The date: Jan. 8, 2000. The place: then known as Adelphia Coliseum in Nashville, TN. The scene: An AFC Wild-Card game between the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans. The result: The wildest of wild Wild-Card finishes.
The Bills
Buffalo came into the game with an 11-4 record. Wade Phillips started Rob Johnson, rather than Doug Flutie, who had started 15 games and led the Bills into the playoffs. Flutie had gone 10-5 as a starter but threw 16 interceptions against 19 touchdowns. With a playoff berth decided, Phillips decided to let Johnson start the Week 17 game against the AFC East division champion, the Colts. Johnson went 24-of-32 for 287 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 31–6 win. The following day, Phillips told Johnson he would start in their first round playoff game against the Titans. Years later, Phillips claimed that it was not his decision to start Johnson, and that owner Ralph Wilson had ordered him to do so.