In a game in which Peyton Manning and other key Indianapolis Colts stars played only a little over a quarter, the Buffalo Bills were dominant, thumping the Colts' reserves 30-7 to finish the 2009 season with a 6-10 record.
Fred Jackson rushed for 212 yards on a whopping 33 carries, meaning that he ends the '09 season with 1,072 yards, the first time he's eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in his career. Given that Buffalo started nine different offensive line combinations this season, that feat - along with his 4.5-yard per rush average on the year - is quite impressive. He added 15 yards and a touchdown through the air to close out an outstanding season.
Terrell Owens caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick in the second quarter; he finished the game with 65 receiving yards, moving him into third place on the NFL's all-time receiving yardage list, where he trails Jerry Rice and Isaac Bruce. Owens finishes his first - and likely last - year in Buffalo with 55 catches, 829 yards and 6 total touchdowns.
Fitzpatrick threw three touchdown passes - one each to Jackson, Owens and Lee Evans - in the first half, and the Bills led 24-7 at the break. Rian Lindell kicked three field goals and scored 12 points, giving him 1,005 in his career. Rookie defensive back Cary Harris recorded the first two interceptions of his career, while Chris Kelsay recovered a fumble and Kyle Williams picked up his fourth sack of the season.
Thus ends a decade of Bills football that saw zero playoff appearances and only one season in which the team won more than half of its games. The Buddy Nix Era starts in earnest tomorrow. Sound off on this last win, and just enjoy yourselves - things are looking up in Buffalo.