James Caps Comeback
- Share via
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Edgerrin James carried the Indianapolis Colts’ banged-up offense to a comeback victory.
James scored twice, including the winner on a fourth-down plunge from inside the one-yard line with 1 minute 38 seconds remaining, sparking the Colts to a 17-14 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Peyton Manning was credited with his 15th career fourth-quarter comeback, and second of the season. He completed 26 of 42 passes for 229 yards, 70 of them coming in the final 15 minutes in which the Colts overcame a 14-3 deficit.
The Colts (9-2) won with leading receiver Marvin Harrison playing little because of a hamstring injury. And they were without backup receivers Troy Walters and Brandon Stokley, and starting tight end Marcus Pollard, because of injuries.
James, who also scored on a 14-yard run, had 28 carries for 108 yards, his fourth 100-yard performance of the season, and third since he sat out three games because of a back injury.
The Bills (4-7) lost their fourth in a row and dropped to 2-5 in their last seven games while squandering their best offensive performance in a month.
Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, on a one-yard plunge, and Sammy Morris on a seven-yard run, scored for the Bills, who had gone three games without a touchdown.
Bledsoe’s score, coming with 2:07 left in the first half, was the Bills’ first touchdown since Travis Henry’s 14-yarder in the fourth quarter of a 24-7 win over Washington on Oct. 19 -- a span of 218 minutes 24 seconds of game time.
Sunday’s game was decided in the final 15 minutes.
James capped a nine-play, 61-yard drive with 10:40 remaining, cutting the Bills’ lead to 14-9 before Dominic Rhodes failed on a two-point conversion attempt.
The Colts marched back on their ensuing possession, which began on their 17.
Manning was efficient, hitting Aaron Moorehead for an 18-yard gain, and then, on third and six, hitting Harrison for an eight-yard gain, eventually helping the Colts to a first and goal from the three-yard line.
James got all four cracks at running it in, finally breaking through from about two inches out. Manning then hit James Mungro to complete a two-point conversion.
The Bills’ last-gasp drive ended when Bledsoe was hit by a blitzing Chad Bratzke. Bledsoe got off a weak pass, which was intercepted by David Thornton at the Colt 40.
More to Read
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.