National Football League

Bills use all-around effort to end skid

Published Dec. 24, 2011 7:10 p.m. ET

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Despite his team's long losing streak, Bills safety George Wilson had a good feeling about ending the skid against Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.

Jairus Byrd and Spencer Johnson returned Tebow interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive plays from scrimmage in the fourth quarter to seal Buffalo's 40-14 rout of the Broncos on Saturday. The Bills snapped a seven-game slide and stalled the Broncos in their bid to secure their first playoff berth since 2005.

Tebow finished with a career-worst four interceptions as the Broncos (8-7) lost their second in a row and fell into a tie with Oakland for first place in the AFC West. The Broncos close the season at home against Kansas City next week, while Oakland hosts San Diego.

The Bills, meanwhile, will close out their 12th consecutive season without a postseason berth next week at New England.

''We've been well overdue for a big game as a team,'' Wilson said. ''To come out with the offense, defense, and special teams all hitting on all cylinders, it's a great feeling to have.''

C.J. Spiller scored on a 4-yard run and Leodis McKelvin busted an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown to help the Bills to their first win since blowing out Washington at the end of October in Toronto, a victory that made them 5-2.

''Guys came out and played hard,'' said Spiller, who surpassed the 100-yard mark for the first time in his two-year career by gaining 111 yards on 16 carries. ''That was the team that was 5-2 that performed out there.''

Byrd scored on a 37-yard return with 8:03 left and Johnson had a 17-yarder just 18 seconds later as Buffalo (6-9) won its home finale.

Dave Rayner shook off two missed field-goal attempts - and a booing crowd - to hit his final four, all from within 29 yards.

The Bills held the Broncos to 293 yards.

''I thought our guys played extremely well,'' Buffalo coach Chan Gailey said. ''I thought we kept the pressure on the run game the whole game. It was a great job of planning and playing by our defense.''

The Bills set a single-season franchise record with five interceptions returned for touchdowns.

''When we had opportunities to get our hands on the ball, we took advantage of them and pulled down interceptions,'' Wilson said.

Tebow finished 13 of 30 for 185 yards with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Fells. He added 34 yards rushing, and scored on a 1-yard plunge.

''My confidence is just fine,'' Tebow said. ''I have to do a better job of not giving them opportunities. I tried to make something happen, and I tried to force it.''

While Tebow was struggling, his Bills counterpart, Ryan Fitzpatrick enjoyed his most efficient game in two months by going 15 of 27 for 196 yards with no interceptions. Fitzpatrick took plenty of heat during the seven-game skid, in which he threw eight touchdown passes versus 12 interceptions.

''I think the losses that piled up motivated us,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''It was fun to be on the sidelines to see the guys jumping around. (The defense) smelled blood out there in the water, and they were going after that.''

Tebow had generated a national buzz for his ability to produce in the clutch. Entering the game with two interceptions all season, he was picked off four times in the second half as his record dropped to 7-3 since taking over the starting job.

''We did a good job of keeping (Tebow) in the pocket and making him throw from the pocket,'' Johnson said. ''Everybody did a great job of being disciplined in that area.''

Buffalo will attempt to sweep the season series from the Patriots in the regular-season finale. The Bills defeated New England 34-31 in Week 3.

''There's a lot of good football left to be played with the guys in the locker room,'' Kelsay said.

NOTES: After McKelvin scored, Denver's Eddie Royal returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, but it was negated by a block in the back penalty against Dante Rosario. ... Broncos RB Willis McGahee had 64 yards rushing to give him 1,054 this season. He became the second NFL player to reach 1,000 yards rushing with three teams. He previously did it with Buffalo and Baltimore. Ricky Watters rushed for 1,000 yards with San Francisco, Philadelphia and Seattle. ... The Bills finished 5-3 at home (including a win over Washington at Toronto), matching their best record since going 5-3 in 2004.

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