Colonel William A. Phillips

The 1978 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 9th season in the National Football League, and the 19th overall. The Bills were coming off a season in which they only won three games, making 1978 a slight improvement.

Head coach Chuck Knox began his first season with the team, having coached the Los Angeles Rams for the previous five seasons.^{[note 1]} It was also Buffalo's first season after the departure of star running back O. J. Simpson, who was traded to San Francisco for five draft picks in the offseason.

The Bills offense acquired a pair of weapons for quarterback Joe Ferguson: wide receiver Frank Lewis, who had spent the previous 7 seasons in Pittsburgh, and rookie running back Terry Miller, who ended the season with over 1,000 yards.^{[note 2]}

The 1978 Bills' run defense allowed an NFL record 3,228 rushing yards; the 677 rushing attempts the Bills faced in 1978 is also an NFL record.^[1] Oddly, the Bills were first in the league in yards allowed on pass defense, giving up only 1,960 yards through the air.^[2]

Buffalo's week eight victory over the Cincinnati Bengals produced the second 5-0 final score in modern NFL history (since 1933); the other was a 1970 NFC divisional playoff between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.

Offseason

Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1978 Buffalo Bills draft
1	5	Terry Miller	Running back	Oklahoma State
2	32	Dee Hardison	Defensive end	North Carolina
2	38	Scott Hutchinson	Defensive end	Florida
3	59	Dennis Johnson	Running back	Mississippi State
3	65	Danny Fulton	Wide receiver	Nebraska–Omaha
4	89	Lucius Sanford	Linebacker	Georgia Tech
5	114	Ken Spaeth	Tight end	Nebraska
6	145	Eric Smith	Offensive tackle	Southern Miss
7	171	Mario Celotto	Linebacker	USC
7	183	Steve Powell	Running back	NE Missouri State
10	255	Will Grant	Center	Kentucky
11	282	Jerry Blanton	Linebacker	Kentucky
12	309	Richard Crump	Running back	Northeast Oklahoma A&M
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

^[3]

Personnel

Staff/coaches

1978 Buffalo Bills staff

Front office

Majority owner/team president – Ralph Wilson
Vice-president & general manager – Bob Lustig
Vice-president/minority owner – Pat McGroder

Coaching staff

Head coach – Chuck Knox

Offensive coaches

Offensive coordinator / offensive line – Ray Proschaska
Running backs coach – Elijah Pitts
Wide receivers coach – Jack Donaldson

Defensive/special teams coaches

Defensive coordinator / linebackers coach - Tom Caitlin
Defensive line – Willie Zapalac
Defensive backs – Jim Wagstaff
Special teams – Steve Moore & Elijah Pitts

