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Steelers' struggles continue

Flutie, Johnson both continue sharp QB play for Bills

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Posted: Sunday September 05, 1999 12:13 AM

Picking up where he left off: Doug Flutie was 3-of-6 for 59 yards in his only series Saturday. AP

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- The preseason is over. Let the NFL season begin.

The Buffalo Bills looked ready for the real thing as they used just a bit of Doug Flutie's magic to spark a 16-14 victory over the sputtering Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL's final exhibition game Saturday night.

"We're ready to go," Bills running back Thurman Thomas said.

Flutie threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jay Riemersma on Buffalo's first possession and Steve Christie added three field goals.

For Pittsburgh, Mike Tomczak threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Will Blackwell with 12 seconds to play, and Kris Brown kicked two field goals, including a 49-yarder.

It wasn't pretty, as both teams focused on finalizing their rosters before Sunday's cuts to 53 players. The season opens Sept. 12.

"It looked a lot like a preseason game," said Bills coach Wade Phillips, whose team committed eight penalties for 89 yards and struggled to run the ball. "There were mistakes; they made a lot more than we did."

The Bills (3-1) beat the Steelers for the first time ever in a preseason game. The Steelers (1-3) continued to have big problems with their offense.

"The preseason is over," Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said. "I would have liked to have seen a better performance throughout the preseason, especially on offense. We played well at times offensively, but we are what we are."

The Steelers, who lost their last five games last season and let their defense twist in the wind as their offense managed just one touchdown over the last 17 quarters of the season, are in trouble again.

The Steelers finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons under Cowher, then lost several veteran players. Pittsburgh's offense managed 236 total yards and couldn't manage a touchdown until the final seconds.

"It's a new offense, and we're trying to work toward excellence and understanding what it is we all have to do," quarterback Kordell Stewart said. "Once that understanding is clear, that's when we'll look like an offense that's moving the ball a lot."

Flutie set up the first touchdown with a 29-yard sideline pass to Eric Moulds and then found Riemersma behind safety Chris Oldham for a 7-0 lead.

Flutie was 3-of-6 for 59 yards in his only series. Rob Johnson took over and was 11-of-16 for 91 yards and drove the team within range for two field goals. He was sacked three times and banged his left (non-throwing) hand on a helmet; but he should be OK.

Christie kicked a 42-yard field goal for a 10-6 lead with 9:28 left in the third quarter and added a 40-yarder six minutes later. His final field goal was a 27-yarder with 2:14 to play.

Brown, who missed a 32-yard field goal attempt, hit a 49-yarder with 16 seconds left in the first quarter and added a 43-yard chip shot to cut Buffalo's lead to 7-6 with 20 seconds left in the half.

For the Steelers, the biggest contest is at backup quarterback. Stewart played one quarter and was 5-of-8 for 44 yards. He was replaced by Pete Gonzalez, who was 6-of-10 for 44 yards.

Tomczak came in with three minutes left in the third quarter and on his first throw completed a 33-yard pass to Malcolm Johnson. Tomczak finished 8-of-16 for 100 yards with one interception, that by Antoine Winfield, Buffalo's top draft pick.

Buffalo running back Anthony Gray was leading the Bills in rushing yards with 126 on 33 carries and had scored two touchdowns. He had a 32-yard run nullified by a penalty and broke away for 21 yards in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh.

Gray, a free agent from Western New Mexico, must get in line behind Antowain Smith, Sam Gash, Thomas and Jonathan Linton. But it wouldn't be surprising to see the Bills keep five running backs as insurance against Smith's nagging groin injury.

Smith has worked very little in preseason; he rushed eight times for 8 yards Saturday and finished the preseason with 21 carries for 48 yards.

"I'm not concerned right now," Smith said. "It's still just preseason. But no, the numbers haven't been what we want. We'll go back to the drawing board."

Cowher said Jerome Bettis could have played but he decided to hold him out while the bruising running back recuperates from a surgically repaired left knee.

Steelers backup linebacker Mike Vrabel broke a bone in his right forearm and will be out at least three weeks, Cowher said.

 

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