A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 1975 Buffalo Bills season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Ralph Wilson |
| Head coach | Lou Saban |
| Home field | Rich Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–6 |
| Division place | 3rd AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The 1975 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's sixth season in the NFL, and its 16th overall. The Bills failed to improve on their 9–5 record from last year and finished 8–6. They enjoyed their third consecutive winning season, but they still failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1973.
Season summary
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,[1] and the most points scored by any team in the 1970s.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4][5][6] 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.
Offseason
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.
| 1975 Buffalo Bills draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Tom Ruud | Linebacker | Nebraska | |
| 2 | 42 | Bob Nelson | Linebacker | Nebraska | |
| 2 | 50 | Glenn Loft | Defensive back | Drake | |
| 4 | 102 | Tom Donchez | Running back | Penn State | |
| 5 | 115 | John McCrumbly | Linebacker | Texas A&M | |
| 7 | 166 | Gil Chapman | Running back | Michigan | |
| 7 | 174 | Reggie Cherry | Running back | Houston | |
| 7 | 175 | Harry Banks | Defensive back | Michigan | |
| 8 | 201 | John Hill | Defensive tackle | Duke | |
| 10 | 253 | Roland Hooks | Running back | NC State | |
| 11 | 279 | Tom Drake | Defensive back | Michigan | |
| 12 | 305 | Mark Johnson | Defensive end | Missouri | |
| 13 | 331 | Mark Dienhart | Offensive tackle | St. Thomas (MN) | |
| 14 | 357 | Robert Evans | Wide receiver | Morris Brown | |
| 15 | 383 | Chris Kupec | Quarterback | North Carolina | |
| 16 | 408 | Tom Fine | Tight end | Notre Dame | |
| 17 | 435 | Jeff Turcotte | Defensive end | Colorado | |
| Made roster | |||||
Personnel
Staff/coaches
| 1975 Buffalo Bills staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front office
Coaching staff
Offensive coaches Defensive/Special teams coaches
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