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Bills get back on track with win over Jaguars

Dec 2, 2012 - 11:40 PM Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - Despite only passing for 112 yards, Ryan Fitzpatrick did account for three touchdowns in leading the Buffalo Bills to a 34-18 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Fitzpatrick threw touchdowns to Stevie Johnson and Scott Chandler to go along with a rushing score. He completed only 9-of-17 attempts.

The Buffalo tandem of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller combined to run for 186 yards. Jackson finished with 109 yards on 25 carries, while Spiller totaled 77 yards -- 44 of which came on a fourth-quarter touchdown -- for the Bills (5-7).

"Some good things happened, all around. That's why we won the ballgame," said Buffalo coach Chan Gailey.

Chad Henne was 18-of-41 for 208 yards with one touchdown and an interception for Jacksonville (2-10).

"We didn't play as well as I hoped," said Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey.

The Jaguars were looking to post consecutive wins for the first time in nearly two years. They notched a road victory at Tennessee on Dec. 5, 2010 and then beat Oakland a week later.

Spiller's touchdown seemingly put the game out of reach, giving Buffalo a 34-10 lead. but Justin Rogers muffed a punt to give the Jaguars a pulse.

Antwon Blake recovered for Jacksonville at the Buffalo 5-yard line, and Henne hooked up with Cecil Shorts in the end zone with 10:47 remaining on the next play.

The Jaguars, who went for two and converted on a run by Montell Owens, marched into Buffalo territory on each of their next two series before turning the ball over on downs.

Safety Jairus Byrd picked off Henne inside the final minute to seal the win, the Bills' second in three weeks.

The Bills reached the end zone on their opening drive as Fitzpatrick followed up his 51-yard pass to T.J. Graham with a goal-line plunge.

Fitzpatrick, though, was intercepted by former Bill Paul Posluszny early in the second quarter and Jacksonville converted the linebacker's takeaway into a Josh Scobee 36-yard field goal.

Buffalo then turned the ball over on downs when linebacker Russell Allen knocked down a pass intended for Chandler on 4th-and-5 from the Jacksonville 37.

The Jaguars had a quick response and grabbed a 10-7 lead. After the drive began with a defensive pass interference penalty, Henne found Shorts for a 24- yard gain to move the ball inside the red zone, and the signal-caller eventually scored from a yard out on a bootleg to his right.

Buffalo answered on its next possession after Marcus Easley returned the kickoff 55 yards. An unnecessary roughness penalty at the end of the play advanced the ball to the Jacksonville 26, and Chandler caught an 11-yard touchdown pass to put Buffalo back ahead.

The Bills were able to extend their lead prior to halftime, with Mario Williams knocking the ball out of Henne's hand on a rush and recovering the fumble at the Jacksonville 14. The Jaguars' defense held, though, and Rian Lindell kicked a 29-yard field goal to put Buffalo up 17-10 at the break.

Buffalo extended its lead further on its first series of the second half, one that ended with Fitzpatrick's 13-yard strike to Johnson.

After the Jaguars turned the ball over on downs, Lindell drilled a 50-yarder with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter for a 27-10 advantage.

Game Notes

Fitzpatrick recorded his first rushing touchdown since Nov. 29, 2009 against Miami ... Jacksonville running back Rashad Jennings and Shorts both suffered head injuries. Shorts had 77 yards on seven receptions before exiting... The Jaguars were 1-for-10 on third down conversions.