With two weeks to go in the 2011 National Football League regular season Denver Broncos fans are aware that two wins punch the Broncos’ ticket into the playoffs. One win, in the right situation combining with losses by others, can do the same thing.
And the first of our remaining two opponents is Buffalo, in Buffalo.
I always like the idea of the Broncos playing the Buffalo Bills. Certainly, they are a tough opponent, playing before their usual rabid home crowd, so my feeling is not that they are any easier than anyone else.
I just like it anytime the Broncos play against an original American Football League team, one of the franchises that came into pro football at the same time as the Broncos.
But in actuality, Buffalo’s pro football history extends back a lot farther than that.
Buffalo had its first pro football franchise in the very first year of play for the NFL, 1920. They were called the Buffalo All-Americans, and they had a 9-1-1 record good enough for third in the league, even though no official standings were maintained for the 1920 season.
The championship was awarded to the Akron Pros in a league meeting in April of 1921. That first year was very rag-tag in terms of organization, and many of the clubs played games against local athletic clubs, any team they could find, really, so results and schedules were a mishmash.
The Buffalo All-Americans continued play through the 1923 season, then Buffalo was represented by the Bisons from in 1924 and 1925, then they became the Buffalo Rangers in 1926, back to the Bisons in 1927, no team at all in 1928, and then the Bisons had their final year of play in the original NFL in 1929, going 1-7-1.
That was right about the time when pro football was gaining stability, and the weaker franchises were consolidating with others, willingly or by financial force, or just being disbanded and fading away.
So Buffalo faded out of pro football until 1946, when the All America Football Conference was formed.
I realize that sounds like a college organization, with the league called a “conference,” but it was a four-year rival to the NFL.
The Buffalo franchise was the Bills, and one year they even played the Cleveland Browns for the league title. Losing to owner/coach Paul Brown and Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Graham.
In fact, the Browns completely dominated the AAFC, winning the league championship all four years, before the AAFC folded and the NFL took in three teams, the Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49ers along with the perennial champion Browns.
The addition of the 49ers gave the NFL a West Coast rival for the Los Angeles Rams, but Buffalo was again left out in the cold.
By the way, the Browns showed that they and the AAFC were no fluke, as Cleveland won their NFL divisional title its first six straight years in the NFL, giving them 10 straight championship seasons spread over two leagues.
Anyway, the Bills were out, and it looked like for good, until Lamar Hunt came along with his desire to create another second pro football league, after having been rebuffed on his request for an NFL expansion team for Dallas on numerous occasions.
So the Bills were born, or reborn, or re-re-born, depending on how you count their previous incarnations, and this time they gave a face to pro football in Western New York.
In 1964 the Bills went 12-2 and won the league title over San Diego, repeating the feat the following year.
Their coach for those tremendous championship teams, Lou Saban, came to Denver on a 10-year contact to rebuild the Broncos—actually, to build from complete scratch—in 1967.
Saban was a very intense, competitive and combative coach and after five years of his project in Denver his frustration led him to resign, but by then he had created a level or respectability for pro football in Denver that had not existed previously.
Of course, all our readers know that Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy and Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly led the Bills to four straight AFC titles and Super Bowl appearances, and many readers will remember farther back to when Lou Saban—in his second Buffalo incarnation—had fine teams with O.J. Simpson and the offensive line known as The Electric Company.
But not many readers will remember all the way back.
And the thing about history is, it goes back all the way.
This was just a very quick look back with the reminder to all that our opponent Sunday has had a noble history with ups, downs, championships and failures.
And through it all—most recently, since the AFL’s beginnings in 1960—one man has owned the Buffalo Bills.
Ralph Wilson has had the team all that time, rejecting every possibility of moving his Bills to a different city, a bigger city. Ralph Wilson stayed the course, eventually watching his team go to four consecutive Super Bowls. He truly earned his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Bills and Buffalo and synonymous, and the Broncos and Bills will forever share a bond as AFL originals.
This is a nice matchup Saturday.
There is no rivalry like one that goes back to the day.
Tags: Buffalo Bills, Jim Saccomano
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!
Live it! LOVE IT!!! and BELIEVE!!!
Skip Bayless today said both the JETS and Chargers are better than the Bronco’s and Texans…
Skip is a Nit…
Wow … talk about “before my time” lol. 88 baby here.
Man back in the days they had the coolest nicknames, “The electric company” lmao. Man back then almost all athletes had some coold old timey nicknames lol. Got a few now but i believe they were far more prevolent back then
Looking forward to the game, probablly cuz I want playoffs badly and i want ths team to repound. The taste of losing is truly a bitter one.
