1997

Indianapolis 35
Bills 37

Attendance: 55,340

Rookie Antowain Smith rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns as the Buffalo Bills engineered the second-biggest comeback in NFL regular season history, holding on for a wild 37-35 victory over the winless Indianapolis Colts. Smith, the Bills' first-round daft pick and the heir apparent to Thurman Thomas, carries 12 times and scored all his touchdowns in the second half. The Bills overcame a 26-0 deficit, then stopped a 2-point conversion and a pair of desperation passes in the final seconds to beat the Colts in the third-biggest comeback in NFL history.

Buffalo's victory was reminiscent of its win over the Houston Oilers in the 1992 AFC playoffs. The Bills trailed 35-3 before winning 41-38 in overtime on their way to their third Super Bowl. That was the greatest comeback in NFL history, and this game now ranks number 3 behind a rally from a 28-point deficit by San Francisco over New Orleans in 1980. "This was a tremendous win for our team and for our egos," said Smith, who led the rally. "Coming back from 26 points down was a little scary. We can't spot teams 26 points and expect to come back like we did." "I knew we were capable of coming back," Bills quarterback Todd Collins said. "I'd like to get on these guys early, so it doesn't come down to the wire every time."

Smith's big day included a 54-yarder that made it 37-29 and appeared to seal the victory with 1:14 left. But Indianapolis moved 80 yards and made it 37-35 when backup quarterback Paul Justin, playing for a groggy Jim Harbaugh, hit Marvin Harrison with a 2-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left. Harbaugh, known as Captain Comeback for his late-game heroics when he led Indianapolis to the playoffs in 1995, left the game during that drive when he was hit late, giving the Colts 15 extra yards on the penalty after a pass completion. But Kurt Schulz stepped in front of Justin's pass for Harrison on the 2-point conversion, preserving the win for the Bills. It appeared Schulz held Harrison on the play, but no penalty was called. "We created something in here today," Bills defensive end Phil Hansen said. "We kept plugging away and had the attitude that we knew we could win. It was very important."

Indianapolis then recovered the onside kick with 9 seconds left, just enough time for two long passes. The first fell short of the end zone and the second was intercepted by Ken Irvin. Buffalo overcame five turnovers, two muffed punts and Carey Blanchard's five field goals in this game and gave Indianapolis every chance to win. But the Colts, who were leading 26-0 in the first half, found another way to lose. "Some corners were turned that has not been turned before," Colts coach Lindy Infante said. "We can't go out and be our own worst enemy. We Can't go out and self-destruct."

Smith's second touchdown gave Buffalo a 30-29 lead with 4:43 remaining after quarterback Collins hit wide receiver Quinn Early with a 43-yard pass that brought the Bills to the 1. Collins earlier hit Early on a 4-yard TD pass to make it 29-23 with 6:25 left. Smith put the game away with a 54-yard TD run with 1:14 remaining.

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