HOUSE Posted August 9, 2012 Posted August 9, 2012 (edited) Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38 Buffalo Bills 21 Aug. 8, 1961 For the only time in history, an American Football League team met a Canadian Football League Team. And, for the first time in history, a CFL team defeated a professional team from America when the Tiger-Cats downed the Buffalo Bills, 38-21 in Hamilton. It should be remembered that the Bills game in Hamilton was very different than the other games. It actually is an “NFL” game only in retrospect. In 1961, the Buffalo Bills were purely an AFL team with the draft wars, Super Bowls and merger still years away. This game, therefore, can be viewed separately from the others. The game was played at Hamilton’s Ivor Wynne Stadium before 12,000 curious fans playing with a mix of American and Canadian rules. In the first quarter, Ti-Cats fullback Jerry McDougall boomed a quick-kick 77 yards to the Bills 10 yard line. On the next play, Hamilton’s Butch Rogers intercepted a Johnny Green pass and ran 22 yards for a score. Midway through the first quarter, Hamilton’s Ron Miller tried a 27 yard field goal which was wide. Buffalo’s William Fowler attempted to run it out of the endzone (mandatory by Canadian rules) but was stopped short by Hal Patterson for a one point rouge. The score was 8-0. On the third play of the second quarter, Rogers again intercepted a Green pass at the Buffalo 13. Bernie Faloney then spotted Patterson between the goalposts in the endzone and hit him with a beautiful touchdown strike in front of defender, Jack Johnson. Later in the quarter, the Bills stopped Hamilton’s Don Sutherin in the endzone following a pass from Tom Dublinski for a safety. On the last play of the half, the Bills’ Richie Lucas ran 9 yards to the Hamilton 39, but a roughing penalty was called on the Ti-Cats for piling on. The ball was moved to the 24 where Lucas hit Monte Crockett for a touchdown. The halftime score was 21-8 in favor of Hamilton. Hamilton opened it to 28-8 in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Faloney to Paul Dekker. Later in the quarter, Green led the Bills on a drive which ended on a three yard Art Baker scoring run. On their next possession, Elbert Dubenion returned a Hamilton punt 21 yards and Green hit Crockett on an 8 yard touchdown route. At 28-21, the Bills were back in it. But, Faloney hit Ralph Goldston on a 29 yard pass play to set up Ron Miller’s 17 yard field goal and give Hamilton a 31-21 cushion. Frank Cosentino replaced Faloney and finished the rout with a 50 yard touchdown pass to Goldston. The final was Hamilton 38, Buffalo 21. For Buffalo and the AFL, the game was a disappointment. The Bills were befuddled by the Canadian rules, suffered a rash of preseason injuries, and used untested rookies who were not familiar with their system, having practiced less than two weeks. The game exposed the weakness of the young American Football League. For the Tiger-Cats and the CFL, it was redemption for the 6 previous losses to US teams. It would mark the last time the CFL and NFL/AFL met in history. Edited August 9, 2012 by HOUSE
Formerly Allan in MD Posted August 9, 2012 Posted August 9, 2012 I tend to think about teams in terms of coaches. And I'm just old enough to remember Harvey Johnson's reign. He led the Bills to an impressive 1-10 record in '68 and then we let him head-coach again in '71 when he master-minded a 1-13 season. We were truly pathetic. Those two games we won under Johnson were shocking. The players and fans expected to lose every week. Jim Ringo - a good offensive line coach - was nearly as horrible as a head coach - earning a 3-20 record (1976-1977). Then there was the tough-minded defensive coordinator, Hank Bullough, who came with a good resume (one of the innovators of the 3-4) but produced just 4 wins in 21 games (1985-1986). We Bills fans have been blessed with some truly awful teams. Bullough's last team (that got him fired0 was the worst.
Wooderson Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 2012 team. How can they not beat the Redskins?!?!
Phil Hansen Forever Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 1971.. 1-13.. unwatchable team It was a horrible year, and it didn't get much better for the rest of the decade.
DC Tom Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 2012 team. How can they not beat the Redskins?!?!
