‘Actually, the Seahawks finished the season as the worst defensive team in the NFL, having clinched that honor before the game even started. But just in case the Seahawks didn’t feel they had properly earned the title, they went out and gave up 579 yards of offense to the Bills – 1 yard short of the team record for defensive futility set on September 25, 1988.’
BillsBeat - December 24, 2000
Return to sender
‘"We saw some weaknesses in their cover, from looking at film, that we thought we could take advantage of," he said. Weaknesses? They were more than mere weaknesses, because that word would do an injustice to how well Rogers abused the Buffalo special teams.’
Ugly season could bear bright future
‘It was lost in an October that was as bad as anything we saw in the 1990s. And Seattle saw a lot of bad football in the ’90s.’
Watters creeps into 12th on rushing list
‘"I told Doug, ‘I should have eaten my Flutie Flakes this morning. You are on fire’," Seahawk cornerback Shawn Springs said.’
Flutie fabulous in finale
‘"That was the way we wanted to finish the season," said coach Wade Phillips, who may have seen his job saved by his team’s performance.’
Flutie sends Bills a message for next season
‘Because of their salary cap problems, the Bills have to seriously consider cutting Flutie, who turns 39 next year, but to his credit, he made the decision a very difficult one with his play in the snow and wind against New England and last night’s display against the Seahawks.’
Cap problems won't deter Bills' GM hopefuls
‘"We’ve lost in the past," strong safety Henry Jones said, "but we never lost someone like John Butler accompanying a losing streak."’
Offensive night to remember
‘The moment Doug Flutie took the field for the first time. You knew he was going to come to play, and did he ever.’
Bills 42, Seahawks 23
‘Buffalo Bills coach Wade Phillips didn’t get much of an endorsement from his owner.’
Buffalo 42, Seattle 23
‘If Antowain Smith and Doug Flutie were playing their final game as members of the Buffalo Bills, they made it a memorable one.’
BILLS DISPLAY FINISHING KICK FLUTIE LEADS OFFENSIVE BREAKOUT
‘Flutie hit 20 of 25 passes for 366 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The yards were a Bills best for the 38-year-old quarterback.’
ANTOWAIN WORKS OFF FRUSTRATIONS
‘”It was just another opportunity to go out and make the best of it,” Smith said. “You’re playing in front of the world on ESPN, and you want to be at your best. The offensive line did a great job and the receivers did a good job of blocking down field. Then it was up to me to make one man miss or break a tackle and see how many yards I could get.”‘
FLUTIE GEM WON'T HELP WADE'S CASE
‘Flutie was, in short, the antithesis of Rob Johnson. It was as if he was staging a clinic for his rival, a demonstration of all the subtle qualities that Johnson lacks. He is still a better quarterback than Rob Johnson. Even at age 38, he has the superior instincts and improvisational skills required to function in Buffalo’s befuddled offense.’
SUNDAY BILLBOARD
‘Play of the Game: Doug Flutie had a bunch of them in the first half, when he threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns. The most impressive play, though, was a 33-yard pass to Peerless Price to set up the game’s first TD. Operating with an empty backfield, Flutie reacted to an all-out blitz by throwing the ball toward the vacated area and finding Price in single coverage.’
BILLS KEEPING FANS IN CHECK
‘The number of ejections climbed from 580 in 1998 to 966 last year, or about 120 per game. Though the Bills don’t like to publicize the exact number, sources said the figure stayed about the same, between 950 and 1,000, for the just-concluded home season.’