Week 6 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 17, Detroit Lions 20

What you need to know

Buffalo Bills

The Bills went almost the entire first quarter before making a first down. Willis McGahee’s seven yard run on the last play of the opening stanza marked the first time the Bills were able to move the chains. The play was also the first time that Buffalo crossed midfield. Prior to the play, the Buffalo offense had netted minus 11 yards in total as Detroit completely dominated the first portion of the game. Two plays later J.P. Losman was forced to scramble before he eventually found Roscoe Parrish behind the defense for a 44 yard touchdown. Despite being totally dominated, the Bills trailed by only three points.

However, Buffalo managed only one more first down prior to halftime as the offense and quarterback J.P. Losman struggled. Losman finished the first half completing only five of 12 for 58 yards with an interception. Take away the 44 yard touchdown pass to Parrish and the Bills netted only 13 more yards the entire first half.

Buffalo held Detroit to only a field goal in the second half. Losman’s four yard touchdown pass to tight end Ryan Neufeld brought Buffalo to within three points with 9:28 left, but the Bills were not able to get past their own 40 yard line on their next possession. The Lions responded with a clock draining eight plays before punting and leaving only nine seconds on the clock. The Bills tried a hook and ladder play to no avail.

After a poor first half, Losman was much better in the second half. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. He did lose a fumble when he was sacked by James Hall at the Detroit 38 yard line in the third quarter. However, Losman was especially sharp on Buffalo’s fourth quarter scoring drive completing all seven of his passes for 72 yards, including the four yard touchdown pass to Neufeld.

Willis McGahee gained 33 yards in each half and averaged 3.9 yards per carry. He had a 21 yard gain, but never got completely untracked. McGahee took some big hits and twice had to leave the game, but was able to return.

Detroit Lions

The Lions’ offense came out firing on all cylinders early in this game. Kevin Jones broke through a big hole on the right side of the line for a 52 yard burst on Detroit’s second play and had his best game since the 2004 season. Jones finished with a season high 127 yards on 23 rushes with one touchdown. He was more effective in the first half with 95 yards on 12 attempts. After halftime, Jones gained only 32 yards on 11 carries.

Roy Williams also had a big game. After leaving with an injury early in the Lions’ previous game, Williams was clearly Jon Kitna’s favorite weapon. Williams finished with career highs in receptions with ten and yards with 161. Williams’ 28 yard touchdown reception late in the second quarter was his seventh catch and gave him 99 yards, which was 42 more yard than the Bills’ entire team had.

Despite dominating the first half statistically, the Lions led by only seven at halftime. Questionable decisions and two big plays allowed Buffalo to hang close. After Kevin Jones was stuffed at the one yard line on third and goal, Detroit elected to try again on fourth down. Jones and the Lions’ 76 yard opening drive were snuffed with no points scored.

Detroit added a Jason Hanson field goal and a Kevin Jones touchdown run on their next two possessions and seemingly had control of the contest. However, the Lions elected to try a 56 yard field goal rather than punting on their fourth possession. The kick fell just short, but gave the Bills’ offense great field position. Four plays later, J.P. Losman eluded the Detroit pass rush and found Roscoe Parrish behind the defense for a 44 yard score.

Jon Kitna hit Roy Williams with a 28 yard touchdown pass with only 40 seconds left in the first half, but Terrence McGee returned the subsequent kickoff 72 yards to set up Rian Lindell’s field goal on the final play of the first half.

The Lions scored only a field goal in the second half, but held on for their first win of the season and capped off a great weekend for Detroit sports fans.

Due to injuries, the Lions have been forced to start five different offensive line combinations in their six games.

What you ought to know

QB J.P. Losman, Pass: 21 - 34 - 207 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 16 - 0

Losman can be a frustratingly inconsistent player. He had an awful first half with the exception of one play. On that play, Losman was able to scramble for what seemed like an eternity before he hit Roscoe Parrish for a 44 yard touchdown pass. Losman’s scrambling ability allowed Parrish to get behind the Lions’ defenders.

Losman’s ability to run with the football also gets him into trouble at times. He took a terrible sack late in the first half that made what would have been a 38 yard field goal try a 53 yard attempt instead. Fortunately for him and the Bills, Rian Lindell bailed him out by nailing the kick.

