C.Biscuit97 Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 For some reason, the NFL network has been showing that game all weekend. I've decided that it's been long enough and the pain has subsided, so I watched it. First of all, it was an amazing defensive game (or poor offense). Here are a couple things I noted about that game: -The Bills defense was amazing and close to being our best ever. We ran a 3-4 with DEs Bruce (who was a beast in that game), the unsung Phil Hansen (a sack and fumble recovery), and Marcellus Wiley. In the middle was Ted Washington. Sam Cowart was awesome. Damn shame he blew out his knee. How bout a secondary of Thomas Smith (great cover guy, hands of stone), Antoine Winfield (who actually had an INT), Henry Jones, and Kurt Schulz (always laid the hammer and forced an Eddie George fumble)? Not too bad. - The Bills WRs were Andre Reed (on fumes), Eric Moulds, and Peerless Price(he played really tough and ran well after the catch). Has there ever been a better collection of wrs for the Bills ever? Oh and I forgot the immortal Kevin Williams who had more pass thrown his way then Reed. Williams did have a huge kickoff return that set up our last drive. - Antowain Smith looks very similar to Willis except he breaks a big run once in a while (I kid, I kid ). But seriously, size wise and running style, they are very similar. I always wondered why the guy wasn't more productive here. - Our offensive line was in shambles. Fina, who wasn't that great anyways, was injured. Our other tackle was out. Not sure of the rest of the line except Jaime Nails, maybe Hicks and Zeigler ?, but they weren't very good. But they opened up some holes every once in a while. - Besides the last play, the Bills were the much better team. They blew that game. Special teams gave up some big returns; Bruce jumped offsides and negated a fumble recovery then the Titans ended up scoring their only offensive TD; Holchek had a pass bounce off his shoulder that could have sealed the game; and the Bills got called for defensive holding on a missed FG and the Titans made the second attempt. And don't forget the officials not reviewing a Price borderline catch and then reviewing and overturning a McNair run for a first time. - If the Bills ever won a Super Bowl, Steve Christie would be Adam Vinateri and a borderline HOF. He was a great kicker who always came through in the clutch. - Finally, there was Rob Johnson. The guy played with a ton of heart and courage. It was a bad situation (a hurting o-line, replacing Flutie, hadn't started in a while) and he handled it as best as he could. That said, he was really bad. He missed some throws (Williams running down the field wide open) and took too long to get rid of the ball and got sacked (very underappreciated part of Flutie's game). I really don't see how Fluite could have played worse. But in fairness to RJ, he definitely showed a lot of heart, made some nice throws and scrambles on the final drive, and left the field with the lead. Sorry for the long post. But this game was just amazing to watch. The collection of talent we had was amazing. Who nows how far this team could have gone if our kickoff team just stayed in their lanes (ultimately, our QB and line play would have doomed us). Since it's been 7 years, just wondering if any of you have any thoughts or comments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 I'll never forget that game.....I had set the VCR since I was working until about 2am. I came home, got some food and a beer, and sat down to watch. I remember thinking early on that we might be in for an ass kicking, but the team sacked up and showed a ton of grit. I remember RJ getting killed a couple of times, but he got right back up and moved the team. After we went ahead just before the end of regulation, I felt on top of the world - as most of us did. We went into Tennessee and got the better of them. After that bull sh-- return, I saw Wade on the sideline acting as if he was certain that it was going to be called a forward pass. Needless to say, my friggin heart dropped out through my ass a few minutes later...... But I tell you what, SCREW Flutie......he can run his mouth all he wants about how things would have been different had he been the QB. RJ was the MAN that game. He earned my respect big time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 - Finally, there was Rob Johnson. The guy played with a ton of heart and courage. It was a bad situation (a hurting o-line, replacing Flutie, hadn't started in a while) and he handled it as best as he could. That said, he was really bad. He missed some throws (Williams running down the field wide open) and took too long to get rid of the ball and got sacked (very underappreciated part of Flutie's game). I really don't see how Fluite could have played worse. But in fairness to RJ, he definitely showed a lot of heart, made some nice throws and scrambles on the final drive, and left the field with the lead. 695479[/snapback] Nice analysis...the thing I will always remember, was it was on the day that I got my new huge screen tv....I had to friggin work, and watch it on video tape later that evening. I avoided knowing the outcome all day, and just as I am leaving work, this mildy retarded securiy guard at my job, says, "Congratulations on your Bills"...I was