Bills Get a Rest, Oilers Get a 28-17 Victory : AFC: Six Buffalo reserves start on defense, and show why they’re not starters. Also a tough day for rookie Collins.

The Houston Oilers finished their season with a victory, and the Buffalo Bills will enter the playoffs with a healthy offense. Everybody’s happy.

Houston’s blitzing defense sacked Bills’ rookie Todd Collins five times and Rodney Thomas scored two touchdowns in a 28-17 victory over the Bills in a game that had no playoff implications.

The Oilers closed with a victory in what is expected to be their final year representing Houston. Oiler owner Bud Adams is planning to move the franchise to Tennessee by next year.

“Seven and nine is better than 6-10,” Oiler Coach Jeff Fisher said. “A win is difficult to come by in this league.”

The Bills (10-6), who had already clinched the AFC East title, rested most of their regulars in preparation for the playoffs, beginning next week against Miami at Rich Stadium.

Buffalo inserted six reserves into the starting lineup on defense and rested linebackers Bryce Paup and Cornelius Bennett and defensive end Bruce Smith for the entire game. Buffalo’s reserves showed why they spend most of their time on the sidelines.

“We would have liked to have won the game,” Bill Coach Marv Levy said. “We had the priority of resting our star players and playing some of our younger players.”

Collins was six for 15 for 30 yards and generally appeared dumbfounded throughout his first career start. Third-string quarterback Alex Van Pelt completed 10 of 18 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in his professional debut.

Andre Reed, back after missing 10 games with a hamstring injury, caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Van Pelt with 5:22 left in the game. Van Pelt closed the scoring with a 19-yard pass to Justin Armour with 1:14 left.

“I’m disappointed,” Collins said. “There’s no two ways about it. I wanted to do a lot better, and it didn’t work out. Like you saw, a lot of guys were coming at me.”

Thomas scored on touchdown runs of four and seven yards in the third quarter to give Houston a 21-3 lead in the third quarter. The Oilers held the Bills to 50 yards through three quarters and controlled the game.

Steve McNair, who completed 12-of-26 passes for 168 yards in his second career start, connected with Frank Wycheck on a 36-yard touchdown pass play in the fourth quarter and appeared more relaxed in the Houston attack.

“It’s just a matter of going out there, being patient and doing the job,” McNair said. “I feel more comfortable with the offense.”

Thurman Thomas gained 20 yards in three carries and joined Eric Dickerson and Barry Sanders as the only players in league history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in seven consecutive seasons. Thomas was pulled after reaching the milestone on a nine-yard run during Buffalo’s first drive.

Houston’s defense opened the scoring in the second quarter after sacking Collins on consecutive plays, including Anthony Cook’s tackle in the end zone for a safety.

“It’s a tough assignment for Todd against a team that likes to blitz,” Levy said.

Al Del Greco kicked a 39-yard field goal to put the Oilers ahead, 5-0, after Collins was intercepted by Steve Jackson. Del Greco added a 34-yarder after a 13-play, 66-yard drive stalled at the Buffalo 16.

Buffalo, which generated just 43 yards on offense in the first half, drew within 8-3 when Steve Christie kicked a 44-yard field goal set up by Mel Gray’s fumble on the second-half kickoff.