Flutie's cool with climate; QB shrugs off conditions

Brian Moritz
The Boston Herald. (Dec. 18, 2000):
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - The weather at Ralph Wilson Stadium didn't faze Doug Flutie
.
Sure, the snow was falling and the wind was swirling as Flutie's Buffalo Bills t
ook on one of his former employers, the Patriots. Flutie, however, had seen wors
e.
"This was probably No. 4 or 5 (worst)," Flutie said. "The worst was in Calgary (
when he was playing in the Canadian Football League), it was minus-24 at game ti
me, minus-44 at the end, it was snowing with 35 mph winds."
The weather didn't rattle the Bills QB, but the Patriots weren't fazed by Flutie
, as they rallied to beat Buffalo, 13-10, in overtime.
"We faced Flutie the first time we played them (on Nov. 5), so we had an idea wh
at he could do," said Patriots safety Tebucky Jones.
Flutie, who replaced Rob Johnson in the second quarter after the Buffalo starter
was knocked out of the game with a concussion, was 15-for-25 for 193 yards and
one touchdown.
"As usual, I thought Flutie did a great job," said Pats coach Bill Belichick. "H
e was too quick in the open field and he made some great throws."
However, Flutie also fumbled inside the 5-yard line, a turnover that proved to b
e costly.
"I've played in very similar conditions many times," Flutie said. "There are cer
tain things you can do, and certain things you can't do."
The announced crowd of 47,230 cheered when Flutie came into the game. They went
bonkers when he ran for 13 yards on his first play. That initial drive ended wit
h Buffalo scoring its first points on a 25-yard field goal by Doug Christie.
Flutie rallied Buffalo in the fourth quarter. He nearly scored on a 32-yard boot
leg, a run that set up his 1-yard touchdown pass to Sheldon Jackson. That one sc
ore was overshadowed by two Flutie fumbles at the 1-yard line.
The first came in the third quarter, when he bobbled the snap from center. Buffa
lo recovered, but Steve Christie missed the ensuing field goal try.
The second came in the fourth quarter, when Flutie botched a handoff to running
back Antowain Smith on second down. Garrett Johnson recovered for the Patriots.
Flutie gave the Bills a chance to win the game in overtime, driving Buffalo down
to the Pats' 12-yard line. Christie's 30-yard field goal try was blocked, and t
he Bills never got the ball back.
"I'm disappointed to lose, especially when you put forth that kind of effort," F
lutie said. "We felt like we controlled the game. We got inside the 1 twice, but
you can't take anything for granted."
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