1964 Buffalo Bills season

The 1964 Buffalo Bills season was the team’s fifth season. Buffalo was 12–2 in the regular season and won the first of two consecutive championships in the American Football League.

1964 Buffalo Bills season
OwnerRalph Wilson
Head coachLou Saban
Home fieldWar Memorial Stadium
Results
Record12–2
Division place1st AFL Eastern
Playoff finishWon AFL Championship
(vs. Chargers) 20–7

The 1964 Bills' defense set an AFL record by giving up the fewest rushing yards in league history, with only 918, or 65.5 yards per game.[1] They also led the league in points allowed (242), total yards allowed (3,878), first downs surrendered (206), and rushing touchdowns allowed (four).[2]

Buffalo's offense also led the AFL in total yards (5,206), passing yards (2,040) and total points (400).[3]

Offseason

AFL Draft

Personnel

Staff
1964 Buffalo Bills staff

Front office

  • President/team owner – Ralph Wilson
  • Vice-president/minority owner - Pat McGroder

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Running backs/wide receivers – John Mazur
  • Offensive line – Jerry Smith
  

Defensive coaches

  • Linebackers/Defensive Backs – Joe Collier

Roster
1964 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 43 Joe Auer RB
  • 30 Wray Carlton RB
  • 34 Cookie Gilchrist FB
  • 47 Willie Ross HB
  • 20 Bobby Smith HB

Wide receivers

  • 85 Glenn Bass
  • 44 Elbert Dubenion
  • 81 Bill Groman
  • 40 Ed Rutkowski QB/RB/WR/KR

Tight ends

  • 84 Ernie Warlick
 Offensive linemen
  • 77 Stew Barber T
  • 50 Al Bemiller G
  • 53 Walt Cudzik C
  • 73 George Flint G
  • 79 Dick Hudson T
  • 67 Joe O'Donnell G
  • 66 Billy Shaw G

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers
  • 64 Harry Jacobs MLB
  • 58 Mike Stratton OLB
  • 51 John Tracey OLB

Defensive backs

  • 46 Ray Abruzzese SS
  • 42 Butch Byrd CB
  • 45 Hagood Clarke SS
  • 25 Oliver Dobbins CB
  • 24 Booker Edgerson CB
  • 26 George Saimes FS
  • 23 Eugene Sykes FS
  • 22 Charley Warner CB

Special teams

Note: rookies in italics

Regular season

Season schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 13 Kansas City Chiefs W 34–17 1–0 War Memorial Stadium 30,157 Recap
2 September 20 Denver Broncos W 30–13 2–0 War Memorial Stadium 28,501 Recap
3 September 26 San Diego Chargers W 30–3 3–0 War Memorial Stadium 40,167 Recap
4 October 3 Oakland Raiders W 23–20 4–0 War Memorial Stadium 36,461 Recap
5 October 11 at Houston Oilers W 48–17 5–0 Jeppesen Stadium 26,218 Recap
6 October 18 at Kansas City Chiefs W 35–22 6–0 Municipal Stadium 20,904 Recap
7 October 24 New York Jets W 34–24 7–0 War Memorial Stadium 39,621 Recap
8 November 1 Houston Oilers W 24–10 8–0 War Memorial Stadium 40,119 Recap
9 November 8 at New York Jets W 20–7 9–0 Shea Stadium 61,929 Recap
10 November 15 Boston Patriots L 28–36 9–1 War Memorial Stadium 42,308 Recap
11 Bye
12 November 26 at San Diego Chargers W 27–24 10–1 Balboa Stadium 34,865 Recap
13 December 6 at Oakland Raiders L 13–16 10–2 Frank Youell Field 18,134 Recap
14 December 13 at Denver Broncos W 30–19 11–2 Bears Stadium 14,431 Recap
15 December 20 at Boston Patriots W 24–14 12–2 Fenway Park 38,021 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1
1 234Total
Chiefs 0 3140 17
• Bills 31 003 34
Scoring summary
Q1BUFGogolak 13 yard field goalBUF 3–0
Q1BUFBass 10 yard pass from Kemp (Gogolak kick)BUF 10–0
Q1BUFDubenion 6 yard pass from Kemp (Gogolak kick)BUF 17–0
Q1BUFBass 17 yard pass from Kemp (Gogolak kick)BUF 24–0
Q1BUFSestak 15 yard interception return (Gogolak kick)BUF 31–0
Q2KCBrooker 12 yard field goalBUF 31–3
Q3KCArbanas 5 yard pass from Dawson (Brooker kick)BUF 31–10
Q3KCHaynes 44 yard pass from Dawson (Brooker kick)BUF 31–17
Q4BUFGogolak 13 yard field goalBUF 34–17

[4]

