Worst Moments In Bills History, No. 23: Walk Off At Foxboro

by MattRichWarren on Jun 16, 2011 8:30 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills History

This is part of our countdown of the 25 worst moments in Buffalo Bills History. Check out the complete list, as well as the 25 best moments in team history, right here.

So far, each of the worst moments have involved a divisional opponent, and this is no exception. In 1998, the 7-4 Buffalo Bills were playing the 6-5 New England Patriots for the second time in three weeks. After beating the Patriots 13-10 at home, the second game of the series was just as close and hotly contested. Tempers were flaring and the refs weren't helping.

The Patriots jumped out to a 14-0, lead but two Steve Christie kicks closed the gap to 14-6 at the half. An 84-yard Eric Moulds touchdown reception brought the Bills closer, but the team's two-point conversion failed. After trading field goals, Andre Reed caught Doug Flutie's second touchdown pass of the day, but the Bills again failed to convert on the two-point attempt. At that point the Bills were up 21-17 with 6:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots' final drive began at their own 10-yard lone with 1:52 on the clock. Drew Bledsoe completed his first four pass attempts for 40 yards as the Patriots moved to the Buffalo 37. The Patriots were only able to gain one yard over their next three plays, setting up a crucial 4th-and-9 with only 11 second left. Bledsoe fired a 10-yard pass to Shawn Jefferson, who caught the ball at the sideline. The Bills disputed that the receiver had first down yardage and was in bounds, but the officials ruled a Patriot first down. In postgame interviews, both Reed and Flutie claimed they overheard the refs say, "just give it to them."

The next play began with only six seconds on the clock and the Patriots on the Bills' 26. Bledsoe heaved a pass into the end zone with the ball bouncing out of receiver Terry Glenn's hands. But a pass interference call on Bills safety Henry Jones gave the Patriots a free play with no time left on the clock.

"I don't know what he was watching," said Jones. "We all just jumped. I've never seen anything like that in my life. We was robbed, plain and simple."

On the final play of the game, Bledsoe found tight end Ben Coates in the back of the end zone for the score on a play action pass. Foxboro Stadium erupted in cheers and the Bills' entire sideline went to the locker room before the extra point. Kicker Adam Vinatieri took the snap and ran in for an uncontested two points, making the final score 25-21.

"I don't know how these officials are allowed to make those calls," said Bills coach Wade Phillips after the game. "You have one play in which the receiver was clearly out of bounds right in front of me, and another play where just a bunch of guys are jumping up in the air. I don't understand it."

"Am I ticked off? You (bleeping) bet I'm ticked off," said Bills fullback Sam Gash, a former Patriot. "For that official to behave like that, that's just (expletive). They cost us the game. What it comes down to is we had something stolen from us, and we're all ticked off."

"We didn't steal nothing from anyone," said Patriots tackle Bruce Armstrong. "I'm insulted that anyone would suggest that. We fought hard for this win and we earned it."

But Patriots cornerback Ty Law was sympathetic toward the Bills' plight. "If I was them, I'd be ticked off, too," said Law. "You never see that call on a Hail Mary. I know where they're coming from. These officials are making way too many calls. It's getting worse and worse every week."

The Bills came into the game tied for first place in the AFC East at 7-4 with the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. New England was a game behind. The loss knocked Buffalo to a game behind the Jets and Dolphins, who each won, and a Week 16 loss to the Jets clinched the division for New York. Buffalo finished the year 10-6 and made the playoffs as a wild card team. They lost in the Wild Card round to the Dolphins in Miami, but the game would have been played in Buffalo had the Bills beaten the Patriots in their Week 13 match-up.

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I knew this game was coming.

It was a travesty the refs totally blew the out of bounds reception then to add insult to injury the fathom interference call on a jump ball…

Didn’t the out of bounds call help re-institute instant replay? After replays were stopped in the early 90’s calls like that helped the NFL come to their senses!
.

"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"
-- George Rogers former Saints RB

by Goose22 on Jun 16, 2011 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

We are the poster children for instant replay...

I believe a call in the Cincinatti playoff game in ’81 where a Cincy runner (forget name) was stopped way short (his head was a good foot from the goal line) but the refs called touchdown was one of the reasons instant replay was first instituted. This is gonna be a painful countdown…. I just know it….

by Kemichal on Jun 16, 2011 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Ugh.

I remember Buffalo running off the field at the end and I had no idea what to think. I was just so confused on what had just happened over the past few plays.

And then when Vinatieri ran it in, it just made me even more mad…

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Jun 16, 2011 9:08 AM EDT reply actions

Jefferson was definitevly out of bounds and AT LEAST a yard and a half short of the first down. Follow that joke of a call up with a pass interference on a Hail Mary and you have an absolute disgrace on your hands. I’ve followed this team for 23 seasons and this is the only game I feel was absolutely, positively stolen and should have led to the termination of the officiating crew and a cursory investigation to gambling ties.

"There's only one C.J. Spiller." -Buddy Nix

by Port Royal on Jun 16, 2011 9:16 AM EDT reply actions

Way too many heartbreaking losses like this

Matt you’re going to have plenty of material to use for this series. I always thought we were cursed, its almost comical how we lose the games we lose. Last year we had atleast 3 games like that..this is just terrible…what a way to start my morning….

by doctork44 on Jun 16, 2011 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

I know.

