1972 Buffalo Bills season

The 1972 season marked the return of former Bills coach Lou Saban,{{efn|Saban had coached the Bills from 1962 to 1965 before leaving for the University of Maryland}} 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,{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimpO.00.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=O. J. Simpson}} the second-most in the league behind the Giants' Ron Johnson.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/leaders.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=1972 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards}}

Despite losing two starting offensive lineman – center Bruce Jarvis and guard Jim Reilly—in the season opener,{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Neft|first1=David S.|last2=Cohen|first2=Richard M.|last3=Korch|first3=Rich|encyclopedia=The Sports Encyclopedia|title=Pro Football|edition=12th|page=234|publisher=Martin's Press|date=August 1994|isbn=0-312-11073-1}} 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, ninteeenth in the league out of 26 teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=1972 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics}} Furthermore, Buffalo's defense gave up 377 points (23.5 per game), the third-most in the NFL in 1972.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/opp.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=1972 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics}} As of 2023, this season was the most recent in which the Bills recorded a tie game.

{{main|1972 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year =1972

| teamname =Buffalo Bills

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 1

| player = Walt Patulski

| position = DE

| college = Notre Dame

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 27

| player = Reggie McKenzie{{efn|Made 1973 First Team All-Pro and Second Team All-Pro in 1974 and 1975.}}

| position = G

| college = Michigan

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 79

| player = Randy Jackson

| position = RB

| college = Wichita State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 105

| player = Leon Garror

| position = DB

| college = Alcorn A&M

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 108

| player = Bob Penchion

| position = G

| college = Alcorn A&M

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 183

| player = Paul Gibson

| position = WR

| college = UTEP

| notes =

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| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 235

| player = Maurice Tyler

| position = DB

| college = Morgan State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 13

| pick = 313

| player = Eddie Moss

| position = RB

| college = Southeast Missouri State

| notes =

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| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 14

| pick = 340

| player = Karl Salb

| position = DT

| college = Kansas

| notes =

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{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 16

| pick = 391

| player = Brian Linstrom

| position = QB

| college = Arizona

| notes =

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{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 17

| pick = 417

| player = John Shelley

| position = DB

| college = Oklahoma

| notes =

| maderoster =

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft end}}

[http://www.footballdb.com/teams/buffalo-bills/draft/1972 Buffalo Bills 1972 NFL Draft]

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1972

| team = Buffalo Bills

| front_office =

• President – Ralph Wilson
• Vice President and General Manager – Bob Lustig
• Vice President – Pat McGroder

| head_coach =

• Head coach – Lou Saban

| offensive =

• Receivers – Bob Shaw
• Offensive Line – Jim Ringo

| defensive =

• Defensive Line – Stan Jones
• Linebackers – Jim Dooley
• Defensive Backfield – Bill Atkins

| special_teams =

• Special Teams – Ed Cavanaugh

}}

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1972

| team = Buffalo Bills

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|10|Leo Hart}}

{{NFLplayer|16|Dennis Shaw}}

{{NFLplayer|17|Mike Taliaferro}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|34|Jim Braxton|FB}}

{{NFLplayer|33|Randy Jackson|d=running back|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Wayne Patrick}}

{{NFLplayer|32|O. J. Simpson}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|86|Marlin Briscoe}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Bob Chandler}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Linzy Cole}}

{{NFLplayer|40|J. D. Hill}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Haven Moses}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|37|Ted Koy}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Jan White}}

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|60|Bill Adams|d=offensive lineman|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|79|Paul Costa|d=American football|T}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Dave Foley|d=American football|T}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Donnie Green|T}}

{{NFLplayer|51|Bruce Jarvis|C}}

{{NFLplayer|53|John Matlock|C}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Reggie McKenzie|d=guard|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|66|Bob Penchion|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Remi Prudhomme|C}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|83|Bob Christiansen|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Frank Cornish|d2=Jr.|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Al Cowlings|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Don Croft|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|76|Mike McBath|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|88|Steve Okoniewski|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Walt Patulski|rookie=y|DE}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|52|Edgar Chandler}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Dale Farley}}

{{NFLplayer|59|Paul Guidry}}

{{NFLplayer|56|Ken Lee|d=linebacker}}

{{NFLplayer|50|Dick Palmer|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|58|Mike Stratton}}

{{NFLplayer|86|Dave Washington}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|47|Leon Garror|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|43|Tony Greene|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Robert James|d=defensive back|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|48|John Pitts|d=American football|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|21|John Saunders|d=American football|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|42|Maurice Tyler|rookie=y|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|41|Alvin Wyatt|CB}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer|11|Spike Jones|d=American football|P}}

{{NFLplayer| 3|John Leypoldt|K}}

| reserve_lists =

{{NFLplayer|61|Jim Reilly|d=American football|G|NF-Inj.}}

| practice_squad =

}}

• October 16 – Haven Moses (WR) was traded to Denver for {{nowrap|Dwight Harrison (WR).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/10/17/archives/morrall-perfectly-cast-as-grieses-substitute.html |work=New York Times |last=Wallace |first=William N. |title=Morrall perfectly cast as Griese's substitute |date=October 17, 1972 |page=51 }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KWYtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m4kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5752%2C406373 |work=Schenectady Gazette |location=(New York) |agency=Associated Press |title=Broncos deal end to Bills |date=October 17, 1972 |page=28}}}}

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.{{cite book|title=100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die|first=Armando|last=Salguero|publisher=Triumph Books|location=Chicago|year=2020|isbn=978-1-62937-722-3|page=3}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule?team=BUF&season=1972&seasonType=REG|title=1972 Buffalo Bills Schedule|publisher=National Football League}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Buffalo Bills|year=1972|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week Two: San Francisco 49ers (1–0) at Buffalo Bills (0–1)

|road=49ers

|R1=3 |R2=7 |R3=3 |R4=7

|home=Bills

|H1=0 |H2=6 |H3=7 |H4=14

|date=September 24

|stadium=War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

|time=1:00 p.m. EST

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|60|F|1}}; wind {{convert|12|mph|km/h knots}}

|reference={{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197209240buf.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=November 27, 2014|title=San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills — September 24th, 1972}}

|scoring=First Quarter

• 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

|stats=Top passers

• 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

}}

{{Seealso|1972 Detroit Lions season}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Buffalo Bills|year=1972|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week Thirteen: Detroit Lions (7–5) at Buffalo Bills (3–9)

|date=December 10

|time=1:00 p.m. EST

|road=Lions

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=7 |R4=7

|home=Bills

|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=7 |H4=7

|stadium=War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

|attendance=41,583

|weather={{Convert|32|F|C}}, wind {{convert|11|mph|km/h knots}}, wind chill {{convert|24|F|C|1}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference={{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197212100buf.htm|title=Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills — December 10th, 1972|publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}

|scoring=

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:

|stats=

;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

}}

{{1972 AFC East standings}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1972.htm?redir Bills on Pro Football Reference]
• [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1972-buf Bills on jt-sw.com]
• [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/stats.nsf/Annual/1972-buf Bills Stats on jt-sw.com]

{{Buffalo Bills}}

{{Buffalo Bills seasons}}

{{1972 NFL season by team}}

Category:Buffalo Bills seasons

Buffalo Bills

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