1975 Buffalo Bills season

The Bills led the league in points scored, with 420 (30.0 per game). This amount is the most points scored by any team in a 14-game season after the merger,[http://pfref.com/tiny/wCh4W Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1970 to 1977, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For.] and the most points scored by any team in the 1970s.[http://pfref.com/tiny/9nijp Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1970 to 1979, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For.] The Bills were the only team in NFL history to average at least 30 points per game and miss the playoffs, until being joined by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004.

Buffalo won their first four games by an average of 17 points. They were 5–2 at the halfway point of the season, and one game behind the 6–1 Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. Buffalo then lost four of their final seven games, ultimately falling two games short of the division title.

Bills' running back O. J. Simpson rushed for 1817 yards on the season, and set a then-record with 23 touchdowns scored for the season. Fullback Jim Braxton had 823 yards rushing. Buffalo's ground game dominated the league, with a total of 2974 rushing yards, over 300 yards more than the second best rushing total.Pittsburgh, 2633

The 1975 Bills have the distinction of giving up the most total passing yards (3,080) in a 14-game schedule during the merger era.Post-Merger 14-game schedule era: 1970–1977[http://pfref.com/tiny/fIfAx Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1970 to 1977, in the regular season, sorted by descending opp Passing Yds][http://pfref.com/tiny/QMqD4 Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, in 1975, in the regular season, sorted by descending opp Passing Yds] However, the Bills' 45 takeaways on defense led the league in 1975. Defensive back Robert James and safety Doug Jones were lost to the season with knee injuries.

{{main|1975 NFL draft}}

Buffalo's defense gave up the fourth-most yards in the NFL in 1974, and so the Bills' first two picks in the 1975 draft were a pair of Nebraska linebackers – Tom Ruud and Bob Nelson—both of whom played for Buffalo for three seasons. N.C. State running back Roland Hooks played in every Bills game from 1976–1981. He is best known for his "Hail Mary" reception against New England in Week Twelve of the 1981 season, a catch which was instrumental in putting Buffalo into the postseason that year.

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1975

| teamname = Buffalo Bills

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 19

| player = Tom Ruud

| position = Linebacker

| college = Nebraska

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 42

| player = Bob Nelson

| position = Linebacker

| college = Nebraska

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 50

| player = Glenn Loft

| position = Defensive back

| college = Drake

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 102

| player = Tom Donchez

| position = Running back

| college = Penn State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 115

| player = John McCrumbly

| position = Linebacker

| college = Texas A&M

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 166

| player = Gil Chapman

| position = Running back

| college = Michigan

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 174

| player = Reggie Cherry

| position = Running back

| college = Houston

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 175

| player = Harry Banks

| position = Defensive back

| college = Michigan

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 201

| player = John Hill

| position = Defensive tackle

| college = Duke

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 253

| player = Roland Hooks

| position = Running back

| college = NC State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 279

| player = Tom Drake

| position = Defensive back

| college = Michigan

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 305

| player = Mark Johnson

| position = Defensive end

| college = Missouri

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 13

| pick = 331

| player = Mark Dienhart

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = St. Thomas (MN)

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 14

| pick = 357

| player = Robert Evans

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Morris Brown

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 15

| pick = 383

| player = Chris Kupec

| position = Quarterback

| college = North Carolina

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 16

| pick = 408

| player = Tom Fine

| position = Tight end

| college = Notre Dame

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 17

| pick = 435

| player = Jeff Turcotte

| position = Defensive end

| college = Colorado

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| probowl = no

| hof = no

}}

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1975

| team = Buffalo Bills

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|12|Joe Ferguson}}

{{NFLplayer|17|Gary Marangi}}

| running_backs =

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

{{NFLplayer|21|Gary Hayman}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Roland Hooks|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|23|Steven Schnarr|rookie=y}}

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

{{NFLplayer|33|Vic Washington}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|81|Bob Chandler}}

{{NFLplayer|47|Clint Haslerig}}

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

{{NFLplayer|80|John Holland|d=American football}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|88|Reuben Gant}}

{{NFLplayer|87|Paul Seymour|d=American football}}

| offensive_linemen =

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

{{NFLplayer|68|Joe DeLamielleure|G}}

{{NFLplayer|76|Halvor Hagen|T}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Dave Foley|d=American football|T}}

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

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

{{NFLplayer|53|Mike Montler|C}}

{{NFLplayer|61|Willie Parker|d=offensive lineman|C}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|72|Don Croft|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Earl Edwards|d=American football|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|71|Mike Kadish|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Walt Patulski|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|65|Pat Toomay|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Jeff Winans|d=American football|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|62|Jeff Yeates|DT}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|59|Doug Allen|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Bo Cornell}}

{{NFLplayer|50|Mark Johnson|d=American football|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|52|Merv Krakau}}

{{NFLplayer|57|John McCrumbly|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|54|Tom Ruud|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|55|John Skorupan}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|22|Steve Freeman|d=football|rookie=y|FS}}

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

{{NFLplayer|28|Dwight Harrison|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Ed Jones|tab=Ed Jones|d=defensive back|rookie=y|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|41|Royce McKinney|rookie=y|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|42|Frank Oliver|d=American football|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|37|Ike Thomas|CB}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer| 7|Marv Bateman|P}}

{{NFLplayer| 3|John Leypoldt|K}}

| reserve_lists =

{{NFLplayer|--|Harry Banks|d=American football|rookie=y|DB|IR}}

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

{{NFLplayer|56|Bob Nelson|d=linebacker|rookie=y|LB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Ahmad Rashad|WR|IR}}

| practice_squad =

}}

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle=

|state=collapsed

|title=

|date=September 21

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Jets

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

|home=Bills

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

|stadium=Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

|attendance=

|weather={{convert|56|F}}, wind {{convert|13|mph|abbr=on}}

|referee=

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|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197509210buf.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|scoring=

