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O. J. Simpson in 1990

The Electric Company were the offensive line of the Buffalo Bills during the mid-1970s that helped running back O. J. Simpson establish numerous National Football League (NFL) all-time records and earn numerous statistical titles.[1] The nickname is sometimes more loosely used to refer to the Electric Company Offense for the Bills offensive unit or the Electric Company Buffalo Bills for the teams of this era.

Background

The nickname for the offensive line was a reference to O. J. "Juice" Simpson. The offensive line earned its nickname for its ability to "turn on the juice," which was a metaphor for unleashing Simpson, who at the time was the best running back in the National Football League and the first running back to eclipse 2,000 yards' rushing in a single season. Simpson gave the offensive line its nickname.[2]

During these years, Simpson established NFL records for single-season rushing yards (1973), single-season yards from scrimmage (1973), single-season rushing yards per game (1973), single-season touchdowns (1975), single-season 200-yard games (1973), consecutive 100-yard games (1972–73), single-game rushing yards (1973 & 1976) and career 200-rushing yard games. His single-season rushing yards per game and career 200-yard rushing games records still stand. Simpson was selected to the Pro Bowl team and as an All-Pro performer each year between 1972 and 1976.[3] He won the rushing title in four of those five seasons.[3] During this time period, Simpson became the only running back to twice have 200-yard rushing efforts in back-to-back games. Though the Bills would miss the playoffs during Simpson's milestone year where he rushed for 2000 yards, he made an effort to introduce his offensive line during the final game's press conference. Simpson praised his offensive line's efforts and said he would only play "until all these guys get old so they won’t be able to help someone else break my records."[4]

Although the Buffalo Bills had winning records during the 1973, 1974, and 1975 seasons, only the 1974 team made the NFL playoffs during the eight-team format era.[5] However, they were eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl IX champion Pittsburgh Steelers.[6] Simpson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 for his exploits. Right guard Joe DeLamielleure would be elected to the Hall of Fame as well in 2003.

Members

Name Pos. Buffalo seasons Accolades with Buffalo
Dave Foley[7] LT 1972–1977 Pro Bowl (1973)
Reggie McKenzie[8] LG 1972–1982 3× All-Pro (1973–1975)
Mike Montler[9] C 1973–1976
Joe DeLamielleure[10] RG 1973–1979, 1983 Pro Football Hall of Fame (2003), 6× All-Pro (1974–1979), 5× Pro Bowl (1975–1979)
Donnie Green[11] RT 1971–1976
Paul Seymour[12] TE 1973–1977

Lou Saban was the head coach from 1972 into the 1976 season, when he resigned in mid-October before the sixth game;[13] offensive line coach Jim Ringo was the interim head coach for the final nine games.[14][15][16]

Other members of the Electric Company: third-year center Bruce Jarvis started the first eight games in 1973,[17] but suffered a career-ending knee injury in November. During Simpson's first All-Pro season and first rushing title in 1972,[18] Bob Penchion and Dick Hart were listed at right guard (DeLamielleure was selected in the 1973 NFL Draft).[19][20] Jan White was listed at tight end before Seymour's arrival in 1973.[21] Also in 1972, Remi Prudhomme and John Matlock were listed at center.[22][23] The beginning of the Electric Company era is often considered to be 1973, when the Bills moved to Rich Stadium (with AstroTurf), broke a skid of six consecutive losing seasons, and Simpson started breaking records.[24]

When the nickname is expanded to include the whole offense, quarterback Joe Ferguson who was part of the Bills' 1973 NFL Draft class along with DeLamielleure and Seymour is also considered to be a member. Fullback Jim Braxton, who became the starter in 1972,[25] is also mentioned as part of the Electric Company. Even wide receivers Bob Chandler and J. D. Hill are associated with the Electric Company.[26]

