TONIGHT

Buffalo at Indianapolis, 6 Channel 7

* The line: Indianapolis by 6.

* Story line: The winner’s playoff hopes stay alive, the loser starts thinking about next season. The Bills have dropped two games in a row while the Colts have choked away three.

* Keys to the game: With both defenses soft up the middle, the running game will take center stage. Buffalo is missing LBs Sam Cowart and Sam Rogers and will be counting on its safeties to cheat up to stop RB Edgerrin James. However, that strategy is risky as it puts unproven Buffalo CB Chris Watson against WR Marvin Harrison. The Bills ran for 171 yards in Week 5 against the Colts, and will need that kind of performance again to keep this game from turning into a shootout. Indianapolis needs to avoid turnovers and keep Bill WR Eric Moulds in double coverage.

* Injury report: BUF--LB Sam Cowart (ankle, out); LB Sam Rogers (groin, out); RB Sammy Morris (ankle, questionable). IND--LB Cornelius Bennett (hand, questionable).

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COMPARISON BUF IND Points scored 18.7 (24) 25.7 (5) Points allowed 20.8 (16) 21.8 (19) Passing off. 216.4 (12) 283.7 (2) Rushing off. 112.7 (T18) 113.7 (17) Passing def. 186.4 (8) 222.5 (22) Rushing def. 86.4 (3) 127.8 (26) Time of poss. 32:06 (4) 29:00 (22) Turnover ratio +8 (T7) -11 (27) Red zone TD% 46.3 (19) 59.5 (4)

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* The pick: Indianapolis. The Colts have way too many weapons for the Bills’ tattered defense to handle.