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- The Bills and Colts played in a game dominated by snow on Sunday, with conditions so bad that fans could barely see the field at points.
- After a wild sequence forced overtime, LeSean McCoy played hero, scoring a walk-off touchdown to seal the game for the Bills.
- It wasn’t the first time McCoy has had success in snowy conditions.
Running back LeSean McCoy played hero for the Bills against the Colts on Sunday, scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime of an absolutely wild, snowy game in Buffalo.
The weather dictated the action for the entire game Sunday. Snow poured down for all four quarters, rendering visibility low for fans and turning the Colts’ white uniforms almost invisible.
The Bills are wearing their color rush uniforms so we went with camo. #INDvsBUFpic.twitter.com/w1SdSnNWcI
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 10, 2017
The Bills carried a 7-0 lead into the final minutes of the game, but Indianapolis was able to tie things up in the final moments when quarterback Jacoby Brissett found tight end Jack Doyle for a touchdown.
That’s when things went off the rails.
First, the Colts decided to go for a two-point conversion to win the game. They got the ball in the end zone, but an offensive pass interference call nullified the score and pushed Indianapolis back 10 yards. The Colts decided to put their trust in veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri to hit in the snow and against the wind from 43 yards out.
Indianapolis called timeout before the attempt, giving the team the opportunity to clear out some of the snow and provide space for Vinatieri to kick.
Colts water boys tried to help clear snow for Vinatieri and this ref got ‘em outta there with the quickness pic.twitter.com/SG3Saqu6Ye
— Barstool Sports (@barstooltweetss) December 10, 2017
With the spot as clear as the snow would allow, Vinatieri lined up and pushed through one of the ugliest game-tying kicks you’ll ever see.
Vinatieri. Clutch. In the snow again. Just give him the gold jacket tomorrow.#Coltspic.twitter.com/jjjq5XvEzS
— Ƒunhouse (@BackAftaThis) December 10, 2017
The trajectory of the kick was initially so far off that Bills players began celebrating. But thanks to a combination of wind, spin, and likely a bit of luck, the ball found its way through the uprights, a development that disappointed 60,000-plus shivering fans gathered in Buffalo.
In overtime, the Bills drove down to the Colts’ 40-yard-line and faced a 4th-and-1 with just four minutes left in the extra period. They elected to punt the ball, prompting boos from the home crowd that had supported the team through three hours of chilling football.
But the boos soon turned to cheers. The Buffalo defense forced a three-and-out from the Colts, and the Bills offense got the ball back for one more shot at the end zone. Third-string quarterback Joe Webb came up big after backup Nathan Peterman went down with a concussion, completing a huge third-down pass to keep the final drive alive.
Then, just outside of the red zone, LeSean McCoy cut upfield and split the Colts’ defense to score the winning touchdown, sending the crowd home happy.
.@CutOnDime25 in the SNOW… Unstoppable.@BuffaloBills WIN! #GoBillspic.twitter.com/WnNmeYQXXc
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2017
McCoy finished the game with 156 yards and the game-winning score, and he was responsible for almost half of the Bills’ total offense. His success in the snow shouldn’t come as a surprise — Shady was also the star of the last “Snow Bowl” in the NFL, rushing for 217 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles in 2013 against the Lions on a snowy day in Philadelphia.
With the win, the Bills move to 7-6 on the season and keep an outside shot at the postseason alive. They have two games against the Dolphins and a trip to New England to play the Patriots left on their schedule.