The two plays mentioned above are a sort of microcosm of Losman’s inconsistency. Take away the long completion to Parrish and Losman’s first half numbers were four for 11 for 14 yards and an interception. Dre’ Bly also dropped another potential interception. However, in the second half, Losman completed 16 of his 22 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Losman was a perfect seven for seven on the touchdown drive. Coming into the game, he had a rating of 99.4 in the fourth quarter this season. He followed that form in this game by completing ten of 13 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

RB Willis McGahee, Rush: 17 - 66 - 0, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (3 targets)

McGahee gained 33 yards on the ground in each half. He had a 21 yard run, but otherwise was held mostly in check by the Detroit defense. McGahee caught two of the three passes thrown his way. J.P. Losman hung him out to dry on the incomplete attempt. Losman scrambled and then dumped the ball to McGahee, but the throw was high and McGahee was hit hard while he was extended in an attempt to pull the ball in. He remained on the ground for a while, but eventually walked off the field and returned. McGahee was also shaken up somewhat later in the game. Trainers were looking at his side. The injury did not appear to be serious.

RB Anthony Thomas, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0

Thomas had one carry while giving Willis McGahee a breather.

RB Daimon Shelton (1 targets)

Shelton was targeted once unsuccessfully. He has no carries on the season.

WR Lee Evans, Rec: 8 - 82 - 0 (13 targets)

Evans had a quiet first half with only four targets and one catch for two yards. Evans was clearly J. P. Losman’s go to receiver in the second half. He had nine targets and seven receptions after halftime, finishing with 82 yards. Evans’ long reception went for 23 yards

WR Peerless Price, Rec: 4 - 27 - 0 (5 targets)

Price had four reception for 27 yards. He was credited with a lost fumble on the last play of the game, when he made a desperation lateral attempt after the clock had expired.

WR Josh Reed, Rec: 3 - 24 - 0 (5 targets)

Reed had three receptions for 24 yards. His long reception of 11 yards set up the Bills’ fourth quarter touchdown. Reed did a nice job to get both feet down in bounds on the play.

WR Roscoe Parrish, Rec: 2 - 48 - 1 (3 targets)

Parrish got behind the Lions’ defense for a 44 yard touchdown catch. The touchdown was his second of the season. He later added a short four yard catch.

Parrish returned two punts for a total of 21 yards. He injured a hamstring during the game.

WR Andre Davis (2 targets)

Losman overthrew Davis on a deep pattern down the left sideline in the third quarter. Davis was wide open on the play. A better pass likely would have resulted in a touchdown. However, Davis also could have made a better adjustment on the ball

Davis also was targeted deep downfield on the second to last play of the game. He has no receptions this season.

TE Ryan Neufeld, Rec: 1 - 4 - 1 (1 targets)

Neufeld’s only target resulted in a four yard touchdown reception. The catch was his first of the season and was his first NFL touchdown.

TE Robert Royal, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Royal caught one eight yard pass.

PK Rian Lindell 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points

Lindell had a perfect day hitting both of his extra point attempts and drilling a 53 yard field goal that might have been good from more than 60 yards out.

BUF Rush Defense

The Bills’ defense allowed Detroit to more than double their worst in the league average of 59.6 rushing yards per game. Kevin Jones ran for 127 yards and a score. Jones’ 52 yard run helped to get the Detroit offense going early. The defense did do a nice job of holding Jones out of the end zone on consecutive attempts from the one yard line on the opening drive.

BUF Pass Defense

Jon Kitna completed two thirds of his passes for 278 yards and a touchdown. Buffalo had an especially difficult time stopping Roy Williams, who set career highs with ten catches for 161 yards. Ko Simpson intercepted a deep pass attempt to Williams for the only turnover created by the Buffalo defense. Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay, and London Fletcher-Baker each had sacks. Donte Whitner nearly had a diving interception in the end zone, but the officials ruled he did not have control of the football.

QB Jon Kitna, Pass: 24 - 36 - 278 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 3 - 0

Kitna began the game second in the NFL with 1,306 passing yards. He completed two thirds of his passes for 278 yards and one touchdown and averaged 7.7 yards per pass attempt. Kitna threw early and often (17 times) to Roy Williams, who had a career game. Williams caught Kitna’s 28 yard touchdown pass right before halftime. Kitna was seven for seven on the scoring drive. Kitna later threw one interception on a deep pass attempt for Williams. The pass was underthrown, allowing Ko Simpson to make it across the field and pick the ball off.

