Flutie Races Off With Another Big Victory

Quarterback Doug Flutie ran for a 13-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to lead the San Diego Chargers to a 27-24 victory Sunday over his former team, the Buffalo Bills.

Let it be noted that the weather at Qualcomm Stadium--with 63,698 in attendance--was appropriately cool and dark.

Isn’t there a proverb that says revenge is a dish best served at less than room temperature?

Facing a team that announced it had no use for his services after last season, Flutie completed 21 of 33 passes for 254 yards, including a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Freddie Jones in the first quarter.

The victory left the Chargers at 5-2 and dropped the Bills to 1-5.

Flutie downplayed the idea that he was determined to show Bill owner Ralph Wilson that he was wrong when he cast Flutie adrift in favor of the younger, taller Rob Johnson.

But he conceded he had some difficulty reducing his adrenaline level.

“Honestly, I’m just glad it’s over,” Flutie said. “The media had a lot of fun this week but it’s just been too many headaches.”

Charger defensive end Marcellus Wiley, also a former Bill, said the victory should put to rest any suspicions about Flutie.

“Don’t badmouth the man,” Wiley said. “I don’t care if he’s short ... he’s the man.”

Also on the list of Chargers who once were employed by Buffalo and left the snow belt feeling unappreciated is General Manager John Butler. Little wonder the game had been billed as Buffalo vs. Buffalo West.

“I felt there was something added in the air beside the clouds,” Charger Coach Mike Riley said.

Still, the outcome may not end the Flutie vs. Johnson debate that once raged in Buffalo, fueled by a lack of warmth between the two rivals.

Johnson completed 24 of 37 passes for 310 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Peerless Price midway through the fourth quarter.

But Johnson did something Flutie did not: he threw an interception, a badly underthrown pass that was picked off by Charger safety Jason Perry for a 37-yard touchdown.

The game that started as a rout--the Chargers led, 10-0, after one quarter--settled down to a snooze--Chargers 13, Bills 10 after three quarters.

But the fourth quarter proved a heart-stopper as the Bills took the lead for the first time, 24-20, with 1:45 remaining on a 12-play, 68-yard drive capped by a three-yard touchdown plunge by Travis Henry.

But Charger Ronney Jenkins returned the kickoff 72 yards and, after the Bills were assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the stage was set for Flutie’s fateful scramble and head-long dive with 1:30 remaining.

The Bills had a chance to tie with 15 seconds left but a 44-yard field-goal attempt by Jake Arians was blocked by Charger defensive tackle Ed Ellis.

“It was just one-two-three, push and jump,” Ellis said.

The Chargers had scored in the first quarter on a field goal by Wade Richey and the Flutie-Jones touchdown pass, followed by another Richey field goal in the second quarter.

The Bills closed the gap with a one-yard touchdown run by Johnson and a field goal by Arians. After a scoreless third quarter, both teams scored 14 points in the final quarter.

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Advantage, Flutie

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