Bills snow-blow Colts to win finale, 30-7

By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.(AP) — Peyton Manning had a tough time
appreciating Mother Nature’s picturesque snow-globe backdrop
from the bench after he helped ensure a couple of milestones.

The Buffalo Bills got a 30-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts
to close a tumultuous season in an otherwise meaningless
regular-season finale for both teams Sunday.

“I loved it,” Bills coach Perry Fewell said. “It was a Buffalo
day.”

All that was missing were snow-angels in the end zone, though
Terrell Owens did his part by doing jumping jacks on the
sideline after scoring on a 41-yard touchdown pass.

“Yeah, that’s the thing. You’ve got to get caught up in the
moment,” Owens said, about his spontaneous celebration. “But
once all that stuff settles down, it’s back to freezing.”

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three touchdown passes despite near
whiteout conditions in the first half as the Bills (6-10) head
into an uncertain offseason after missing the playoffs for a
10th straight year. Fred Jackson had a career-best 212 yards
rushing, the seventh-highest rushing total in team history, to
reach 1,000 yards for the first time. Jackson also scored on an
11-yard catch.

Ever the competitor, Manning failed to see the fun for the
flakes.

Overlooking the wintry scene, and that he only played three
series, the quarterback lamented how the Colts ended their
season with two straight duds following last week’s 29-15 loss
to the New York Jets.

“It’s not much fun to stand on the sideline as you see the score
going the other way,” said Manning, who was 14 for 18 for 95
yards and an interception before giving way to rookie backup
Curtis Painter.

At least Manning and the Colts (14-2) can look forward to
playing a meaningful game when they open the playoffs in two
weeks as the AFC’s top seed.

“The regular season is over,” Manning said. “We’re not thinking
about it or talking about it.”

Manning did take care of some unfinished business. Manning
completed seven passes to Dallas Clark, allowing him to become
the NFL’s second tight end to have a 100-catch season, joining
Tony Gonzalez. Reggie Wayne had five catches to reach 100 for
the second time in his career.

Manning also finished with an even 4,500 yards passing, 57 short
of matching his 2004 career-high.

The Colts squandered a chance to become the sixth NFL team to
win 15 games in one season. Indianapolis also had a
franchise-best 11-game road win streak snapped.

Coach Jim Caldwell said he kept Manning and the offensive
starters in a little longer than expected, wanting to give them
a chance to be sharp after the first drive ended with an
interception.

As for what he took out of the game, Caldwell smiled and said he
doesn’t intend to even review the game film.

There wouldn’t be much to see, considering about 6 inches of
snow fell during the game.

After trading touchdowns in the first quarter, the Bills went
ahead for good when Fitzpatrick hit Lee Evans for a 21-yard
score. Evans caught the ball at the 1, then slid backward into
the end zone, leaving a 2-yard skid mark in the snow.

Owens scored on the next series, two plays after Painter
fumbled.

Owens finished with four catches for 65 yards, giving him 14,951
for his career, to move ahead of Tim Brown for third place on
the NFL list.

The Bills offense generated 403 yards – the most since putting
up 438 in a 33-20 win over Tampa Bay in Week 2. Their defense
got two interceptions from rookie Cary Harris, and limited the
Colts backups to 65 yards and four first downs over their final
nine possessions.

The fans, some of them shirtless, who were brave enough to
attend got into the wintry spirit by cheering a stadium employee
as he shoveled away snow to expose an outline of the end zone.

The Bills got into the act before the game began, some players
using their feet to spell out the word “Bills.”

“It was a great atmosphere,” Evans said. “It’s great to win, but
it’s always better in conditions like that.”

The Bills already started their offseason overhaul after
promoting national scout Buddy Nix to general manager Thursday.
Fewell, a candidate for the job, went 3-4 after Dick Jauron was
fired in November.

Fewell said he’s scheduled to be interviewed for the job this
week.

ESPN reported that the Bills met with former Steelers coach Bill
Cowher. Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon declined
comment on the report during the game.

NOTES: Bills PK Ryan Lindell hit three field goals, including a
36-yarder, giving him 1,005 career points, and 735 in seven
seasons with Buffalo. … Donald Brown scored on a 1-yard plunge
for the Colts. … The Bills won their season finale for the
first time since a 27-9 win over Cincinnati to close the 2002
season. … The Bills also ended a six-game losing streak
against Indianapolis.