Best moments in Buffalo Bills history, No. 17: Cookie's big day

Cookie Gilchrist was an established running back by the time he joined the Buffalo Bills in 1962, having played in the Canadian Football League after high school. In his three short seasons in Buffalo, he was a monster - and he had no bigger game here than a 1963 outing in which he single-handedly beat the New York Jets.

That day, Gilchrist rushed for 243 yards and five touchdowns on 36 attempts, an average of almost seven yards per carry. It was the second-highest single game rushing yardage total in professional football history at the time, and currently stands 17th on the single-game list. His five touchdowns are the second-most in a single game in NFL history.

The Bills won the game 45-14, thanks in large part to four turnovers by the Jets. Having been held to just 73 yards rushing the game before, Buffalo improved their rushing attack by more than 200 yards in a single week by rushing for 285 yards as a team in the win.

The 1963 Bills started 0-3-1, but managed to go 7-3 down the stretch to force an AFL East playoff with the Boston Patriots. They were held to just seven rushing yards and committed six turnovers in that game, but built on that first playoff appearance by winning consecutive AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965.