1972 Buffalo Bills season

Season summary

The 1972 season marked the return of former Bills coach Lou Saban, 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, the second-most in the league behind the Giants' Ron Johnson.

Despite losing two starting offensive lineman – center Bruce Jarvis and guard Jim Reilly—in the season opener, 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, nineteenth in the league out of 26 teams. Furthermore, Buffalo's defense gave up 377 points (23.5 per game), the third-most in the NFL in 1972. As of 2023, this season was the most recent in which the Bills recorded a tie game.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1972 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff/Coaches

• President – Ralph Wilson

• Vice President and General Manager – Bob Lustig

• Vice President – Pat McGroder

• Head coach – Lou Saban

• Receivers – Bob Shaw

• Offensive Line – Jim Ringo

• Defensive Line – Stan Jones

• Linebackers – Jim Dooley

• Defensive Backfield – Bill Atkins

• Special Teams – Ed Cavanaugh

Roster

• October 16 – Haven Moses (WR) was traded to Denver for Dwight Harrison (WR).

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.

Schedule

Season summary

Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers

• SF — Gossett 47-yard field goal. 49ers 3–0 Second Quarter
• BUF — Leypoldt 32-yard field goal. 3–3
• BUF — Leypoldt 22-yard field goal. Bills 6–3
• SF — Kwalick 20-yard pass from Spurrier (Gossett kick). 49ers 10–6 Third Quarter
• SF — Gossett 20-yard field goal. 49ers 13–6
• BUF — White 17-yard pass from Shaw (Leypoldt kick). 13–13 Fourth Quarter
• SF — Schreiber 2-yard rush (Gossett kick). 49ers 20–13
• BUF — Braxton 2-yard rush (Leypoldt kick). 20–20
• BUF — Braxton 1 yard rush (Leypoldt kick). Bills 27–20
• SF — Steve Spurrier, 10/25, 171 yards, TD, 2 INT
• BUF — Dennis Shaw, 8/20, 105 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• SF — Vic Washington, 9 rushes, 18 yards
• BUF — O. J. Simpson, 29 rushes, 138 yards Top receivers
• SF — Gene Washington, 3 receptions, 89 yards
• BUF — J. D. Hill, 2 receptions, 33 yards

Week 13: vs Detroit Lions

First quarter

• No scoring Second quarter
• DET – Earl McCullouch 9-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). ''Lions 7–0. '''Drive:'''''
• BUF – J.D. Hill 58-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). ''Tie 7–7. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
• BUF – Bob Chandler 39-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). ''Bills 14–7. '''Drive:'''''
• DET – Nick Eddy 36-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). ''Tie 14–14. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
• BUF – Jan White 2-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). ''Bills 21–14. '''Drive:'''''
• DET – Ron Jessie 37-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). ''Tie 21–21. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
• DET – Greg Landry – 8/25, 150 yards, 3 TD
• BUF – Dennis Shaw – 18/32, 239 yards, 3 TD ;Top rushers
• DET – Greg Landry – 9 rushes, 46 yards
• BUF – O.J. Simpson – 27 rushes, 116 yards ;Top receivers
• DET – Ron Jessie – 2 receptions, 51 yards, TD
• BUF – J.D. Hill – 8 receptions, 129 yards, TD

Standings

Notes

References

• Bills on Pro Football Reference
• Bills on jt-sw.com
• Bills Stats on jt-sw.com

References

1. "O. J. Simpson".
2. "1972 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards".
3. (August 1994). "Pro Football". Martin's Press.
4. "1972 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics".
5. "1972 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics".
6. [http://www.footballdb.com/teams/buffalo-bills/draft/1972 Buffalo Bills 1972 NFL Draft]
7. Wallace, William N.. (October 17, 1972). "Morrall perfectly cast as Griese's substitute". New York Times.
8. (October 17, 1972). "Broncos deal end to Bills". Schenectady Gazette.
9. Salguero, Armando. (2020). "100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die". Triumph Books.
10. "1972 Buffalo Bills Schedule". National Football League.
11. "San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills — September 24th, 1972".
12. "Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills — December 10th, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com.