Johnson Makes Most of Start Against Saints

Rob Johnson showed that Doug Flutie’s not the only quarterback who can lead the Buffalo Bills to victory.

Johnson, a former USC standout who lost his starting job to Flutie because of an injury in the season’s fifth game, threw for three touchdowns and ran for a 12-yard score as the Bills (10-6) defeated the New Orleans Saints, 45-33, Sunday.

Flutie, who has a minor leg injury, sat out to rest for the Bills’ playoff game Saturday in Miami.

“There’s a lot of rust, but I got a whole week of practice,” said Johnson, who made his first start since hurting his ribs against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 11. “I just try to do a good job when I’m out there.”

Johnson, who was 1-3 before Flutie took over as starter, finished 12 of 18 for 216 yards against the Saints and had a far easier time than his counterpart, Kerry Collins.

Collins completed only three of 12 passes for 23 yards, and was sacked twice, intercepted once and also had a fumble before being pulled in the first quarter for Billy Joe Tolliver. Collins has committed 14 of the Saints’ 32 turnovers in his 23 quarters since coming to the team from the Carolina Panthers.

“Sure, we were behind a lot, but it was still the first quarter and there was a lot of football left to play,” Collins said. “Any quarterback would be surprised to be pulled under those conditions.”

The Saints, who had scored only three touchdowns in December, appeared totally confused as they fell behind, 28-0. New Orleans, however, did end up with its highest point total of the season.

“It’s a horror novel we just closed a chapter on,” Coach Mike Ditka said after the Saints finished 6-10 for the second time in his two years in New Orleans.