1976 - Bills at Dolphins (Week 13) - Improved Partial NBC Broadcast - 720p/60fps

I've 'improved' the 1976 Week 13 Bills at Dolphins partial broadcast recording that exists. This recording wasn't done on the best of equipment and the picture was very blown-out. I managed to bring it back quite a bit as you can see from the before/after screenshots here -- imgbox.com/g/K... -- but it still leaves much to be desired.
The recording goes from the beginning of the game to the end, though there are SEVERAL instances of edits and missing plays, so it is FAR from complete.
It is VERY unusual for ANY pre-1977 NBC NFL broadcast to have survived, so just appreciate it for what it is, rather than lament over what it isn't. My thanks to romelovesdan for providing the DVD files used for this project.

[@brianbachmeier34]

Well done sir. We appreciate your effort in preserving these games.

[@dantheman5745]

After losing @Miami in Week 7 of the '69 season, the Bills defeated the Dolphins in the rematch in Week 10, 28-3. Buffalo then went 0-for-the-1970s vs Miami, losing all 20 matchups. Then in Week 1 of the 1980 season, Buffalo finally beat Miami again, 17-7.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

I've 'improved' the 1976 Week 13 Bills at Dolphins partial broadcast recording that exists. This recording wasn't done on the best of equipment and the picture was very blown-out. I managed to bring it back quite a bit as you can see from the before/after screenshots here -- imgbox.com/g/Kj9BU7502W -- but it still leaves much to be desired. The recording goes from the beginning of the game to the end, though there are SEVERAL instances of edits and missing plays, so it is FAR from complete. It is VERY unusual for ANY pre-1977 NBC NFL broadcast to have survived, so just appreciate it for what it is, rather than lament over what it isn't. My thanks to romelovesdan for providing the DVD files used for this project.

[@Armis71]

Just trying to understand what you're saying that NBC themselves don't have recordings pre 1977 anymore? And we have to rely from 3rd party recordings?

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Over 99% of all games PERIOD before 1977 haven't survived. Of the ones that have, the vast majority were ABC Monday Night Football games, and to a lesser extent some CBS recordings. In a DISTANT third-place are NBC recordings. No, the networks did not keep copies of these games. Videotape was really expensive, they didn't have a lot of them to work with, and there was no point (in their eyes) to keep them because WHEN would they ever be re-aired? The answer is NEVER. So starting around 1977-78 is when the home VCR market started to gain a foothold and take off, thus we have LOTS more games starting from that point thanks to home recordings.

[@WaltGekko]

@@davevolskysbackdoor5673 That is true, though that began to change in 1975 when the SONY Betamax came in.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Remember I said 1977 is when it started to gain a 'foothold'. BETA may have been around in 1975, but there still aren't many NFL game recordings done by home viewers prior to 77

[@Armis71]

@@davevolskysbackdoor5673 gotcha thanks!

[@btk6298]

Thanks for your dedication! Looks awesome. Love to see any NFL NBC stuff from the 70s.

[@jonhowe2960]

I love how even a fraction of a single telecast serves well as a proxy for the entire style and production capability of sports television over a significant period of time, as much as half a decade at least before and after that day's game. I also love the reliable voice of Jim Simpson. Great value here, Dave , thanks as always!

[@larrymelman]

The Bills in this period were totally unwatchable. After going 9-5 in 1973 and 1974 (wild-card), the defense collapsed in 75, and Lou Saban up and quit (as was his style) after a 2-3 start in 76. They lost the next 13 games (the last 9 of 76 and the first 4 of 77) before beating Atlanta 3-0 at home in a half-empty stadium, one of the worst games in NFL history (it's on KZbin if you can't get to sleep). Chuck Knox finally got enough ex-Rams into the Bills to make the playoffs in 80 and 81, then it was right back into the cellar again.

[@delvin681]

Thanks for the upload oj a rare gift to watch.

