Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 13

SPORTS Statesman Journal 3B HOW NFL PLAYERS WITH AREA TIES FARED NFL Bills pick off Tebow 4 times to win 40-14 Sunday Dei-ember 25. 3W1 i hi Buffalo's Spencer Johnson (91) celebrates his touchdown after intercepting a pass from Denver quarterback Tim Tebow during the second half Saturday. The Bills won 40-14. the associated press Denver falls into a tie for first place in the AFC West By John Wawrow The Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. Tim Tebow picked a terrible time to run out of fourth-quarter comebacks.

Rather than inspiring the Denver Broncos to another dramatic rally, the quarterback sealed the most dreadful performance of his two-year career by throwing four interceptions all in the second half and two returned for touchdowns 18 seconds apart in a 40-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. It happened as the Broncos (8-7) had a chance to inch closer to clinching their first playoff berth in six years, and against a Bills team that was coming off seven straight losses and had little to play for. "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." Denver coach John Fox hasn't lost faith in Tebow.

"I just think a couple of misreads," Fox said. And no, he gave no thought of pulling Tebow at any point during a second half in which four of the Broncos' final six possessions ended with interceptions. On the bright side, Denver's not done yet, despite falling into a tie with Oakland atop the AFC West. Denver closes its season by hosting the Kansas City Chiefs next week, and still holds the tiebreaker edge over the Raiders. "Everything is still on the table," Tebow said.

"We have to go and execute and play a little better. Hopefully, we can get in the tournament." 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- seven-game skid. While Tebow was struggling, Bills quarterback Ryan Fitz-patrick enjoyed his most efficient game in two months by going 15 of 27 for 196 yards with no interceptions. Fitzpatrick entered the game taking plenty of heat during the seven-game skid, in which he threw eight touchdowns versus 12 interceptions.

Dave Rayner shook off two missed field-goal attempts and a booing crowd to hit his final four, all from within 29 yards. "I'm glad that Coach stuck with me," Rayner said. "I'm glad that we got opportunities, because I never want to leave a game going oh-fer." Except for scoring touchdowns on their first possession of each half, nothing went right for the Broncos. They went nowhere in the first half after Tebow capped a 73-yard opening drive with a 1-yard run. Denver managed just 21 yards and no first downs on its final six possessions, including a kneel-down in the final seconds.

Tebow's pass intended for Eric Decker up the left hash mark and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown, then it certainly was decided on the Broncos' next play from scrimmage. Tebow was flushed from the pocket and was scrambling to his left when linebacker Chris Kelsay dived from behind and batted the ball out of the quarterback's hand. The ball flew into the air and landed in the hands of Johnson, who ran it in from 17 yards. Kelsay, the longest-serving member of the defense, had two sacks and led the team with nine tackles. "We've lost seven games in a row.

It wears on you," Kelsay said. "We got rewarded. We came together and we executed." After weeks of assertive defense, the Broncos gave up 40 points for a second straight game though Tebow's giveaways certainly didn't help. And yet Denver allowed 160 yards rushing and 351 yards in all to a banged-up Bills offense that was averaging 14.2 points and 314.7 yards during its yard plunge. That wasn't nearly good enough for a player who entered the game best known for engineering five fourth-quarter comebacks this season.

The Bills (6-9) made sure he never got in position for a sixth in coming away with a win in their home finale. Safety Jairus Byrd and linebacker Spencer Johnson scored on interception returns 18 seconds apart midway through the fourth quarter. C.J. Spiller rushed for a career-best 111 yards and a touchdown, and Leodis McKelvin scored on an 80-yard punt return. "It's special," Johnson said.

"We had a monkey on our back for a long time." The Bills' four interceptions were two more than they managed in their previous seven games. They have returned five interceptions for touchdowns to set a single-season franchise record. If the game wasn't over with 8:03 left when Byrd, a former Oregon player, jumped in front of Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore, a former Oregon State player, threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, the ASSOCIATED PRESS UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Baltimore TE Ed Dickson (84) had two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown. Baltimore NT Haloti Ngata (92) had four tackles. Buffalo Jairus Byrd (31) had seven tackles and an interception, and scored a touchdown.

Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart (28) had 7 carries for 88 yards and one catch for 11 yards. Cleveland T.J. Ward (43) was inactive. Denver TE Dante Rosario (81) had one tackle. Denver RB Jeremiah Johnson (37) had six carries for 23 yards.

Detroit RB Maurice Morris (28) had five carries for 22 yards. Kansas City DL Brandon Bair (90) was inactive. New England Patrick Chung (25) was inactive. New York Giants LB Spencer Paysinger (55) had two special teams tackles. Oakland LB Jerome Boyd (30) played.

Philadelphia LB Casey Matthews (50) had four tackles and a hit on the quarterback. San Francisco OL Adam Snyder (68) started at right guard. Seattle OL Max Unger (60) started at center. St. Louis QB A.J.

