For their part, the Colts (11-6) ended a season in which they amassed 11 wins for the first time since 2014.
They were also making their second playoff appearance in three years under the guidance of head coach Frank Reich.
In his first playoff outing with the Colts – and perhaps his last when considering ending his career – Rivers had 27 of his 46 passes for gains of 309 yards. His career record in the playoffs is 5-7.
PHOTO MARK KONEZNY, USA TODAY SPORTS
Philip Rivers (17)
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In similar circumstances to last year, when the Bills squandered a 16-0 third-quarter lead in a 22-19 overtime loss to the Houston Texans, the Bills nearly let a 24- lead slip away. 10 in the fourth quarter after Allen’s perfect pass to Diggs, along the sidelines.
The Colts responded with a seven-play, 75-yard offensive streak, which they capped with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Zach Pascal.
Following Bass’s placement, the Colts scored another touchdown, less than two minutes later when Rivers joined, left unattended, for a 27-yard touchdown. Doyle caught another pass from Rivers, this one during the two-point conversion attempt to bring the Colts back to just three points behind the Bills.
“It doesn’t matter how,” Allen said. “It’s the playoffs. It’s a win, or we come home, and we got the job done. We need to shift our focus to our future opponent next week. ”
In the first half, the Colts were limited to one touchdown and a field goal even though they crossed the middle of the field in each of their five offensive series and held the ball for nine minutes longer than the Bills.
The turning point came as the Colts, then leading 10-7, were unable to add to that lead despite four attempts inside the Bills’ four-yard line.
The Bills fought back with a 96-yard ten-play push that ended with Allen’s five-yard run for a touchdown with 14 seconds left in the first half.
“Our defense did a great job,” Allen praised. “Just before half-time, she helped us get points. ”
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