# 1980 Buffalo Bills season

The 1980 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's 11th season in the National Football League, and the 21st overall. Their 11–5 record was tied for best in the AFC.
The Bills' defense allowed only 260 points in 1980, third-best in the league, whilst their 4,101 total yards surrendered was best in the NFL in 1980. Buffalo's defense was well represented on the UPI All-AFC team: nose tackle Fred Smerlas and linebacker Jim Haslett – two-thirds of Buffalo's "Bermuda Triangle" with linebacker Shane Nelson – were named to the 1st team All-AFC. Defensive end Ben Williams was named to the second team.
Although Buffalo's offensive statistics were not as impressive as its defense, four offensive players were named All-AFC: left guard Reggie McKenzie, left tackle Ken Jones, wide receiver Jerry Butler and rookie running back Joe Cribbs.
Cribbs rushed for 1,185 yards and made his first Pro Bowl. Jerry Butler and Fred Smerlas also were selected to play in the annual all-star game.

## Breaking "The Streak"

The Bills had not beaten the Miami Dolphins in the entire decade of the 1970s, a streak of twenty straight losses, the longest in NFL history. The last time the Bills had defeated Miami was 1969.
The Bills had been outscored 565 (28.5 points per games) to 299 (14.5) during the 1970s by the Dolphins, failing to score more than ten points in over a third of the contests (7). They were shut out three times. Conversely, the Dolphins were held under twenty points just four times, and scored 45 points on the Bills twice. The domination was so thorough that the Bills only lost by one score or less five times, and Don Shula had never lost to Buffalo since taking over as Dolphins coach in 1970. The Bills only held a lead at any point in eight of the games, and only twice in the fourth quarter. Joe Ferguson had lost to the Dolphins 14 straight times.
On opening day of the 1980 season, Miami visited Rich Stadium, attempting to extend the streak to 21 games. At the end of three quarters, Miami led 7–3. In the fourth quarter, running back Roosevelt Leaks scored the go-ahead touchdown to make the score 10–7. Joe Cribbs added a second touchdown to extend the lead to 17–7, and Jeff Nixon intercepted his third pass of the game with only 36 seconds left, breaking the streak at 20 games.
A rowdy crowd of 79,000 fans celebrated, and many stormed the field to tear down the goal posts, carrying them around the field. Joe Cribbs contributed 131 combined yards of offense for the triumphant Bills.
The rivalry continued well into the 1990s, but with different results: from 1986 to 1996—the years in which Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino played at the same time—the Bills won 14 of 22 match-ups between the teams.

## Offseason
### NFL draft

North Carolina State's Jim Ritcher became an anchor of the Buffalo offensive line for the next 14 years; he was the starter for all four Buffalo Super Bowl teams, and was second-team All-Pro in 1991.
Running back Joe Cribbs was Buffalo's starting running back from 1980–1983, and again in 1985 (after returning from one year in the USFL).
Tight end Mark Brammer played for the Bills for five seasons. Greg Cater was Buffalo's starting punter from 1980 until 1983.
1980 Buffalo Bills draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 16 | Jim Ritcher * | Guard | North Carolina State |
| 2 | 29 | Joe Cribbs * | Running back | Auburn |
| 2 | 37 | Gene Bradley | Quarterback | Arkansas State |
| 3 | 67 | Mark Brammer | Tight end | Michigan State |
| 3 | 71 | John Schmeding | Guard | Boston College |
| 4 | 93 | Ervin Parker | Linebacker | South Carolina State |
| 5 | 119 | Jeff Pyburn | Defensive back | Georgia |
| 5 | 129 | Keith Lee | Defensive back | Colorado State |
| 8 | 202 | Todd Krueger | Quarterback | Northern Michigan |
| 9 | 231 | Kent Davis | Defensive back | Southeast Missouri State |
| 10 | 259 | Greg Cater | Punter | Chattanooga |
| 11 | 286 | Joe Gordon | Defensive tackle | Grambling State |
| 12 | 316 | Roger Lapham | Tight end | Maine |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

