From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1968 Buffalo Bills season
9th season in franchise history
9th season in franchise history
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Buffalo Bills |
| year | 1968 |
| record | 1–12–1 |
| division_place | 5th AFL Eastern |
| coach | Joe Collier and Harvey Johnson |
| owner | Ralph Wilson |
| stadium | War Memorial Stadium |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| shortnavlink | Bills seasons |
The 1968 Buffalo Bills season was the team’s ninth season.
The Bills' 1–12–1 record in 1968 (a 0.107 winning percentage) is the second-worst in team history: the 1971 Bills went 1–13. They were one of only two teams in AFL history (the other being the 1962 Oakland Raiders) to finish the season with only one victory.
The Bills, coming off a 4–10 season in 1967, fired coach Joe Collier after an 0–2 start in 1968. Defensive backfield coach Harvey Johnson was promoted to interim head coach, where he went 1–10–1 to finish the year.
With the release of running back Wray Carlton, wide receiver Elbert Dubenion was the last player from the Bills' original roster in 1960 to still be with the team.
The majority of Buffalo's games were started by backup quarterback Dan Darragh, after injuries claimed the seasons of long-time starter Jack Kemp and new addition Tom Flores. Even Darragh and new addition Kay Stephenson were injured. Ultimately, running back Ed Rutkowski, who hadn't played the quarterback position since college six years prior, ended up starting at quarterback for the Bills.
Buffalo's only win of the season was a home victory over the New York Jets, who eventually went on to win Super Bowl III. In that game, the Bills held a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter before giving up two late touchdowns to the Jets. Ultimately, the Bills were able to hold on to the two-point win. Through the 2022 season, this is the only instance in which a team that had only 1 win have that win come against the eventual Super Bowl champion.
Offseason
- August 24: Bills sign fullback Wayne Patrick.
- August 27: Bills acquire quarterback (and future Bills head coach) Kay Stephenson from the San Diego Chargers for a Fifth Round Pick.
- August 28: Bills acquire fullback Bob Cappadona from the Boston Patriots for a ninth round draft pick.
- September 2: The Bills cut running backs Wray Carlton, wide receiver Ed Rutkowski (who would return later in the season as a quarterback), tight end Charley Ferguson and defensive tackle Dudley Meredith.
AFL draft
Personnel
Coaches/Staff
| **1968 Buffalo Bills staff** |
|---|
- Source: https://pro-football-history.com/franchise/7/buffalo-bills-coaches
Final roster
- Elbert Dubenion WR (Retired) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
Preseason
| Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Week | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Date | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Result | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Record | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Venue | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 5 | [Detroit Lions](1968-detroit-lions-season) | **W** 13–9 | 1–0 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 11 | [Miami Dolphins](1968-miami-dolphins-season) | **T** 28–28 | 1–0–1 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 17 | [Cincinnati Bengals](1968-cincinnati-bengals-season) | **L** 6–10 | 1–1–1 | Nippert Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 23 | [Houston Oilers](1968-houston-oilers-season) | **L** 7–37 | 1–2–1 | Astrodome | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 30 | [Cleveland Browns](1968-cleveland-browns-season) | **L** 12–22 | 1–3–1 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) |
Regular season
Schedule
| Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Week | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Date | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Result | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Record | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Venue | Buffalo Bills | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8 | **[Boston Patriots](1968-boston-patriots-season)** | **L** 7–16 | 0–1 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 15 | [Oakland Raiders](1968-oakland-raiders-season) | **L** 6–48 | 0–2 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 22 | at [Cincinnati Bengals](1968-cincinnati-bengals-season) | **L** 23–34 | 0–3 | Nippert Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 29 | **[New York Jets](1968-new-york-jets-season)** | **W** 37–35 | 1–3 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 5 | [Kansas City Chiefs](1968-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 7–18 | 1–4 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 12 | at [Miami Dolphins](1968-miami-dolphins-season) | **T** 14–14 | 1–4–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 20 | at **Boston Patriots** | **L** 6–23 | 1–5–1 | Fenway Park | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 27 | **[Houston Oilers](1968-houston-oilers-season)** | **L** 7–30 | 1–6–1 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 3 | at **New York Jets** | **L** 21–25 | 1–7–1 | Shea Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 10 | **Miami Dolphins** | **L** 17–23 | 1–8–1 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 17 | [San Diego Chargers](1968-san-diego-chargers-season) | **L** 6–21 | 1–9–1 | War Memorial Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 24 | at [Denver Broncos](1968-denver-broncos-season) | **L** 32–34 | 1–10–1 | Mile High Stadium | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 28 | at Oakland Raiders | **L** 10-13 | 1–11–1 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 7 | at **Houston Oilers** | **L** 6–35 | 1–12–1 | Astrodome | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1968/gamelog/) |
Standings
Game summaries
Week 12 vs. Raiders
;Bills
- Ed Rutkowski 10/25, 160 Yds, 2 INT
- Max Anderson 11 Rush, 60 Yds, TD 2 Rec, 31 Yds ;Raiders
- Daryle Lamonica 12/32, 145 Yds, INT
- Charlie Smith 12 Rush, 54 Yds
- Warren Wells 3 Rec, 61 Yds
Thanksgiving Day
Awards and Records
- Bob Kalsu, Team Rookie of the Year
References
References
- Johnson would be promoted to head coach again before the [[1971 Buffalo Bills season. 1971 season]]
- Johnson resumed his defensive coaching duties under [[John Rauch]] in [[1969 Buffalo Bills season. 1969]], but would later be promoted to head coach again for one year in 1971.
- [Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich [https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/0312110731/soft-cover/ The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition], p.144, Martin's Press, August 1994, {{ISBN. 0-312-11073-1
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809290buf.htm Pro-Football-Reference: New York Jets 35 at Buffalo Bills 37, Sunday, September 29, 1968]
- Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.392, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, {{ISBN. 978-1-55022-797-0
- Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.393, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, {{ISBN. 978-1-55022-797-0
- Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.513, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, {{ISBN. 978-1-55022-797-0
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1968 Buffalo Bills season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report