so pissed! The guy had never said a word to me about sports before, but he chose this moment to blow it for me. He told me they had won, he had seen the end, he said, on a tv at nearby resteraunt, on his lunch break.... Fug, I thought, at least I can go home and watch it still, knowing they are going to win...so I am watching, feeling cocky the whole time, because I know the Bills are going to win, and I am sure that the winner of this game is SB bound...when Johnson leads them to the FG, I am thinking, "is this finally, the beginging of the RJ era, can all the Flutopians just shut it now!" When the Titans run the "HOMERUNE THROWBACK", they showed a close-up of Wade Phillips, looking confident that it will be called back...knowing the Bills won (but not telling my girlfriend I know, becuause she will give me crap for staying up late to watch) I turn to her, all smug like and say "no big deal, that is going to get called back." They keep showing the play over and over, while the officials review it. Thinking about the special coital celebration we will partake in (always better after a big win) I explain, in my condescending way, that the officials are often maligned, but they usually get it right. I explain to her the rule, dazzling her with my incredible football knowledge, that the ball clearly went forward, which is a no-no! She isn't convinced looking at the replay...."no matter" I tell her, I am right, the refs will get it right.... All I can say, there was no coital celebrations, I just went to bed, very bitter, wanting to kill the security guard at work...one of the most stinging losses ever, for me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frez Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 LOL@ anyone who defends Rob Johnson! He sucked then and still sucks! Doug Flutie was our best option for a QB that game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffOrange Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Besides the last play, the Bills were the much better team. They blew that game. Special teams gave up some big returns; Bruce jumped offsides and negated a fumble recovery then the Titans ended up scoring their only offensive TD; Holchek had a pass bounce off his shoulder that could have sealed the game; and the Bills got called for defensive holding on a missed FG and the Titans made the second attempt. And don't forget the officials not reviewing a Price borderline catch and then reviewing and overturning a McNair run for a first time. I have always maintained that those last 2 minutes of the first half was the biggest joke of an officiating job I have ever seen in any sport. It's unfortuante that all anybody remembers about the game is "Flutie benched" and "kickoff return"; but I was pleasantly surprised that the politically correct NFL network showed in no uncertain terms that the Bills were jobbed. Should've been 9-3 at halftime instead of 12-0. I remember watching Primetime that night and they skipped over all of this, and even had the nerve to show a questionable roughing the passer penalty on Kearse and say "Wow Buffalo got a break there" (of course they didn't bother to show a similar penalty vs. Bruce). I couldn't help but shake my head when Salisbury & everyone on ESPN were blasting the officials after the Pittsburgh-Indy game saying "this year is the worst it's EVER been!". Umm no - your network just didn't have the balls to to criticize anything about the league until recently; doesn't mean this past year was any worse than it was 7 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albany,n.y. Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Looking back, there's no way that Rob Johnson (or Flutie either) would have led that team to the Super Bowl. Most likely Rob, who never put more than 2 good games (on consecutive weeks) back to back in his whole career, would have faltered in his next game and we would have lost. The Flutie fans convieniently forget that we scored less than 20 points in 9 of the 15 games he started and the offense was stalling with Flutie the entire season. Although that game could have been won, two more road playoff games to go before the Super Bowl made it virtually impossible that the team with either QB would have made it to Atlanta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frez Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Looking back, there's no way that Rob Johnson (or Flutie either) would have led that team to the Super Bowl. Most likely Rob, who never put more than 2 good games (on consecutive weeks) back to back in his whole career, would have faltered in his next game and we would have lost. The Flutie fans convieniently forget that we scored less than 20 points in 9 of the 15 games he started and the offense was stalling with Flutie the entire season. Although that game could have been won, two more road playoff games to go before the Super Bowl made it virtually impossible that the team with either QB would have made it to Atlanta. 