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1998 Buffalo Bills season

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1998 Buffalo Bills season
OwnerRalph Wilson
General managerJohn Butler
Head coachWade Phillips
Home fieldRalph Wilson Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place3rd AFC East
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(at Dolphins) 17–24
Pro BowlersQB Doug Flutie
FB Sam Gash
WR Eric Moulds
G Ruben Brown
DE Bruce Smith
DT Ted Washington

The 1998 Buffalo Bills season was the team's 39th season, and 29th in the National Football League (NFL).[1] The season marked an important development in the Bills’ history as a quarterback controversy would consume the whole season between Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie. It would also mark the beginning of the Wade Phillips era. The Bills improved on the previous season's output of 6–10, and finished second in the AFC East with a 10–6 record,[2] and would qualify for the playoffs only to lose in the wild card round to the Miami Dolphins.

The Bills lost their first three games of the season, all by six points or less, and looked to be headed for a losing season. After a bye in Week Four, quarterback Rob Johnson finally won his first game with Buffalo, holding on for a 26–21 win over San Francisco in Week Five. Flutie started the next eleven games, winning nine of them. The Bills had a playoff spot locked up by the final game of the season, which Johnson started and won.

The Bills played the Dolphins in the Wild Card round of the 1998 AFC Playoffs, where wide receiver Eric Moulds would set the NFL playoff record for receiving yards, with 240. The Bills would end up losing the game 24–17, as Dolphins lineman Trace Armstrong sacked Flutie on Buffalo's last drive, forcing him to fumble, and icing the game for Miami.

Offseason

The Bills, looking to upgrade the quarterback position, signed Rob Johnson, who had played for Jacksonville in 1997, and improved his stock with a win in relief of Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell. Bills general manager John Butler traded away the Bills' first- and fourth-round picks to Jacksonville for the rights to Johnson.

The Bills also signed long-time CFL quarterback Doug Flutie to back up Johnson; Flutie would end the 1998 season with the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Additions Subtractions
QB Rob Johnson (Jaguars) WR Steve Tasker (retirement)
QB Doug Flutie (CFL) QB Todd Collins (Chiefs)
G Joe Panos (Eagles) LB Bryce Paup (Jaguars)
G Corbin Lacina (Panthers)

NFL draft

Main article: 1998 NFL Draft
= Pro Bowler [note 1]
1998 Buffalo Bills Draft
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
2 39 Sam Cowart[note 2] MLB Florida State
3 68 Robert Hicks OT Mississippi State
5 131 Jonathan Linton FB North Carolina
6 160 Fred Coleman WR Washington
7 198 Victor Allotey OG Indiana
238 Kamil Loud WR Cal-Poly SLO

Undrafted free agents

1998 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Jason Crebo Linebacker Montana
Shane Doyle Defensive end Washington State
James Grier Defensive tackle Mississippi State
Raymond Hill Defensive back Michigan State
Herb Howard Defensive tackle Virginia State
Todd Kollar Offensive tackle Youngstown State
Carl McCullough Running back Wisconsin
Hardy Mitchell Defensive tackle Buffalo
David Mudge Offensive tackle Michigan State
Mark Nohra Running back British Columbia
Willie Rodgers Linebacker Florida
Jerry Ross Tight end Pittsburg State
Hassan Shamsid-Deen Defensive back NC State
Adrion Smith Defensive back Southwest Missouri State
Duane Stewart Defensive back Washington State
Paul Turner Wide receiver Colorado State
Clarence "Pooh Bear" Williams Running back Florida State
Dan Williams Center Wofford
Undre Williams Wide receiver Florida A&M

Personnel

Staff

1998 Buffalo Bills staff

Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach – Wade Phillips
  • Assistant to the Head Coach – Max Bowman

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning


[3]

Roster

1998 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB) {{{defensive_back}}}