TRB
They probably are Turtle. Like talent wise. We on the other hand just bring it. Play as a team. Comraderie goes a long way. I keep saying dont forget this is the same 4 and 12 team with the major changes being TT and Miller. Other than that the whole squad is still the one from last year with a few rejects from other teams. Its just Tims leadership, the comraderie and a far better scheme than last year is what is carrying us now and making some pretty average guys look good. Got a ways to go to get the talent other guys got. I mean young guys and I love em (DMT and Decker) but they don’t compare to the number 1 recievers of other teams. I wan’t Marshall back
. May not be able to wear his 15 (or his current 19) but im sure he will just find another number lol
TRB
Great article Jim. It’s nice to get the history of some of these teams. I learned quite a bit that I didn’t know from your article. Thanks! Merry Christmas to all of the staff and Bronco families!
Just to let you know the game is on Saturday not Sunday.But other than that nice article! God Bless and Go Broncos!
Happy holidays everyone. I can’t wait for Saturday. I have not seen any Bill’s games but I hope we kick their butts.
“The Juice & the Electric Company” – great memories for junior/high school for me…lol!
Royal, nice keep us informed. Good job bud.
This is a nice article that was on the Bill’s website. Good read.
http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Bills-have-ties-to-Tebow/1167cef7-30bc-428d-bcc4-d1b7c2b7419a
I found the SNL skit hilarious, and I’m a Jesus follower. I dunno, I guess I just don’t get offended easily.
It’s funny their website is set up almost exactly the same way as ours. It was really easy to manuever.
Good read, heart felt.
Great article and something to think on – the Broncos and the Bills have the same football lineage which is awesome. The greatest thing to happen in football was the merger, the second greatest, the superbowl. The most interesting storyline is how the former AFL teams have made their way against the Packers, Bears, … In my view, the Broncos and the Bills have accounted themselves very well which shows the committment to excellence in both organizations. I have followed the Broncos since 72 and have been inspired by the optimism the team has developed. I see the Broncos Legacy to greatness being reborn this year and I for one want to be as close to the front row as possible. Great job front office…we dont give you the kudos you deserve but we do appreciate all that you do for we – the fans. Merry Christmas and I have faith we will have a ticket to the playoffs in our Christmas Stocking on Sunday!
Keeping us informed. Blah.
Please tell me we aren’t wearing those horrid AFL uniforms! The brown and yellow remind me of “corn in poop” Ugh..gross!
Jim, thanks! Remember the blizzard conditions in Denver just to get to the bus to get to the airport to fly to Bufallo. We came away with a win to boot. Great memories during the SB era.
The Bills went to 4 straight Super Bowls…. too bad they weren’t able to win one. Best chance was in ’91 vs. the Giants. Scott Norwood missed wide right on 47 yd field goal attempt. They were blown out during the next three. That was during the time when AFC suffered a 14 yr drought as they were domintated by AFC Teams. Broncos lost 3 back then before they finally turned the tide for the AFC in ’97/98 by winning it all!
Correction – domintaed by NFC Teams during 14 yr drought.
Thanks strand… great memory… I remember some fo the players riding snowmobiles to get out…lol!
Thanks for the link shaztah… great article!
Tebow was also courted by the Bills before the draft.
I remember reading that he flew into Buffalo to meet the front office.
Also had dinner with former Bills QB – Jim Kelly.
Wasn`t that the year when we won 13 straight games in 1998? I think it was.
I think that a lot of teams were interested in getting him but most were too scared to take a chance. I bet many of them are really kicking themselves now. Just wait until he becomes a free agent and watch how many teams will be calling Denver wanting him. Not only because he is going to bring championships back to Denver but because he has so many people watching Bronco games and he makes any team he plays for money. I remember my husband going to a Gator game when Tim was there and the tickets were so expensive. They were like 200.00-600.00 each for a college game now after Tebow my hubby got really good seats for 50.00.
TRB, I fully appriciate your post earlier on the last blog about the SNL skit. Wwell said. Full on attack everyday by the media. But remember what the Lord said, (The world hates me, so they will hate you). It just goes with being a Believer is all. God bless you bro!
The Broncos will not allow Tebow to become a FA. I`d say in a year or two, the Broncos will lock Timmy up with a huge 7 year contract so I don`t think Tebows going to be a FA at all. He`ll be a Bronco for along time I bet.
I think so strand… don’t have the broncos bible available like bay. Going just off memory….lol.
I didn’t think that the sketch was offensive in any way……..I just thought it was a funny way to look at TT’s uber religious beliefs and the way we’ve won games this year. I did not see it as putting down religion or christianity.
I’ve seen some stuff SNL has done and they’ve pushed the envelope a lot further than what they could’ve in this instance.
