Colts Are Given the Boot

The Buffalo Bills got a scare from Captain Comeback before making one of their own and beating the NFL’s last undefeated team Sunday.

Steve Christie’s 39-yard field goal with 5:38 remaining in overtime gave the Bills a 16-13 victory over Indianapolis after the Colts rallied to take the lead, then let it slip away.

“Obviously, you get pumped up because you have a chance to win the game,” said Christie, whose 37-yarder with 15 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime. “As a kicker, you have to keep a level head.”

Jim Harbaugh, who has led the Colts to several comeback victories over the last two seasons, helped them overcome a 10-point deficit with three scoring drives in the second half that put Indianapolis ahead, 13-10.

Harbaugh orchestrated an 81-yard drive between two Cary Blanchard field goals, but the Bills came back and improved their overtime record at Rich Stadium to 5-0.

The Colts and Bills are tied for the AFC East lead at 4-1.

Todd Collins, making just his third career start in place of injured Jim Kelly, completed 23 of 44 passes for 309 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown throw to Andre Reed in the second quarter.

More important was Collins’ poise during a 58-yard drive in the final two minutes of regulation before Christie made the 37-yarder that tied the game at the end of the fourth quarter.

With no timeouts, Collins calmly moved the team against Indianapolis’ soft defense before hitting Quinn Early for 21 yards and rookie Eric Moulds for 24. He went to the end zone once before Christie came in to kick the second of his three field goals.

“I just said, ‘This is our last chance.’ There were no second chances,” Collins said. “We had to perform now and not make any mistakes. They were great calls, and we moved the ball. It was a great feeling.”

Thurman Thomas had eight catches for 111 yards, and also became the 11th player to rush for more than 10,000 yards in a career.

Thomas helped put Buffalo ahead, 10-0, when he turned a five-yard dump pass from Collins into a 69-yard gain that led to Christie’s first field goal.

The winning kick came after Buffalo drove 26 yards to the Indianapolis 22. Reserve running back Darick Holmes helped set up Christie with a 10-yard gain and a key first down.

Buffalo has won 11 games in a row decided by a touchdown or less, including one in overtime against the New York Giants.

“Anything is possible in this league,” Bill defensive end Bruce Smith said. “It shows the character of this team. We hung in there together.”

Harbaugh was 17 for 42 for 203 yards, but he was sacked five times. Marshall Faulk finished with 55 yards in 20 carries after returning from a foot injury.

Buffalo had built a 10-0 lead on Collins’ first career touchdown pass in the second quarter and Christie’s 42-yard field goal in the third.

“We’ve been in a lot of games like this, and a lot of them have gone in our favor,” Faulk said. “This was just one that didn’t. The ball bounced in their favor.”

“It was one of those great defensive struggles,” Harbaugh said. “There were two tough teams that didn’t quit fighting.”