Special teams

Practice squad

53 active, 3 inactive, 4 practice squad Reserve


Rookies in italics

Regular season

The opening game for 1998 constituted the first time since 1985 that the Bills played the San Diego Chargers.[4] The reason for this is that before the admission of the Texans in 2002, NFL scheduling formulas for games outside a team's division were much more influenced by table position during the previous season.[5]

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 6 at San Diego Chargers L 14–16 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium 64,037
2 September 13 at Miami Dolphins L 7–13 0–2 Pro Player Stadium 73,097
3 September 20 St. Louis Rams L 33–34 0–3 Ralph Wilson Stadium 65,199
4 Bye
5 October 4 San Francisco 49ers W 26–21 1–3 Ralph Wilson Stadium 76,615
6 October 11 at Indianapolis Colts W 31–24 2–3 RCA Dome 52,938
7 October 18 Jacksonville Jaguars W 17–16 3–3 Ralph Wilson Stadium 77,635
8 October 25 at Carolina Panthers W 30–14 4–3 Ericcson Stadium 64,050
9 November 1 Miami Dolphins W 30–24 5–3 Ralph Wilson Stadium 79,011
10 November 8 at New York Jets L 12–34 5–4 Giants Stadium 75,403
11 November 15 New England Patriots W 13–10 6–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,020
12 November 22 Indianapolis Colts W 34–11 7–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium 49,032
13 November 29 at New England Patriots L 21–25 7–5 Foxboro Stadium 58,304
14 December 6 at Cincinnati Bengals W 33–20 8–5 Cinergy Field 54,359
15 December 13 Oakland Raiders W 44–21 9–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium 62,002
16 December 19 New York Jets L 10–17 9–6 Ralph Wilson Stadium 79,056
17 December 27 at New Orleans Saints W 45–33 10–6 Louisiana Superdome 39,707

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1

Starting QBs: Buffalo: Rob Johnson ** Johnson left with a concussion with the Bills trailing 10-0. **

San Diego Chargers: Ryan Leaf ** 1st NFL Start **

Vegas Line: San Diego Chargers -1.5

Over/Under:41.0 (under)

Buffalo Bills (0-0) at San Diego Chargers (0-0)
1 234Total
Bills 0 077 14
• Chargers 3 0103 16


[6]

[6]

Team Category Player Statistics
Bills Passing Doug Flutie 12/20, 158 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Antowain Smith 20 carries, 54 yards
Receiving Andre Reed 7 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TD
Chargers Passing Ryan Leaf 16/31, 192 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Natrone Means 15 carries, 57 yards
Receiving Bryan Still 6 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD

[6]

Statistics Bills Chargers
First downs 20 14
Plays–yards 62-297 51-254
Rushes–yards 28-90 20-67
Passing yards 207 187
Passing: comp–att–int 20-34-2 16-31-2
Time of possession 33:08 26:52

[6]

Week 2

Week 2 at Miami Dolphins

  • Score: L 13-7
  • Date: September 13, 1998
  • Stadium: Pro Player Stadium, Miami FL
  • Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
  • Attendance: 73,097
  • Weather: 82 °F (28 °C), 10% chance of rain
  • TV: CBS
  • Announcers: Ian Eagle and Mark May

Week 3 vs St Louis Rams

  • Score: L 33-34
  • Date: September 20, 1998
  • Stadium: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
  • Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
  • Attendance: 65,199
  • Weather: 72 °F (22 °C), sunny, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • TV: Fox
  • Announcers: Kenny Albert and Tim Green

Week 4 Bye

Week 5 vs San Francisco 49ers

  • Score: W 26-21
  • Date: October 4, 1998
  • Stadium: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
  • Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
  • Attendance: 76,615
  • Weather: 50 °F (10 °C), cloudy
  • TV: Fox
  • Announcers: Ray Bentley and Ron Pitts

