1998 Buffalo Bills season

The 1998 Buffalo Bills season was the team's 39th season, and 29th in the National Football League (NFL). The season marked an important development in the Bills’ history as a quarterback controversy would consume the whole season between Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie. It would also mark the beginning of the Wade Phillips era. The Bills improved on the previous season's output of 6–10, and finished second in the AFC East with a 10–6 record, and would qualify for the playoffs only to lose in the wild card round to the Miami Dolphins.

The Bills lost their first three games of the season, all by six points or less, and looked to be headed for a losing season. After a bye in Week Four, quarterback Rob Johnson finally won his first game with Buffalo, holding on for a 26–21 win over San Francisco in Week Five. Flutie started the next eleven games, winning nine of them. The Bills had a playoff spot locked up by the final game of the season, which Johnson started and won.

The Bills played the Dolphins in the Wild Card round of the 1998 AFC Playoffs, where wide receiver Eric Moulds would set the NFL playoff record for receiving yards, with 240. The Bills would end up losing the game 24–17, as Dolphins lineman Trace Armstrong sacked Flutie on Buffalo's last drive, forcing him to fumble, and icing the game for Miami.

Offseason
The Bills, looking to upgrade the quarterback position, signed Rob Johnson, who had played for Jacksonville in 1997, and improved his stock with a win in relief of Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell. Bills general manager John Butler traded away the Bills' first- and fourth-round picks to Jacksonville for the rights to Johnson.

The Bills also signed long-time CFL quarterback Doug Flutie to back up Johnson; Flutie would end the 1998 season with the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Regular season
The opening game for 1998 constituted the first time since 1985 that the Bills played the San Diego Chargers. The reason for this is that before the admission of the Texans in 2002, NFL scheduling formulas for games outside a team's division were much more influenced by table position during the previous season.

Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1
Starting QBs: Buffalo: Rob Johnson ** Johnson left with a concussion with the Bills trailing 10-0. **

San Diego Chargers: Ryan Leaf ** 1st NFL Start **

Vegas Line: San Diego Chargers -1.5

Over/Under:41.0 (under)

Week 2
Week 2 at Miami Dolphins Week 3 vs St Louis Rams Week 4 Bye
 * Score: L 13-7
 * Date: September 13, 1998
 * Stadium: Pro Player Stadium, Miami FL
 * Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
 * Attendance: 73,097
 * Weather: 82 F, 10% chance of rain
 * TV: CBS
 * Announcers: Ian Eagle and Mark May
 * Score: L 33-34
 * Date: September 20, 1998
 * Stadium: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
 * Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
 * Attendance: 65,199
 * Weather: 72 F, sunny, wind 10 mph
 * TV: Fox
 * Announcers: Kenny Albert and Tim Green

Week 5 vs San Francisco 49ers Week 6 at Indianapolis Colts Week 7 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
 * Score: W 26-21
 * Date: October 4, 1998
 * Stadium: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
 * Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
 * Attendance: 76,615
 * Weather: 50 F, cloudy
 * TV: Fox
 * Announcers: Ray Bentley and Ron Pitts
 * Score: W 31-24
 * Date: October 11, 1998
 * Stadium: RCA Dome, Indianapolis IN
 * Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
 * Attendance: 52,938
 * Weather: Dome
 * TV: CBS
 * Announcers: Bill Macatee and John Dockery
 * Score: W 17-16
 * Date: October 18, 1998
 * Stadium: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
 * Start Time: 1PM ET/10AM PT
 * Attendance: 77,635
 * Weather: 68 F, sunny
 * TV: CBS
 * Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms

Week 14
First meeting of the two teams in Cincinnati since the 1988 AFC Championship Game.

Starting QBs: Buffalo: Doug Flutie

Cincinnati: Neil O'Donnell

Vegas Line:	Buffalo Bills -4.5

Over/Under:	43.0 (over)

On the first play from scrimmage, Eric Moulds became the 20th Player in Bills History With 50+ Receptions In A Season, as he caught a 55 yard reception from Doug Flutie.

Week 15
Wade Wilson gets his 2nd start at QB since 1993 by head coach John Gruden. Buffalo clinches playoff berth with the win. Wade Phillips also gets his first head coaching win vs the Raiders.

Awards and honors

 * Doug Flutie, AFC Pro Bowl Selection
 * Doug Flutie, NFL Comeback Player of the Year