Bills Clinch Playoff Spot, 31-7 : AFC: Buffalo defeats Indianapolis, ensuring third consecutive postseason appearance.

The Buffalo Bills no longer celebrate clinching a playoff spot because it has become old hat.

The Bills’ 31-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday put the them in the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

“Who cares?” Buffalo defensive end Bruce Smith said. “We play the New York Giants next week, and, believe me, we’re going to have one serious game on our hands.”

Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly also was thinking about the Giants.

“We’re just concentrating on one game at a time,” he said.

Kelly completed 18 of 26 passes for 261 yards against the Colts (5-8) as the Bills (11-2) maintained their lead in the AFC East.

Andre Reed, who caught seven passes for 95 yards, scored on pass plays of 34 and seven yards during a three-minute span in the first quarter. He has 37 touchdown receptions for his career, breaking the Bills record he shared with Elbert Dubenion, who played from 1960-67.

The Bills sacked Indianapolis quarterback Jeff George five times and intercepted three of his passes.

Smith, with four sacks, set a Buffalo record with 19 this season, breaking his own record of 15.

“I think (George) was a little rattled,” Smith said. “If you get constant pressure on any quarterback, he’s going to wonder where it’s going to come from next. That’s what was happening today.”

George, who sustained a concussion in his pro debut against the Bills in the season opener, lost 41 yards on the sacks, and two of the interceptions set up Bills’ touchdowns.

Smith had seven tackles and accounted for 33 of the 41 yards the Colts lost on sacks.

“They’re probably the best team we have faced,” George said. “They knew we were struggling and that we had to pass. They were able to put a lot of pressure on us.”

Thurman Thomas rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 91 yards as the Bills outgained the Colts, 408-127.

“I said all week the Bills were the best team in football at the moment. We did absolutely nothing to disprove that,” Indianapolis Coach Ron Meyer said. “We played as hard as we would. Quite frankly, they outmanned and outplayed us.”

The Bills scored on their first two possessions, with Kelly completing seven of his first nine passes for 92 yards.

After Reed’s 34-yard touchdown reception five minutes into the game, Buffalo got the ball back just over two minutes later on an interception by Kirby Jackson.

Starting from the Colts’ 37, it took the Bills four plays--all passes--to score. A 12-yard reception by Reed, an incomplete pass and an 18-yard reception by Keith McKeller set up Reed’s seven-yard touchdown.

The Bills reached the Indianapolis three on their next possession, but lost the ball on a fumble by Don Smith.

Reed caught two passes during a 64-yard drive midway through the second quarter, including 16-yard reception that set up a five-yard scoring run by Thomas. That made it 21-0 at halftime.

The Colts first crossed midfield on a 20-yard punt return by Clarence Verdin early in the third quarter.

George completed four passes on the ensuing series and scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard dive with 6:55 left in the quarter.

Buffalo responded quickly with a 63-yard pass play from Kelly to Thomas that advanced the Bills to the Indianapolis 17. Five plays later, Scott Norwood kicked a 25-yard field goal to put the Bills ahead, 24-7.