National Football League
Buffalo 40, Denver 14
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 24, 2011
Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Temperature: 30°
Head Official: Walt Anderson
Attendance: 45112

Buffalo intercepted Tim Tebow four times and returned two for touchdowns in the fourth quarter, as the host Bills denied the visiting Denver Broncos a chance at clinching a playoff spot with a 40-14 victory on Saturday.

The Broncos (8-7) lost their second straight game but will win the AFC West with a victory over Kansas City next week. Denver can also win the division and a trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2005 with a loss, coupled with a San Diego victory over Oakland.

C.J. Spiller rushed for a career-high 111 yards and a touchdown and Dave Rayner kicked four field goals after missing two in the first quarter to help the Bills (6-9) snap a seven-game losing streak.

Tebow’s second interception was returned 37 yards for a touchdown by Jairus Byrd, which gave the Bills a 33-14 lead with 8:03 remaining. On Denver’s next play from scrimmage, Spencer Johnson returned an interception 17 yards for a score.

The Bills scored 17 points in the second quarter to take a 17-7 lead into halftime. Spiller scored on a 4-yard run with 19 seconds left after Leodis McKelvin tip-toed down the sideline for an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown with 4:23 to go until halftime.

Tebow, who threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Fells on the opening drive of the second half to make it 17-14, finished 13 of 30 for 185 yards.

Willis McGahee rushed for 39 yards and Tebow capped an 11-play, 73-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on the Broncos’ opening possession, but they gained only 21 yards for the rest of the first half.

McGahee became the second player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season with three different teams (Bills, Ravens), joining Ricky Watters (49ers, Eagles and Seahawks). McGahee was taken by the Bills in the first round of the 2003 draft.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Denver   Buffalo
Willis McGahee Player C.J. Spiller
15 Attempts 16
64 Yards 111
4.3 Avg Yards 6.9
0 Touchdowns 1
24 Long 38
Receiving
Denver   Buffalo
Demaryius Thomas Player Steve Johnson
4 Receptions 4
76 Yards 92
19.0 Avg Yards 23.0
0 Touchdowns 0
47 Long 55
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Denver 285 133 152 2 0 0 1.0 0
Buffalo 351 160 191 4 4 3 4.0 2
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against New England. The Bills have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Denver will play their next game at home against Kansas City. The Broncos have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.