ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- A quarterback controversy has not affected the Buffalo Bills.
Quarterback Doug Flutie scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter to break open a tight game and the Bills' defense did the rest in a 20-3 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Flutie started the season as the club's backup before moving into a starting role when Rob Johnson suffered a separated shoulder on October 15 against San Diego.
In his fourth start since replacing Johnson, Flutie got off to a rough start today and was replaced by Johnson for one series in the second quarter. On his only possession, Johnson led the Bills to a field goal that gave them a 6-3 lead with 61 seconds left before halftime.
Flutie returned in the second half and scored on a one-yard run with 6:57 left in the period, giving Buffalo a 13-3 advantage.
Buffalo (6-4) improved to 3-1 with Flutie as the starter. Coach Wade Phillips, however, said afterwards that Johnson would replace Flutie as the starter for next week's game at Kansas City.
The 38-year-old Flutie, who broke in with the Bears in 1986 after playing one year in the United States Football League for the New Jersey Generals, completed 16-of-26 passes for 171 yards and one interception against his former team.
Already without starting quarterback Cade McNown, the Bears lost backup Jim Miller to a torn left Achilles tendon in the second quarter. He was hit before he went out of bounds and had his leg rolled up by 6-4, 290-pound defensive end Shawn Price. Miller was taken of the field on a cart.
Without Miller, the Bears' offense struggled behind Shane Matthews, who went 11-of-24 for 106 yards and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter that cornerback Daryl Porter returned 23 yards for a touchdown.
Rookie Paul Edinger kicked a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter for Chicago (2-8).
"We just didn't do enough. Obviously you score three points, you are not going to win a lot of games," Bears coach Dick Jauron said. "They are a very good football team. We did not get enough big plays."
Neither team could move the ball in the first quarter, but the Bills finally broke on top early in the second period. Flutie completed 24-yard passes to rookie Sammy Morris and Jeremy McDaniel, setting up Steve Christie's 27-yard field goal.
Miller made his final drive before his injury count. Following a short punt by Chris Mohr, he moved the Bears 37 yards in 10 plays. He had third-down completions of nine yards to Marty Booker and 12 yards to James Allen to keep the drive alive.
Before leaving with his injury, Miller went 9-of-13 for 40 yards.
Edinger, who has been a surprise, kicked a 24-yard field goal with 4:56 remaining before halftime to tie it.
Johnson relieved Flutie with 4:56 left in the half and led the Bills down the field. On his second play, Johnson took off and ran 17 yards to the Buffalo 43 before hitting Moulds with a 30-yard pass to move the ball into Bears territory.
The drive stalled, however, and the Bills settled for Christie's 42-yard field goal that provided a 6-3 lead with 61 seconds left before the break.
"It felt great. I've always been the starting pitcher," Johnson said. "I've never liked relief much. Since (coach Wade Phillips) told me I was going to get some playing time, I got my mind going. It was nice to get more than three plays."
Perhaps inspired by his benching, Flutie led the Bills to their only offensive touchdown on the first possession of the second half.
Flutie made a big play on the 13-play, 70-yard drive, finding Peerless Price with a 21-yard pass that moved the ball into Bears territory. On 4th-and-goal from the 1, Flutie ran around left end for touchdown to make it 13-3 with 6:57 left in the period.
"They still scored, they ran a good play," Bears rookie linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "I didn't know what was coming. Fourth-and-goal and we were stacking up for the run."
"We made some plays on defense and a few on offense," said Moulds, who had five receptions for 91 yards. "We've had trouble putting teams away. To go down there and score a touchdown really helped us out."
Matthews, who had not taken a snap in a game this season, looked lost and threw all three of his interceptions in the second half. Keion Carpenter had two of those picks for the Bills.
"In my situation now, I have to be ready for next week to go out and prepare," Matthews said. "I need to play much better than I did today."
A big defensive play with under four minutes remaining, thrwarted any chances of a Bears comeback.
Sam Rogers sacked Matthews and fellow linebacker Keith Newman scooped up the ball. Heading for the end zone, Newman fumbled at the Chicago 23, but Porter picked it up and ran into the end zone, giving Buffalo a 20-3 lead with 2:40 remaining.
"I saw him (Porter) scoop it up and go in. I was on my back thinking, damn it should've been me," Newman said. "Daryl Porter scooped it up and made a great play."
James Allen carried 16 times for 87 yards for the Bears, who managed 234 total yards.
