Switching From Canadian

SWITCHING FROM CANADIAN football to the American game usually causes difficulties. But in 1998, Doug Flutie’s quick thinking brought the Buffalo Bills a comeback victory.

Bruised ribs sidelined starting quarterback Rob Johnson, and Flutie drew the assignment against the undefeated Jacksonville Jaguars. The backup signal caller signed with the Bills after eight seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. He hadn’t started in a National Football League game since 1989 and ironically took the game’s first snap on Canada’s Thanksgiving Day. A soloist sang “O Canada,” and many of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts watched from the stands.

The contest turned into a defensive struggle as Jacksonville led 16–10 with a little under two minutes remaining. Following a Jaguar punt, the Bills took over at their own 30-yard line. With 39 seconds left, Buffalo faced second-and-6 at the Jacksonville 39. The 35-year-old quarterback found wide receiver Eric Moulds running free down the left sideline. Hauling in the pass at the 7, the receiver made a diving stab for the end zone. One official signaled touchdown, but another marked the ball short, and the clock continued to run.

Buffalo hurried to the line of scrimmage, and Flutie spiked the ball to stop the clock. After throwing two incompletions, the quarterback called a toss sweep to the left with 13 seconds on the scoreboard. But running back Thurman Thomas ran right. With no one there to take the ball, Flutie tucked it under his arm and rambled into the end zone. His quick action gave the Bills a surprising 17–16 triumph.

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POINT Everyone makes mistakes in sports. Thurman Thomas made one that day. He possibly didn’t hear the quarterback’s call over intense crowd noise. But Doug Flutie didn’t get flustered. He didn’t ponder what he should do. He thought quickly and acted decisively to bring victory.

Sometimes we take too long to make a decision. We go back and forth, and then we act too late to make a difference. Sometimes we also wait too long to call on God. We try to take care of situations ourselves when we should seek his help. God always wants us to go to him first.

GOAL! Think of decisions you’ve waited too long to make. Ask God to remind you to go to him first.