(As Requested) Bills at Patriots 1988

[Buffalo03]

 

When I first started doing this thread of posting old Bills games against our next opponents where we're playing them the coming week, I asked people if they had any requests and this was one that I got for Bills at Patriots week. I was only 2 years old in 1988 so I have no recollection of this game but hopefully other people do and would like to share some memories. As always. GO Bills

[SoCal Deek]

Two years old in 1988? Yikes….I’m old! Looks like we’re going to catch you up on all that you missed. 😉 (forgive us if we skip over 1968, and a few others….they were terrible)

[Whkfc]

Was that the 14-0 game? Thurman had a 80 yard td run.

[DrDawkinstein]

lol, 1:30 in, Bentley jawing into the RBs ear after a tackle and shoving him down. Could never get away with that today.

[Buffalo Boy]

    I was there but don’t remember it.

   Interesting to see Kelly run a conservative dump offense most of the game.

    Also, I think it was 91 but remember getting Ronnie Lippett so mad at us in pregame warmups we thought he was going to come into the stands😜.  The good old days.

[freddyjj]

Never heard Bruce Smith's name called.   He was serving a 30 day drug suspension.   Man Grogan  and Kelly liked throwing to the other team!

[Fleezoid]

Strange....Now that there's a penalty for horse collar tackles, no one seems to wear them anymore.

[msw2112]

I watched all of the games back then, as I do now, but I don't have any independent recollection of this particular game.  I like the way it ended up.  In watching the video, I noticed Doug Flutie in uniform on the Pats' sideline.  Just an interesting tidbit.

[TheBrownBear]

9 hours ago, Whkfc said:

Was that the 14-0 game? Thurman had a 80 yard td run.

Nah, that was at home in 90 or 91.  I think there were miserable winds that day.

[skibum]

Funny game; the Pats pretty much dominated wire to wire, yet somehow managed to lose. Grogan outplayed Kelly by a wide margin. The Bills' best player that day was Ray Bentley on D, and maybe Robb Riddick on O, but overall the Bills' offense was horrendous. Thurman didn't do squat, Kelly himself may have had the longest run of the day, and Reed had maybe two catches. Bruce didn't even play. Norwood with the game-winner from 41. And that's my synopsis. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

10 hours ago, Buffalo03 said:

 

When I first started doing this thread of posting old Bills games against our next opponents where we're playing them the coming week, I asked people if they had any requests and this was one that I got for Bills at Patriots week. I was only 2 years old in 1988 so I have no recollection of this game but hopefully other people do and would like to share some memories. As always. GO Bills

i can’t believe Irving Fryer returned that punt. They used to call him fair catch fryer 

[Nextmanup]

10 hours ago, Buffalo03 said:

 

When I first started doing this thread of posting old Bills games against our next opponents where we're playing them the coming week, I asked people if they had any requests and this was one that I got for Bills at Patriots week. I was only 2 years old in 1988 so I have no recollection of this game but hopefully other people do and would like to share some memories. As always. GO Bills

So you pretty much missed the entire Super Bowl era!  What a shame.

 

I will watch that game later; I would have seen it for sure; it will be interesting to see if I remember anything! 

 

 

[Mickey]

I remember it well, Bruce was suspended and the Pats always seemed to save their best games for us. We almost always won but it was never easy.

 

[Low Positive]

10 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

Two years old in 1988? Yikes….I’m old! Looks like we’re going to catch you up on all that you missed. 😉 (forgive us if we skip over 1968, and a few others….they were terrible)

And no need to look at 1984 or 1985. Pretend that those years don’t exist.

[SoCal Deek]

21 minutes ago, FrenchConnection said:

And no need to look at 1984 or 1985. Pretend that those years don’t exist.

Ha! Thanks….I thought maybe I’d just ease him into the misery! 😉

[Reks Ryan]

1 hour ago, skibum said:

Funny game; the Pats pretty much dominated wire to wire, yet somehow managed to lose. Grogan outplayed Kelly by a wide margin. The Bills' best player that day was Ray Bentley on D, and maybe Robb Riddick on O, but overall the Bills' offense was horrendous. Thurman didn't do squat, Kelly himself may have had the longest run of the day, and Reed had maybe two catches. Bruce didn't even play. Norwood with the game-winner from 41. And that's my synopsis. 

I was surprised Andre Reed was so quiet.  But then I see that he broke his wrist the week before.  Can you imagine a Bills player in a week 3 game now playing with a fracture in their wrist.  He played with a fractured wrist in 1993 too. 

 

Thurman didnt have a big game, but it was only the 3rd game of his rookie year.  Was still backfield committe w Harmon and Riddick

[That's No Moon]

1 hour ago, FrenchConnection said:

And no need to look at 1984 or 1985. Pretend that those years don’t exist.

The game against the Cowboys in '84 was pretty cool though. The 6 y/o version of me was at that one. Grandmom was pissed that she gave me her seat that day.

[Low Positive]

Just now, That's No Moon said:

The game against the Cowboys in '84 was pretty cool though. The 6 y/o version of me was at that one. Grandmom was pissed that she gave me her seat that day.

2-14. 

[That's No Moon]

5 minutes ago, FrenchConnection said:

2-14. 

I know. That one game was fun though. Then '85 was just rubbish QB play all season between Ferragamo and Mathison. Ugh.

 

Correction, I originally listed Joe Dufek here but that was 1984 and equally shambolic.

Edited December 1, 2022 by That's No Moon

[Snappysnackcakes]

Thank you for this!!!!! Awesome, just incredible. Grogan was dropping dimes. Kelly had some wheels. And they sure missed Bruce.