Bills’ Offense Steps It Up as Johnson Steps In

Rob Johnson rode the bench and didn’t complain for 15 games as Doug Flutie started at quarterback for the Buffalo Bills.

When Johnson finally got his chance Sunday, he took advantage of it.

With Flutie getting the day off, Johnson led the Bills to a 31-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, who had a win streak end at 11.

Johnson was 24-for-32 passing for 287 yards--with touchdowns passes to rookies Peerless Price and Bobby Collins--as Buffalo (11-5) rolled up a season-high 419 yards.

“The coaches know I like to throw the ball downfield, and that’s what we did,” Johnson said.

Johnson hadn’t started since the final game last season, when he completed 12 of 18 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-33 victory over the New Orleans Saints. He was injured in the fifth game against Indianapolis last season, and lost his starting job as Flutie led the Bills to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning--the top-rated passer in the AFC going into the game-- was 18 for 29 for a season-low 163 yards and failed for the second consecutive week to throw a touchdown pass after throwing at least one in each of the first 14 games.

Manning was replaced by Steve Walsh midway through the fourth as the Colts (13-3) failed to clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Colts still have a first-round bye, while the Bills play at Tennessee next Saturday.

Indianapolis rookie running back Edgerrin James, who rushed for 112 yards in a 31-14 victory over the Buffalo in the season opener, had his second-worst game with 50 yards in 18 carries.