695500[/snapback] I'm not a Flutie fan but he was a better QB than Rob Johnson. Put the best player on the field when it counts the most. What a horrid move by Buffalo starting Johnson over Flutie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SactoBillFan Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Here is a glimpse of the nightmare. Home run throwup. http://www.titansonline.com/history/music_...racle/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BADOLBILZ Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Looking back, there's no way that Rob Johnson (or Flutie either) would have led that team to the Super Bowl. Most likely Rob, who never put more than 2 good games (on consecutive weeks) back to back in his whole career, would have faltered in his next game and we would have lost. The Flutie fans convieniently forget that we scored less than 20 points in 9 of the 15 games he started and the offense was stalling with Flutie the entire season. Although that game could have been won, two more road playoff games to go before the Super Bowl made it virtually impossible that the team with either QB would have made it to Atlanta. 695500[/snapback] Totally disagree. That defense was incredible and they could have went to and won the Super Bowl with Johnson. They proved it on the field that day, clearly outslugging the Bowl bound Titans on their home field, a place where they had a huge advantage. The week before, they had totally embarrassed the Colts in a game that was not totally without meaning to Indy(they lost Cornelius Bennett in that game too). In the next two games the Bills would have been playing a battered and tired Indy team they had just throttled and a Jags team that had long since peaked. Both were easy marks for the Titans and it was evident at the time that the Bills and Titans were the two teams going into the playoffs with momentum to burn(thanks in great part to Johnson, I might add). The Rams, who struggled to score at home against a lesser Tampa defense in the NFC championship, would have really been stifled by the Bills. The notion that they could not have won because of Johnson is nonsense. Johnson didn't have a good career, but at the time Flutie magic had run it's course and though Johnson was a sack magnet he also did not turn the ball over much(Flutie had 5 TO's himself against Miami in the wildcard loss the year before) and he had a knack for moving the football late in the game, something Flutie had struggled with in numerous upset losses that year. Sound defensive teams had learned to simply focus on gap control and keeping Flutie in the pocket, where he was nothing short of awful that year. In home upset losses to the Raiders and Giants that year, the defenses didn't even attempt to rush Flutie and watched him helplessly one hop throws from the pocket until the clock expired and laughed about how easy it was after the game. They funneled the receivers to the sideline making Flutie beat them with the out throws he simply could not make. In short, the Bills offense was totally neutered against smart defenses, which made him an easy mark in the playoffs. People dogged Johnson, but the reality was that had Flutie played as scheduled, the Titans would have expected it, game planned it and quite possibly shut the Bills the f' out. The sad part of the whole story is not just the HR throwback itself, it's that the coach wasn't strong enough to manage his QB situation. It could have been a great 1-2 combo. The two QB's brought totally different skills to the table and they tore up the defensive game plan that teams designed for the other. In combination, they could have been a Woodley/Strock type combo. But Wade was nowhere near coach enough to pull that off. For Chrissake, they would have been home resting up for a divisional matchup at the Ralph had Wade been able to rotate the two, not on the road in the wildcard round. I mean, give me those players and Bill Parcells on that sideline that year and there would be a Lombardi in the case at One Bills Drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Totally disagree. That defense was incredible and they could have went to and won the Super Bowl with Johnson. They proved it on the field that day, clearly outslugging the Bowl bound Titans on their home field, a place where they had a huge advantage. The week before, they had totally embarrassed the Colts in a game that was not totally without meaning to Indy(they lost Cornelius Bennett in that game too). In the next two games the Bills would have been playing a battered and tired Indy team they had just throttled and a Jags team that had long since peaked. Both were easy marks for the Titans and it was evident at the time that the Bills and Titans were the two teams going into the playoffs with momentum to burn(thanks in great part to Johnson, I might add). The Rams, who struggled to score at home against a lesser Tampa defense in the NFC championship, would have really been stifled by the Bills. The notion that they could not have won because of Johnson is nonsense. Johnson didn't have a good career, but at the time Flutie magic had run it's course and though Johnson was a sack magnet he also did not turn the ball over much(Flutie had 5 TO's himself against Miami in the wildcard loss the year before) and he had a knack for moving the football late in the game, something Flutie had struggled with in numerous upset losses that year. Sound defensive teams had learned to simply focus on gap control and keeping Flutie in the pocket, where he was nothing short of awful that year. In home upset losses to the Raiders and Giants that year, the defenses didn't