Overall, Kitna had an efficient game. However, the interception could have proven costly as the Lions were trying to hold a lead and avoid another fourth quarter collapse.

RB Kevin Jones, Rush: 23 - 127 - 1, Rec: 6 - 36 - 0 (9 targets)

After gaining only eight yards on ten carries against the Vikings, Jones had a season high 23 rushes for an also season high 127 yards. Jones had a 52 yard burst through a hole on the right side on Detroit’s second play of the game. Jones was stopped at the one yard line after a 5 yard run later in the drive. He was then given consecutive attempts from the one (on third and fourth down), but was stuffed both times. Jones added a seven yard touchdown run later in the opening quarter. He lost a 15 yard run to his own illegal shift penalty.

Jones entered the game second among NFL running backs with 25 receptions and has had at least four catches in each game. He added six receptions for 36 yards against the Bills. Jones was able to get a first down late in the game on a swing pass, when a little shimmy move made a defender completely miss him.

Jones injured his hip, but returned to finish the game.

RB Brian Calhoun, Rush: 2 - 5 - 0

Calhoun ran for 3 yards to give Kevin Jones a breather after his 52 yard run. He later had a two yard run.

RB Cory Schlesinger, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets)

Fullback, Cory Schlesinger, caught one short pass that was deflected at the line of scrimmage and ended up in his arms.

RB Shawn Bryson

Bryson did not have any rushes. He injured a knee or leg on a special teams play and was carted to the locker room.

WR Roy Williams, Rec: 10 - 161 - 1 (17 targets)

Williams entered the game second in the NFC in receiving yards and added 161 more yards to his total. Williams was targeted a game leading 17 times, which represents nearly half of Jon Kitna’s pass attempts for the game. Kitna’s interception came on a deep pass attempt to Williams. Williams got away with a push-off on his first reception of the game. The play went for 20 yards. He was open on another deep pass attempt, but the ball was just barely overthrown and went off his fingertips.

WR Mike Furrey, Rec: 3 - 39 - 0 (3 targets)

Furrey caught all three targets thrown his way. His long reception was for 19 yards. Furrey’s final catch was an 11 yard gain. Furrey had to dive and fully extend his arms to grab the low pass on the play.

WR Az-Zahir Hakim, Rec: 3 - 14 - 0 (3 targets)

Hakim caught all three passes thrown his way, but gained only 14 yards.

WR Devale Ellis (1 targets)

Ellis, an undrafted rookie receiver from Hofstra saw his first action of the season, but dropped the only pass thrown to him.

WR Mike Williams

Williams was on the inactive list for this game. He has seen action in only two games this season and is rumored to be on the trading block.

TE Marcus Pollard, Rec: 1 - 22 - 0 (1 targets)

Pollard caught one pass for 22 yards in the game.

TE Dan Campbell (2 targets)

Campbell was targeted twice, but did not have a reception. He did, however, commit a false start penalty.

PK Jason Hanson 2 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points

Hanson is the longest tenured NFL player who has played his entire career with the team that drafted him and is the Lions’ career scoring leader. He made both of his extra point attempts and nailed field goals form 43 and 29 yards. Hanson came up just short on his 56 yard field goal try. The kick might have been good from just a yard closer in.

DET Rush Defense

The Bills rushed for a total of only 85 yards on 21 attempts. Willis McGahee had a 21 yard run, but otherwise was held in check. The Lions have allowed only one rushing touchdown all season. Leading tackler, Ernie Sims, was injured in the fourth quarter. Sims was able to walk off the field, but went straight to the locker room.

DET Pass Defense

With the exception of a 44 yard touchdown pass to Roscoe Parrish, The Lion defense completely shut J.P. Losman and the Buffalo passing game down in the first half. Losman passed for only 58 total yards before halftime. Losman had a much better second half and finished with 207 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Dre’ Bly dropped another potential interception early in the game. James Hall had a great game with four solo tackles, three assists, three and one half sacks, and a forced fumble. Overall, the Lion defense had five sacks. Terrence Holt’s interception was only the second interception for the Lions all season. Dre’ Bly dropped another interception early in the game.