1975 - The Beginning of the Downfall

1975 - The Beginning of the Downfall
8-6 record, third of five in AFC East, 7 of 13 in AFC, 12 of 26 in NFL
Prior to the 1975 season the Bills participated in the NFL Draft... but you wouldn't notice from looking at the box score.  No 1975 Bills draft pick made a significant impact for the team in 1975 or any other year.  Instead of continuing to improve, the Bills failure to add talent led to their abyssmal record during the rest of the decade.

After four big wins to start the year the season seemed to be setting up for a return to the playoffs.  Following two close losses to the Giants and Dolphins the Bills got back on track with a win over the Jets.  The Bills ultimately lost four of their final seven to finish three games out of an incredibly tight wild card race.  The Bills scoring offense was very good that year and the team was held to less than 20 points only twice.  It was good enough for the Bills to be the number one scoring offense in the league with 355 points in 14 games, an average of over 25 points a game.  The Bills were also first in rushing yards and total yards gained and ranked eighth in passing yards.  The Bills defense could not keep pace with the offense allowing 355 points, the same as the offense scored.  The Bills gave up the most passing yards that year and the third-most total yards in the league while posting the sixth-worst scoring defense.

Despite fielding such a prolific offense only guard Joe DeLamielleure and O.J. Simpson were named to the Pro Bowl from the offense.  Both were also selected for the All-Pro team.