A fun game from 1979, Packers at Bills

[hondo in seattle]

19 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

Where does Ferguson rate on the Bills all time QB list ?

 

Fergy had an interesting career evolution.   At first, his job was to hand off to OJ.  He only surpassed 2,000 yards passing once in his first four years.   But in '79 and '81 he threw for 3,500+ yards, which was pretty good back when the NFL was still transitioning from a running league to a passing one.   

 

Buffalo Bills franchise records:

Highest touchdown percentage in a single season – 7.8 (1975)

Lowest interception percentage in a single season – 0.7 (1976)

Most sack yards lost in a single season – 387 (1979)

Most interceptions thrown in a career – 190

Most sack yards lost in a career – 2,529

 

 

[hondo in seattle]

2 hours ago, freddyjj said:

@Chandler#81 thanks so much for sharing.  A few things I noticed.  

1. Chuck Knox loved him some 21 formation.  Lewis and Piccone outside with Gant at TE and Brown and Miller at FB/RB.   Bills ran for almost 200 yards in this game.  Talk about a limited offense.
2. Swan song season for FS Tony Greene as Jeff Nixon would take over in 1980.  Nixon had a great start to 1980 season before a gruesome knee injury led to Bills signing Bill Simpson, an ex LA Ram to take over.
3. Never knew why but Bills jettisoned Joe D after 1979 season and brought in Conrad Dobler at RG.  
4. Surprised to see Terry Miller rundown on his 75 yard run in this game as tackler was CB from other side of field.  The Bills drafted Joe Cribbs in 1980 essentially ending Miller's NFL career.
5. Bringing in Cribbs and a rookie TE, Mark Brammer in 1980 really gave the offense some HP in 1980.

 

 

I can't find this online, but I remember hearing Miller's career was derailed by some eye disease that caused him to lose his peripheral vision.  

 

He ran for over 1,000 yards with a solid 4.5 YPC in his promising rookie season with the Bills.  He only put up about 500 yards with a 3.4 YPC for the entirety of his remaining NFL career.  

 

Anyone know the story?  

[Charles Romes]

I actually hate when commercials are removed from these.  Ruins the whole understanding of what was happening in real time during the game.  Also, the old commercials are interesting.  

[freddyjj]

1 hour ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

I can't find this online, but I remember hearing Miller's career was derailed by some eye disease that caused him to lose his peripheral vision.  

 

He ran for over 1,000 yards with a solid 4.5 YPC in his promising rookie season with the Bills.  He only put up about 500 yards with a 3.4 YPC for the entirety of his remaining NFL career.  

 

Anyone know the story?  

https://gazette.com/news/mitchell-football-superstar-terry-miller-talks-about-his-glory-and-his-crime-david-ramsey/article_1363fcc4-04a0-11ea-ad2e-87c76839afaf.html

 

Not an eye injury but appears a Toe/foot injury ended his playing days.  Was arrested for bank fraud in 1999 and had to pay back $179k!

[Ned Flanders]

21 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

I go by talent. Josh is the king. Buffalo has never had a better QB than him.

I go by results.

 

Josh is the most talented QB, no question, and perhaps the best athlete the Bills have ever had.

 

Agree to disagree.  😊

[hondo in seattle]

2 hours ago, freddyjj said:

https://gazette.com/news/mitchell-football-superstar-terry-miller-talks-about-his-glory-and-his-crime-david-ramsey/article_1363fcc4-04a0-11ea-ad2e-87c76839afaf.html

 

Not an eye injury but appears a Toe/foot injury ended his playing days.  Was arrested for bank fraud in 1999 and had to pay back $179k!

 

Thanks for finding and linking that.  Interesting article.  I could swear I heard his career nosedived because of a problem with his peripheral vision though I don't recall the source.  

 

I didn't remember that he was such an excellent athlete when young.  And I didn't know about the bank fraud.  The article makes him seem like a good and humble guy - outside of the felony, of course.  

 

I didn't think he was OJ's equal of course, but during Miller's rookie season I did think we'd be blessed with good RB play for another eight or ten years.  

[Buftex]

On 5/13/2024 at 1:30 PM, Chandler#81 said:

Amazing clarity for a 44 year old video. It’s a bootleg feed, meaning no commercials, which is cool. Bart Starr vs Chuck Knox with recently departed Roman Gabriel in the broadcast booth. While we weren’t very good this season, you can see the improvement from Knox and we would be in the playoffs the following 2 years.  Enjoy!

 

Wathced this over the weekend...good times!  Love hearing the commercial break commentary from Roman Gabriel and his partner.  The broadcasts were so simple then...it really is kind of refreshing.  I knew we were like 7-9 that season, so going in, I had no idea if the Bills won or lost...my memory not so good!  Love all these old, complete, games popping up on youtube.  Been watching quite a few the last few months... not just Bills games.

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

I rate them Allen, Kelly, Kemp and Ferguson based on my over 50 years of Bills fandom.

[Haslett_Stomp]

Only watched the first 20 minutes but they sure brought back some names from the distant past.  Lucius Sanford and Tony Greene were two of my favorite players back in the day.