The 1970 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's first season in the National Football League, and eleventh overall. The team looked to improve on its 4–10 record from 1969 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1966. However, the Bills started out on the wrong foot, losing four of their first five games. After winning two consecutive road games against the Patriots and Jets and suffering a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bills and Colts played to a 17–17 draw in week 9, Buffalo's first tie since 1968. The Bills would then lose five straight to end the season and finished 3–10–1, for fourth place in the AFC East. Their Week 5 game against the Miami Dolphins would start an era of futility during which the Bills would lose twenty consecutive games against the Dolphins. The Bills would not defeat the Dolphins at any point during the 1970s and next beat Miami in 1980. This would become known as "The Streak".
Quick Facts Buffalo Bills season, Owner ...
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This would also mark the final season for Bills punter and linebacker Paul Maguire, as he retired after the season to go into broadcasting.
NFL Draft
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Coaches/Staff
1970 Buffalo Bills staff |
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Front office
Coaching staff
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches'
- Defensive Line – Ray Malavsi
- Linebackers – Ralph Hawkins
- Defensive Backfield – Bobby Hunt
- Kickers - Bugsy Engelberg
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Final roster
1970 Buffalo Bills roster
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
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Schedule
More information Week, Date ...
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Record |
Venue |
Attendance |
1 |
September 20 |
Denver Broncos |
L 10–25 |
0–1 |
War Memorial Stadium |
34,882 |
2 |
September 27 |
Los Angeles Rams |
L 0–19 |
0–2 |
War Memorial Stadium |
46,206 |
3 |
October 4 |
New York Jets |
W 34–31 |
1–2 |
War Memorial Stadium |
46,206 |
4 |
October 11 |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
L 10–23 |
1–3 |
Three Rivers Stadium |
42,140 |
5 |
October 18 |
Miami Dolphins |
L 14–33 |
1–4 |
War Memorial Stadium |
41,312 |
6 |
October 25 |
at New York Jets |
W 10–6 |
2–4 |
Shea Stadium |
62,712 |
7 |
November 1 |
at Boston Patriots |
W 45–10 |
3–4 |
Harvard Stadium |
31,148 |
8 |
November 8 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
L 14–43 |
3–5 |
War Memorial Stadium |
43,587 |
9 |
November 15 |
at Baltimore Colts |
T 17–17 |
3–5–1 |
Memorial Stadium |
60,240 |
10 |
November 22 |
at Chicago Bears |
L 13–31 |
3–6–1 |
Wrigley Field |
41,015 |
11 |
November 29 |
Boston Patriots |
L 10–14 |
3–7–1 |
War Memorial Stadium |
31,427 |
12 |
December 6 |
at New York Giants |
L 6–20 |
3–8–1 |
Yankee Stadium |
62,870 |
13 |
December 13 |
Baltimore Colts |
L 14–20 |
3–9–1 |
War Memorial Stadium |
34,346 |
14 |
December 20 |
at Miami Dolphins |
L 7–45 |
3–10–1 |
Miami Orange Bowl |
70,990 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
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Season summary
Week 1
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Broncos |
0 |
5 | 7 | 13 |
25 |
Bills |
7 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
10 |
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Week 2
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Rams |
3 |
13 | 0 | 3 |
19 |
Bills |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
- Date: September 27
- Location: War Memorial Stadium
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Week 3
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Jets |
17 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
31 |
• Bills |
7 |
6 | 7 | 14 |
34 |
- Date: October 4
- Location: War Memorial Stadium
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Week 4
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bills |
3 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
10 |
• Steelers |
3 |
7 | 3 | 10 |
23 |
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Week 5
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Dolphins |
10 |
3 | 7 | 13 |
33 |
Bills |
0 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
14 |
- Date: October 18
- Location: War Memorial Stadium
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Week 6
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Bills |
0 |
3 | 0 | 7 |
10 |
Jets |
0 |
0 | 6 | 0 |
6 |
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Week 7
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Bills |
10 |
21 | 0 | 14 |
45 |
Patriots |
0 |
0 | 3 | 7 |
10 |
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Week 8
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Bengals |
3 |
20 | 13 | 7 |
43 |
Bills |
7 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
- Date: November 8
- Location: War Memorial Stadium
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Week 9
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bills |
7 |
7 | 0 | 3 |
17 |
Colts |
0 |
7 | 7 | 3 |
17 |
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Week 10
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bills |
6 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
13 |
• Bears |
0 |
14 | 7 | 10 |
31 |
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Week 11
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Patriots |
0 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
14 |
Bills |
0 |
3 | 0 | 7 |
10 |
- Date: November 29
- Location: War Memorial Stadium
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Week 12
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bills |
0 |
6 | 0 | 0 |
6 |
• Giants |
0 |
3 | 3 | 14 |
20 |
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Week 13
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Colts |
10 |
0 | 7 | 3 |
20 |
Bills |
7 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
- Date: December 13
- Location: War Memorial Stadium
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Week 14
More information Total ...
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bills |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
• Dolphins |
21 |
10 | 7 | 7 |
45 |
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Standings
More information AFC East, W ...
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- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
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