Reply #10: That's pure idiocy by Lupica

[Awsi Dooger]

Most of those high profile commentators are absolutely clueless in regard to technical football. They love the storyline aspect, so they prioritize so-called team chemistry and similar blather.

Flutie declined severely in 1999. You could see it all year and it was absolutely the correct decision to yank him in favor of Rob Johnson, who may have been a statue but he could get the ball down the field. In the playoffs the points indeed come out of the passing game, and you need to make the big plays downfield, and stop similar.

Flutie had a terrific year in '98, by far his best as a pro starter at 7.7 yards per attempt. In '99 he dropped dramatically to 6.6. That is all the difference between a QB who can carry his team deep into the playoffs, and one who will be a liability. Over the last 10 games Flutie was even worse, barely 6.3 yards per attempt. Rob Johnson, in limited action, was 8.8 that year. You had to give him a chance.

And it damn near worked out, other than the fluke special teams play.

Let's put it this way; every sharp guy I know in Las Vegas was itching to bet against the Bills in the playoffs if Flutie and his anemic yards per attempt had been the QB. That Tennessee team was excellent, the best wild card record ever at 13-3.