LancasterSteve Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 I'm gonna go with 1968. 1-12-1, outscored by 168 points in 14 games. At least it got us OJ. Hands down and I've been going to see the Bills play for 50 years. For those ready to jump off the Peace Bridge over our current group QB's, you haven't seen Dan Darragh play. The Bills have had more that their share of duds at the quarterback position but heaven help us if a clone of this guy ever shows up. Plenty of memories, good and bad from watching games at War Memorial Stadium.
You herd it hear last Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38 Buffalo Bills 21 Aug. 8, 1961 For the only time in history, an American Football League team met a Canadian Football League Team. And, for the first time in history, a CFL team defeated a professional team from America when the Tiger-Cats downed the Buffalo Bills, 38-21 in Hamilton. It should be remembered that the Bills game in Hamilton was very different than the other games. It actually is an “NFL” game only in retrospect. In 1961, the Buffalo Bills were purely an AFL team with the draft wars, Super Bowls and merger still years away. This game, therefore, can be viewed separately from the others. The game was played at Hamilton’s Ivor Wynne Stadium before 12,000 curious fans playing with a mix of American and Canadian rules. In the first quarter, Ti-Cats fullback Jerry McDougall boomed a quick-kick 77 yards to the Bills 10 yard line. On the next play, Hamilton’s Butch Rogers intercepted a Johnny Green pass and ran 22 yards for a score. Midway through the first quarter, Hamilton’s Ron Miller tried a 27 yard field goal which was wide. Buffalo’s William Fowler attempted to run it out of the endzone (mandatory by Canadian rules) but was stopped short by Hal Patterson for a one point rouge. The score was 8-0. On the third play of the second quarter, Rogers again intercepted a Green pass at the Buffalo 13. Bernie Faloney then spotted Patterson between the goalposts in the endzone and hit him with a beautiful touchdown strike in front of defender, Jack Johnson. Later in the quarter, the Bills stopped Hamilton’s Don Sutherin in the endzone following a pass from Tom Dublinski for a safety. On the last play of the half, the Bills’ Richie Lucas ran 9 yards to the Hamilton 39, but a roughing penalty was called on the Ti-Cats for piling on. The ball was moved to the 24 where Lucas hit Monte Crockett for a touchdown. The halftime score was 21-8 in favor of Hamilton. Hamilton opened it to 28-8 in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Faloney to Paul Dekker. Later in the quarter, Green led the Bills on a drive which ended on a three yard Art Baker scoring run. On their next possession, Elbert Dubenion returned a Hamilton punt 21 yards and Green hit Crockett on an 8 yard touchdown route. At 28-21, the Bills were back in it. But, Faloney hit Ralph Goldston on a 29 yard pass play to set up Ron Miller’s 17 yard field goal and give Hamilton a 31-21 cushion. Frank Cosentino replaced Faloney and finished the rout with a 50 yard touchdown pass to Goldston. The final was Hamilton 38, Buffalo 21. For Buffalo and the AFL, the game was a disappointment. The Bills were befuddled by the Canadian rules, suffered a rash of preseason injuries, and used untested rookies who were not familiar with their system, having practiced less than two weeks. The game exposed the weakness of the young American Football League. For the Tiger-Cats and the CFL, it was redemption for the 6 previous losses to US teams. It would mark the last time the CFL and NFL/AFL met in history. you'd have to be old to remember that game...really old... like, super old...
billybrew1 Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 The one that played tonight! Geesh! What a disaster! I was gunna rewatch for info. I can't torture myself like that! I know it is meaningless, but it looked so bbbbbaaaaddddd!
Tcali Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 (edited) with the bills there are so many awful seasons to sift thru. while 70,71,69,84,85 were bad....there was a certain special hopelessness about the jauron squads that we need to bear in mind. yeah they would win the 6 or 7.....but we knew they had absolutely no chance against a real good team and that there was absolutely no future with the players we had. Edited August 10, 2012 by Tcali
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 I'd like to add the replacement team of 1987. Outscored 64-19 in 3 games yet somehow beat the Giants 6-3 in OT in their last game - quite possibly the worst game in the history of the NFL. 9 turnovers (7 by us) with 5 more fumbles that were recovered by the fumbling team, a total of 26 penalties for over 250 yards, and 5 missed field goals.
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