By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
A preview of a potential Super Bowl LIX matchup is on tap at Ford Field on Sunday and the Detroit Lions 11 game winning streak will be put to the test by the visiting Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen scored six TD’s in the Los Angeles 44-42 loss. No NFL team has ever lost before when one player scored six TD’s in a game and it broke up a Bills 7-game winning streak. As for Detroit, they have not beaten Buffalo since 2006.
The Lions have won a franchise record 11 games in a row and have NEVER won 13 games in an NFL season. The Bills mark a stern test for Detroit. Let’s go to kickoff
1st Quarter
After Buffalo defers winning the coin toss, Detroit goes three and out. Buffalo goes right to work at their own 35 and Josh Allen connects to Ty Johnson for 33 yards on the second play from scrimmage. Buffalo calls timeout and Allen buys time and connects with Johnson for 24 more yards to the Detroit six. Allen was boxed in on the play and receives little pressure and hits a clutch pass. Allen sneaks it in from the Detroit one two plays later and Buffalo goes up 7-0. 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:06. Buffalo 7- Detroit 0.
Detroit moves the chains on second down as Goff connects with Tim Patrick for ten yards. A corner blitz is an easy sack for the Bills as Ed Oliver downs Goff. Oliver blows up another play and Goff fumbles. Lions’ OG Kevin Zeitler recovers and the Lions punt.
Buffalo’s second drive starts with Allen scrambling and connecting with running back James Cook over the middle for 29 yards. Two plays later, Allen finds Khalil Shakir for eight yards along the left sideline. Allen scrambles for six yards on first down. Dalton Kincaid grabs a first down pass at the Lions 26. James Cook for 13 more yards. Two plays later, Josh Allen scores his second TD of the game uncontested. 9 plays, 78 yards, 5:43 Buffalo 14- Detroit 0.
On second and 12, Goff connects with Jahmyr Gibbs for 13 yards. Gibbs goes on a ten yard run on first down around left end. The Lions use razzle dazzle and a toss to Gibbs is a flip to Goff who connects with Amon-Ra St. Brown for 24 yards to end the quarter. Buffalo 14- Detroit 0. Key stat: Josh Allen 2 Rushing TD’s and 100 yards passing.
2nd Quarter
On second down, Gibbs runs for 14 yards to the Bills 13. Three plays later, Goff rolls out and connects with Patrick for the TD as he stretches for the score. 9 plays, 70 yards, 3:25 Buffalo 14- Lions 7. Key play is the St. Brown 24-yard trick play catch.
Buffalo scored twice on two Allen TD runs to start the game. After a holding call on Buffalo, Allen hits Dawson Knox for 19 yards on a crossing route. Davis runs for a first down and Allen hits Kincaid for a four yard pass. Buffalo goes for it on 4th and two and once again, Allen goes to Ty Johnson for 31 yards. Its Bills first and ten on the Lions’ 20. Johnson catches a swing pass for another Bills first down and its goal to goal on the Lions six. James Cook scores on the next play and it was easy. 9 plays, 70 yards, 5:21. Buffalo 21- Detroit 7. Key play- Ty Johnson 4th and two grab.
Goff goes to the air on first down and he hits Jameson Williams for 19 yards. St. Brown makes a short grab on second down. Two plays later, the Lions go for it on fourth and four. Goff hits St. Brown for 21 yards and the Lions are on the Buffalo 26. Montgomery leaves the game with a right knee injury. On third and ten, Goff scrambles for ten yards and a first down. On the Buffalo 15, Gibbs runs for six yards. On a tackle eligibility play, Goff finds OL Dan Skipper who rumbles for the TD. Buffalo 21- Detroit 14. Dan Skipper 9 Yd pass from Jared Goff (Jake Bates Kick) 10 plays, 70 yards, 5:14. Key Play- St. Brown 4th down grab.
Josh Allen on first down, buys time and escapes from a possible sack and connects with Keon Coleman for a 64 yard pass. The Lions roughed Allen on the play and its goal to goal for Buffalo on the Lions three. Buffalo does not score and on 4th down and try a field goal. Its missed and Buffalo still has a three point lead. Detroit moves the football with completions to LaPorta and St. Brown. Goff misses on additional passes to St. Brown and Jake Bates misses the field goal. Buffalo eats up the rest of the first half and there is no more scoring. Halftime- Buffalo 21- Detroit 14.
Key halftime stats
Buffalo- Josh Allen 14/19 for 254 yards and two rushing scores
Detroit- St. Brown 6 Receptions for 77 yards. Jake Bates misses his first 50+ yard field goal as a Lion. Bad Hold.