even attempt to rush Flutie and watched him helplessly one hop throws from the pocket until the clock expired and laughed about how easy it was after the game. They funneled the receivers to the sideline making Flutie beat them with the out throws he simply could not make. In short, the Bills offense was totally neutered against smart defenses, which made him an easy mark in the playoffs. People dogged Johnson, but the reality was that had Flutie played as scheduled, the Titans would have expected it, game planned it and quite possibly shut the Bills the f' out. The sad part of the whole story is not just the HR throwback itself, it's that the coach wasn't strong enough to manage his QB situation. It could have been a great 1-2 combo. The two QB's brought totally different skills to the table and they tore up the defensive game plan that teams designed for the other. In combination, they could have been a Woodley/Strock type combo. But Wade was nowhere near coach enough to pull that off. For Chrissake, they would have been home resting up for a divisional matchup at the Ralph had Wade been able to rotate the two, not on the road in the wildcard round. I mean, give me those players and Bill Parcells on that sideline that year and there would be a Lombardi in the case at One Bills Drive. 695553[/snapback] The Bills would have won the Super Bowl with Flutie if RJ had won that game. Not only did RJ never win three games in a row, he never even played three full games in a row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 And we, as a franchise, still have not recovered from this event and its far-reaching repurcussions. Similarly, "The Comeback" put the Oilers into disarray for years and they eventually moved... What do they call "The Comeback" in Houston? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34-78-83 Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 The Bill would not have survived regardless in my opinion as their already decimated O-line was further struck with injury in the titans game, leaving us with a chasm of a problem giving any protection at all to either quarterback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dundy249 Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 LOL@ anyone who defends Rob Johnson! He sucked then and still sucks! Doug Flutie was our best option for a QB that game. 695491[/snapback] SHUT UP......WHO CARES...they both suck and won nothing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikie2times Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 I have always maintained that those last 2 minutes of the first half was the biggest joke of an officiating job I have ever seen in any sport. It's unfortuante that all anybody remembers about the game is "Flutie benched" and "kickoff return"; but I was pleasantly surprised that the politically correct NFL network showed in no uncertain terms that the Bills were jobbed. Should've been 9-3 at halftime instead of 12-0. 695492[/snapback] That was bad, but in no way was it as bad as the "Just Give it to them" game. As for the throwback game I still won't watch it. Every loss hurts, and the ones with more at stake hurt the most. Obviously Norwood’s kick is the most painful moment in the history of this franchise but the fact is he still missed a FG. Under those circumstance most Bills fans knew we had about a coin flip chance of being world champions. The throwback was a different kind of hurt. When Christie put us up that late nobody considered the Titans might still win, and absolutely no one could have predicted they would win in that fashion. Then as many pointed out the Titans would go onto the super bowl, a destiny many feel we would have had. To sum it up take the complete opposite feeling the comeback gave me and that’s pretty much how I felt that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennesseeboy Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Flutie would have been the better bet given the offensive line. Win the superbowl? Not with that offensive line. You ain't got the trenches you are probably not in the playoffs, and you certainly aren't going to the big one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 What do they call "The Comeback" in Houston?695585[/snapback] The best evidence ever to ensure instant replay remains a mandatory part of NFL officiating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Even if we wouldn't have made it to the Superbowl that year, we could have at least had that gritty, hard fought playoff game to rest our hats on for that season. I think now that we've had several years where we have pretty much sucked, we can appreciate more how important it is to end the season on the right note. We won't make the big game every year, but we could have ended '99 with a helluva run that we were all proud of. Instead we have one of the most painful memories in Bills history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Doug Flutie was our best option for a QB that game. 695491[/snapback] You must have forgotten the playoff game in MyHammy. Flutie's hit...FUMBLES! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CajunBillsBacker Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Damn you people suck for bringing this garbage back on our board. I'm going to go break something now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 I'll never forget that game.....I had set the VCR since I was working until about 2am. I came home, got some food and a beer, and sat down to watch. I remember thinking early on that we might be in for an ass kicking, but the team sacked up and showed a ton of grit. I remember RJ getting killed a couple of times, but he got right back up and moved the team. After we went ahead just before the end of regulation, I felt on top of the world - as most of us did. We went into Tennessee and got the better of them. After that bull sh-- return, I saw Wade on the sideline acting as if he was certain that it was going to be called a forward pass. Needless to say, my friggin heart dropped out through my ass a few minutes later...... But I tell you what, SCREW Flutie......he can run his mouth all he wants about how things would have been different had he been the QB. RJ was the MAN that game. He earned my respect big time. 695489[/snapback] Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Totally disagree. That defense was incredible and they could have went to and won the Super Bowl with Johnson. They proved it on the field that day, clearly outslugging the Bowl bound Titans on their home field, a place where they had a huge advantage. The week before, they had totally embarrassed the Colts in a game that was not totally without meaning to Indy(they lost Cornelius Bennett in that game too). In the next two games the Bills would have been playing a battered and tired Indy team they had just throttled and a Jags team that had long since peaked. Both were easy marks for the Titans and it was evident at the time that the Bills and Titans were the two teams going into the playoffs with momentum to burn(thanks in great part to Johnson, I might add). The Rams, who struggled to score at home against a lesser Tampa defense in the NFC championship, would have really been stifled by the Bills. The notion that they could not have won because of Johnson is nonsense. Johnson didn't have a good career, but at the time Flutie magic had run it's course and though Johnson was a sack magnet he also did not turn the ball over much(Flutie had 5 TO's himself against Miami in the wildcard loss the year before) and he had a knack for moving the football late in the game, something Flutie had struggled with in numerous upset losses that year. Sound defensive teams had learned to simply focus on gap control and keeping Flutie in the pocket, where he was nothing short of awful that year. In home upset losses to the Raiders and Giants that year, the defenses didn't even attempt to rush Flutie and watched him helplessly one hop throws from the pocket until the clock expired and laughed about how easy it was after the game. They funneled the receivers to the sideline making Flutie beat them with the out throws he simply could not make. In short, the Bills offense was totally neutered against smart defenses, which made him an easy mark in the playoffs. People dogged Johnson, but the reality was that had Flutie played as scheduled, the Titans would have expected it, game planned it and quite possibly shut the Bills the f' out. The sad part of the whole story is not just the HR throwback itself, it's that the coach wasn't strong enough to manage his QB situation. It could have been a great 1-2 combo. The two QB's brought totally different skills to the table and they tore up the defensive game plan that teams designed for the other. In combination, they could have been a Woodley/Strock type combo. But Wade was nowhere near coach enough to pull that off. For Chrissake, they would have been home resting up for a divisional matchup at the Ralph had Wade been able to rotate the two, not on the road in the wildcard round. I mean, give me those players and Bill Parcells on that sideline that year and there would be a Lombardi in the case at One Bills Drive. 695553[/snapback] i really think the bills would have been shellacked by indy. over the course of the 90s, the bills were a pretty bad dome stadium team. and when they played *at* indy in 1999, they lost 31-14 in a game that wasn't even that close. as well, regarding jax "peaking," they lost twice all year, and both times to tennessee, who clearly had their number. that's who they lost to in the playoffs too. no one else had their number that year. the previous week, they won 62-7 against miami. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnakeOiler Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Great story about the security guard --- now THAT's funny! I'll always remember rob johnson running around at the end without his shoe to complete a pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Biscuit97 Posted May 22, 2006 Author Share Posted May 22, 2006 Nice analysis...the thing I will always remember, was it was on the day that I got my new huge screen tv....I had to friggin work, and watch it on video tape later that evening. I avoided knowing the outcome all day, and just as I am leaving work, this mildy retarded securiy guard at my job, says, "Congratulations on your Bills"...I was so pissed! The guy had never said a word to me about sports before, but he chose this moment to blow it for me. He told me they had won, he had seen the end, he said, on a tv at nearby resteraunt, on his lunch break.... Fug, I