The 1971 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise's second season in the National Football League, and the 12th overall. For the second time in four seasons, the Bills finished with only one victory. The Bills 1–13 record (a 0.071 winning percentage) remains the worst in franchise history. The team allowed 394 points, the most in franchise history for a 14-game season.
The season began in turmoil when coach John Rauch resigned, forcing pro personnel director Harvey Johnson to assume the position for the second time on an interim basis.
Buffalo lost their first ten games of the season, extending their losing streak to 15 and winless streak to 17, dating back to the previous season. The Bills were held scoreless in four games; and their minus 210-point differential is the worst in the team's history, and one of the forty worst point-differentials in NFL history.Pro-Football-Reference.com: Team Game Finder Query Results
Despite their horrid record, running back O. J. Simpson still had a stellar year, rushing for 742 yards on 183 attempts. However, Simpson only scored 5 touchdowns, which would be the fewest in his career. The Bills would only score 21 touchdowns as a team during the 1971 season, a franchise low. The Bills did not field any pro bowlers after the season.
Offseason
NFL draft
The Bills had a strong draft in 1971, selecting several players who would have long-term impact with the team.
Wide receiver J. D. Hill played five seasons for the Bills, making the Pro Bowl in his second season. Fullback Jim Braxton was an effective blocker for star tailback O. J. Simpson for the next seven seasons. Right tackle Donnie Green became a key component in the Bills' "Electric Company" offensive line for the next seven seasons. Receiver Bob Chandler played with the Bills for nine seasons, making second team All-Pro in 1975 and 1977, and leading the league in receptions from '75–'77, with 176 catches.
= Pro Bowler
1971 Buffalo Bills Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 4 J. D. Hill WR Arizona State2 29 Jan White TE Ohio State 3 53 Bruce Jarvis C Washington 57 Jim Braxton FB West Virginia 5 107 Donnie Green OT Purdue 113 Tim Beamer DB Illinois 6 145 Bill McKinley DE Arizona 7 160 Bob Chandler WR USC 8 183 Louis Ross DE South Carolina State 185 Tyrone Walls RB Missouri 9 213 Bob Strickland LB Auburn 11 263 Andy Browder T Texas A&I 12 291 Jim Sheffield K Texas A&M 13 316 Busty Underwood QB TCU 14 341 Jim Hoots DE Missouri Southern 15 369 Charles Cole RB Toledo 16 394 Billy Hunter DB Utah 17 419 Pat Morrison TE Arkansas
Personnel
Coaches/Staff 1971 Buffalo Bills staff Front office President – Ralph Wilson Vice President and General Manager – Bob Lustig Vice President – Pat McGroder
Coaching staff Head coach - Harvey Johnson
Offensive coaches Quarterbacks coach - Tom Flores Offensive Line – Marvin Bass
Defensive coaches' Defensive Line – Doc Urich Linebackers – Ralph Hawkins Defensive Backfield – Bobby Hunt Source: https://pro-football-history.com/franchise/7/buffalo-bills-coaches
Final roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 19 Dallas Cowboys L 37–49 0–1 War Memorial Stadium Recap 2 September 26 Miami Dolphins L 14–29 0–2 War Memorial Stadium Recap 3 October 3 at Minnesota Vikings L 0–19 0–3 Metropolitan Stadium Recap 4 October 10 Baltimore Colts L 0–43 0–4 War Memorial Stadium Recap 5 October 17 at New York Jets L 17–28 0–5 Shea Stadium Recap 6 at San Diego Chargers L 3–20 0–6 San Diego Stadium Recap 7 October 31 St. Louis Cardinals L 23–28 0–7 War Memorial Stadium Recap 8 November 7 at Miami Dolphins L 0–34 0–8 Miami Orange Bowl Recap 9 November 14 at New England Patriots L 33–38 0–9 Schaefer Stadium Recap 10 November 21 New York Jets L 7–20 0–10 War Memorial Stadium Recap 11 November 28 New England Patriots W 27–20 1–10 War Memorial Stadium Recap 12 December 5 at Baltimore Colts L 0–24 1–11 Memorial Stadium Recap 13 December 12 Houston Oilers L 14–20 1–12 War Memorial Stadium Recap 14 December 19 at Kansas City Chiefs L 9–22 1–13 Municipal Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Game summaries Week 11
Notes
References
Bills on Pro Football Reference Bills on jt-sw.com Bills Stats on jt-sw.com