Records and titles

Simpson's single-season rushing yards (2003 set in 1973),[27][28] and single-season yards from scrimmage (2243 set in 1973) records were eclipsed in Eric Dickerson's 1984 season, but have not been eclipsed on a yards per game basis yet because they were set in 14 games.[29][30] Simpson's 1975 single-seasons touchdowns record (23 set in 14 games) lasted until John Riggins posted 24 in 1983 in 16 games. However, the first person to post more touchdowns per game was Priest Holmes who totaled 27 in 2003.[31] On September 16, 1973, Simpson broke Willie Ellison's 247-yard single game record with a 250-yard effort against the New York Jets.[32] On November 25, 1976, Simpson broke his own single-game rushing yards record by posting 273 yards.[33] Walter Payton then recorded a 275-yard effort less than a year later on November 20, 1977.[32] Simpson's six career 200-yard games remains an NFL record.[34] Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams have also posted back-to-back 200-yard games, but unlike Simpson they each only have done so once.[34] When Simpson rushed for 100 yards in each of the first five games of the 1973 season it gave him seven consecutive 100-yard games, which was an NFL record.[35] That record has been broken several times including back-to-back seasons when Payton took the record to 9 in 1985 and Marcus Allen increased it to 11 in 1986. Finally in 1997, Barry Sanders posted 14 consecutive 100-yard efforts.[34]

O. J. Simpson 200-yard rushing game career log[36]
Date Opp Result Att Yds Y/A TD
September 16, 1973 at New England Patriots W 31-13 29 250 8.62 2
December 9, 1973 New England Patriots W 37-13 22 219 9.95 1
December 16, 1973 at New York Jets W 34-14 34 200 5.88 1
September 28, 1975 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 30-21 28 227 8.11 1
November 25, 1976 at Detroit Lions L 14-27 29 273 9.41 2
December 5, 1976 at Miami Dolphins L 27-45 24 203 8.46 1

Simpson earned the NFL rushing titles in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976.[3] He led the league in total touchdowns and total points scored in 1975, and he led in rushing touchdowns in both 1973 and 1975.[3] He led the league in yards from scrimmage in 1973, 1975 and 1976 and in all-purpose yards in 1973 and 1976.[3] Also in 1972, 1973 and 1975 he had the longest run in the NFL for the year, including a career-high 94-yard run in 1972.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Jenkins, Dan (October 13, 1975). "The Juice is turned on again". Sports Illustrated. p. 28.
  2. ^ Moran, Patrick (June 15, 2010). "Top 20 Bills All-Time Draft Picks: Joe DeLamielleure (#8)". Buffalo Sports Daily. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "O. J. Simpson". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  4. ^ Bailey, Budd (December 21, 2020). "Bills Throwback: O. J. Simpson". Buffalo Sports Page. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "Buffalo Bills Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  6. ^ "1974 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  7. ^ "Dave Foley". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  8. ^ "Reggie McKenzie". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  9. ^ "Mike Montler". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  10. ^ "Joe DeLamielleure". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  11. ^ "Donnie Green". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  12. ^ "Paul Seymour". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  13. ^ "Saban quits; O. J.'s return the reason?". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. October 15, 1976. p. 5D.
  14. ^ "Lou Saban quits". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 16, 1976. p. 16.
  15. ^ "Jim Ringo, 75; NFL Hall of Famer Helped Packers to Championships". Los Angeles Times. November 20, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  16. ^ Schudel, Matt (November 22, 2007). "NFL's Jim Ringo; Hall of Famer With Packers and Eagles". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  17. ^ "Bruce Jarvis". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  18. ^ "1972 Buffalo Bills". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  19. ^ "Bob Penchion". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  20. ^ "Dick Hart". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  21. ^ "Jan White". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  22. ^ "Remi Prudhomme". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  23. ^ "John Matlock". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  24. ^ Choinski, Bill. "1973 Buffalo Bills - The Birth of the Electric Company". Billszone.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  25. ^ "Wayne Patrick, Bills Fullback In Late '60s, Early '70s". The Buffalo News. March 25, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2010. [dead link]
  26. ^ Choinski, Bill. "The Electric Company 1970-1978 Buffalo Bills". Billszone.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  27. ^ "O. J. does it and..." Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 17, 1973. p. 3B.
  28. ^ Fimrite, Ron (December 24, 1973). "Vintage Juice 1864". Sports Illustrated. p. 26.
  29. ^ "NFL Single-Season Yards From Scrimmage Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  30. ^ "NFL Single-Season Rushing Yards Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  31. ^ "NFL Single-Season Touchdowns Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  32. ^ a b "Lewis Rushes For 295 Yards!". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  33. ^ "Thanksgiving Serves Up Classic Games". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  34. ^ a b c "Individual Records: Rushing". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  35. ^ "Bills Can Prove They're For Real Against Miami". Bangor Daily News. October 19, 1973. p. 14. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  36. ^ "O. J. Simpson Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2010.

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