Bills Can Bank On Flutie Magic

For three quarters, Tony Banks played just well enough to avoid ruining a brilliant effort by the Baltimore Raven defense.

Then he gave Doug Flutie not one, but two chances to engineer yet another comeback victory. Despite struggling for much of the game, Flutie was more than equal to the task.

Flutie ran for 17 yards on a fourth-down play, then flipped a five-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Linton with 1:35 left Sunday to rally the Bills to a 13-10 victory.

Flutie threw three interceptions in the first three quarters to help Baltimore build a 10-3 lead. But Banks threw an interception and lost a fumble in two consecutive series, setting the stage for Buffalo (5-3) to win for the first time in three games.

“I’m relieved. It’s hard to be real happy because we just are struggling offensively and at times it looks ugly,” Flutie said.

Not nearly as ugly as the perspective from the Ravens (2-5). Banks--the third starting quarterback used by Coach Brian Billick this season--was well on his way to leading Baltimore to its first victory since Oct. 3 when it all went awry in the fourth quarter.

First, Banks threw an interception that Kurt Schulz took 26 yards to the Baltimore 34. The Bills got a first and goal at the one, but a sack by Rob Burnett and a personal foul on the Bills’ John Fina moved the ball back to the 24. Buffalo had to settle for a field goal by Steve Christie with 6:21 left.

Banks then fumbled on an impromptu third-down run, and Buffalo’s Jay Foreman recovered at the Baltimore 45 with 3:25 remaining. Flutie ran for 17 yards on a fourth-and-15 play from the 39, then completed passes to Andre Reed for five and 12 yards before scrambling to his right and connecting with Linton in the end zone.