Bills 1998 Record Without Flutie As Starter: 3-3

Bills 1998 Record With Flutie As Starter: 7-4

Heading into the 1998, season the Bills traded for Rob Johnson, who was the equivalent of a purebred QB. Johnson was 6’4", just over 200 lbs, went to Southern California and had a great arm. The Bills also picked up Doug Flutie, who is the equivalent of a mutt. Flutie stands at just 5’10" and weighs about 180 lbs. Sure, Flutie won the Heisman trophy while attending Boston College but saying he wasn’t highly recruited would be an understatement. Flutie was drafted in the 11th round and wound up playing that year in the United States Football League, but eventually made his mark in the CFL before the Bills signed him to back up their highly touted off-season pickup.

The Johnson era started rocky as the Bills went 0-3.  He outplayed Steve Young, but suffered a rib injury, and Flutie took over. Flutie brought a level of excitement to the Bills that hasn’t been matched since. In his first start, he led a fourth-quarter comeback against the Colts and the following week scored on a rushing touchdown to beat the Jaguars.

Flutie earned a spot on the Pro Bowl that year but the season ended with a playoff loss at the hands of the Dolphins. The following season, Flutie was 10-5 as a starter in the regular season. Despite the success, the Bills went with Johnson in the wildcard game against Tennessee. The Titans pulled off the Music City Miracle and the Bills haven’t been back to the playoffs since.