First quarter

• Bills – O. J. Simpson 2 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 7–0
• Bills – Jim Braxton 3 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 14–0
• Jets – Rich Caster 28 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick) – Bills 14–7

Second quarter

• Bills – O. J. Simpson 5 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 21–7
• Jets – Eddie Bell 12 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick) – Bills 21–14

Third quarter

• Bills – Paul Seymour 2 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 28–14
• Bills – Joe Ferguson 1 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 35–14

Fourth quarter

• Bills – Pat Toomay 44 yard interception return (John Leypoldt kick) – Bills 42–14

|stats=

Jets

• Joe Namath
  14/36, 173 Yds, 2 TD, 4 INT
• John Riggins
  10 Rush, 61 Yds
• Rich Caster
  6 Rec, 103 Yds, TD

Bills

• Joe Ferguson
  7/13, 67 Yds, 2 TD
• O. J. Simpson
  32 Rush, 173 Yds, 3 TD
• Bob Chandler
  3 Rec, 34 Yds

}}

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|R1=0 |R2=10 |R3=13 |R4=7

|Home=Steelers (1-0)

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

{{Clear}}

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Broncos

|V1=0 |V2=7 |V3=7 |V4=0

|Host=Bills

|H1= 10|H2=14 |H3=14 |H4=0

|Date=October 5

|Location=Rich Stadium

|StartTime=1:00 p.m.

|TimeZone=EST

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather={{convert|58|F}}, wind {{convert|11|mph|abbr=on}}

|Referee=

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{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter= 1|Time= |Team=BUF |Event=John Leypoldt 39 yard field goal |Score= Bills 3–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=BUF |Event= Jim Braxton 3 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) |Score= Bills 10–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=BUF |Event=Jim Braxton 19 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick) |Score= Bills 17–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=DEN |Event=Floyd Little 35 yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick) |Score= Bills 17–7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=BUF |Event=J. D. Hill 16 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (John Leypoldt kick) |Score= Bills 24–7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=BUF |Event=O. J. Simpson 16 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) |Score=Bills 31–7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=BUF |Event=Jim Braxton 4 yard run (John Leypoldt kick) |Score= Bills 38–7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |Time= |Team=DEN |Event=Rick Upchurch 80 yard pass from John Hufnagel (Jim Turner kick) |Score=Bills 38–14 |LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197510050buf.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Bills (3-0)

|R1=10 |R2=14 |R3=7 |R4=7

|Home=Colts (1-2)

|H1=14 |H2=7 |H3=7 |H4=3 }}

{{Clear}}

{{AFB game box start

|Title=

|Visitor=Giants

|V1= 0|V2=7 |V3=0 |V4=10

|Host=Bills

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

|Date={{Tooltip|October 20|Monday}}

|Location=Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

|StartTime=9:00 p.m.

|TimeZone=EST

|ElapsedTime=

|Attendance=

|Weather={{Convert|50|F|C}} • {{Convert|13|mph|km/h knot}}

|Referee=

|TVAnnouncers=Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Alex Karras

|TVStation=ABC Monday Night Football

}}

{{AFB game box end}}

{{Clear}}

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Dolphins (4-1)

|R1=0 |R2=14 |R3=7 |R4=14

|Home=Bills (4-1)

|H1=13 |H2=10 |H3= 0|H4=7 }}

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Bills (4-2)

|R1=7 |R2= 0|R3=10 |R4=7

|Home=Jets (2-4)

|H1=3 |H2=13 |H3=7 |H4=0 }}

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Colts (3-4)

|R1= 0|R2= 21|R3=0 |R4=21

|Home=Bills (5–2)

|H1=7 |H2=21 |H3=0 |H4=7 }}

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Bills (5-3)

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

|Home=Bengals (7-1)

|H1=6 |H2=14 |H3=3 |H4=10 }}

MNF

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Patriots (3-6)

|R1=7 |R2=14 |R3=7 |R4=3

|Home=Bills (5-4)

|H1=14 |H2= 10|H3=7 |H4=14 }}

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Bills (6-4)

|R1=6 |R2=7 |R3=6 |R4=13

|Home=Cardinals (8-2)

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

Thursday game

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Bills (7-4)

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=14 |R4=7

|Home=Dolphins (8-3)

|H1=7 |H2=14 |H3=3 |H4=7 }}

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Bills (7-5)

|R1=6 |R2=7 |R3=14 |R4=7

|Home=Patriots (3-9)

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

{{Clear}}

{{Linescore Amfootball

|Road=Vikings (11-2)

|R1=14 |R2=7 |R3=14 |R4=0

|Home=Bills (8-5)

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

Saturday game

• Snow

{{Clear}}

{{1975 AFC East standings}}

{{main|1975 All-Pro Team}}

First Team

• Joe DeLamielleure, Guard
• O. J. Simpson, Running back

Second Team

• Reggie McKenzie, Guard

• Electric Company

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1975.htm?redir Bills on Pro Football Reference]
• [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1975-buf Bills on jt-sw.com]
• [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/stats.nsf/Annual/1975-buf Bills Stats on jt-sw.com]

{{Buffalo Bills}}

{{Buffalo Bills seasons}}

{{1975 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1975 Buffalo Bills Season}}

Category:Buffalo Bills seasons

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo