With 12 minutes to go and the Lions down 10, Dan Campbell called for an onside kick. Next thing he knew, they were down 17.
Jake Bates' kick took a high bounce that Campbell thought the Lions would recover only for it be plucked out of the air by Mack Hollins of the Bills and returned to Detroit's five-yard line.
"I just thought we’d get the possession," Campbell said after the Lions' 48-42 loss. "I thought we were going to get that ball. It was one of Bates’ best kicks that I’ve seen him have. That was a big kicker at the end, that thing took a good jump on us, and Hollins made a heck of a play on it."
In a game where the Lions' defense allowed 559 yards and forced just one punt, Campbell felt like the best way to close the gap was on special teams.
"Obviously sitting here with hindsight after them taking it down to the five-yard line, yeah, I wish I wouldn’t have done that, but is what it is.”
Campbell did not go for the onside kick after the Lions again cut it to 10 with eight minutes to go, and the Bills proceeded to burn six minutes of clock and extend their lead with a field goal.
The Lions did have another shot at a recovery after pulling within six with 12 seconds to play, but Bates' kick was secured by the Bills.