Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills Match Player Stats On Dec 24, 2011

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 24, 2011

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.