Roster

**1978 Buffalo Bills roster**

	Quarterbacks 12 Joe Ferguson 10 Dave Mays 9 Bill Munson Running backs 47 Curtis Brown FB 35 Mike Collier 25 Roland Hooks 40 Terry Miller 23 Steve Powell Wide receivers 81 Bob Chandler 82 Frank Lewis 89 Lou Piccone 49 Larry Walton 86 Leonard Willis Tight ends 84 Mike Franckowiak 88 Reuben Gant 39 Dennis Johnson FB		Offensive linemen 60 Bill Adams G 68 Joe DeLamielleure G 70 Joe Devlin T 79 Elbert Drungo T 53 Will Grant C 72 Ken Jones T 67 Reggie McKenzie G 61 Willie Parker C Defensive linemen 85 Phil Dokes DT 74 Dee Hardison DT 78 Scott Hutchinson DE 73 Mekeli Ieremia DT 75 Dennis Johnson DE 71 Mike Kadish DT 83 Sherman White DE 77 Ben Williams DE		Linebackers 55 Tom Graham 51 Dan Jilek 52 Merv Krakau 54 Randy McClanahan 59 Shane Nelson 57 Lucius Sanford Defensive backs 29 Mario Clark CB 22 Steve Freeman SS 43 Tony Greene FS 24 Doug Jones SS 41 Eddie McMillan CB 46 Keith Moody CB/KR/PR 26 Charles Romes CB 21 Marvin Switzer FS Special teams 6 Tom Dempsey K 4 Rusty Jackson P		Reserve lists -- Mario Celotto LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 3	Pittsburgh Steelers	L 17–28	0–1	Rich Stadium	64,147
2	September 10	New York Jets	L 20–21	0–2	Rich Stadium	40,985
3	September 17	at Miami Dolphins	L 24–31	0–3	Miami Orange Bowl	48,373
4	September 24	Baltimore Colts	W 24–17	1–3	Rich Stadium	55,270
5	October 1	Kansas City Chiefs	W 28–13	2–3	Rich Stadium	47,310
6	October 8	at New York Jets	L 14–45	2–4	Shea Stadium	44,545
7	October 15	at Houston Oilers	L 10–17	2–5	Astrodome	47,727
8	October 22	Cincinnati Bengals	W 5–0	3–5	Rich Stadium	47,754
9	October 29	at Cleveland Browns	L 20–41	3–6	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	51,409
10	November 5	New England Patriots	L 10–14	3–7	Rich Stadium	44,897
11	November 12	Miami Dolphins	L 24–25	3—8	Rich Stadium	48,623
12	November 19	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 10–31	3–9	Tampa Stadium	61,383
13	November 26	New York Giants	W 41–17	4–9	Rich Stadium	28,496
14	December 3	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 10–14	4–10	Arrowhead Stadium	25,781
15	December 10	at New England Patriots	L 24–26	4–11	Schaefer Stadium	59,598
16	December 17	at Baltimore Colts	W 21–14	5–11	Memorial Stadium	25,415
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 1

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Steelers	0	14	0	14	28
Bills	0	0	0	17	17

Date: September 3, 1978
Location: Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, NY
Game start: 1:00 PM EST
Game attendance: 64,147
Game weather: 67 °F or 19.4 °C • 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn)
Referee: Fred Silva
TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner

Week 4

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colts	0	14	3	0	17
• Bills	14	10	0	0	24

Date: September 24
Location: Rich Stadium
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 56 °F or 13.3 °C; wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)

^[4]

Week 5

Week Five: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	6	0	0	7	13
Bills	0	21	7	0	28

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Date: October 1
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
Game attendance: 47,310
Referee: Gordon McCarter
TV: NBC
Box score

Game information

First quarter

KC – Jan Stenerud 42-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal. Chiefs 6–0.

Second quarter

BUF – Bob Chandler 20-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 7–6.
BUF – Terry Miller 8-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 14–6.
BUF – Bob Chandler 22-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 21–6.

Third quarter

BUF – Curtis Brown 22-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 28–6.

Fourth quarter

KC – Ted McKnight 41-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Bills 28–13.

Top passers

KC – Tony Adams – 7/12, 80 yards
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 15/18, 210 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

KC – MacArthur Lane – 17 rushes, 144 yards
BUF – Terry Miller – 18 rushes, 67 yards, TD

Top receivers

KC – Walter White – 5 receptions, 60 yards
BUF – Bob Chandler – 7 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD

Week 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Patriots	0	7	7	0	14
Bills	3	0	0	7	10

Date: September 24
Location: Rich Stadium
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 44,897
Game weather: 56 °F or 13.3 °C; wind 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn)
Referee: Chuck Heberling
TV announcers (NBC): Sam Nover and Len Dawson

^[5]

Week 13 vs. Giants

Week Thirteen: New York Giants (5–7) at Buffalo Bills (3–9)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	7	3	7	0	17
Bills	7	0	7	27	41

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Date: November 26, 1978
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: 23 °F (−5 °C)
Game attendance: 28,496
TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

NYG – Al Dixon 31-yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Joe Danelo kick). Giants 7–0.
BUF – Curtis Brown 1-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Tie 7–7.

Second quarter

NYG – Joe Danelo 27-yard field goal. Giants 10–7.

Third quarter

NYG – Doug Kotar 19-yard pass from Joe Pisarcik (Joe Danelo kick). Giants 17–7.
BUF – Roland Hooks 1-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Giants 17–14.

