Los Angeles Raiders at Buffalo Bills

Jim Kelly threw two touchdowns to James Lofton and Kenneth Davis ran in three rushing touchdowns and the Buffalo Bills crushed the Los Angeles Raiders 51-3 at Rich Stadium to win the AFC Championship and advance to Super Bowl XXV. Kelly finished 17 of 23 for 300 yards. Thurman Thomas ran for 138 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders' offense produced one Jeff Jaeger field goal. The Bills improved to 15-3 and head to Tampa.[1][2]

Jim Kelly threw two touchdowns to James Lofton, Kenneth Davis ran in three rushing touchdowns, and the Buffalo Bills crushed the Los Angeles Raiders 51-3 in the AFC Championship game at Rich Stadium. The Bills move to 15-3 and advance to Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium.

Kelly finished 17 of 23 for 300 yards with the two touchdowns. Lofton caught five for 113 with touchdowns of 13 and 8. Andre Reed caught two for 29. Thurman Thomas ran 15 times for 138 with a 12-yard touchdown. Kenneth Davis added 10 carries for 21 with three rushing touchdowns (1, 3, 1).

The Raiders' offense produced one Jaeger 41-yard field goal in the first quarter. Jay Schroeder finished 13 of 31 for 150 yards with no touchdowns and five interceptions. Vince Evans came in for relief and went 2 of 8 for 26 yards with one interception. Marcus Allen ran 10 times for 26 yards. The Bills' defensive front produced one sack but the secondary's five interceptions of Schroeder produced 41 points off turnovers across the first half. The Bills led 41-3 at the half.

Bills 51, Raiders 3. Margin: plus 48. AFC Championship.

• Kelly: 17 of 23, 300, 2 TDs (Lofton 13, Lofton 8), 1 INT, 0 sacks.
• James Lofton: 5 catches for 113, 2 TDs.
• Andre Reed: 2 catches for 29.
• Keith McKeller: 3 catches for 44.
• Thurman Thomas: 15 carries for 138, 1 rushing TD (12y), plus 5 catches for 61.
• Kenneth Davis: 10 carries for 21, 3 rushing TDs (1, 3, 1).
• Carwell Gardner: 1 carry for 23.
• Don Smith: 3 carries for 3.
• Darryl Talley (DEF): 27y INT return TD.
• Scott Norwood: 1 FG (39).
• Schroeder (LAR): 13 of 31, 150, 0 TDs, 5 INTs, 1 sack.
• Vince Evans (LAR): 2 of 8, 26, 0 TDs, 1 INT.
• Marcus Allen (LAR): 10 carries for 26.
• Greg Bell (LAR): 5 carries for 36.
• Tim Brown (LAR): 2 catches for 17.
• Mervyn Fernandez (LAR): 4 catches for 57.
• Jeff Jaeger (LAR): 1 FG (41).
• Bills 15-3; Raiders out. Bills advance to Super Bowl XXV.

A 51-3 AFC Championship home win for the Buffalo Bills over the Los Angeles Raiders at Rich Stadium. Buffalo improves to 15-3 and advances to Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium.

How it unfolded

James Lofton caught a 13-yard touchdown from Kelly to open the scoring. Jaeger kicked a 41-yard field goal to make it 7-3. Thomas ran in a 12-yard touchdown. Darryl Talley took an interception 27 yards back for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21-3. Kenneth Davis ran in a 1-yard score. Davis added a 3-yard rush. Lofton caught an 8-yard touchdown to make it 41-3 at the half. Davis added a third 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the final 51-3.

The turning point

The Talley 27-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. With the Bills already up 14-3 and the Raiders' offense looking to produce a comeback, Schroeder's pass was deflected and Talley took it back 27 yards for the touchdown. The 21-3 score effectively ended the AFC Championship before halftime.

By the numbers

Kelly 17 of 23 for 300 with two touchdowns. Lofton five catches for 113 with two touchdowns. Thomas 138 on 15 carries with a rushing touchdown and 61 receiving on five catches. Davis three rushing touchdowns on 10 carries. Schroeder 13 of 31 for 150 with five interceptions; the Raiders' worst single-game interception total of the year. The Bills' defense produced one sack and six total interceptions (the rookie Talley pickup plus five other turnovers).

What it means

15-3. Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium against the New York Giants. The Bills' largest margin of victory in any AFC Championship in conference history. The Raiders' worst loss of the year and the franchise's worst conference championship defeat since 1969. The AFC's most-prolific offense and the NFC's most-prolific defense meet in two weeks for the Super Bowl.