ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Peyton Manning had a tough time appreciating Mother Nature's picturesque snow-globe backdrop from the bench after he helped ensure a couple of milestones.
The Buffalo Bills got a 30-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts to close a tumultuous season in an otherwise meaningless regular-season finale for both teams Sunday.
"I loved it," Bills coach Perry Fewell said. "It was a Buffalo day."
All that was missing were snow-angels in the end zone, though Terrell Owens did his part by doing jumping jacks on the sideline after scoring on a 41-yard touchdown pass.
"Yeah, that's the thing. You've got to get caught up in the moment," Owens said, about his spontaneous celebration. "But once all that stuff settles down, it's back to freezing."
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three touchdown passes despite near whiteout conditions in the first half as the Bills (6-10) head into an uncertain offseason after missing the playoffs for a 10th straight year. Fred Jackson had a career-best 212 yards rushing, the seventh-highest rushing total in team history, to reach 1,000 yards for the first time. Jackson also scored on an 11-yard catch.
Ever the competitor, Manning failed to see the fun for the flakes.
Overlooking the wintry scene, and that he only played three series, the quarterback lamented how the Colts ended their season with two straight duds following last week's 29-15 loss to the New York Jets.
"It's not much fun to stand on the sideline as you see the score going the other way," said Manning, who was 14 for 18 for 95 yards and an interception before giving way to rookie backup Curtis Painter.
At least Manning and the Colts (14-2) can look forward to playing a meaningful game when they open the playoffs in two weeks as the AFC's top seed.
"The regular season is over," Manning said. "We're not thinking about it or talking about it."
Manning did take care of some unfinished business. Manning completed seven passes to Dallas Clark, allowing him to become the NFL's second tight end to have a 100-catch season, joining Tony Gonzalez. Reggie Wayne had five catches to reach 100 for the second time in his career.
Manning also finished with an even 4,500 yards passing, 57 short of matching his 2004 career-high.
The Colts squandered a chance to become the sixth NFL team to win 15 games in one season. Indianapolis also had a franchise-best 11-game road win streak snapped.
Coach Jim Caldwell said he kept Manning and the offensive starters in a little longer than expected, wanting to give them a chance to be sharp after the first drive ended with an interception.
As for what he took out of the game, Caldwell smiled and said he doesn't intend to even review the game film.
There wouldn't be much to see, considering about 6 inches of snow fell during the game.
After trading touchdowns in the first quarter, the Bills went ahead for good when Fitzpatrick hit Lee Evans for a 21-yard score. Evans caught the ball at the 1, then slid backward into the end zone, leaving a 2-yard skid mark in the snow.
Owens scored on the next series, two plays after Painter fumbled.
Owens finished with four catches for 65 yards, giving him 14,951 for his career, to move ahead of Tim Brown for third place on the NFL list.
The Bills offense generated 403 yards — the most since putting up 438 in a 33-20 win over Tampa Bay in Week 2. Their defense got two interceptions from rookie Cary Harris, and limited the Colts backups to 65 yards and four first downs over their final nine possessions.
The fans, some of them shirtless, who were brave enough to attend got into the wintry spirit by cheering a stadium employee as he shoveled away snow to expose an outline of the end zone.
The Bills got into the act before the game began, some players using their feet to spell out the word "Bills."
"It was a great atmosphere," Evans said. "It's great to win, but it's always better in conditions like that."
The Bills already started their offseason overhaul after promoting national scout Buddy Nix to general manager Thursday. Fewell, a candidate for the job, went 3-4 after Dick Jauron was fired in November.
Fewell said he's scheduled to be interviewed for the job this week.
ESPN reported that the Bills met with former Steelers coach Bill Cowher. Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon declined comment on the report during the game.
xSeason Recap
Related Photos
-
David Duprey
-
David Duprey
-
Mike Groll
-
David Duprey
-
Mike Groll
Related Links
Discussion
January 4, 2010
Week 17: Bills 30, Colts 7
Indianapolis heads to playoffs on two-game skid
- xSeason Recap
-
-
AFC Championship game: Colts 30, Jets 17
INDIANAPOLIS — Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon said he hoped to use Sunday’s AFC Championship Game to raise the hopes of relatives in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Sometime after he caught a 4-yard touchdown pass to give the Indianapolis Colts the lead in the third quarter and before he raised the Haitian flag on the postgame awards podium, he must have accomplished that goal.
-
AFC Divisional Playoffs: Colts 20, Ravens 3
There's a price to pay for keeping the ball out of Peyton Manning's hands. Once he gets it, he doesn't give it back — at least not until he's gotten the Indianapolis Colts plenty of points and a playoff win. In his first game since winning an unprecedented fourth NFL MVP award, Manning threw for two touchdowns Saturday night in a 20-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
-
Week 17: Bills 30, Colts 7
Peyton Manning had a tough time appreciating Mother Nature's picturesque snow-globe backdrop from the bench after he helped ensure a couple of milestones. The Buffalo Bills got a 30-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts to close a tumultuous season in an otherwise meaningless regular-season finale for both teams Sunday.
-
Week 16: Jets 29, Colts 15
Like beauty, perfection evidently qualifies as one of life’s eye-of-the-beholder elements. With 5:36 remaining in the third quarter on Sunday, it became painfully obvious which direction the high-dollar decision-makers within the Indianapolis Colts organization were leaning:
Super Bowl championship 1, perfect record 0. -
Week 15: Colts 35, Jaguars 31
Peyton Manning completed every pass early and one big one late, exactly what the Indianapolis Colts needed to stay unbeaten. Manning threw for 308 yards and four touchdowns, including a 65-yarder to Reggie Wayne to go ahead for good, and the Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-31 Thursday night to improve to 14-0 for the first time in franchise history.
-
Week 14: Colts 28, Broncos 16
Sometimes it seems as if the Indianapolis Colts can’t stand prosperity. The Colts played well early but managed to squander a 21-0 second quarter lead. Indianapolis, though, battled back down the stretch in registering a record-setting 28-16 win over the Denver Broncos Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
-
Week 13: Colts 27, Titans 17
A 24-point first half and two red zone stands by their defense led the Indianapolis Colts to a 27-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, tying an NFL record with their 21st consecutive regular season victory. “Certainly it’s not something you take for granted,” Peyton Manning said after throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee.
-
Week 12: Colts 35, Texans 27
The AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts have perfected the art of the comeback in their undefeated march into the playoffs. Peyton Manning threw for three touchdowns and the Colts rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit Sunday for a 35-27 win over the Texans, their 20th straight regular-season victory. Indianapolis (11-0) is one win shy of the New England
-
Week 11: Colts 17, Ravens 15
The unbeaten Indianapolis Colts sidestepped another potential obstacle in their march toward NFL history. The Colts kept Baltimore out of the end zone Sunday and got the go-ahead field goal from former Ravens kicker Matt Stover in a 17-15 victory, their 19th straight win over two seasons.
-
Week 10: Colts 35, Patriots 34
A stunning gamble by Bill Belichick set up a stunning win for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. After the New England Patriots were stopped short on fourth down deep in their own territory, Manning took advantage by throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left that rallied the unbeaten Colts to a 35-34 win Sunday night.
- More xSeason Recap Headlines
-
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
