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1978 Buffalo Bills season
19th season in franchise history
19th season in franchise history
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Buffalo Bills |
| year | 1978 |
| record | 5–11 |
| division_place | 4th AFC East |
| coach | Chuck Knox |
| owner | Ralph Wilson |
| stadium | Rich Stadium |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro_bowlers | **G** Joe DeLamielleure |
| AP All-pros | **G** Joe DeLamielleure (2nd team) |
| shortnavlink | Bills seasons |
| AP All-pros = G Joe DeLamielleure (2nd team)
The 1978 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 9th season in the National Football League, and the 19th overall. The Bills were coming off a season in which they only won three games, making 1978 a slight improvement.
Head coach Chuck Knox began his first season with the team, having coached the Los Angeles Rams for the previous five seasons.Knox would coach the Bills for five seasons – through the 1982 season – before leaving for Seattle. It was also Buffalo's first season after the departure of star running back O. J. Simpson, who was traded to San Francisco for five draft picks in the offseason.
The Bills offense acquired a pair of weapons for quarterback Joe Ferguson: wide receiver Frank Lewis, who had spent the previous 7 seasons in Pittsburgh, and rookie running back Terry Miller, who ended the season with over 1,000 yards.Miller's 1,060 yards would be the only 1,000-yard total of his three year career in Buffalo.
The 1978 Bills' run defense allowed an NFL record 3,228 rushing yards; the 677 rushing attempts the Bills faced in 1978 is also an NFL record. Oddly, the Bills were first in the league in yards allowed on pass defense, giving up only 1,960 yards through the air.
Buffalo's week eight victory over the Cincinnati Bengals produced the second 5–0 final score in modern NFL history (since ); the other was a NFC divisional playoff between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.
Offseason
Draft
Main article: 1978 NFL draft
Personnel
Staff/coaches
| **1978 Buffalo Bills staff** |
|---|
| **Front office** |
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
| Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Week | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Date | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Result | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Record | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Venue | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | [Pittsburgh Steelers](1978-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **L** 17–28 | 0–1 | Rich Stadium | 64,147 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 10 | **[New York Jets](1978-new-york-jets-season)** | **L** 20–21 | 0–2 | Rich Stadium | 40,985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 17 | at **[Miami Dolphins](1978-miami-dolphins-season)** | **L** 24–31 | 0–3 | Miami Orange Bowl | 48,373 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 24 | **[Baltimore Colts](1978-baltimore-colts-season)** | **W** 24–17 | 1–3 | Rich Stadium | 55,270 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 | [Kansas City Chiefs](1978-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **W** 28–13 | 2–3 | Rich Stadium | 47,310 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 8 | at **[New York Jets](1978-new-york-jets-season)** | **L** 14–45 | 2–4 | Shea Stadium | 44,545 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 15 | at [Houston Oilers](1978-houston-oilers-season) | **L** 10–17 | 2–5 | Astrodome | 47,727 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 22 | [Cincinnati Bengals](1978-cincinnati-bengals-season) | **W** 5–0 | 3–5 | Rich Stadium | 47,754 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 29 | at [Cleveland Browns](1978-cleveland-browns-season) | **L** 20–41 | 3–6 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 51,409 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 5 | **[New England Patriots](1978-new-england-patriots-season)** | **L** 10–14 | 3–7 | Rich Stadium | 44,897 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 12 | **[Miami Dolphins](1978-miami-dolphins-season)** | **L** 24–25 | 3–8 | Rich Stadium | 48,623 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 19 | at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1978-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season) | **L** 10–31 | 3–9 | Tampa Stadium | 61,383 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 26 | [New York Giants](1978-new-york-giants-season) | **W** 41–17 | 4–9 | Rich Stadium | 28,496 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 3 | at [Kansas City Chiefs](1978-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 10–14 | 4–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | 25,781 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 10 | at **[New England Patriots](1978-new-england-patriots-season)** | **L** 24–26 | 4–11 | Schaefer Stadium | 59,598 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 17 | at **[Baltimore Colts](1978-baltimore-colts-season)** | **W** 21–14 | 5–11 | Memorial Stadium | 25,415 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Season summary
Week 1
Week 4
Week 5
First quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 42-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
- KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal. Chiefs 6–0. Second quarter
- BUF – Bob Chandler 20-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 7–6.