[@orangehoof]

Nice to see OJ run like the old OJ. Video wasn't so bad and, as you say, any NBC regular-season telecast prior to 1977 is rare.

[@brettshepherd5240]

I remember watching this game and loving that TD run by the GREAT OJ

[@vintagecoinop]

I’m a huge Bills fan and season ticket holder. I have games on VHS dating back to 1978. I can’t thank you enough for all your hard work you put into getting these broadcasts to look great.

[@rustyshackleford1114]

If you have the Bucs and Bills game from that year, then you are sitting on a holy Grail. That is a famous lost NFL game.

[@shanetrimble9265]

​@@rustyshackleford1114 im waiting to see if he answers lol

[@AlfQueda]

thank for the upload , i always love finding old OJ SIMPSON Games !

[@kvb44]

So glad I found this channel! I really appreciate and admire the effort you put into making it possible to see these vintage games from my youth. Keep up the great work!

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

Jim Simpson and John Brodie on the call.

[@bjchit]

41:25 Don Strock ran that exact same play to score a touchdown a year earlier in his first ever NFL start, which just also happened to be against the Bills.

[@johntabler349]

It's great to see these old games, regrettable though that almost none of OJ Simpsons great games are available even in this game where he had another 200 plus yard performance almost none of his offensive plays are preserved.

[@gregstreuber]

Great video. Really appreciate the work you have done to get these games posted. You rock dude!

[@JosePerez-vz1qq]

I know that you just posted this Coach but I already know who won. We all know who won. #20inArow

[@JillSzepanski]

Still a record! Finsup!

[@sixtythreekraft2608]

thanks for uploading this.

[@nurserock77]

Well done. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

[@charlesallison6932]

1) Seems like Miami rarely wore aqua jerseys at home, particularly in day games, back then. 2) Don't remember Joe Ferguson wearing a Dungard facemask nor Dick Anderson NOT wearing a Dungard mask. Edit: Oops, that ain't Ferguson.

[@johnward6699]

Curt Gowdy was always one the best

[@JillSzepanski]

Thats not curt gowdy

[@martinfelsenfeld6012]

thank you mister volsky! miami and buffalo from 1976!

[@eddieshaw2401]

Thanx for ur work !!

[@romelovesdan]

Perfect summation of what this recording actually is and its importance & value.

[@johnbailey3478]

I noticed there are only 6 officials instead of 8 that they have in today's game and less complaining back then also

[@Bruce12867]

There were six officials from 1965-77. The side judge was added in 1978. Plus, officials wielded their authority much better than today, even when they made their occasional bad calls.

[@charlesallison6932]

NFL still only uses 7. CFB went to 8 with the Center Judge at some levels.

[@JosePerez-vz1qq]

43:44 Freddie Solomon's years as a Dolphin were filled with excitement. He was so much fun to watch. With the Delvin Williams trade he went to San Francisco and was a vital player in the development of the 49ers championship pedigree. Freddie Solomon, ibae

[@primateproductions126]

Much thanks to you Dave 😀

[@victorkreitner754]

This doesn't look like the Orange Bowl, where was this game played? The stadium looks different.

[@rustyshackleford1114]

No, it's the orange bowl. The camera location on the sidelines was re-located and it shows the stadium and TV side from a slightly different angle

[@larrymelman]

I think there are temporary stands set up in the normally open end, for the upcoming Orange Bowl.

[@tjzac4601]

Old Bills fans recall this season as a disaster. Lou Sabin suddenly quit and Joe Ferguson got hurt. Gary Marangi was brutal although the Bills had some core pieces that were added too after OJ got traded. By 1980 Bills were a legit Super Bowl contender

[@bjchit]

I would hardly call finally having a winning season for the first time in half a decade a contender.

[@kissherlips1]

NBC broadcast footage prior to VCRs is pretty rare especially regular season footage. Wow, OJ could fly. Jim Simpson on the call.