Bills Cash In on Raider Mistakes

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. —  The Oakland Raiders brought one of the NFL’s best defenses into Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Fortunately for the Bills, the Raiders also brought their knack for beating themselves.

Buffalo’s explosive offense was too much for Oakland’s stingy defense as the Bills--also helped by numerous mistakes by the struggling Raider offense--rolled to a 44-21 victory.

“We certainly got Oakland at the right time,” said Bill Coach Wade Phillips, whose 9-5 team has won four of its last five games.

The Raiders (7-7) came into the game with the second-ranked defense in the NFL, but continued to pay heavily for mistakes, including a fumble and interception returned for touchdowns.

The Bills scored on six consecutive possessions to take a 37-7 lead in the third quarter and stay in the AFC East championship race. Buffalo outgained Oakland 316 yards to 178, converted on six of 15 third downs and did not turn the ball over.

“It was a nice all-around game,” said Doug Flutie, who completed 17 of 26 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. “My thinking going in was be smart with the ball and don’t turn it over, and our defense is going to put us in a position to get some points.”

Antowain Smith reached 1,000 yards for the season with a five-yard run with two minutes left. He finished 77 yards and a touchdown in 22 carries.

Oakland quarterback Wade Wilson, whose last start was in a meaningless game for Dallas at the end of the regular season in 1996, went 16 for 26 for 131 yards. The 39-year-old threw two interceptions and was sacked five times. Gabe Northern returned one of the interceptions for a touchdown, while Phil Hansen ran back a Wilson fumble for another score.

“They put some pressure on and blitzed us quite a bit,” said Wilson, who replaced Donald Hollas as starting quarterback after he was sacked eight times and threw six interceptions last week in a loss to Miami.

The Raiders have lost five of six after a 7-3 start, and continue to experience the frustration of 1995, when they dropped their last six and missed the playoffs after starting 8-2.

“I’m not going to compare this team to teams of the past,” said Raider wide receiver Tim Brown, who scored the game’s final touchdown on a 30-yard pass play from Wilson with 3:57 left. “But it’s a tough way to go.”

Oakland is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Two touchdowns in the second quarter gave the Buffalo a 17-0 lead. Safety Kurt Schulz set up the first one, snatching Wilson’s pass away from James Jett at the Bill 20 late in the first quarter. The Bills drove from there on 14 plays to the touchdown, a 13-yard pass play from Flutie to tight end Jay Riemersma.

Kevin Williams set up the second Buffalo touchdown with a 73-yard punt return to the Oakland 2, with Flutie throwing to tight end Lonnie Johnson for the score.