jets 3 — A crowd of 76,811 watched Buffalo stampede for 204 yards rushing and Frank Reich pass for three touchdowns to win his second consecutive start in place of an injured Jim Kelly. Bruce Smith had three of Buffalo’s five sacks, Cornelius Bennett and Darryl Talley blitzed for the other ones, Scott Radecic forced a fumble, fullback Larry Kinnebrew rushed for 77 yards, Thurman Thomas had 49 yards with a scoring run, Andre Reed, Ronnie Harmon and Kenneth Davis caught touchdowns, and the Bills in a period of dominance before developing their no-huddle offense were able to control the ball for more than 42 minutes, 53 seconds, a franchise record for time of possession. The victory put the Bills at 5-2 atop the AFC East standings.

2006 — Patriots 28, Bills 6 — While the Bills offense turned the ball over four times and never got into the red zone, Corey Dillon rushed for two touchdowns in the first quarter and Tom Brady passed for two touchdowns in the second half of an easy win for the AFC East leaders. J.P. Losman threw and interception and lost two of his three fumbles, and Lee Evans also fumbled in the second quarter when the Bills (2-5) coughed up the ball on three straight possessions. Buffalo’s defense gave up only 265 yards but without any takeaways. Aaron Schobel had two of the Bills’ four sacks. Attendance was 72,180.

2017 — Bills 30, Buccaneers 27 — Tre’Davious White forced and recovered a fumble to set up Stephen Hauschka’s 30-yard field goal with 14 seconds left as the Bills improved to 4-2 in coach Sean McDermott’s first season. LeSean McCoy had 91 yards rushing and two touchdowns, Tyrod Taylor had 321 total yards (268 passing) with a TD pass to Logan Thomas, Deonte Thompson had 104 yards receiving in his first game with the Bills, and Matt Milano made his first NFL interception. Jameis Winston hd 384 yards passing with three TDs for the Bucs. Attendance at New Era Field was 68,561.