1978 Buffalo Bills season

1978 Buffalo Bills season
Owner	Ralph Wilson
Head coach	Chuck Knox
Home field	Rich Stadium
Results
Record	5–11
Division place	4th AFC East
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	G Joe DeLamielleure
AP All-Pros	G Joe DeLamielleure (2nd team)
←  1977 Bills seasons 1979  →

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

Main article: 1978 NFL draft

1978 Buffalo Bills draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
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 (QB) 12 Joe Ferguson 10 Dave Mays  9 Bill Munson Running backs (RB) 47 Curtis Brown FB 35 Mike Collier 25 Roland Hooks 40 Terry Miller 23 Steve Powell Wide receivers (WR) 81 Bob Chandler 82 Frank Lewis 89 Lou Piccone 49 Larry Walton Tight ends (TE) 84 Mike Franckowiak 88 Reuben Gant 39 Dennis Johnson FB

Offensive linemen (OL) 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 (DL) 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 (LB) 55 Tom Graham 51 Dan Jilek 52 Merv Krakau 54 Randy McClanahan 59 Shane Nelson 57 Lucius Sanford Defensive backs (DB) 29 Mario Clark CB 22 Steve Freeman SS 43 Tony Greene FS 24 Doug Jones SS 41 Eddie McMillan CB 46 Keith Moody 26 Charles Romes CB 21 Marvin Switzer FS Special teams  6 Tom Dempsey K  4 Rusty Jackson P

Reserve -- Mario Celotto LB (IR) -- Eric Smith T (IR) 86 Leonard Willis WR (IR) -- Willie Zackery WR (IR) -- Connie Zelencik C (IR) 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) Referee: Cal Lepore

Scoring summary Q1 BUF Gant 19 yard pass from Ferguson (Dempsey kick) BUF 7–0 Q1 BUF Lewis 28 yard pass from Ferguson (Dempsey kick) BUF 14–0 Q2 BAL Leaks 17 yard pass from Troup (Linhart kick) BUF 14–7 Q2 BAL McCall 5 yard blocked punt return (Linhart kick) Tie 14–14 Q2 BUF Brown 102 yard kickoff return (Dempsey kick) BUF 21–14 Q2 BUF Dempsey 21 yard field goal BUF 24–14 Q3 BAL Linhart 21 yard field goal BUF 24–17

^[4]

Week 5

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

Quarter	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)

Quarter	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
• Referee: Red Cashion
• 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)

Quarter	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

1978 AFC East standings
view talk edit	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

• 1978 NFL Week 1: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills at YouTube
• 1978 NFL Week 2: New York Jets at Buffalo Bills at YouTube
• 1978 NFL Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills at YouTube
• 1978 NFL Week 6: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets at YouTube

Notes

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.

External links

• Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1978 Buffalo Bills

References

1. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by descending opp Rushing Att
2. 1978 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
3. "1978 Bufflo Bills draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
4. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-Oct-09.
5. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-Sep-07.
6. "1978 Buffalo Bills Statistics & Players".

• Bills on Pro Football Reference
• Bills on jt-sw.com
• Bills Stats on jt-sw.com