1927 Buffalo Bisons (NFL) season explained

Team:Buffalo Bisons (NFL)
Teamdisplay:Buffalo Bisons
Year:1927
Record:0–5
Division Place:12th NFL
Coach:Dim Batterson
Next:1929
Shortnavlink: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.[1] 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.[2] 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

GameDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecapSources
1September 25at Pottsville MaroonsL 0–220–1Minersville ParkRecap[3] [4] [5] [6]
2October 2at Providence Steam RollerL 0–50–2Cycledrome3,500Recap
3October 12New York YankeesL 8–190–3Bison Stadium3,500Recap
4October 15at Frankford Yellow JacketsL 0–540–4Frankford Stadium5,000Recap
5October 16Frankford Yellow JacketsL 0–230–5Bison Stadium1,500Recap

Game summaries

Week 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.

Roster

Starters



Reserves

Notes and References

  1. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/bff/1927.htm 1927 Buffalo Bisons
  2. https://www.newspapers.com/article/buffalo-courier-express-bison-pro-club-i/159748890/ "Bison Pro Club in Debut Today at Pottsville: Coach Batterson Will Start Formidable Lineup Against Famous Maroons,"
  3. https://www.newspapers.com/article/buffalo-courier-express-bison-pro-club-i/159748890/ "Bison Pro Club in Debut Today at Pottsville: Coach Batterson Will Start Formidable Lineup Against Famous Maroons,"
  4. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-bison-team-bows-to-maro/159753024/ "Bison Team Bows to Maroons, 22–0: Pottsville Scores Pair of Touchdowns on Passes; Other On Tackle Spins,"
  5. https://www.newspapers.com/article/pottsville-republican-pottsville-maroons/159754287/ "Pottsville Maroons Open League Season and Beat Buffalo Bisons 22 to 0,"
  6. https://www.newspapers.com/article/republican-and-herald-the-maroons-shut-o/159753902/ "The Maroons Shut Out the Buffalo Team,"