3rd Quarter
The Bills take the second half kickoff and works from their own 30. Dan Campbell said a defensive stop is the key to the Lions second half start. Allen connects with Ty Johnson for a first down. Two plays later, James Cook goes off tackle for a 41 yard TD run. Bills 28- Lions 14. 4 plays, 70 yards, 1:49 Campbell’s comment to CBS’ Tracy Wolfson might be a bad omen for Detroit. Key play: The Cook run for the TD.
Detroit goes three and out as a sack on third down and Ed Oliver pancakes Frank Ragnow and Detroit punts. Buffalo starts on their own ten after a penalty on the punt. They start moving on Detroit and Allen runs for ten yards on one play and 11 on a second. The Lions force a Bills punt from there. Detroit has lost Alim McNeil, Carlton Davis and Khalil Dorsey in the game on the defensive side of the ball.
Detroit starts with a downed punt at their own four. Trailing by 14 with 7:03 to go in the third quarter, its gut check time for Detroit. Montgomery catches a screen for 13 yards to give Detroit room at their own 17. Goff scrambles and hits Montgomery for an 11 yard pass. The Lions are called for offensive facemasking and on top of that, St. Brown had a catch and fumble recovered by Buffalo, all on the same play. The first turnover of the game by Detroit gives the visitors the ball at the Detroit 26. Cook runs for nine yards on second down. He gains eight more on third and two. Shakir catches a shovel pass for a three yard TD pass and Buffalo goes up 35-14. 5 plays, 26 yards, 1:37
Trailing by 21, Detroit faces a 3rd and 17 from their own 34. Goff finally hits for a big play. Amon-Ra St. Brown catches a 66 Yd pass. (Jake Bates Kick) 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:50 Buffalo 35- Detroit 21.
Buffalo has the ball with under two minutes to go in the third quarter. On third and four, Allen hits Carlton Kincaid with a double team for a 29 yard catch to the Lions 35. END of QUARTER.
4th Quarter
Buffalo’s drive which started late in the third quarter culminates in a field goal. Buffalo 38- Detroit 21. 7 plays, 38 yards, 2:39.
Detroit goes to work trailing by three scores. Grabs by Gibbs and another by Sam LaPorta gets Detroit deep in Bills territory. Gibbs catches a pass over the middle and jukes past Bills defenders for the score. 5 plays, 70 yards, 2:02 Gibbs catches a 12 yard pass. Buffalo 38- Detroit 28.
The Lions declare an onsides kick and it turns into a disaster as Hollins picks up the fat hop and takes it to the Lions five. Ray Davis catches a stumbling five yard TD pass from Allen on the next play. Buffalo 45- Detroit 28. Ray Davis 5 Yd pass from Josh Allen (Tyler Bass Kick). 1 play, 5 yards, 0:09
With just under 12 minutes left, Goff hits Williams and LaPorta for consecutive first downs. LaPorta moves the sticks on third and long with another grab. Gibbs and St. Brown catch underneath routes and the Lions are at the Bills 5. St. Brown catches the ball on the Bills one. Gibbs scores. Buffalo 45- Detroit 35. 11 plays, 70 yards, 3:49
Buffalo takes over at their own 30 with 8:02 left in the game as Detroit kicks it away. The Bills on second and 7 complete a pass to Dawson Knox for 22 yards. Then Allen sneaks on a designed play for 22 more. With Buffalo having a first and goal at the Detroit ten, the Bills have a TD called back with a holding call. Buffalo settles for a field goal. 4th) T.Bass 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-R.Ferguson, Holder-S.Martin. Bills 48- Detroit 35. Key Play- The Allen 22 yard run.
Detroit takes over with 2:03 in the game. Detroit completes a 4th and 5 to St. Brown. A LaPorta catch gets the Lions to midfield. The Lions have a fourth and ten and use the hook and ladder as Gibbs earns 23. The Lions keep pecking away and score. Goff to Williams from three yards out. Jameson Williams 3 Yd pass from Jared Goff (Jake Bates Kick) Buffalo 48-Detroit 45. Key play. The Lions hook and ladder for a first down by Gibbs. 16 plays, 70 yards, 1:51
The onside kick is almost recovered by Detroit. But its a wrap.
The Game is a classic and a possible Super Bowl rematch
Stars of the Game
First Star- Josh Allen- Besides the passing line of 23/34 for 362 yards, he had 11 rushes for two scores and dominated the first half. The Lions NEVER led in the game. That is why I put him over…
Second Star- Jared Goff- His stats were better with nearly 500 yards passing and five TD’s. He he added two rushes for 13 yards and a key first down. Goff was excellent but erratic at times and the Lions offense could not get started in the first quarter and Buffalo built a two TD lead. It was the difference in the game.
Third Star-Amon-Ra St. Brown 14 catches 193 yards and a TD
Roy J. Akers is an NFL writer for www.skyviewsports.net