Week 6 at Indianapolis Colts

  • Score: W 31-24
  • Date: October 11, 1998
  • Stadium: RCA Dome, Indianapolis IN
  • Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
  • Attendance: 52,938
  • Weather: Dome
  • TV: CBS
  • Announcers: Bill Macatee and John Dockery

Week 7 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Score: W 17-16
  • Date: October 18, 1998
  • Stadium: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
  • Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
  • Attendance: 77,635
  • Weather: 68 °F (20 °C), sunny
  • TV: CBS
  • Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms

Week 8

1 234Total
• Bills 10 7103 30
Panthers 0 707 14
Scoring summary
1BUFEric Moulds 20 yard pass from Doug Flutie (Steve Christie kick)Bills 7–0
1BUFSteve Christie 42 yard field goalBills 10–0
2CARWilliam Floyd 1 yard run (John Kasay kick)Bills 10–7
2BUFEric Moulds 82 yard pass from Doug Flutie (Steve Christie kick)Bills 17–7
3BUFSteve Christie 47 yard field goalBills 20–7
3BUFThurman Thomas 17 yard run (Steve Christie kick)Bills 27–7
4BUFSteve Christie 44 yard field goalBills 30–7
4CARMark Carrier 8 yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (John Kasay kick)Bills 30–14

[7]

Week 10

1 234Total
Bills 3 630 12
• Jets 7 6714 34


Week 14

First meeting of the two teams in Cincinnati since the 1988 AFC Championship Game.

Starting QBs: Buffalo: Doug Flutie

Cincinnati: Neil O'Donnell

Vegas Line: Buffalo Bills -4.5

Over/Under: 43.0 (over)

On the first play from scrimmage, Eric Moulds became the 20th Player in Bills History With 50+ Receptions In A Season, as he caught a 55 yard reception from Doug Flutie. [8]

Buffalo Bills (7-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-10)
1 234Total
• Bills 10 1067 33
Bengals 0 1307 20


[9]

[9]

Team Category Player Statistics
Bills Passing Doug Flutie 18/30, 319 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Antowain Smith 18 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Eric Moulds 9 receptions, 196 yards, 2 TD
Bengals Passing Neil O'Donnell 19/31, 168 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Corey Dillon 11 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Carl Pickens 8 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD

[9]

Statistics Bills Bengals
First downs 21 15
Plays–yards 64-448 53-234
Rushes–yards 34-139 17-58
Passing yards 309 176
Passing: comp–att–int 18-30-3 22-36-1
Time of possession 34:23 25:37

[9]

Week 15

Wade Wilson gets his 2nd start at QB since 1993 by head coach John Gruden. Buffalo clinches playoff berth with the win. Wade Phillips also gets his first head coaching win vs the Raiders.

Raiders (7-6) at Bills (8-5)
1 234Total
Raiders 0 777 21
• Bills 3 17177 44


Standings

AFC East
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) New York Jets 12 4 0 .750 416 266 W6
(4) Miami Dolphins 10 6 0 .625 321 265 L1
(5) Buffalo Bills 10 6 0 .625 400 333 W1
(6) New England Patriots 9 7 0 .563 337 329 L1
Indianapolis Colts 3 13 0 .188 310 444 L2

Playoffs

AFC: Miami Dolphins 24, Buffalo Bills 17

Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 7 7317
Dolphins 3 3 81024

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

Awards and honors

Notes

  1. ^ Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
  2. ^ Elected to Pro Bowl in 2000

References

  1. ^ "1998 Buffalo Bills Starters, Roster, & Players — Pro-Football-Reference.com". www.pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  2. ^ "Buffalo Bills". www.buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2004. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  3. ^ 1998 Buffalo Bills Media Guide.
  4. ^ "Buffalo Bills v San Diego Chargers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "History of the NFL's Structure and Formats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  6. ^ a b c d "Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers — September 6th, 1998". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers — October 25th, 1998". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Buffalo Bills Single-Season Receiving Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  9. ^ a b c d "1998 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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