Detroit, Mich. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills hung on for a thrilling 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field, bouncing back from their loss the previous week to the Los Angeles Rams in Southern California.
Here are my Arrows Up and Down from the contest, starting Up again!
ARROW UP
QB - Josh Allen
Allen was absolutely incredible, and may have cemented his MVP case by going 23-for-34 for 362 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 68 yards on the ground on 11 carries and another two touchdowns, totaling 430 yards of offense and four touchdowns.
Offensive game plan
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady had an excellent game plan, scheming up to take advantage of the Lions' linebackers in coverage, especially with the Bills running backs. He stayed aggressive all game.
RB - Ty Johnson
Johnson had the best receiving game of his career, finishing with 114 yards on five catches. He had 95 of those yards in the first half alone.
He added nine rushing yards for 113 yards from scrimmage.
RB - James Cook
Cook had an electrifying 41-yard touchdown run that highlighted a day where he ran 14 times for 105 yards, for an average of a whopping 7.5 yards per-carry. He scored twice on the ground, and added a 28-yard reception for a total of 133 yards of offense.
The running game overall
Buffalo accounted for 197 yards on the ground between Allen, Cook, Johnson and rookie running back Ray Davis. The Bills also managed to find the end zone four times while running the football with Allen and Cook.
The offensive line
The Bills' offensive line opened some big holes, and Allen was not sacked at all. They helped pave the way for 559 yards of total offense.
DT - Ed Oliver
Oliver played his best game of the season, creating penetration quite often and collecting a sack of his own. He finished the day with four total tackles, the sack, was tied for a game-high three quarterback hits and forced a fumble.
Bills tight ends
The combination of Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox caught six passes for 95 yards, including some very big catches to keep drives alive.
Both were also very involved as blockers in the running game.
Kaiir Elam, Cole Bishop and Cam Lewis
While Lions quarterback Jared Goff had a great day statistically, Elam, Bishop and Lewis - all backups filling in for starters - did a very good job to keep passes in front of them and not get beaten deep. Most of the Detroit passing damage was done underneath and when the Bills were hanging back in a softer shell.
They weren't perfect, but for three backups starting in the secondary, they were able to do their jobs both individually and together well enough.
Run defense
So much was made about the Lions' running attack coming into the game, but the Bills defense did an excellent job to keep it under wraps.
Detroit ran the ball 15 times for only 48 yards, averaging just 3.2 yards per-carry. David Montgomery was held to just four yards on five carries.
Defensive line quarterback pressure
Bills defensive linemen combined for two sacks and seven quarterback hits. They made Goff very uncomfortable quite often, forcing him to rush throws.
P - Sam Martin
Martin punted once, and it went 51 yards and was downed at the Lions' 4-yard line.
The presence of mind of Mack Hollins
With the Bills leading 38-28 with 12:00 left, Detroit declared their intentions to attempt an onside kick.
Hollins not only fielded the football, but then had the presence of mind to run 38 yards down the sideline, getting tackled at the Lions' 5-yard line.
The Bills scored a touchdown on the very next play.
Third down offense
The Bills were 5-for-10 (50%) on third downs.
Fourth down call and play
Up 14-7 about midway through the second quarter, the Bills faced a 4th-and-2 from the Lions' 49-yard line. Bills head coach Sean McDermott decided to go for it.
Brady made a great play call to get Ty Johnson singled up on a linebacker. Allen threw a pass almost just out of his reach, but Johnson made a terrific catch for a 31-yard gain.
The Bills scored a touchdown three plays later.
ARROW DOWN:
Goal-to-go at the end of the first half
The Bills had a 1st-and-goal from the Lions' three-yard line with under two minutes to play in the first half. They got stopped on a run, then threw the ball to the one-yard line, then had a false start called on them on third down. Allen threw an incomplete pass, and they had to settle for a field goal attempt...
Tyler Bass missing the chip shot
On that attempt, with a chance to go up by 10 points before halftime, Bass missed a chip-shot 24-yard field goal attempt, allowing the Lions to stay within one score.
Goal-to-go at end of second half
With a 1st-and-goal from the Lions' 10-yard line with 3:43 left and a chance to ice the game with a touchdown, the Bills ran once for no gain, then had an incompletion. On third down, Allen hit Kincaid for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a penalty.
They ran the ball and trotted Bass for another field goal attempt. This kick was good.
494 yards passing given up
No doubt a lot was circumstantial due to the score, and a great majority of it came in the second half, but the Bills defense still gave up close to 500 yards passing!
Linebackers/middle of the field in coverage
Just like Buffalo did to Detroit, the Lions attacked the Bills linebackers in coverage, and specifically at the second level in the middle of the field overall, and were successful far too often.
Fourth down defense
The Lions went for it on fourth down three times, and converted each of those attempts.
No targets for Amari Cooper
Wide receiver Amari Cooper didn't have a single target in the game.
Red zone defense
Detroit converted all five of their trips in the Bills red zone into touchdowns.
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