Fourth quarter

BUF – Curtis Brown 1-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 21–17.
BUF – Lou Piccone 9-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 28–17.
BUF – Terry Miller 39-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 35–17.
BUF – Terry Miller 13-yard run (kick failed). Bills 41–17.

Top passers

NYG – Joe Pisarcik – 15/24, 230 yards, 2 TD, INT
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 9/15, 106 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

NYG – Bobby Hammond – 15 rushes, 60 yards
BUF – Terry Miller – 21 rushes, 208 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

NYG – Al Dixon – 2 receptions, 78 yards, TD
BUF – Bob Chandler – 5 receptions, 75 yards

Week 14 at Chiefs

Week Fourteen: Buffalo Bills (4–9) at Kansas City Chiefs (4–9)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Bills	0	7	3	0	10
Chiefs	7	0	7	0	14

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Date: December 3
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: 24 °F (−4 °C)
Game attendance: 25,781
Referee: Fred Silva
TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
Box score

Game information

First quarter

KC – Ted McKnight 17-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.

Second quarter

BUF – Frank Lewis 40-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Tied 7–7.

Third quarter

BUF – Tom Dempsey 22-yard field goal. Bills 10–7.
KC – Walter White 3-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–10.

Fourth quarter

No scoring

Top passers

BUF – Joe Ferguson – 14/25, 207 yards, TD, 3 INT
KC – Mike Livingston – 12/21, 99 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

BUF – Terry Miller – 15 rushes, 57 yards
KC – Tony Reed – 16 rushes, 97 yards

Top receivers

BUF – Frank Lewis – 7 receptions, 126 yards, TD
KC – Henry Marshall – 3 receptions, 40 yards

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
New England Patriots⁽²⁾	11	5	0	.688	6–2	9–3	358	286	L1
Miami Dolphins⁽⁴⁾	11	5	0	.688	5–3	8–4	372	254	W3
New York Jets	8	8	0	.500	6–2	7–5	359	364	L2
Buffalo Bills	5	11	0	.313	2–6	4–10	302	354	W1
Baltimore Colts	5	11	0	.313	1–7	3–9	240	421	L5

Player stats

Passing

Note: Comp = Completions; ATT = Attempts; TD = Touchdowns; INT = Interceptions

Player	Games	Completions	Attempts	Yards	TD	INT	Rating
Joe Ferguson	16	175	330	2136	16	15	70.5

^[6]

Special teams

Note: FGA = Field Goals Attempted; FGM = Field Goals Made; FG% = Field goal percentage; XPA = Extra Points Attempted; XPM = Extra Points Made; XP% = Extra Points Percentage

Player	Games	FGA	FGM	FG %	XPA	XPM	XP %
Tom Dempsey	16	13	10	76.9%	38	36	94.7%

^[6]

Video Archives

Notes

^ Knox would coach the Bills for five seasons – through the 1982 season – before leaving for Seattle.
^ Miller's 1,060 yards would be the only 1,000-yard total of his three year career in Buffalo.

External links

Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1978 Buffalo Bills

References

^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by descending opp Rushing Att
^ 1978 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
^ "1978 Bufflo Bills draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-Oct-09.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-Sep-07.
^ ^a ^b "1978 Buffalo Bills Statistics & Players".

[1] Knox would coach the Bills for five seasons – through the 1982 season – before leaving for Seattle.

[2] Miller's 1,060 yards would be the only 1,000-yard total of his three year career in Buffalo.

[3] Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by descending opp Rushing Att

[4] 1978 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics

[5] "1978 Bufflo Bills draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2014.

[6] Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-Oct-09.

[7] Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-Sep-07.

[pro-football-reference.com-8] "1978 Buffalo Bills Statistics & Players".

[note 1]

[note 2]

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Buffalo Bills
Founded in 1960 Based and headquartered in Orchard Park, New York
Franchise	Franchise History Players Seasons Pro Bowl selections First-round draft picks Starting quarterbacks Coaches NFL in Toronto
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Culture	Ralph Wilson Billy Buffalo Buffalo Jills Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson Tim Russert Buffalo '66 Second String Flutie Flakes "Shout" song "3 Acts of God" Elway to Marino Four Falls of Buffalo Zubaz "No one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills!"
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