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1998 Buffalo Bills season

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.

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 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.

NFL draft

= Pro Bowler [note 1]
1998 Buffalo Bills Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
239Sam Cowart[note 2]MLBFlorida State
368Robert HicksOTMississippi State
5131Jonathan LintonFBNorth Carolina
6160Fred ColemanWRWashington
7198Victor AlloteyOGIndiana
238Kamil LoudWRCal-Poly SLO

Undrafted free agents

1998 Undrafted Free Agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Jason CreboLinebackerMontana
Shane DoyleDefensive endWashington State
James GrierDefensive tackleMississippi State
Raymond HillDefensive backMichigan State
Herb HowardDefensive tackleVirginia State
Todd KollarOffensive tackleYoungstown State
Carl McCulloughRunning backWisconsin
Hardy MitchellDefensive tackleBuffalo
David MudgeOffensive tackleMichigan State
Mark NohraRunning backBritish Columbia
Willie RodgersLinebackerFlorida
Jerry RossTight endPittsburg State
Hassan Shamsid-DeenDefensive backNC State
Adrion SmithDefensive backSouthwest Missouri State
Duane StewartDefensive backWashington State
Paul TurnerWide receiverColorado State
Clarence "Pooh Bear" WilliamsRunning backFlorida State
Dan WilliamsCenterWofford
Undre WilliamsWide receiverFlorida 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

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

53 active, 3 inactive, 4 practice squad


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

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 6at San Diego ChargersL 14–160–1Qualcomm Stadium64,037
2September 13at Miami DolphinsL 7–130–2Pro Player Stadium73,097
3September 20St. Louis RamsL 33–340–3Ralph Wilson Stadium65,199
4Bye
5October 4San Francisco 49ersW 26–211–3Ralph Wilson Stadium76,615
6October 11at Indianapolis ColtsW 31–242–3RCA Dome52,938
7October 18Jacksonville JaguarsW 17–163–3Ralph Wilson Stadium77,635
8October 25at Carolina PanthersW 30–144–3Ericcson Stadium64,050
9November 1Miami DolphinsW 30–245–3Ralph Wilson Stadium79,011
10November 8at New York JetsL 12–345–4Giants Stadium75,403
11November 15New England PatriotsW 13–106–4Ralph Wilson Stadium72,020
12November 22Indianapolis ColtsW 34–117–4Ralph Wilson Stadium49,032
13November 29at New England PatriotsL 21–257–5Foxboro Stadium58,304
14December 6at Cincinnati BengalsW 33–208–5Cinergy Field54,359
15December 13Oakland RaidersW 44–219–5Ralph Wilson Stadium62,002
16December 19New York JetsL 10–179–6Ralph Wilson Stadium79,056
17December 27at New Orleans SaintsW 45–3310–6Louisiana Superdome39,707

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)
1234Total
Bills007714
• Chargers3010316


[6]

[6]

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BillsPassingDoug Flutie12/20, 158 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingAntowain Smith20 carries, 54 yards
ReceivingAndre Reed7 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TD
ChargersPassingRyan Leaf16/31, 192 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingNatrone Means15 carries, 57 yards
ReceivingBryan Still6 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD

[6]

StatisticsBillsChargers
First downs2014
Plays–yards62-29751-254
Rushes–yards28-9020-67
Passing yards207187
Passing: comp–att–int20-34-216-31-2
Time of possession33:0826:52

[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

1234Total
• Bills10710330
Panthers070714
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

1234Total
Bills363012
• Jets7671434


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)
1234Total
• Bills10106733
Bengals0130720


[9]

[9]

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BillsPassingDoug Flutie18/30, 319 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
RushingAntowain Smith18 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingEric Moulds9 receptions, 196 yards, 2 TD
BengalsPassingNeil O'Donnell19/31, 168 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingCorey Dillon11 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingCarl Pickens8 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD

[9]

StatisticsBillsBengals
First downs2115
Plays–yards64-44853-234
Rushes–yards34-13917-58
Passing yards309176
Passing: comp–att–int18-30-322-36-1
Time of possession34:2325:37

[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)
1234Total
Raiders077721
• Bills31717744


Standings

AFC East
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(2) New York Jets1240.750416266W6
(4) Miami Dolphins1060.625321265L1
(5) Buffalo Bills1060.625400333W1
(6) New England Patriots970.563337329L1
Indianapolis Colts3130.188310444L2

Playoffs

AFC: Miami Dolphins 24, Buffalo Bills 17

Period1234Total
Bills077317
Dolphins3381024

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

Awards and honors

Notes

References

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