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I honestly can't believe that season was as long ago as it was, but this season (since we signed Orton) has struck me as being eerily similar.
For you younger fans: At the time, the Bills were coming off their first losing season in a very long time. Jim Kelly had retired following the 1996 season, and in the 1997 the Bills had one of the worst, most pathetic seasons in our history (record aside). For fun, google Billie Jo Hobart sometime. Missing the playoffs was a foreign concept in Buffalo, and fans were cautiously optimistic following the signing of Rob Johnson at qb in the offseason.
To recap:
At QB, the young Rob Johnson, with limitless potential, was backed up by the aging Doug Flutie, who was short, and had a "limited ceiling." He was the backup that wasn't really going to challenge the young starter, he was there to hold a clipboard and cheer on the sideline.
Similar to: EJ and Orton
At RB:
The young kid, Antoine Smith, was taking over the reigns of the rush-heavy offense (most rushing attempts in the league), but the fan-favorite vet, Thurman Thomas, could get the yards we needed him to. Always.
Similar to: CJ and Fredex
At WR:
Loaded with talent. The league was a little different, so 5 wide sets weren't the norm. But Reed and Moulds were starting to turn into a nasty tandem.
Similar to: Watkins and Woods
Defensive Line:
Wow. Bruce Smith, Ted Washington, Phil Hansen.
Similar to: Mario, Dareus, Kyle Williams.
Defensive Backfield.
I don't remember.
Similar to: Who cares.
Special Teams:
Steve Christie was Mr. Reliable, and his long hair would blow in the Buffalo wind.
Similar to: Dan Carpenter.
And of course, the season itself:
An 0-3 start was buoyed somewhat by some late-game heroics by Rob Johnson, pulling out a win to get us to 1-3. Those would be his last 4 games as a starter for almost 2 years, and in came the "game manager" Doug Flutie. We beat Indy on the road, then pulled out one of the best games in Bills history at home over Jacksonville https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqChXRm7Kbs
Watching that 2 minute drill gives me goosebumps, I can still remember it like it was yesterday. So began Flutie mania--I still have my boxes of Flutie flakes somewhere. Flutie went 11-3 as a starter, and the Bills made the playoffs. In fact, they should have beat the Dolphins in round 1.
The following season, an 11-5 Bills team likely would have won the Super Bowl with an absolutely dominant defense... if only the homerun throwback hadn't happened.
So what does it all mean?
It means buckle up. Is Orton Peyton Manning? No. But our defense is elite, our receivers are young and talented, and our running backs have potential to lead the league. This assemblage of talent is a Patriots loss tonight away from being in first place in the division, and that's with having the lowest rated QB in the league (per QBR) under center... or should I say in shotgun formation. Football isn't rocket science, it's about making plays and imposing your will. Our defense can do that, and our offense can too.
Even a loss at Detroit won't derail this train.
Have fun Bills fans, we all deserve this move today. It almost seems impossible to me that the Bills won't make the playoffs. Orton has the arm strength to get the ball where it needs to be, and if you check his career stats vs. every Bills QB ever, you can see that (sadly) he's one of the best to ever suit up for us. Hell, he's above .500 as a starter. Drew Bledsoe is the last Bill who could make that claim... a decade ago.
It's crazy, because this team could be very good, very soon. I'm still expecting them to lose this weekend, as Orton didn't even get a preseason game to throw to these kids. But my god, when they have 2-3 games under their belts together.... a division title seems like a near certainty. Hate all you want, but for what it's worth, I've sat here and said this team is going to be garbage for the last 10 years.
Today, I'm saying this team is going to be good again. Finally.
For you younger fans: At the time, the Bills were coming off their first losing season in a very long time. Jim Kelly had retired following the 1996 season, and in the 1997 the Bills had one of the worst, most pathetic seasons in our history (record aside). For fun, google Billie Jo Hobart sometime. Missing the playoffs was a foreign concept in Buffalo, and fans were cautiously optimistic following the signing of Rob Johnson at qb in the offseason.
To recap:
At QB, the young Rob Johnson, with limitless potential, was backed up by the aging Doug Flutie, who was short, and had a "limited ceiling." He was the backup that wasn't really going to challenge the young starter, he was there to hold a clipboard and cheer on the sideline.
Similar to: EJ and Orton
At RB:
The young kid, Antoine Smith, was taking over the reigns of the rush-heavy offense (most rushing attempts in the league), but the fan-favorite vet, Thurman Thomas, could get the yards we needed him to. Always.
Similar to: CJ and Fredex
At WR:
Loaded with talent. The league was a little different, so 5 wide sets weren't the norm. But Reed and Moulds were starting to turn into a nasty tandem.
Similar to: Watkins and Woods
Defensive Line:
Wow. Bruce Smith, Ted Washington, Phil Hansen.
Similar to: Mario, Dareus, Kyle Williams.
Defensive Backfield.
I don't remember.
Similar to: Who cares.
Special Teams:
Steve Christie was Mr. Reliable, and his long hair would blow in the Buffalo wind.
Similar to: Dan Carpenter.
And of course, the season itself:
An 0-3 start was buoyed somewhat by some late-game heroics by Rob Johnson, pulling out a win to get us to 1-3. Those would be his last 4 games as a starter for almost 2 years, and in came the "game manager" Doug Flutie. We beat Indy on the road, then pulled out one of the best games in Bills history at home over Jacksonville https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqChXRm7Kbs
Watching that 2 minute drill gives me goosebumps, I can still remember it like it was yesterday. So began Flutie mania--I still have my boxes of Flutie flakes somewhere. Flutie went 11-3 as a starter, and the Bills made the playoffs. In fact, they should have beat the Dolphins in round 1.
The following season, an 11-5 Bills team likely would have won the Super Bowl with an absolutely dominant defense... if only the homerun throwback hadn't happened.
So what does it all mean?
It means buckle up. Is Orton Peyton Manning? No. But our defense is elite, our receivers are young and talented, and our running backs have potential to lead the league. This assemblage of talent is a Patriots loss tonight away from being in first place in the division, and that's with having the lowest rated QB in the league (per QBR) under center... or should I say in shotgun formation. Football isn't rocket science, it's about making plays and imposing your will. Our defense can do that, and our offense can too.
Even a loss at Detroit won't derail this train.
Have fun Bills fans, we all deserve this move today. It almost seems impossible to me that the Bills won't make the playoffs. Orton has the arm strength to get the ball where it needs to be, and if you check his career stats vs. every Bills QB ever, you can see that (sadly) he's one of the best to ever suit up for us. Hell, he's above .500 as a starter. Drew Bledsoe is the last Bill who could make that claim... a decade ago.
It's crazy, because this team could be very good, very soon. I'm still expecting them to lose this weekend, as Orton didn't even get a preseason game to throw to these kids. But my god, when they have 2-3 games under their belts together.... a division title seems like a near certainty. Hate all you want, but for what it's worth, I've sat here and said this team is going to be garbage for the last 10 years.
Today, I'm saying this team is going to be good again. Finally.
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