Week 2
1 234Total
Broncos 3 730 13
• Bills 3 10710 30
Scoring summary
Q1DENMingo 51 yard field goalDEN 3–0
Q1BUFGogolak 33 yard field goalTie 3–3
Q2BUFGilchrist 15 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 10–3
Q2BUFGogolak 21 yard field goalBUF 13–3
Q2DENTaylor 46 yard pass from Lee (Mingo kick)BUF 13–10
Q3DENMingo 49 yard field goalTie 13–13
Q3BUFGilchrist 1 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 20–13
Q4BUFGogolak 17 yard field goalBUF 23–13
Q4BUFLamonica 8 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 30–13

[5]

Week 3
1 234Total
Chargers 0 300 3
• Bills 7 7313 30
Scoring summary
Q1BUFByrd 85 yard interception return (Gogolak kick)BUF 7–0
Q2SDBlair 12 yard field goalBUF 7–3
Q2BUFClarke 53 yard punt return (Gogolak kick)BUF 14–3
Q3BUFGogolak 13 yard field goalBUF 17–3
Q4BUFAuer 2 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 24–3
Q4BUFDubenion 40 yard pass from Lamonica (kick failed)BUF 30–3

[6]

Week 4
1 234Total
Raiders 3 0710 20
• Bills 0 779 23
Scoring summary
Q1OAKMercer 25 yard field goalOAK 3–0
Q2BUFKemp 9 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 7–3
Q3OAKDavidson 6 yard run (Mercer kick)OAK 10–7
Q3BUFLamonica 1 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 14–10
Q4OAKMercer 19 yard field goalBUF 14–13
Q4BUFDubenion 44 yard pass from Lamonica (Gogolak kick)BUF 21–13
Q4BUFSafety, Davidson tackled by McDole in end zoneBUF 23–13
Q4OAKHerock 4 yard pass from Davdison (Mercer kick)BUF 23–20

[7]

Week 5
1 234Total
• Bills 14 171710 58
Oilers 7 370 17
Scoring summary
Q1BUFGilchrist 1 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 7–0
Q1HOUBlanks 4 yard run (Blanda kick)Tie 7–7
Q1BUFBass 9 yard pass from Kemp (Gogolak kick)BUF 14–7
Q2BUFDubenion 19 yard pass from Kemp (Gogolak kick)BUF 21–7
Q2HOUBlanda 47 yard field goalBUF 21–10
Q2BUFBass 94 yard pass from Kemp (Gogolak kick)BUF 28–10
Q2BUFGogolak 18 yard field goalBUF 31–10
Q3HOUHennigan 53 yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)BUF 31–17
Q3BUFGilchirst 3 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 38–17
Q4BUFGogolak 26 yard field goalBUF 41–17
Q4BUFRoss 1 yard run (Gogolak kick)BUF 48–17
  • Jack Kemp 14/26, 378 Yds
  • Elbert Dubenion 5 Rec, 183 Yds
  • Glenn Bass 5 Rec, 147 Yds

[8]

Standings
AFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Buffalo Bills 1220.8575–1400242W2
Boston Patriots 1031.7694–2365297L1
New York Jets 581.3852–4278315L3
Houston Oilers 4100.2861–5310355W2

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

Postseason
Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap
Championship December 26 San Diego Chargers W 20–7 40,242 War Memorial Stadium Recap

AFL Championship Game
Main article: 1964 American Football League Championship Game
1 234Total
Chargers 7 000 7
• Bills 3 1007 20
Scoring summary
1SDDave Kocourek 26 yard pass from Tobin Rote (Keith Lincoln kick)Chargers 7–0
1BUFPete Gogolak 12 yard field goalChargers 7–3
2BUFWray Carlton 4 yard run (Pete Gogolak kick)Bills 10–7
2BUFPete Gogolak 17 yard field goalBills 13–7
4BUFJack Kemp 1 yard run (Pete Gogolak kick)Bills 20–7

[9]

Player stats

Passing
Player Comp Att Yds Completion % TD INT
Jack Kemp119269228544.21326
Daryle Lamonica55128113743.068

[10]

Rushing
Player Att Yds Average Long TD
Cookie Gilchrist2309814.3676
B. Smith623064.9374
Daryle Lamonica552895.3186
Joe Auer631913.0212
Jack Kemp371243.4145
Wray Carlton391142.9111

[10]

Kicking
Player FG Att XP XP Att Pts
Pete Gogolak19294546102

Punting
Player No. Yards Avg. Long
Paul Maguire65277742.764

Awards and records
  • Lou Saban, Coach of the Year

See also
  • List of American Football League players

References
  1. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by ascending opp Rushing Yds
  2. Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1964 AFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
  3. Pro-Football-Reference: 1964 AFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics
  4. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-26.
  5. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-27.
  6. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-28.
  7. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-29.
  8. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Oct-12.
  9. Pro-Football-Reference.com
  10. "1964 Buffalo Bills Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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