We better not let him become an FA. He’s brought back hope to this city when it was looking like gloom and doom again. TT has helped us climb out of the gutter to be able to drink some rocky mtn spring water again…lol
I’m not religious in any way shape or form so this might seem like a stupid question…….
Is there any difference in thanking god or thanking my lord saviour jesus christ?
The second, which tebow uses all the time when speaking to media just seems a little over the top for me………..
But that’s just me……….I mean, to each their own and I respect that.
I saw the skit once and there was one or 2 tasteless things said that was bad I think. Thats me though, I take my walk with God seriously and found a few things offensive.
Royal, do you live in Colorado?
Killerkod, The Word says be greatful in everything, the bad as well as the good. The #1 thing a Believer is to do is being greatful for his Creator. Christ says, (Apart from me, you can do nothing). Timmy, lives and breathes that very thing.
I hope TT will be the future of this franchise. He has no where to go but up. His passing game will improve with experience and a regular off-season. Then he’ll be a major threat to D’s across the league. The option won’t rule the playbook, but effective use of it in particular situations could def keep opposing teams off balance.
He’s brought so much to this season already and I’m so glad we made the switch to at least find out what we have in TT. And what we have is a fine football player!
Yeah – Highlands Ranch strand.
TRB, u were born in 88? I was born 9/4/88
I guess I just meant that I know God and Christ are essentially the same thing in christianity………..so I was curious as to why he uses lord saviour jesus christ over thanking god. Is it something to do with his particular religion? I believe he’s baptist, yes?
I`ll finish with this. There`s a huge difference between being religous and having an intimate relationship with Christ. A relationship is what it is, a true relationship, just like one would have with their own spouse. But being religous is phony and based on mans own munipulations and twisting of his own ideas and agendas with his own fairytails that lead to nothing but empty and a perverted heart. So in a word (Religion bites)!
Good to know. I`ve built some homes in the Denver area.
Killerkod, God the Father gave everything over to His son Jesus. When a Believer prays, everything is in the son, Jesus, EVERYTHING. Without THAT NAME, NO PRAYER is answered, not one.
Go ORANGE and BLUE!!
thanks for the better understanding strand……….
And ask Daddy as well, he`s well rounded in knowing his Creator.
Kod, didn`t mean to go overkill on this but it`s the truth bro. If you want to find out for yourself, read the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible. It spells it all out in detail. Start with the Gospel of John, Christ alone says in the Book of John that he is the mediator between man and the Father. It`s so simple a child can understand it.
Royal, do you have a family?
Yes – my wife of 21 years plus two kids and two dogs.
Your blessed. And a faithful Broncos fan. LOL
Don’t blog as much as I used to strand… alot of times I’ll log in just catch up with bay’s posts, yours, BFE, sndvl, TRB..some of the old cats.
Don’ know alot of the new bloggers but only thing that matter is we’re all Broncos faithful…
There`s a lady friend of mine who lives in Littleton. She comes down to Colorado Springs during the weekends to see her parents and goes to our church out here. A really neat gal, known her for a few years, a Cowboys fan to boot. We talk once in awhile to catch up on things. I`m going to go pay her a visit after the New Year. She`s the only person I know in that area. I really like her alot but an hour apart, major bummer, but a good friend.
Your easy to speak to, laid back. your cool in my book bro. Broncos faithful all the way.
Well I had to give the blogs a rest for a while after that game last week and Im sure everything that needs to be said has been said but I jus was so frustrated…. couldnt have asked for a better start then to throw away all that momentum… it hurt lol, I really wanted that game… They had agreat gameplan and executed perfectly. Did anyone else lose their mind when Tom did those 3 straight check downs after we finally scored in the 2nd half to bring it back to 11?? I was losing it!!! Shortly after I switched to watch the amazing Raider choke (Thankfully)
But things are still looking good and I really like that the Broncos control the own destiny! We win and we potenially could be in and im so pumped Im going to be there!!! sec 120 row 9 if any fellow Bronco fans happen to be there and want to celebrate with a victory drink!
Will be decked out with an amazing Orange Von Miller jersey!!! Hope we have lots of support.
Idont know if I mentioned this story but I was at the 08 season opener in Buffalo where we were losing the whole game and came back with the miracle kick by elam where they barely got on the field lol (8 sec left I believe) That was one of the best sporting events I saw live ever!! Besides when I checked out mile high of course… butthose fans are crazy!!! and I got lost looking for my car after and what a mess lol took a lot of verbal abuse lol
Anyways Im anticipating a lot more Broncos supporters there this weekend with obvious reasons lol and I watched the bills miami game last weekend and they were basically at half capacity lol sooooo excited for this one guys lets put them away early!!!