1980 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Dan Conway | Fullback | Boston College |
| Jay Edwards | Defensive back | San Jose State |
| Gray Nord | Tight end | Louisville |
| Steve Otts | Linebacker | Michigan State |
| Larry Reed | Fullback | Michigan |
| Paul Rogind | Kicker | Minnesota |

## Regular season

Sports Illustrated's Paul Zimmerman wrote about the Bills' 1980 season, "It was a euphoric kind of year for Buffalo. Chuck Knox and his defensive coordinator, Tom Catlin, built the defense into No. 1 in the NFL with virtually the same people who had been lousy in '79. The Bills even beat Miami for the first time in a generation. And then Quarterback Joe Ferguson picked exactly the wrong time of year to sprain his ankle – the playoffs. And San Diego ended the dream."

### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
| 1 | September 7 | Miami Dolphins | W 17–7 | 1–0 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 2 | September 14 | New York Jets | W 20–10 | 2–0 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 3 | September 21 | at New Orleans Saints | W 35–26 | 3–0 | Louisiana Superdome | Recap |
| 4 | September 28 | Oakland Raiders | W 24–7 | 4–0 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 5 | October 5 | at San Diego Chargers | W 26–24 | 5–0 | San Diego Stadium | Recap |
| 6 | October 12 | Baltimore Colts | L 12–17 | 5–1 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 7 | October 19 | at Miami Dolphins | L 14–17 | 5–2 | Orange Bowl | Recap |
| 8 | October 26 | New England Patriots | W 31–13 | 6–2 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 9 | November 2 | Atlanta Falcons | L 14–30 | 6–3 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 10 | November 9 | at New York Jets | W 31–24 | 7–3 | Shea Stadium | Recap |
| 11 | November 16 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 14–0 | 8–3 | Riverfront Stadium | Recap |
| 12 | November 23 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 28–13 | 9–3 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 13 | November 30 | at Baltimore Colts | L 24–28 | 9–4 | Memorial Stadium | Recap |
| 14 | December 7 | Los Angeles Rams | W 10–7 (OT) | 10–4 | Rich Stadium | Recap |
| 15 | December 14 | at New England Patriots | L 2–24 | 10–5 | Foxboro Stadium | Recap |
| 16 | December 21 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 18–13 | 11–5 | Candlestick Park | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

### Standings

AFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Buffalo Bills$^{(3)}$ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–4 | 8–4 | 320 | 260 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 6–2 | 9–3 | 441 | 325 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–5 | 4–8 | 266 | 305 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 5–3 | 6–8 | 355 | 387 | L3 |
| New York Jets | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–6 | 3–9 | 302 | 395 | W1 |

### Game summaries
#### Week 1 vs Dolphins

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Bills | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: September 7
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 79,598
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas and Mike Haffner
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 40-yard field goal. Bills 3–0.
Third quarter
MIA – Tony Nathan 4-yard pass from Bob Griese (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 7–3.
Fourth quarter
BUF – Roosevelt Leaks 4-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 10–7.
BUF – Joe Cribbs 2-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 17–7.
Top passers
MIA – Bob Griese – 11/18, 101 yards, TD, 2 INT
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 20/32, 198 yards, TD, 5 INT
Top rushers
MIA – Steve Howell – 6 rushes, 43 yards
BUF – Joe Cribbs – 18 rushes, 60 yards, TD
Top receivers
MIA – Duriel Harris – 3 receptions, 42 yards
BUF – Joe Cribbs – 9 receptions, 71 yards :

#### Week 2 vs Jets

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Bills | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: September 14
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
* Game attendance: 65,315
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and John Brodie
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
NYJ – Pat Leahy 44-yard field goal. Jets 3–0.
Second quarter
BUF – Joe Cribbs 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 7–3.
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 47-yard field goal. Bills 10–3.
Third quarter
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 38-yard field goal. Bills 13–3.
BUF – Jeff Nixon 50-yard interception return (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 20–3.
Fourth quarter
NYJ – Clark Gaines 11-yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick). Bills 20–10.
Top passers
NYJ – Richard Todd – 19/34, 168 yards, TD, INT
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 18/29, 207 yards
Top rushers
NYJ – Clark Gaines – 14 rushes, 94 yards
BUF – Roosevelt Leaks – 12 rushes, 58 yards
Top receivers
NYJ – Clark Gaines – 12 receptions, 91 yards
BUF – Reuben Gant – 4 receptions, 84 yards :

