Today in Bills stadium history: Oct. 26

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. 26

1975 — Dolphins 35, Bills 30 — A season that began with Super Bowl aspirations started slipping away in a Monday night letdown the week before, and continued with a late collapse in front of 79,141 at Rich Stadium. Steve Freeman returned an interception for a touchdown on Miami’s opening drive, while O.J. Simpson and Bob Chandler combined for 200 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns to give Buffalo a 30-21 lead in the fourth quarter. But the Dolphins scored twice in the final four minutes, aided by Joe Ferguson throwing his second interception of the game on first down from the Bills 12 with 3:09 remaining. Mercury Morris had 124 of Miami’s 229 yards rushing, and Don Nottingham (61 yards) scored three touchdowns. 

1980 — Bills 31, Patriots 13 — Joe Cribbs rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns, Frank Lewis caught two touchdown passes from Joe Ferguson, and Buffalo’s defense put on a dominant display to overtake New England for the AFC East division lead. The Bills allowed only 148 yards and eight first downs while intercepting Patriots QB Steve Grogan four times and sacking him three. Returning to form following consecutive losses, the Bills reached midseason with a 6-2 record for the first time since their ’65 AFL championship season. 

1986 — Patriots 23, Bills 3 — Buffalo fell to 2-6 midway through the ’86 season, its first with Jim Kelly under center. A crowd of 77,808 watched this battering a week before the Bills fired coach Hank Bullough and replaced him with Marv Levy. Kelly was 13 of 26 passing for 166 yards with two interceptions and got sacked five times. Frank Reich took over for the final two drives and threw as many picks (two) as completions. The Bills didn’t reach the red zone until the third quarter. Bruce Smith had two sacks rising his total to eight at midseason.

1997 — Broncos 23, Bills 20 (OT) — Alex Van Pelt rallied Buffalo back from a 20-0 deficit after replacing turnover-prone Todd Collins, but the Bills couldn’t move the ball on their opening series of overtime, and Terrell Davis capped off a 207-yard day with tough running to set up Jason Elam’s winning field goal from 33 yards out. Andre Reed and Quinn Early caught TD passes from Van Pelt in the fourth quarter, Antowain Smith rushed for 92 yards, Kurt Schulz and Emanuel Martin intercepted John Elway, and Phil Hansen had two of the Bills’ five sacks. Buffalo dropped to 4-4 in their first season after Jim Kelly retired, while Denver was 7-1 on the way to winning the Super Bowl for the first time. Attendance was 78,458.

2023 — Bills 24, Buccaneers 18 — Josh Allen totaled 365 yards and three touchdowns in leading Buffalo to a Thursday night victory. Khalil Shakir led the receivers with 92 yards, Gabe Davis and Dalton Kincaid caught touchdowns and the Bills defense held Baker Mayfield and the Bucs to 303 yards and three scoring drives. Sam Martin had three punts down inside the 10 and the Bills failed on an early fourth and goal at the 1 in a field position battle. Reaching the midway point at 5-3, the Bills would lose their next two games and fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey before reviving the season with a 6-1 finish.