October 2, 2005 - Bills Play Saints In San Antonio

by MattRichWarren on Oct 2, 2010 9:00 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills History

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005, submerging most of the city in water when the levees failed. With the Superdome damaged (see picture) and full of refugees, the Saints were forced to find other accommodations. Their first "home game" of the year came in the Meadowlands, as the team played the New York Giants with the money raised going to relief efforts.

On this date five years ago, the Buffalo Bills played the New Orleans Saints in the first NFL regular season game staged in San Antonio, Texas, losing 19-7.

The Saints made plans to split their home games between the city in south-central Texas and LSU's Tiger Stadium. The Bills were the first of three teams to face the Saints in the Alamodome, and became the Saints' only victory as a "home team" all season.

The Bills opened the scoring with a one-yard Willis McGahee touchdown, but four John Carney field goals and a four-yard Aaron Brooks touchdown run were enough for the weary road warriors to top the struggling Bills. Buffalo barely eclipsed 100 yards passing between J.P. Losman and Kelly Holcomb, and were penalized 12 times on the day. Deuce McAllister rushed for 130 yards in the winning effort.

After the win, the Saints were 2-2, but losing streaks of six and five games awaited them down the stretch, and they finished with a 3-13 record, costing head coach (and former Bills linebacker) Jim Haslett his job. Buffalo fell to 1-3 and ended the season 5-11. Head coach Mike Mularkey resigned after the season when GM Tom Donahoe was fired and replaced by Marv Levy.

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Ouch.

I remember that one well. A kick return fell one tackle short of a Bills touchdown as time expired in the half.

"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor!!??"-John Belushi

by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Oct 2, 2010 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Was?

That Terence McGee who returned that?? I think that was one of the craziest kick returns I’d ever had seen in football!!!

That was not a laterall!!!

by brendar of the bills people on Oct 2, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Also

I supposed to go that game. Watched it in a bar on Bourbon st. instead.

"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor!!??"-John Belushi

by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Oct 2, 2010 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

wow

Must not have been too many bars or other establishments open at that time, I’m guessing..

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Oct 2, 2010 5:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You'd be surprised, some never even closed;)

"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor!!??"-John Belushi

by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Oct 3, 2010 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions

5 years later........

still no better either……………..****

"Oh man, moral victories and pulling confidence from losses, that's crap" -Marcus Stroud

by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 2, 2010 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

ahhh

The game where Terrence McGee had an incredible kick return at the end of the first half, only to fall down at the 3 yard line. That was just another microcosm is this decade of futility.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Oct 2, 2010 5:50 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I have to admit...

…that I truly think that San Antonio showed considerable promise as a potential NFL city during that time. Far more promise than Toronto is showing now.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Oct 2, 2010 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

It's funny

Everyone here was complaining about San Antonio trying to steal the Saints(which they were), but no one seemed to even notice the “Oklahoma City Hornets” logo on the court.

"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor!!??"-John Belushi

by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Oct 3, 2010 2:35 AM EDT reply actions

I was there.

I was at that game, drove down from Austin, where I was in grad school at the time. I remember there was a power outage or something, and none of the ATM’s worked, so we couldn’t get cash to buy beer. The Saints fans in our section had a great time heckling us. Not the best time, but still nice to see my Bills play in Texas.

12/27/1991 -Fredonia, NY: leaving a superbowl party in utter sadness - I saw scrolled on a freshly snow covered windshield the words "SH*T!!". I wait for the day when I can erase that image from my brain. GO BILLS!

by kellyd on Oct 3, 2010 11:14 AM EDT reply actions