FINALThe Colts concluded their 2009 regular-season with a loss at Buffalo, 30-7. As the team hoped, the Colts escaped the game with relatively few injuries and were able to give plenty of playing time to the team's younger players.
Both teams battled severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall, but Buffalo was able to get the best of the Colts (14-2), thanks to running back Fred Jackson, who carried the ball 33 times for 212 yards.
Having secured the number one overall seed in the AFC Playoffs, the Colts have bye next week during the Wild Card round.
FOURTH QUARTER (12:48 remaining)The Colts failed to get much going on offense and were forced to punt for the fourth time today. Rookie Pat McAfee's kick bounced just short of the goal line before going into the end zone for a touchback. END OF THIRD QUARTER - COLTS 7, BILLS 30As the third quarter comes to a close, the Colts have the ball on their own 37. THIRD QUARTER (0:18 remaining)Buffalo's Rian Lindell kicked his third field goal of the game (36 yards) to put Buffalo up 23. The Colts continue to struggle against Bills running back Fred Jackson, who has carried the ball 30 times for 205 yards.COLTS 7, BILLS 30 THIRD QUARTER (7:32 remaining)The Bills scored their first points of the second half on a 33-yard kick from Lindell, his second field goal of the game. COLTS 7, BILLS 27 THIRD QUARTER (12:07 remaining)The Colts began the second half with the ball and quickly picked up a first down following a four-yard rush by Hart and a nine-yard pass from Painter to the running back. But the Colts failed to move the chains after that, failing to convert on both third and fourth down and turning the ball over to the Bills at Buffalo's 42.HALFTIME – COLTS 7, BILLS 24As the first half comes to a close, the Colts trail early in a game marred by heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures and strong wind. Just before the half, Buffalo scored on a 31-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Lindell. SECOND QUARTER (2:28 remaining)After a run play on first down, the Bills went deep on second down, scoring their third touchdown of the half on a 41-yard pass from Fitzpatrick to wide receiver Terrell Owens.COLTS 7, BILLS 21 SECOND QUARTER (3:16 remaining)As the snow continues to fall heavily on Orchard Park, N.Y., the difficulty of the playing conditions continues to increase. A fumble by Colts quarterback Curtis Painter gives Buffalo the ball back at the 50. Before the turnover, Painted completed a 21-yard pass to tight end Jacob Tamme. SECOND QUARTER (5:02 remaining)Buffalo scored its second touchdown of the game, amidst heavy snowfall, on a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lee Evans. COLTS 7, BILLS 14 SECOND QUARTER (9:22 remaining)Defensive linemen Ervin Baldwin and Raheem Brock stopped Bills running back Fred Jackson short of the first-down maker on 3rd-and-short, forcing Buffalo to punt. Brian Moorman's punt sailed 35 yards before bouncing out of bounds at Indy's 10.
SECOND QUARTER (14:13 remaining)The Colts were unable to convert on third down, but Manning's short pass to Dallas Clark gives the tight end 100 receptions on the season. Clark becomes the second tight end in history, along with Tony Gonzalez, to accomplish the feat.END OF FIRST QUARTER – COLTS 7, BILLS 7As the first quarter comes to a close, the Colts and Bills are tied 7-7. The final play of the quarter was a short pass from Manning to Wayne, giving the wide receiver 100 receptions on the season. Clark closes the quarter with 99.
When the second quarter begins, Indianapolis faces 3rd-and-5 from their own 45.FIRST QUARTER (2:21 remaining)The Colts defense forced the Bills three-and-out for the second time this quarter. Indy's offense takes over from its own 21. FIRST QUARTER (3:52 remaining)Using an array of short passes and screens to Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark, Manning orchestrated a 72-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a one-yard rushing touchdown by running back Mike Hart. On the drive, Manning completed five passes for 53 yards to Clark, who is now just two receptions short of 100 for the season.COLTS 7, BILLS 7 FIRST QUARTER (9:25 remaining)The Bills capitalized off a Colts turnover when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Fred Jackson.COLTS 0, BILLS 7 FIRST QUARTER (12:32 remaining)After completing a short pass to Reggie Wayne on first down and an incompletion on second down, quarterback Peyton Manning attempted a pass over the middle of the field on 3rd-and-8. But due to the snowy conditions, Colts tight end Jacob Tamme lost his footing on the play and Bills defensive back Cary Harris intercepted the pass. Buffalo returned the interception to Indy's 42.
**FIRST QUARTER (12:56 remaining)
**
The Colts forced Buffalo's offense
three-and-out on their first possession of game and Indianapolis
will take over from their own 30. Weather will
likely be a factor for both team's Sunday, as there is snow
on the field and more expected to come. The on-field temperature is
14 degrees and wind gusts are expected to be as high as 40 miles
per hour.
The following Colts are inactive today… K-Adam Vinatieri, DB-Jerraud Powers, RB-Chad Simpson, TE-Gijon Robinson, LB-Clint Session, OT-Ryan Diem, DE-Dwight Freeney and DT-Antonio Johnson.
SCORING SUMMARY
• 11-yard pass from QB-Ryan Fitzpatrick to RB-Fred Jackson (Drive summary: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:58 seconds) COLTS 0, BILLS 7
• 1-yard rushing touchdown by RB-Mike Hart (Drive summary: 12 plays, 72 yards, 5:33 seconds) **COLTS 7, BILLS 7
** • 21-yard touchdown pass from QB-Ryan Fitzpatrick to WR-Lee Evans (Drive summary: 5 plays, 51 yards, 2:46 seconds) COLTS 7, BILLS 14
• 41-yard touchdown pass from QB-Ryan Fitzpatrick to WR-Terrell Owens (Drive summary: 2 plays, 50 yards, 0:48 seconds) **COLTS 7, BILLS 21
* • 31-yard field goal by K-Rian Lindell (Drive summary: 10 plays, 34 yards, 2:04 seconds )*COLTS 7, BILLS 24
* • 33-yard field goal by K-Rian Lindell (Drive summary: 8 plays, 44 yards, 4:31 seconds)*COLTS 7, BILLS 27
** • 36-yard field goal by K-Rian Lindell (Drive summary: 10 plays, 62 yards, 5:20 seconds)COLTS 7, BILLS 30
