It All Falls Into Place for the Bills

It was almost like Christmas in Buffalo.

The Bills got everything they wanted Sunday: a victory over Pittsburgh, New England’s first loss and another stellar performance from Doug Flutie. The only thing missing was snow.

Flutie threw three touchdown passes, including a 49-yarder to Eric Moulds, in Buffalo’s 24-21 victory over the Steelers.

The Bills (4-1), with their fourth consecutive victory after a sloppy, season-opening loss to Indianapolis, ended the day with a share of first place in the AFC East with the Patriots, who fell to Kansas City on a missed field-goal attempt.

Flutie completed 11 of his first 12 passes and finished 21 for 32 for 261 yards with no interceptions. He also threw touchdown passes to fullback Sam Gash and tight end Jay Riermersma, and Steve Christie kicked a 29-yard field goal.

“This was my best day throwing this season,” said Flutie, whose 300-yard passing day against the Colts was marred by two interceptions. “The ball came out well and I saw the field better than I have. I just felt like I had all kinds of time out there.”

Flutie also had room. He scrambled for a 21-yard gain on third and 20 on a drive that led to Christie’s field goal and a 17-7 lead late in the first half.

Pittsburgh (2-3) lost its third in a row and suffered its first road loss, but quarterback Kordell Stewart played better. He went into the game with one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions in his last eight starts for a rating that left him near the bottom of the AFC. But he completed 21 of 29 passes for 216 yards, including touchdowns to Hines Ward in the first quarter and to Troy Edwards in the second.