Detroit, Mich. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It was another high-scoring contest for the Buffalo Bills this week, but this time, it results in a victory on the schedule.
Just a week after putting up 42 points in a losing effort against the Los Angeles Rams, the Bills responded by putting up 48 points, and earning a huge win, 48-42, over the NFC's best team, the Detroit Lions, at Ford Field.
Josh Allen and the Bills offense put on a show on Sunday, producing 559 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. Allen, himself, accounted for 430 yards of total offense and four scores.
The game started strong for the Bills, with the defense making an opening stand by forcing a three-and-out.
Right off the hop offensively, Allen turned to running back Ty Johnson, who reeled in passes of 33 yards and 24 yards on the drive to help set Buffalo up in scoring position.
Allen capped off the drive himself, but utilizing the "tush push" from one yard out to put Buffalo on the board first.
The Buffalo defense appeared ready to play off the hop, as the next Lions drive saw a couple of sacks to force another Detroit punt. First it was cornerback Christian Benford getting to Jared Goff on the corner blitz, followed by defensive tackle Ed Oliver blowing up the line of scrimmage to get the Lions quarterback.
On the next Bills drive, the offense helped extend the lead to 14-0 with a nine-play drive going 78 yards, and resulting in another Allen touchdown run, this time from four yards out.
The Lions offense finally got things going on its third drive, as Goff capped off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tim Patrick, who extended for the goal line to put Detroit on the board.
Buffalo's next offensive drive saw the Bills facing a 4th-and-2 right near midfield when Allen found Johnson again to convert, this time for a 31-yard catch-and-run.
Three plays later, running back James Cook ran his way to the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown to put Buffalo ahead, 21-7.
The Lions responded with a 10-play drive that resulted in another touchdown. This time, Goff connected with offensive tackle Dan Skipper, who reported as an eligible receiver, for a six-yard touchdown pass.
It became a rush to score before the end of the half.
On the first play of the next drive, Allen rolled to his right and connected with rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman for 64 yards in his first game back from a wrist injury.
It all unraveled for the Bills after that, though, as after getting to the one-yard line just under the two-minute warning, a false start penalty backed Buffalo up and took away a prime chance for seven more points.
Then with 1:47 remaining on the clock in the half, Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed a 24-yard field goal attempt wide-right, giving the Lions an opportunity stretch the field and tie the game.
However, after a defensive stop by the Bills, Lions kicker Jake Bates failed to cut into Detroit's deficit with a missed field goal of his own, this one from 52 yards and wide to the left.
The Bills still had 36 seconds left in the half and two timeouts to work with to try and add again to their lead, but time expired on the half before Buffalo could get enough into scoring position.
Allen and the Bills came out swinging to start the second half.
After a couple of plays called for Johnson, including a 26-yard catch-and-run, the next two plays went back to Cook, and the Bills running back found himself back in the end zone with a 41-yard touchdown run.
After a bit of a lull in scoring for both teams, the Bills forced the first and only turnover on the day.
After Goff was able to connect with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle of the field, Benford was able to force a fumble that ended up being recovered by linebacker Matt Milano.
Five plays later, the Bills were back in the end zone thanks to an Allen shuffle pass to wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who did the rest from three yards out to put Buffalo up 35-14.
Detroit answered right back with a deep connection of its own to keep themselves in the contest. Facing a 3rd-and-17 at the Lions' 34-yard line, Goff was able to find St. Brown again over the middle, and the wideout took off for a 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
Despite not being able to get back in the end zone on their next drive, the Bills turned back to Bass to put up three points on the board from 50 yards out. His kick went right through the uprights to put the Bills up 38-21 with 14:02 remaining on the game clock.
The Lions refused to go down without a fight.
All it took, once again, was five plays for the Lions to score, as Goff connected with running back Jahmyr Gibbs for a 12-yard touchdown pass in just 2:02 off the game clock.
Detroit looked to keep things rolling in their favor by declaring for an onside kick. However, the kick was unsuccessful, as Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins recovered it for Buffalo and returned it to the Lions' five-yard line.
On the very next play for the Bills, Allen rolled out to his right and found rookie running back Ray Davis for a five-yard score to give Buffalo a 17-point lead with 11:51 remaining.
The track meet continued on the Lions' next drive, as Detroit cut through the Buffalo defense, allowing Gibbs to finish it off an 11-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run from Gibbs.
With the Bills now only leading by 10 points, they ended up chewing nearly six minutes off the clock, while pushing back into scoring position. After getting back in the red zone and having another touchdown negated by a penalty, Bass put the Bills back up by 13 with 2:03 to go in the game thanks to a 41-yard field goal.
It took the Lions 16 plays to get back into the end zone, but in only 1:51 of the game clock as Goff connected with wide receiver Jameson Williams with just 12 seconds remaining on a three-yard touchdown pass. It was Goff's fifth passing touchdown of the game.
Detroit, once again, tried to get the ball back with an onside kick, but failed to come up with the football, though, it was close. Bills cornerback Taron Johnson was able to jump on the football, while maintain possession under a pile of bodies to secure a 48-42 win for the Bills.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:56) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:06
- 14-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (2:05) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 78 yards, 5:43
Second Quarter:
- 14-7 BUFFALO: Lions touchdown (13:36) - Jared Goff connects with Tim Patrick for a 12-yard touchdown pass. (Jake Bates' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 70 yards, 3:25
- 21-7 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (8:15) - James Cook rushes to the left for a 6-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 70 yards, 5:21
- 21-14 BUFFALO: Lions touchdown (3:08) - Jared Goff connects with Dan Skipper for a 6-yard touchdown pass. (Jake Bates' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 70 yards, 5:14
Third Quarter:
- 28-14 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (13:11) - James Cook rushes up the middle for a 41-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good) Drive info: 4 plays, 70 yards, 1:49
- 35-14 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (3:31) - Josh Allen shuffles a pass to Khalil Shakir for a 3-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 26 yards, 1:37
- 35-21 BUFFALO: Lions touchdown (1:41) - Jared Goff passes deep to Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 66-yard touchdown. (Jake Bates' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 70 yards, 1:50
Fourth Quarter:
- 38-21 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (14:06) - Tyler Bass' 50-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 7 plays, 38 yards, 2:35
- 38-28 BUFFALO: Lions touchdown (12:09) - Jared Goff passes over the middle to Jahmyr Gibbs for a 12-yard touchdown. (Jake Bates' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:53
- 45-28 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (11:51) - Josh Allen rolls out to the right and connects with Ray Davis for a 5-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 1 play, 5 yards, 0:04
- 45-35 BUFFALO: Lions touchdown (8:07) - Jahmyr Gibbs rushes for a 1-yard touchdown run. (Jake Bates' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 12 plays, 70 yards, 3:49
- 48-35 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (2:06) - Tyler Bass' 41-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 12 plays, 47 yards, 5:56
- 48-42 BUFFALO: Lions touchdown (0:12) - Jared Goff connects with Jameson Williams for a 3-yard touchdown pass. (Jake Bates' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 16 plays, 70 yards, 1:51
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills return to Orchard Park for the final two home games of the regular season schedule at Highmark Stadium. It starts next Sunday with a matchup against the New England Patriots, the first matchup of the year between the two teams.
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with wall-to-wall pregame coverage beginning at 7 a.m. EST.