NFL Recap (Buffalo-Indianapolis)
Posted: Sun October 11, 1998 at 5:47 p.m. EDT
BUFFALO 31, INDIANAPOLIS 24
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Doug Flutie came on for an
injured Rob Johnson
early in the first quarter and passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns to
lead the Buffalo Bills
to a 31-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Johnson did not return after suffering bruised ribs on the third play
from scrimmage when he was sacked by defensive tackle Larry Chester. He
had missed portions of two other games this year due to mild concussions.
Flutie completed 23-of-28 passes with no interceptions, establishing
NFL career highs in completions and yardage. The 35-year-old began his
professional career in the USFL, played in the NFL from 1986-89 and spent
eight years in the CFL prior to signing a two-year deal with the Bills in
January.
"Doug was fantastic," said Bills coach Wade Phillips. "He hit every
pass it looked like. The ones he didn't were on the money. He's a winner
and made all the big plays we needed him to do today."
Antowain Smith
chipped in a career-high 130 yards rushing and a pair of short touchdown
runs for Buffalo (2-3), which has won six of the last seven meetings to
take a 32-23-1 lead in the all-time series.
Mike Vanderjagt, another former CFL star, capped each of the Colts'
four first-half drives with a field goal as they held a 12-7 halftime
advantage.
But Indianapolis (1-5) managed just 10 yards in the third quarter and
watched the Bills score 24 consecutive points in the second half to move
ahead, 31-12. Peyton
Manning threw two touchdown passes in the final 2:19 to make the score
respectable.
Manning, who entered the game leading the AFC in yardage (1,129) and
interceptions (12), finished 20-of-41 for 235 yards with two pickoffs.
Vanderjagt converted field goals of 22, 33 and 43 yards before Flutie
put Buffalo on the board with a seven-yard TD pass to tight end Jay Riemersma with 2:58
left in the half. Smith broke free for a 43-yard earlier in the drive, but
it was called back because of offensive holding.
The Colts came right back with a 41-yard field goal by Vanderjagt with
55 seconds to go for a five-point halftime edge. Vanderjagt is 14-for-15 in
field-goal attempts this season.
"We had opportunities to score in the first half, but we were not able
to do that, and that hurt us because we were playing well and had good
field position and we did not get it in the end zone," said Colts coach Jim
Mora. "That really was the bad thing about the first half."
"They set it up four times for scores but we just couldn't punch it in
and had to settle for field goals," said Vanderjagt. "I feel I can knock
them in from over 45 yards, but that doesn't matter when you lose the
game."
Manning was picked off on the first series of the second half and the
Colts went three-and-out on their next drive before Buffalo went ahead for
good on a six-yard scoring strike to Karl Williams with 4:06
left in the third period.
"It felt good out there," said Flutie. "I took it one play at a time.
We just made first downs. I've always said if you keep making first
downs, the goal line will run into you."
Smith's four-yard TD run 47 seconds into the final quarter extended
the lead to 21-12 and nose tackle Ted Washington deflected a
pass by Manning and intercepted it at the Colt 25 to set up a one-yard
scoring run by Smith with 11:04 remaining.
"On my first TD run, the line created a nice, big hole," said Smith,
whose previous career high of 129 yards was set against the Colts on
September 21st of last year. "I'd like to see holes like that all game.
"A lot of people were concerned about a letdown after last week's win
(over San Francisco). We were down 9-0 today, but we came back. I think
that shows what kind of team we have."
Steve Christie
added a 39-yard field goal with 5:20 left to increase Buffalo's cushion to
31-12.
"We had the lead and then in the second half they just took over,"
added Mora. "They took over offensively and defensively and we could not
get anything going. We just did not respond in the second half and they
took it to us."
Indianapolis made a late rally as Manning's three-yard touchdown pass
to Torrance Small with
2:19 to play capped an 83-yard drive. The two-point conversion attempt
failed.
After the Bills were forced to punt, the Colts traveled 72 yards in 49
seconds and scored on a 25-yard reception by Marvin Harrison with 12
seconds to go. The two-point try again was no good and Riemersma recovered
the on-sides kick to seal the win.
"I am sure Buffalo is going to say that they called off the dogs and
backed off and were playing zone, but we didn't quit and down the road that
is going to help us out," said Manning. "We are capable of moving the
ball, it is just a matter of making the play when it really counts."
Buffalo's Andre Reed
caught five passes for 76 yards after missing last week's contest with a
separated shoulder and not starting today.
Marshall Faulk of
Indianapolis carried the ball 18 times for 93 yards and had six receptions
for 80 yards.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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