Feeley (4) was inactive. St. Louis QB Kellen Clemens (10) was 9 of 24 for 91 yards. OREGON ST. UNIVERSITY Buffalo OL Andy Levitre (67) started at left guard.

Buffalo DL Dwan Edwards (98) had two tackles. Buffalo LB Nick Barnett (50) had six tackles. Carolina QB Derek Anderson (3) did not play. Cleveland DB James Dockery (34) was inactive. Kansas City DB Sabby Piscitelli (42) had one tackle.

Miami QB Matt Moore (8) was 17 of 33 for 294 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. New England WR Chad Ocho-cinco (85) had one catch for 15 yards. Oakland WR TJ. Houshmandzadeh (84) had two catches for 19 yards. Philadelphia DB Brandon Hughes (27) had two tackles.

Seattle DB Brandon Browner (39) had five tackles. St. Louis RB Steven Jackson (39) had 24 carries for 103 yards and two catches for 24 yards. OTHERS Carolina LB Jordan Senn (57) (PSU) had a team-high 10 tackles. Carolina WR Legedu Naanee (17) (from Portland) had two catches for 12 yards.

Cleveland RB Owen Marecic (48) (Tigard) was inactive. Denver TE Julius Thomas (80) (PSU) was inactive. Detroit DL Ndamukong Suh (90) (from Portland) had two tackles. Minnesota PK Ryan Longwell (8) (Bend) made 2 of 3 field goals, with a long of 36 yards. Oakland TE Kevin Boss (87) (Philomath, Western Oregon) played.

Seattle OL Paul McQuistan (67) (Lebanon) started at left tackle. St. Louis Quintin Mikell (27) (Eugene) had four tackles. Tennessee OL Michael Roos (71) (Bend) started at left tackle. denotes starter Seahawks rcz Continued from 1B ff 1 J'V3 5a.

yelling, "Merry Christmas everybody!" The 49ers could head into next week's regular-season finale at St. Louis with the No. 2 seed locked up if Atlanta wins at New Orleans on Monday night. They are still alive for the No. 1 seed, but would need Green Bay to lose its final two games.

But all San Francisco needs is a win over the lowly Rams to clinch a home playoff game and a weekend of rest. Meanwhile, the Seahawks' three-game winning streak ended along with their playoff hopes. Seattle already needed an unlikely scenario to get to the postseason thanks to Detroit's win over San Diego on Saturday, but the loss to the 49ers dashed those hopes. Seattle did make it interesting thanks to its special teams. Heath Farwell blocked Andy Lee's punt and the ball bounced inside the San Francisco 5 with less than 7 minutes remaining.

On the next play, Lynch scooted around the left edge and just inside the pylon, setting off a shower of Skittles flying out of the stands. The candy covered the blue-painted end zone to the point where workers with industrial blowers came out to try and clear the field. They were back minutes later with brooms and pans trying to clean up even more. The 49ers were the first team in league history to go the first 14 games without allowing a touch- a Seattle's Marshawn Lynch scores as San Francisco's Tarell Brown defends in the second half Saturday in Seattle. It was the first touchdown rushing allowed by San Francisco this season and Lynch's 1 1th consecutive game with a score.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS son was flushed from the pocket by Grant, who continued to pursue and grabbed Jackson from behind. The fumble bounced forward 10 yards, where Whitner fell on it as the San Francisco sideline burst into celebration. Jackson finished 15 of 28 for 163 yards and a 13-yard TD pass to rookie Doug Baldwin in the first quarter. in Week 11 of 2009. That snapped a streak of 36 straight games for the 49ers without allowing a 100-yard rusher.

Lynch then took a short pass from Jackson for 20 yards to the 45 at the 2-minute warning. Lynch added a 3-yard run and another swing pass to Lynch brought up third-and-3 at the San Francisco 48 with 1:18 left. Jack down rushing. But Smith answered with his deep pass to Crabtree, and Seattle's final chance was thwarted by the only turnover of the game. Lynch's 6-yard run to start the drive pushed him over the 100-yard mark, making him the first running back to top 100 yards against the 49ers since Ryan Grant did it for Green Bay 3 Ducks Continued from 1B 'i "As a player I think you should win every game," free safety John Boyett said.

"If it was a 50-game season and we won 49 and lost one, we'd still be mad that we lost that one (game)." There will be no national championship this season, and a victory against Wisconsin would not erase losses to Ohio State and Auburn. But it sure would help. "I feel a little emptiness inside because we don't have that ring," linebacker Josh Kaddu said. "But I feel like with this victory it will help fill that emptiness." (503) 399-6726 or follow at twitter.comghorowitt Darron Thomas and the Ducks say they're hungry for a Rose Bowl win. thomas PATTERSON STATESMAN JOURNAL FILE Ducks spirit of Christmas The Bosworth family made this Duck tree to show their team spirit.

The stained glass star has a lighted in the center. The light strands alternate yellow and green. The pole is painted green and wrapped with yellow duct tape. On the light strands we added silk roses to support our team, wiluam bosworth special to the statesman journal I i i if Lt iti.