#### Week 3 at Saints

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Saints | 0 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 26 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 51,154
* Referee: Fred Wyant
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Rudolph and Gene Washington
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
BUF – Frank Lewis 12-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 7–0.
Second quarter
NO – Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Benny Ricardo kick). Tie 7–7.
BUF – Joe Cribbs 12-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 14–7.
NO – Ike Harris 44-yard pass from Archie Manning. Bills 14–13.
NO – Benny Ricardo 45-yard field goal. Saints 16–14.
NO – Benny Ricardo 47-yard field goal. Saints 19–14.
Third quarter
BUF – Frank Lewis 18-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 21–19.
Fourth quarter
BUF – Mark Brammer 2-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 28–19.
BUF – Joe Cribbs 7-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 35-19.
NO – Ike Harris 15-yard pass from Archie Manning (Benny Ricardo kick). Bills 35–26.
Top passers
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 22/31, 295 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
NO – Archie Manning – 24/34, 285 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
BUF – Joe Cribbs – 22 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD
NO – Chuck Muncie – 10 rushes, 22 yards
Top receivers
BUF – Jerry Butler – 5 receptions, 133 yards
NO – Brooks Williams – 6 receptions, 89 yards :

#### Week 4 vs Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Bills | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: September 28
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C)
* Game attendance: 77,259
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and John Brodie
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
BUF – Curtis Brown 4-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 7–0.
Second quarter
BUF – Joe Cribbs 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 14–0.
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 30-yard field goal. Bills 17–0.
Third quarter
OAK – Lester Hayes 48-yard interception return (Chris Bahr kick). Bills 17–7.
Fourth quarter
BUF – Joe Cribbs 21-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 24–7.
Top passers
OAK – Dan Pastorini – 10/20, 158 yards, 2 INT
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 17/22, 175 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
OAK – Mark van Eeghen – 10 rushes, 46 yards
BUF – Joe Cribbs – 30 rushes, 90 yards, TD
Top receivers
OAK – Bob Chandler – 3 receptions, 87 yards
BUF – Jerry Butler – 3 receptions, 49 yards :

#### Week 5 at Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 3 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 26 |
| Chargers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
* Date: October 5
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
* Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
* Game attendance: 51,982
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 48-yard field goal, 10:11. Bills 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 3:17.
SDG – Kellen Winslow 4-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 5:44. Chargers 7–3. Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 2:50.
Second quarter
SDG – John Jefferson 5-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick), 14:56. Chargers 14–3. Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 2:02.
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 29-yard field goal, 8:51. Chargers 14–6. Drive: 12 plays, 69 yards, 6:05.
BUF – Lucius Sanford blocked punt recovery in end zone (kick failed), 2:24. Chargers 14–12.
SDG – Rolf Benirschke 29-yard field goal, 0:12. Chargers 17–12. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 2:12.
Third quarter
SDG – Clarence Williams 3-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 6:19. Chargers 24–12. Drive: 6 plays, 39 yards, 2:25.
Fourth quarter
BUF – Mark Brammer 9-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick), 10:43. Chargers 24–19. Drive: 4 plays, 16 yards, 1:34.
BUF – Joe Cribbs 3-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick), 7:28. Bills 26–24. Drive: 5 plays, 21 yards, 2:54.
Top passers
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 14/28, 129 yards, TD
SD – Dan Fouts – 20/35, 220 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
BUF – Joe Cribbs – 23 rushes, 87 yards, TD
SD – Chuck Muncie – 10 rushes, 37 yards
Top receivers
BUF – Jerry Butler – 3 receptions, 44 yards
SD – John Jefferson – 7 receptions, 85 yards, TD :

