The Bills travel to Indianapolis looking to continue their winning ways in this always-interesting divisional rivalry against the Colts. Buffalo owns a 33-23-1 edge in the series standings, due mainly to their recent domination as the Bills have prevailed in 15 of the teams' last 19 meetings dating back to their second encounter in '89.

Last season, the Bills swept this divisional series for the second straight year and the sixth time in nine seasons; in Week 6 at the RCA Dome, Bills' QB Doug Flutie (subbing for Rob Johnson, who injured his ribs on the game's first series) connected on 23-of-28 passes for 213 yards and a pair of scores and RB Antowain Smith rushed for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns as Wade Phillips' club overcame a 9-0 second-quarter deficit enroute to a 31-24 win.

Six weeks later in Buffalo (Week 12), Smith ran for 107 yards and two more scores and the Bills outgained the Colts in total yardage, 402-250, in a convincing 34-11 triumph.

The Bills are just 7-8 in their previous 15 visits to Indianapolis dating back to 1984, but have prevailed in 6 of the last 9 encounters at the RCA Dome dating back to 1990.

All told, eight of the last nine meetings between these clubs have each been decided by seven or fewer points

Numbers: In four games vs. Indianapolis, Bills' RB Antowain Smith has carried 81 times for 408 yards (5.0 avg.) and 7 touchdowns--rushing for 100 or more yards in three of those four contests. In 26 games vs. Indianapolis, Bills' WR Andre Reed has caught 119 passes for 1,656 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Bills owned a plus-10 turnover differential (31-21) in 16 games in '98, this after amassing a minus-20 turnover differential (22-42) in 16 games in '97. Including playoffs, the Bills played 17 games in '98, 11 of those decided by 7 or fewer points (5-6).

After throwing just three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his first four games, Colts' QB Peyton Manning threw 23 TD passes and 17 interceptions in his last 12 contests in '98, throwing two or more touchdown passes in 7 of his last 11 games. However, Manning has thrown two or more interceptions in 6 of his last 9 contests. The Colts allowed 150 or more yards rushing in 10-of-16 contests in '98.

Things To Look For: Thanks to a revamped offensive front and a defense that may be ready to come into its own, the Bills don't figure to get off to another slow start--as was the case in '98--and may be a Super Bowl sleeper. Still, they kick off the year against a much-improved Colts' squad that features rookie RB Edgerrin James and an overhauled defensive unit, the latter which may take some time to gel.

Etc.: Since 1988, the Bills are 30-11 in the month of August/September (2-5 since 1997). The Bills are 63-29 (including 3-1 in playoffs) vs. AFC East competition since '88, however they are just 21-20 vs. divisional foes since 1994 (including playoffs). Bills' WR Andre Reed (86) and RB Thurman Thomas (86) each need 1 touchdown to tie Lance Alworth (87) for 20th place on the NFL's all-time touchdowns scored list. Including playoffs, the Colts are 11-34 (0-1 in playoffs) since opening 4-0 in '96. Since 1994, (including playoffs), 49 of the Colts' 84 games have been decided by seven or fewer points, six of those in overtime