Bills 20, Chargers 13

Sunday December 15, 2002

By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Bills were prepared for anything even Doug Flutie.

Travis Henry ran for 144 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a 26-yard game-winning run with 52 seconds remaining, sparking the Bills to a 20-13 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

The Bills also got a poised effort from their defense, thwarting any emotional boost the Chargers hoped to get from Flutie's first appearance of the season.

Flutie, who spent three years in Buffalo before being released in February 2001, received a mixed reaction of boos and cheers when he entered the game in place of starter Drew Brees with eight minutes remaining. Even though he set up Steve Christie's 53-yard field goal that tied the game at 13 on his first possession, Flutie was unable to complete the comeback.

``When Flutie came in, I knew we had to stay in our lanes because he can make things happen,'' Bills linebacker London Fletcher said. ``He's been a terrific player in this league for a number of years. ... It forced us to be disciplined on the back end.''

Flutie, who finished 3-of-11 for 64 yards, managed just one scoring drive on three possessions. The game ended on Buffalo's 37 when Flutie failing to complete two desperation passes into the end zone in the final 11 seconds, the last one tipped away by Buffalo cornerback Antoine Winfield.

It was a big turnaround from the last time Flutie faced his former team a year ago. He scored the winning touchdown with 70 seconds remaining in San Diego's 27-24 victory.

Sunday's win kept the Bills (7-7) barely alive in the playoff hunt. San Diego (8-6) has lost five of its last seven and faces a critical test when it plays at AFC West rival Kansas City next weekend.

Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, who hinted days earlier that Flutie might get a chance to play, doused any potential quarterback controversy.

``We will address one issue right at the outset,'' Schottenheimer said. ``Drew Brees is our starting quarterback.''

Schottenheimer explained that it was a gut instinct that led him to go with Flutie.

Initially, Schottenheimer thought it was the right move when Flutie hit Curtis Conway over the middle for a 47-yard reception on his first play from scrimmage.

``To be honest, I thought, 'Gee, maybe there is magic in this guy.' I did have that sense,'' Schottenheimer said. ``At the outset of this season, we talked about that scenario unfolding at some point in time, and today was that day. Unfortunately, we didn't get the results.''

Flutie is no stranger to quarterback disputes. His three seasons in Buffalo were mired by a divisive dispute with Rob Johnson, who's now a third-stringer in Tampa Bay.

Flutie insisted Sunday he does not want Brees' job.

``Let's set the record straight. Drew's the starter on this team,'' Flutie said. ``I'm just thankful to have an opportunity to be a part of this. ... I felt good. I wish I had gotten it out there.''

Brees went 13-of-24 for 148 yards and appeared to have difficulty passing into a sturdy wind blowing in off Lake Erie. LaDainian Tomlinson scored on a 2-yard plunge and finished with 110 yards rushing, the sixth time this season he's broken 100 yards.

Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe went 11-of-33 for a season-low 107 yards but got help from four pass interference penalties totaling 86 yards against the Chargers.

Mike Hollis hit field goals from 36 and 42 yards for Buffalo.

Henry, who's been overshadowed by Bledsoe's passing attack for most of this season, bailed out the Bills with his sixth 100-yard rushing game of season.

``I've been waiting for an opportunity like that all year,'' said Henry, who's 1,312 yards on the season rank sixth in franchise history. ``I was able to get a chance to carry the team. The offensive line blocked well and I stepped up to the plate.''< ^Notes:@ Game-time temperature was 36 degrees, making it the 11th coldest game in Chargers history. San Diego, which hadn't played a game in conditions 57 degrees or colder this season, is 3-8 when the temperature is 40 degrees or colder. ... With 3,949 yards passing, Bledsoe broke Jim Kelly's franchise record for most in a season set in 1991.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)