1973 Buffalo Bills season
[7] The explosive offense centered on O. J. Simpson was nicknamed the "Electric Company" for its ability to turn on "The Juice" ("O.
[12] Running back O. J. Simpson broke the 2,000-yard barrier for rushing yards in a season, and was voted NFL Most Valuable Player.
Simpson began and ended the fourteen-game season with bookend five-game streaks where he ran for at least 100 yards.
[18] The "Electric Company" of Simpson, Jim Braxton, and rookie Paul Seymour and Joe DeLamielleure led a dramatic turnaround on the field.
The "Electric Company" was the nickname of the offensive line (OG Reggie McKenzie, OT Dave Foley, Centers Mike Montler and Bruce Jarvis OG Joe DeLamielleure and OT Donnie Green) which "turned on the Juice" (i.e. O. J. Simpson).
[19][20] Paul Seymour, who would play his entire career with the Bills, became the team's starting tight end.
[23] Running backs Braxton and Larry Watkins shared the fullback duties with each accumulating over 400 yards rushing.
[30] The Bills also acquired of the Miami Dolphins' top draft selection Mike Kadish in exchange for offensive lineman Irv Goode.
Ferguson retired as the team's all-time leading passer, and his 27,590 passing yards are still second in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
Although the Bills had gone 0–6 in their exhibition schedule, they started the season with a 31–13 victory in Chuck Fairbanks's debut as New England Patriots coach.
The Bills surrendered 27 consecutive points after Simpson tied the score 7–7 with a 6-yard second quarter run.
The Jets almost became the Bills' first shutout victim since 1965, but Al Woodall (playing in place of an injured Joe Namath) hit Jerome Barkum for 34 yards with two seconds left.
[37] The Bills opted for a 47-yard Leypoldt field goal with four minutes remaining after driving 42 yards to Eagles' 40-yard-line.
Miami posted a 21-point second quarter highlighted by a pair of touchdown passes from Bob Griese to Jim Mandich.
Simpson set the NFL single-game record for carries with 39 surpassing the 38 by Jim Nance in 1966 and Harry Newman in 1934.
In the Monday night game, the visiting Chiefs fumbled on their opening possession on their own 15-yard-line, leading to a Bills touchdown on four consecutive rushes.
It appeared the game would end in a tie until the Bengals' Horst Muhlmann made a 33-yard field goal with three seconds remaining.
[51] In the game, the Bills were shut out despite a pair of 100-yard rushing efforts by Simpson and Braxton who posted 120 and 119 yards respectively.
Marty Domres connected with Tom Mitchell and George Hunt added a field goal to give Baltimore a 17–10 lead.
Late in the game the Colts gave the Bills good field position following an 18-yard punt by David Lee.
Then Dwight Harrison recorded a 31-yard interception return with 1:11 remaining to give the Bills their final margin of victory.
The Falcon's scoring came from future Bills kicker Nick Mike-Mayer who posted two field goals.
[54] After New England posted a first-quarter field goal, Francis returned the kickoff 90 yards to give the Bills a lead they would not relinquish.
Simpson posted 219 yards on 22 carries including a 6-yard touchdown that put the Bills ahead 14–3 in the second quarter.
[56] He posted 200 yards on 34 carries to bring his total to 2003 in Weeb Ewbank's final game as Jets coach.
