1997

Bills 9
Indianapolis 6

Attendance: 61,139

The Buffalo Bills didn't need a 26-point comeback this time. Steve Christie's three field goals were enough to keep the Indianapolis Colts winless. Christie's third field goal, a 27-yarder as time expired, gave the Bills a 9-6 victory. "Our defense played good enough to win. You hold somebody to no touchdowns, and that's good enough to win," Colts coach Lindy Infante said. "We just didn't generate enough offense. We had opportunities but for whatever reason, we couldn't do it."

The game was just the second in the history of the NFL to be played without a touchdown or a turnover. The first was New England's 6-3 victory over Miami in 1988.

It was the Colt's fourth loss this season by six points or less. It was also the seventh straight game between two AFC East rivals that was decided by six or fewer points.

Todd Collins completed passes of 20 and 16 yards to Quinn Early and added a 14-yarder to Andre Reed to get Buffalo to the Indianapolis 20 with two minutes to go. Three runs by Antowain Smith took the Bills to the 7, then Collins took a knee and let the clock run down to three seconds before calling a timeout. Christie, who kicked earlier field goals of 22 and 47 yards, then kicked the game-winner, leaving the Colts and the Chicago Bears as the only winless teams in the NFL. "Todd didn't get into the end zone but he played well and he certainly helped us on our last drive," Levy said. "One thing for sure is that he is unflappable. He realizes not everything will be smooth sailing and he handled it well."

The Bills found some unlikely offense in the first half with Eric Moulds, their kick returner who had just five receptions for 51 yards this season. He topped that with 52 yards on the first Buffalo possession, including 32 yards on his first five catches. After two carries by Thurman Thomas, a 12-yard reception by Moulds took Buffalo to the Indianapolis 24. Five plays later, an 8-yard catch to the Colts 4 set up a 22-yard field goal by Christie for a 3-0 lead.

Thomas, who became the 10th running back in NFL history with 11,000 career yards, left the game in the second quarter with a sore knee after he was flipped upside down on a tackle by Quentin Coryatt after a 2-yard gain to the Colts 29, setting up a 47-yard field goal by Christie. Thomas returned in the third quarter and finished with 10 carries for 42 yards and one reception for minus-2 yards

The Colts started the tying drive from their own 23, moving 62 yards in 11 plays. Harrison dropped a pass that would have given Indianapolis a first down at the 11, however, forcing a fourth-down, 32-yard field goal by Blanchard that tied the game 6-6.

Copyright ©1999 WGBB