thought, at least I can go home and watch it still, knowing they are going to win...so I am watching, feeling cocky the whole time, because I know the Bills are going to win, and I am sure that the winner of this game is SB bound...when Johnson leads them to the FG, I am thinking, "is this finally, the beginging of the RJ era, can all the Flutopians just shut it now!" When the Titans run the "HOMERUNE THROWBACK", they showed a close-up of Wade Phillips, looking confident that it will be called back...knowing the Bills won (but not telling my girlfriend I know, becuause she will give me crap for staying up late to watch) I turn to her, all smug like and say "no big deal, that is going to get called back." They keep showing the play over and over, while the officials review it. Thinking about the special coital celebration we will partake in (always better after a big win) I explain, in my condescending way, that the officials are often maligned, but they usually get it right. I explain to her the rule, dazzling her with my incredible football knowledge, that the ball clearly went forward, which is a no-no! She isn't convinced looking at the replay...."no matter" I tell her, I am right, the refs will get it right.... All I can say, there was no coital celebrations, I just went to bed, very bitter, wanting to kill the security guard at work...one of the most stinging losses ever, for me.... 695490[/snapback] That story is both tragic and hilarious. Good story. I just was home for college break and was watching it with the family. As soon as the game was over, I got calls from three of my boys at college. I just picked up to swear at them and hung up. To borrow a phrase, that game was the ultimate stomach punch game. The feeling of being so happy and then just feeling like you got hit in the stomach. The game also showed the Bills, including Bruce, on the sidelines after the field goal so fired up and talking about the heart of a champion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Nice analysis...the thing I will always remember, was it was on the day that I got my new huge screen tv....I had to friggin work, and watch it on video tape later that evening. I avoided knowing the outcome all day, and just as I am leaving work, this mildy retarded securiy guard at my job, says, "Congratulations on your Bills"...I was so pissed!695490[/snapback] The game was played at the same time as my wife's grandmother's funeral, about 90 minutes from home. I set the game up to record and went to the funeral. After the funeral, we all went back to someone's house to eat and drink for whatever reason we find that a necessary rite, and it never dawned on me that her backwoods relatives would have the game on...but they did. My wife stopped me from going into the house until the game was over because she knew I wanted to see the game blindly when we got home. A few minutes later, she came out and said "It's okay. It's over. You'll be happy. Come on in." And so I did, just as they came back from commercial and the Bills were kicking off to Houston. The ability to restrain myself as I watched them give the points to Houston was clearly driven by the hand of my wife's dead grandmother being extended from the heavens to cover my mouth, because the profanities I was due to unload would not have gone over well with the cake-eating mourners. To my credit, I still went home and watched the game. But I severed the grandmother's hand off my mouth with beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRW Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 The throwback was a different kind of hurt. When Christie put us up that late nobody considered the Titans might still win, and absolutely no one could have predicted they would win in that fashion. Then as many pointed out the Titans would go onto the super bowl, a destiny many feel we would have had. To sum it up take the complete opposite feeling the comeback gave me and that’s pretty much how I felt that day. 695596[/snapback] Of course I have no evidence to back this up, but after the field goal I turned to my brother and said "We still have to kick off, let's not celebrate yet." The kickoff coverage that year had been quite sloppy and if I'm remembering correctly we had a couple of scary returns already that game. I didn't think it would actually happen but I was pretty nervous before the kickoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BADOLBILZ Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 i really think the bills would have been shellacked by indy. over the course of the 90s, the bills were a pretty bad dome stadium team. and when they played *at* indy in 1999, they lost 31-14 in a game that wasn't even that close. as well, regarding jax "peaking," they lost twice all year, and both times to tennessee, who clearly had their number. that's who they lost to in the playoffs too. no one else had their number that year. the previous week, they won 62-7 against miami. 