The 1998 Buffalo Bills season was the team's 39th season, and 29th in the National Football League (NFL). 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 third in the AFC East with a 10–6 record, 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
Undrafted free agents
+ 1998 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJason CreboLinebackerMontanaShane DoyleDefensive endWashington StateJames GrierDefensive tackleMississippi StateRaymond HillDefensive backMichigan StateHerb HowardDefensive tackleVirginia StateTodd KollarOffensive tackleYoungstown StateCarl McCulloughRunning backWisconsinHardy MitchellDefensive tackleBuffaloDavid MudgeOffensive tackleMichigan StateMark NohraRunning backBritish ColumbiaWillie RodgersLinebackerFloridaJerry RossTight endPittsburg StateHassan Shamsid-DeenDefensive backNC StateAdrion SmithDefensive backSouthwest Missouri StateDuane StewartDefensive backWashington StatePaul TurnerWide receiverColorado StateClarence "Pooh Bear" WilliamsRunning backFlorida StateDan WilliamsCenterWoffordUndre WilliamsWide receiverFlorida A&M
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Regular season The opening game for 1998 constituted the first time since 1985 that the Bills played the San Diego Chargers. 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.
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 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)
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: , 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: , sunny, wind 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: , 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: , sunny TV: CBS Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms
Week 8
Week 10
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.
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.
Standings
Playoffs
AFC: Miami Dolphins 24, Buffalo Bills 17
Awards and honors Doug Flutie, AFC Pro Bowl Selection Doug Flutie, NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Notes
References
Bills on Pro Football Reference Bills on jt-sw.com Bills Stats on jt-sw.com