- BUF – Terry Miller 8-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 14–6.
- BUF – Bob Chandler 22-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 21–6. Third quarter
- BUF – Curtis Brown 22-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 28–6. Fourth quarter
- KC – Ted McKnight 41-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Bills 28–13. ;Top passers
- KC – Tony Adams – 7/12, 80 yards
- BUF – Joe Ferguson – 15/18, 210 yards, 2 TD, INT ;Top rushers
- KC – MacArthur Lane – 17 rushes, 144 yards
- BUF – Terry Miller – 18 rushes, 67 yards, TD ;Top receivers
- KC – Walter White – 5 receptions, 60 yards
- BUF – Bob Chandler – 7 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD
Week 10
Week 13 vs. Giants
First quarter
- NYG – Al Dixon 31-yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Joe Danelo kick). Giants 7–0.
- BUF – Curtis Brown 1-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Tie 7–7. Second quarter
- NYG – Joe Danelo 27-yard field goal. Giants 10–7. Third quarter
- NYG – Doug Kotar 19-yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Joe Danelo kick). Giants 17–7.
- BUF – Roland Hooks 1-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Giants 17–14. Fourth quarter
- BUF – Curtis Brown 1-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 21–17.
- BUF – Lou Piccone 9-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 28–17.
- BUF – Terry Miller 39-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 35–17.
- BUF – Terry Miller 13-yard run (kick failed). Bills 41–17. ;Top passers
- NYG – Joe Pisarcik – 15/24, 230 yards, 2 TD, INT
- BUF – Joe Ferguson – 9/15, 106 yards, TD, INT ;Top rushers
- NYG – Bobby Hammond – 15 rushes, 60 yards
- BUF – Terry Miller – 21 rushes, 208 yards, 2 TD ;Top receivers
- NYG – Al Dixon – 2 receptions, 78 yards, TD
- BUF – Bob Chandler – 5 receptions, 75 yards
Week 14 at Chiefs
First quarter
- KC – Ted McKnight 17-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0. Second quarter
- BUF – Frank Lewis 40-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Tied 7–7. Third quarter
- BUF – Tom Dempsey 22-yard field goal. Bills 10–7.
- KC – Walter White 3-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–10. Fourth quarter
- No scoring ;Top passers
- BUF – Joe Ferguson – 14/25, 207 yards, TD, 3 INT
- KC – Mike Livingston – 12/21, 99 yards, TD, INT ;Top rushers
- BUF – Terry Miller – 15 rushes, 57 yards
- KC – Tony Reed – 16 rushes, 97 yards ;Top receivers
- BUF – Frank Lewis – 7 receptions, 126 yards, TD
- KC – Henry Marshall – 3 receptions, 40 yards
Standings
Player stats
Passing
Note: Comp = Completions; ATT = Attempts; TD = Touchdowns; INT = Interceptions
| Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Player | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Games | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Completions | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Attempts | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Yards | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | TD | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | INT | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Ferguson | 16 | 175 | 330 | 2136 | 16 | 15 | 70.5 |
Special teams
Note: FGA = Field Goals Attempted; FGM = Field Goals Made; FG% = Field goal percentage; XPA = Extra Points Attempted; XPM = Extra Points Made; XP% = Extra Points Percentage
| Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Player | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Games | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | FGA | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | FGM | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | FG % | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | XPA | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | XPM | Buffalo Bills | year=1978 | border=2}}" | XP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Dempsey | 16 | 13 | 10 | 76.9% | 38 | 36 | 94.7% |
Video Archives
Notes
References
References
- [https://pfref.com/tiny/VRzMX Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by descending opp Rushing Att]
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/opp.htm 1978 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics]
- "1978 Bufflo Bills draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197809240buf.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2017-Oct-09.
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197811050buf.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2023-Sep-07.
- "1978 Buffalo Bills Statistics & Players".
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