1927 Buffalo Bisons (NFL) season

National Football League team season March 2026 November 2013 Buffalo Bisons (NFL) Buffalo Bisons 1927 0–5 12th NFL Dim Batterson 1929 other seasons The 1927 Buffalo Bisons season was their eighth in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 4–4–2, losing five games and winning none.1927 Buffalo Bisons They finished twelfth (last) in the league. The "Buffalo/Texas Rangers" experiment from the previous season was discontinued (the city's cold weather was the primary reason) and the team reverted to the Bisons name. Previous head coach Jim Kendrick left the team for the New York Giants and Dim Batterson was named the new head coach. Buffalo returned three key players from the 1926 squad — end Neely Allison, halfback Benny Hobson, and tackle Bones Irvin."Bison Pro Club in Debut Today at Pottsville: Coach Batterson Will Start Formidable Lineup Against Famous Maroons," Buffalo Courier Express, Sept. 25, 1927, p. 26. This proved to be an insufficient basis for a competitive squad however, as the team was shutout in four of its first five games. The 1.6 points per game average stands as a near-record for poor offensive output. The Bisons suspended operations five games into the season and would not return until 1929. Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 25 at Pottsville Maroons L 0–22 0–1 Minersville Park Recap "Bison Pro Club in Debut Today at Pottsville: Coach Batterson Will Start Formidable Lineup Against Famous Maroons," Buffalo Courier Express, Sept. 25, 1927, p. 26."Bison Team Bows to Maroons, 22–0: Pottsville Scores Pair of Touchdowns on Passes; Other On Tackle Spins," Buffalo News, Sept. 26, 1927, p. 23."Pottsville Maroons Open League Season and Beat Buffalo Bisons 22 to 0," Pottsville Republican, Sept. 26, 1927, p. 9."The Maroons Shut Out the Buffalo Team," Pottsville Evening Herald, Sept. 26, 1927, p. 6. 2 October 2 at Providence Steam Roller L 0–5 0–2 Cycledrome 3,500 Recap 3 October 12 New York Yankees L 8–19 0–3 Bison Stadium 3,500 Recap 4 October 15 at Frankford Yellow Jackets L 0–54 0–4 Frankford Stadium 5,000 Recap 5 October 16 Frankford Yellow Jackets L 0–23 0–5 Bison Stadium 1,500 Recap Game summaries Game 1: at Pottsville Maroons Buffalo's season of pain began immediately with a 22–0 drubbing by the Pottsville Maroons. All points were scored in the first half, with the home team later reckoned to have "outplayed the Buffalo crew in every department." Pottsville's "flashy little quarterback" Dinty Moore was responsible for two of the team's touchdowns — a 10-yard run off-tackle early in the game and as the recipient of a long pass from halfback Frank Kirkleski off of a fumble recovery as the 15 minute opening frame was drawing to a close. A 40-yard field goal by Barney Wentz and a 21-yard touchdown pass from Kirkleskie to Vivian Hultman capped the scoring for the home team. Buffalo's best chance to score came in the fourth quarter off of a blocked punt that went out of bounds at the Pottsville 5-yard line, but the defense held for four downs and the Bisons were forced to surrender the ball. Game 4: at Frankford Yellow Jackets Game 5: Frankford Yellow Jackets Poor performance and financial losses associated brought an abrupt end to the 1927 Bisons season, with the team losing a reported $7,000 playing three games with the New York Yankees and the Frankford Yellow Jackets over a five day period, suffering a pummeling by the combined score of 96–0.United Press, "Buffalo Pro Gridiron Club Goes on Rocks," Dayton Herald, Oct. 18, 1927, p. 18. In the first Yellow Jackets game, played in Philadelphia on a Saturday due to Pennsylvania's blue laws prohibiting Sunday football, the Bisons were shellacked 54–0 in a game in which "not once did Buffalo make the slightest threat of scoring, netting exactly three first downs during the game.""Rogers Leads Marathon Race for Philly Team: Buffalo Registers Only Three First Downs — Yellowjackets Score at Will," Buffalo Courier-Express, Oct. 16, 1927, p. 23. Standings Roster Starters LE - Allison LT - Harvey LG - Winick C - McArthur RG - McConnell RT - Irwin RE - Otte QB - Carr LHB - Snell RHB - Hobson FB - Houser Reserves Watson - back Vedder - back Season summary The Buffalo Bisons were outscored 123–8 in losing their first five games and abruptly terminated operations. League President Joe F. Carr expressed hope that Ernie Nevers' Duluth Eskimos would change their name and move to Buffalo to take up the Bills' banner for 1928.Chet Youll, "Karpe's Comment," Buffalo News, Dec. 19, 1927, p. 29. While this scenario was published in the Buffalo press, it was news to Ray Weil, Bisons' president and holder of the NFL's franchise for the city, who expressed hope for a new start for his Bisons in Buffalo in the coming year. Ultimately, neither Duluth nor Buffalo fielded an NFL team for the 1928 season. References 35em Category:Buffalo Bisons (NFL) seasons Buffalo Bisons Buffalo Category:NFL winless seasons