695796[/snapback] To me, that team had a better chance of winning the Super Bowl than the teams that went to XXVI or XXVIII and that is what was so disappointing. People tend to look back and reshape the situation based on events that unfolded later, like Indy becoming a dominant team(which they weren't at the time, without Bennett their defense was AWFUL) or Johnson turning into a dud (which hadn't been the case with regard to his play on the field). It's also worth noting that the Jags had a incredibly weak schedule that year. It wasn't that the Titans had some kind of lucky number, it was that the Titans were the only good opponent the Jags had after the first month of the season. Trust me, I remember that season like no other. It's lost in the bickering between Flutie/Johnson backers, but that season was the one that got away and it hasn't been the same since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC in St. Louis Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 I remember standing in my living room taking a congratulatory call from my friend Todd, and saying, There are still 16 seconds left, there is time for the refs to screw the Bills. After the play, Todd said "that was a forward pass." He's a vikings fan. He was telling the truth. The play on Price was a joke. He caught the ball in bounds. Holding on a field goal? A gift. The spot on McNair? Another joke. That game was a classic, if not THE classic case of Las Vegas paying off the officials. No way that game wasn't fixed. No friggin' way. The fix was on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2003Contenders Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 To me, that team had a better chance of winning the Super Bowl than the teams that went to XXVI or XXVIII and that is what was so disappointing. People tend to look back and reshape the situation based on events that unfolded later, like Indy becoming a dominant team(which they weren't at the time, without Bennett their defense was AWFUL) or Johnson turning into a dud (which hadn't been the case with regard to his play on the field). It's also worth noting that the Jags had a incredibly weak schedule that year. It wasn't that the Titans had some kind of lucky number, it was that the Titans were the only good opponent the Jags had after the first month of the season. Trust me, I remember that season like no other. It's lost in the bickering between Flutie/Johnson backers, but that season was the one that got away and it hasn't been the same since. 696208[/snapback] Excellent points... And to those still crying about the switch from Flutie to RJ, let's not forget how divisive Flutie had become by that point. I really think that he had lost some of his teammates in the lockerroom by his refusal to accept blame for losses -- and accepting the credit for that "Flutie Magic" in 10-7 type victories (of which there were many that year), when the thanks really should have gone to the fine defense. Recall the week leading up to the game that Andre Reed (Yes, I know he was at the end of his line -- but still...) had become quite vocal in his contempt for Flutie, and there were still people (many of them right here on this board) that blamed Flutie for hanging Thurman our to dry on a floater screen pass that wound up sidelining Thurman for most of the season. Not trying to spark the Flutie/RJ debate again, just trying to remind everyone what the real atmosphere was like at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 To me, that team had a better chance of winning the Super Bowl than the teams that went to XXVI or XXVIII and that is what was so disappointing. People tend to look back and reshape the situation based on events that unfolded later, like Indy becoming a dominant team(which they weren't at the time, without Bennett their defense was AWFUL) or Johnson turning into a dud (which hadn't been the case with regard to his play on the field). It's also worth noting that the Jags had a incredibly weak schedule that year. It wasn't that the Titans had some kind of lucky number, it was that the Titans were the only good opponent the Jags had after the first month of the season. Trust me, I remember that season like no other. It's lost in the bickering between Flutie/Johnson backers, but that season was the one that got away and it hasn't been the same since. 696208[/snapback] badol, i'd be more sympathetic to your argument if the bills hadn't lost 44-20 he subsequent season at indy in a game in which any chance of a playoff appearance was on the line. he bills simply were not a good dome team, and hadn't been for a decade. there's no shame in that, but all the same it's the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 badol, i'd be more sympathetic to your argument if the bills hadn't lost 44-20 he subsequent season at indy in a game in which any chance of a playoff appearance was on the line. he bills simply were not a good dome team, and hadn't been for a decade. there's no shame in that, but all the same it's the truth. 699465[/snapback] That team was not a good team?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 That team was not a good team?!? 699468[/snapback] i said they were not a good *dome* team, which they weren't. they had a mediocre to sub-mediocre dome record going back to the late 80s (below .500). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apuszczalowski Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 SHUT UP......WHO CARES...they both suck and won nothing 695592[/snapback] Finally, Someone who is making some sense around here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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