I think we should vote on whether we want this to continue or not – i’d vote no. Then after we win the SB in 2014 we can start this series. haven’t we gone through enough?

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jun 16, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow. At least we alternate between best and worst! :-)

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jun 16, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

lol – I was just kidding – forgot to add the j/k.

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jun 16, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m loving this series of posts! There’s only so much lockout news I can take.

by The Adam Bomb on Jun 16, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

think we should vote on whether we want this to continue or not – i’d vote no.

Face the Pain like a man J2, the pain will eventually fade but the memories will attach in your brain like they were made of Velcro…

"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"
-- George Rogers former Saints RB

by Goose22 on Jun 16, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

haha – trust me I remember most of them unfortunately. too many bad ones to remember and not enough good ones!! the good ones were 20 years ago – my memory isn’t that great!

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jun 16, 2011 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

One for all and all for One

We all suffer together…

"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"
-- George Rogers former Saints RB

by Goose22 on Jun 16, 2011 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow. Newsies.

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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Buffalo Rumblings

by MattRichWarren on Jun 16, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Can you believe

The only two home games I’ve been to is probably going be on this list. 2009 against the Browns 6-3 and last years home game against the Jets. I couldn’t tell you the score in that one because I left after 3rd quarter. I came all the way from MD to see those games and left with a broken heart. But the good news is that I had enough time before my flight left, to go to Duff’s and get me some of those wings…..Geez, I’ll move to Buffalo just for those wings…lol

by doctork44 on Jun 16, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually neither of those games are on the list though you can make a case for 6-3. I was at that game, too.

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jun 16, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Great!!!

I feel a little better. My day is beginning to look a lot brighter :)

by doctork44 on Jun 16, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

You went with Newsies? Over the Three Musketeers?

Great flick though. Incredible music.

by The Adam Bomb on Jun 16, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Newsies

I had to look that up (Never heard of it), hard to picture Christian Bale in a musical after seeing him in American Psycho and The Machinist…

"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first"
-- George Rogers former Saints RB

by Goose22 on Jun 16, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s actually really good in it. One of his better roles IMO.

by The Adam Bomb on Jun 16, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I remember this game vividly

and I wish I couldn’t. This was the game that made me start to HATE the pats. Yeah it was the refs that blew the calls at the end, including that pass interference but I remember Glenn had Jones in a headlock and Jones was called for interference. It was during a period where it seemed like all refs in the league were putting on a Bills hate fest as I remember every game just being like “how did we get 15 penalties?”

"You can't spell, 'The Buffalo Bills Win the Superbowl,' without 'Buffalo Bills.'" - Me

by B3@$TMoD3 on Jun 16, 2011 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

That was so bad. I remember that last drive. I was upset already cause the Bills defense allowed Bledsoe to pick them apart and I was already thinking the Bills were about to blow it. Then they made the stop they needed to make and the refs gave them the first down anyway. And THEN they called pass interference!!!

My buddies and I were very well aware of the fact that if the Bills won this game then it was likely that they would host the Dolphins in the playoffs. It WOULD have been my first playoff game ever. To date I have not been to one (for obvious reasons).

by The Adam Bomb on Jun 16, 2011 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

This memory stinks.

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Jun 16, 2011 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

No one old enough to have seen it will ever forget this game.

I hadn’t ever read that quote from Ty Law. I’m pretty surprised he said what he said.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jun 16, 2011 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

it was a crime

the worst officiating i have ever witnessed.

pure highway robbery…

disgusting display….

would love to interview those clowns
and find out what they thought they
were doing.

doubt they would be honest about it though.

by simonpure on Jun 16, 2011 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

What happened to the officials?

I was outraged at the conclusion of this farce. If I remember correctly, this game is what caused Ralph Wilson to warm up to the idea of instant replay in its current incarnation.

Anyone remember which officiating crew was working this game, and if there was any discipline handed out afterward?

by BlueFalcon on Jun 16, 2011 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

I’m willing to bet that we see something on list like “Worst Moments In Bills History, No. XX: Bills on Monday Nights in the 2000s”. The three absolute worst games of the decade behind the “Varsity Squad” game.

by Schrims on Jun 16, 2011 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

I remember this travesty vividly. Some friends and I had driven to Tampa, where the Sabres were playing the Lightning that night, and we watched the Bills game in a bar across the street from the Forum. Lots of Buffalo fans in there, and there was some major outrage when this farce was over. At least the Sabres beat the crap out of the ‘Ning.
By the way, I’m pretty sure the Bills finished 10-6 that year, not 11-5. Started out with 3 losses before Flutie magic took over.

by BuffaloRepresent on Jun 16, 2011 5:59 PM EDT reply actions

Agonizing and Excruciating

And yet I can’t help but think that this is the right thing to do.

When tribes suffered trauma, they would sit around the campfire and discuss in a kind of cathartic purging of the event. This is the modern-day equivalent. (Of course, I’m Irish Catholic so that may explain my willingness to subject myself to this, as well…)

This is where the healing begins…

Thanks, guys!

by Luther6 on Jun 16, 2011 6:47 PM EDT reply actions