1968 Buffalo Bills season

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1968 Buffalo Bills season
Head coach Joe Collier and Harvey Johnson
Owner Ralph Wilson
Home field War Memorial Stadium
Results
Record 1–12–1
Division place 5th AFL Eastern
Playoff finish did not qualify

The 1968 Buffalo Bills season was the team’s ninth season.

The Bills' 1–12–1 record in 1968 (a 0.107 winning percentage) is the second-worst in team history: the 1971 Bills went 1–13. They were one of only two teams in AFL history (the other being the 1962 Oakland Raiders) to finish the season with only one victory.

The Bills, coming off a 4–10 season in 1967, fired coach Joe Collier after an 0–2 start in 1968. Defensive backfield coach Harvey Johnson was promoted to interim head coach,[1] where he went 1–10–1 to finish the year.[2]

With the release of running back Wray Carlton, wide receiver Elbert Dubenion the last player from the Bills' original roster in 1960 to still be with the club.[3]

The majority of Buffalo's games were started by backup quarterback Dan Darragh, after injuries claimed the seasons of long-time starter Jack Kemp and new addition Tom Flores. Even Darragh and new addition Kay Stephenson were injured. Ultimately, running back Ed Rutkowski, who hadn't played the quarterback position since college six years prior, ended up starting at quarterback for the Bills.[4]

Buffalo's only win of the season was a home victory over the New York Jets, in which the Bills held a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter before giving up two late touchdowns to the Jets. Ultimately, the Bills were able to hold on to the two-point win.[5]

Offseason

AFL Draft

Preseason

Date Opponent Score Result Record Attendance
August 5 Detroit Lions 13–9 [7] Win 1–0
August 11 Miami Dolphins 28–28[8] Tie 1–0–1
August 17 Cincinnati Bengals 10–6 [8] Loss 1–1–1
August 23 Houston Oilers 37–7 [8] Loss 1–2–1
August 30 Cleveland Browns 22–12[3] Loss 1–3–1

Regular season

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Standings

AFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
New York Jets 11 3 0 .786 7–1 419 280 W4
Houston Oilers 7 7 0 .500 5–3 303 248 W2
Miami Dolphins 5 8 1 .385 4–3–1 276 355 L1
Boston Patriots 4 10 0 .286 2–6 229 406 L2
Buffalo Bills 1 12 1 .077 1–6–1 199 367 L8

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Season schedule

Date Opponent Score Result Record Attendance
September 8 Boston Patriots 16–7 Loss 0–1
38,865
September 15 Oakland Raiders 48–6 Loss 0–2
43,056
September 22 at Cincinnati Bengals 34–23 Loss 0–3
24,405
September 29 New York Jets 37–35 Win 1–3
38,044
October 5 Kansas City Chiefs 18–7 Loss 1–4
40,748
October 12 at Miami Dolphins 14–14 Tie 1–4–1
28,559
October 20 at Boston Patriots 23–6 Loss 1–5–1
21,082
October 27 Houston Oilers 30–7 Loss 1–6–1
34,339
November 3 at New York Jets 25–21 Loss 1–7–1
61,452
November 10 Miami Dolphins 21–17 Loss 1–8–1
28,751
November 17 San Diego Chargers 21–6 Loss 1–9–1
27,993
November 24 at Denver Broncos 34–32 Loss 1–10–1
35,142
November 28 at Oakland Raiders 13–10 Loss 1–11–1
39,883
December 7 at Houston Oilers 35–6 Loss 1–12–1
34,110

Roster

Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

 Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

Awards and Records

References

  1. ↑ Johnson would be promoted to head coach again before the 1971 season
  2. ↑ Johnson resumed his defensive coaching duties under John Rauch in 1969, but would later be promoted to head coach again for one year in 1971.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.393, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, ISBN 978-1-55022-797-0
  4. ↑ [Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition, p.144, Martin's Press, August 1994, ISBN 0-312-11073-1
  5. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference: New York Jets 35 at Buffalo Bills 37, Sunday, September 29, 1968
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.392, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, ISBN 978-1-55022-797-0
  7. ↑ Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.389, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, ISBN 978-1-55022-797-0
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.391, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, ISBN 978-1-55022-797-0
  9. ↑ Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.513, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, ISBN 978-1-55022-797-0
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