1998 Buffalo Bills season
The 1998 Buffalo Bills season was the team's 39th season, and 29th in the National Football League.[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 26–20 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.
NFL Draft
Personnel
Staff
| colspan="7" style="background: #004089; color:white; border: 2px solid #c60c30" text-align: center;" | 1998 Buffalo Bills staff |
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Front office
- President – Ralph Wilson
- Executive Vice President/General Manager – John Butler
- Vice President of Football Operations – Wade Phillips
- Director of Pro Personnel – A. J. Smith
- Director of Player Personnel – Dwight Adams
Head coaches
- Head Coach – Wade Phillips
- Assistant to the Head Coach – Max Bowman
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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[5]
Regular season
The opening game for 1998 constituted the first time since 1985 that the Bills played the San Diego Chargers.[6] 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.[7]
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
TV Time |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 6, 1998 |
CBS 4:00 pm ET |
at San Diego Chargers |
L 16–14 |
64,037 |
| 2 |
September 13, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
at Miami Dolphins |
L 13–7 |
73,097 |
| 3 |
September 20, 1998 |
FOX 1:00 pm ET |
St. Louis Rams |
L 34–33 |
65,199 |
| 4 |
Bye |
| 5 |
October 4, 1998 |
FOX 1:00 pm ET |
San Francisco 49ers |
W 26–21 |
76,615 |
| 6 |
October 11, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
at Indianapolis Colts |
W 31–24 |
52,938 |
| 7 |
October 18, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
W 17–16 |
77,635 |
| 8 |
October 25, 1998 |
ESPN 8:15 pm ET |
at Carolina Panthers |
W 30–14 |
64,050 |
| 9 |
November 1, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
Miami Dolphins |
W 30–24 |
79,011 |
| 10 |
November 8, 1998 |
CBS 4:15 pm ET |
at New York Jets |
L 34–12 |
75,403 |
| 11 |
November 15, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
New England Patriots |
W 13–10 |
72,020 |
| 12 |
November 22, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
Indianapolis Colts |
W 34–11 |
49,032 |
| 13 |
November 29, 1998 |
CBS 4:15 pm ET |
at New England Patriots |
L 25–21 |
58,304 |
| 14 |
December 6, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
at Cincinnati Bengals |
W 33–20 |
54,359 |
| 15 |
December 13, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
Oakland Raiders |
W 44–21 |
62,002 |
| 16 |
December 19, 1998 |
CBS 12:30 pm ET |
New York Jets |
L 17–10 |
79,056 |
| 17 |
December 27, 1998 |
CBS 1:00 pm ET |
at New Orleans Saints |
W 45–33 |
39,707 |
Game summaries
Week 8
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| • Bills |
10 |
7 | 10 | 3 |
30 |
| Panthers |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
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| Scoring summary |
|---|
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| 1 |
| BUF | Eric Moulds 20 yard pass from Doug Flutie (Steve Christie kick) | Bills 7–0 |
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| 1 |
| BUF | Steve Christie 42 yard field goal | Bills 10–0 |
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| 2 |
| CAR | William Floyd 1 yard run (John Kasay kick) | Bills 10–7 |
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| 2 |
| BUF | Eric Moulds 82 yard pass from Doug Flutie (Steve Christie kick) | Bills 17–7 |
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| 3 |
| BUF | Steve Christie 47 yard field goal | Bills 20–7 |
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| 3 |
| BUF | Thurman Thomas 17 yard run (Steve Christie kick) | Bills 27–7 |
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| 4 |
| BUF | Steve Christie 44 yard field goal | Bills 30–7 |
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| 4 |
| CAR | Mark Carrier 8 yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (John Kasay kick) | Bills 30–14 |
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[8]
Standings
Playoffs
AFC: Miami Dolphins 24, Buffalo Bills 17
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills |
0 |
7 |
7 | 3 | 17 |
| Dolphins |
3 |
3 |
8 | 10 | 24 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida
Awards and honors
- Doug Flutie, AFC Pro Bowl Selection
- Doug Flutie, NFL Comeback Player of the Year
References
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| | | | The Franchise | |
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| | Stadiums | |
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| | Culture | |
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| | Lore | |
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| | Division Championships (10) | |
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| | Super Bowl Appearances (4) | |
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| | League Championships (2) | |
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| | Wall of Fame | |
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| | Media | |
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| | Current League Affiliations | |
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| | Rivalries | |
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| | Owners | |
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| | 1960s – 1970s | |
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| | 1980s – 1990s | |
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| | 2000s – 2010s | |
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