#### Week 6 vs Colts

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Bills | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: October 12
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C)
* Game attendance: 73,634
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV: NBC
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
BAL – Mike Siani 38-yard pass from Bert Jones (Steve Mike-Mayer kick). Colts 7–0.
BAL – Steve Mike-Mayer 21-yard field goal. Colts 10–0.
Second quarter
BUF – Roosevelt Leaks 1-yard run. Colts 10–6.
BAL – Don McCauley 1-yard run (Steve Mike-Mayer kick). Colts 17–6.
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 49-yard field goal. Colts 17–9.
Third quarter
No scoring
Fourth quarter
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 20-yard field goal. Colts 17–12.
Top passers
BAL – Bert Jones – 10/21, 206 yards, TD, INT
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 17/36, 210 yards, INT
Top rushers
BAL – Joe Washington – 22 rushes, 74 yards
BUF – Joe Cribbs – 18 rushes, 76 yards
Top receivers
BAL – Mike Siani – 4 receptions, 91 yards, TD
BUF – Frank Lewis – 3 receptions, 52 yards :

#### Week 7 at Dolphins

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Dolphins | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 41,636
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
MIA – Don Bessillieu 44-yard fumble return (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 7–0.
Second quarter
MIA – Nat Moore 3-yard pass from David Woodley (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 14–0.
Third quarter
BUF – Joe Cribbs 2-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Dolphins 14–7.
MIA – Uwe von Schamann 23-yard field goal. Dolphins 17–7.
Fourth quarter
BUF – Jerry Butler 7-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Dolphins 17–14.
Top passers
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 24/42, 221 yards, TD
MIA – David Woodley – 11/17, 93 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
BUF – Joe Cribbs – 14 rushes, 38 yards, TD
MIA – Terry Robiskie – 18 rushes, 84 yards
Top receivers
BUF – Frank Lewis – 4 receptions, 71 yards
MIA – Nat Moore – 4 receptions, 39 yards, TD :

#### Week 8 vs Patriots

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| Bills | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 31 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C)
* Game attendance: 75,092
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
NE – John Smith 41-yard field goal. Patriots 3–0.
Second quarter
BUF – Frank Lewis 14-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 7–3.
BUF – Frank Lewis 12-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 14–3.
Third quarter
NE – Russ Francis 26-yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick). Bills 14–10.
NE – John Smith 32-yard field goal. Bills 14–13.
Fourth quarter
BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 23-yard field goal. Bills 17–13.
BUF – Joe Cribbs 16-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 24–13.
BUF – Joe Cribbs 5-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 31–13.
Top passers
NE – Steve Grogan – 13/29, 138 yards, TD, 4 INT
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 12/28, 176 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
NE – Don Calhoun – 8 rushes, 24 yards
BUF – Joe Cribbs – 30 rushes, 118 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
NE – Russ Francis – 2 receptions, 32 yards, TD
BUF – Frank Lewis – 5 receptions, 80 yards, 2 TD :

#### Week 9

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Falcons | 0 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Bills | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |

#### Week 10

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Jets | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 24 |

#### Week 11

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Week 12

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| • Bills | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |

#### Week 13

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| • Colts | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |

#### Week 14

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Rams | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Bills | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
First ever win for Buffalo vs Rams

#### Week 15

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| • Patriots | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |

#### Week 16

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bills | 6 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 49ers | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 |

## Postseason
### Divisional

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • Chargers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
With 2:08 left in the game, Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts threw the 50-yard winning touchdown pass to receiver Ron Smith to defeat the Bills, 20–14.
Wrote Paul Zimmerman in Sports Illustrated's 1981 NFL preview, "If Charley Romes intercepts the pass that bounces off his chest in the last few minutes of the playoff game against San Diego, then the Chargers don't score on the next play, and win the game. And Buffalo gets to play Oakland at home – where the Bills crushed the Raiders earlier in the season. And Buffalo's in the Super Bowl."

## Notable events

In Week 15, the Bills became the thirty-fourth team to score only a safety in a full game. It was the first occurrence of this since the San Diego Chargers against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the last game of the 1972 season, and there have been only three since, by the 1983 Minnesota Vikings, the 1993 Cincinnati Bengals, and the 2011 Atlanta Falcons in a playoff game.