Location: Ford Field
Final score: Bills 48, Lions 42
Records: Bills (11-3), Lions (12-2)
Next opponent: Bills vs Patriots on Sunday, December 22 at 1 pm ET
The Buffalo Bills improve to 11-3 for the second time in the last three seasons after defeating the Detroit Lions in a shootout 48-42, despite missing three starters on defense.
QB Josh Allen guided the passing and the run game counting for another 4 touchdowns, throwing for 362 yards and 2 touchdowns and running for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns. RB James Cook looked explosive, running for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns as well. RB Ty Johnson led all receivers, catching all 5 of his targets for 114 yards.
The defense racked up 3.0 sacks coming from CB Christian Benford, DT Ed Oliver and DE Greg Rousseau. Benford also forced a fumble that LB Matt Milano recovered for the only turnover of the game.
Here are some additional notes from the game:
- Bills sit in the No. 2 spot in the AFC playoff standings
- Bills have won five straight games against the Lions
- Josh Allen is 21-3 in December/January regular season games since 2020
- Josh Allen is 24-7 vs. NFC opponents
- Sean McDermott has led the Bills to 11+ wins for fifth consecutive season. He is the first Bills coach and fifth NFL coach to achieve the feat
- McDermott won his 84th regular season game tying Mike Holmgren for the second-most all-time in a head coach's first eight seasons (George Seifert – 98)
🔥1. A Commanding Start
After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, the Bills defense forced the Lions into a quick three-and-out.
When the Bills took over on their first drive of the game, QB Josh Allen and the offense moved the ball quickly down the field. Allen found RB Ty Johnson twice on the drive for 57 yards on a 33 and a 24-yard reception. Allen was able to sneak the football into the end zone for his 10th rushing touchdown of the season to get the early lead.
On the Lions next drive, CB Christian Benford and DT Ed Oliver applied pressure to QB Jared Goff and they each picked up a sack forcing the Lions to punt once again.
🏃2. Run Josh, Run
The Bills offense took over and took a 14-0 lead over the Lions after scoring a touchdown on their second consecutive drive of the game.
On this drive, Allen used his legs, first scrambling to his left and throwing a dime to RB James Cook for 28 yards. Cook got going and had runs of 13 yards and 5 yards before Allen ran into the end zone untouched for his second rushing touchdown of the day.
🎯3. Three-for-three
Johnson continued to be a big part of the Bills offense as they scored their third consecutive touchdown. On fourth-and-two from their own 49-yard line, Johnson caught a deep pass from Allen for another 31 yards. Three plays later, Cook ran it into the end zone for six yards untouched, bringing the score to 21-7.
🦁4. Lions pull closer
The Lions matched the Bills touchdown with a touchdown of their own. Their drive started off with an 18-yard completion to WR Jameson Williams. Goff completed two of his next three passes, both to WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.
On third-and-10, Goff then scrambled for 10 yards to set up the nine-yard touchdown to OL Dan Skipper, shrinking the lead back to only one touchdown.
Despite both teams moving the ball as the half came to a close, neither team scored points and each traded missed field goals.
👨🍳5. Hold up, Let James Cook
The third quarter started for the Bills positively with more explosive plays. They moved the ball down the field in four plays to score another touchdown.
Allen found Johnson for the fifth time for a 19-yard reception. Cook then came into the game and took his first rush of the half for six yards before exploding through the offensive line for 41 yards, breaking a tackle from his hair and scoring his second touchdown on the ground.
With the touchdown, the Bills were back up by 14 points.
🏎6. Pedal to the Metal in Motown
The Bills defense continued their strong day by forcing a turnover by the Lions offense. Benford punched the ball loose from St. Brown and LB Matt Milano recovered, giving the offense the ball at the Lions' 26-yard line.
After five plays, Allen threw a shovel pass to WR Khalil Shakir who ran into the end zone, expanding the Bills' lead to three touchdowns.
👊7. Detroit fights back
The Lions were not out of it as they closed the lead back to 14 points after a long touchdown.
Following the Bills touchdown, Goff and the Lions offense took several shots down the field, until they completed a deep 66-yard pass to St. Brown that he took into the endzone to bring the score to 35-21 in favor of the Bills.
1️⃣8. One-Play Drive
After the Lions scored another touchdown to bring the score to 38-28, they declared an onside kick. On the kick, WR Mack Hollins recovered the ball and ran it 37 yards to the Lions 5-yard line. On the next play, Allen threw a pass to RB Ray Davis to expand the lead back to 17 points.
⏰9. Using the Clock
The Lions scored another touchdown to bring the Bills lead back to 10.
On their subsequent drive, the Bills had their longest drive of the game, using 5:59 of the clock and ending the drive with a K Tyler Bass 41-yard field goal to bring the score to 48-35.
The Lions scored a touchdown at the end of the game, bringing the score to 48-42, but Taron Johnson recovered the onside kick, ending the game.
📝Lineup notes:
TE Dalton Kincaid returned to the lineup after missing three games due to a knee injury; WR Keon Coleman returned to the lineup after missing four games due to a wrist injury; LB Baylon Spector made his return from IR after missing four games due to a calf injury; DE Dawaune Smoot made his return from IR after missing four games due to a wrist injury; S Kareem Jackson made his 2024 Bills debut; S Damar Hamlin and CB Rasul Douglas missed their first game of the 2024 season: Curtis Samuel (Shoulder) and Dorian Williams (Elbow) left the game in the second quarter; Samuel returned to the game in the third quarter; Milano (Groin) left in the fourth quarter; Spencer Brown (head injury) left the game in the fourth quarter; Williams returned in the second half
🔑Key Stats and Facts:
- Josh Allen has recorded a 25+ yard pass in every single game this season.
- Josh Allen has become the 2nd player in NFL history with 20+ passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons (Jalen Hurts, 2022-23).
- The Bills have scored a TD on their first offensive drive of a game seven times this season (including today).
- The last time the Bills had multiple RB with a 25+ yard catch was in Week 12 of 1998 vs Patriots.
- Josh Allen has a rushing TD for the fifth straight game, tied for the longest by a Bills QB all-time.
- Allen is the only Bills QB to have multiple rushing TD in the first quarter all-time (his 2nd time).
- Ty Johnson has three catches of 20+ yards today, the most by a Bills RB in a game since Thurman Thomas in Week 2 of 1992 at 49ers (also three).
- First time the Bills have had 3+ rushing touchdowns in a first half since Week 12 of 1992.
- Ty Johnson is at 95 receiving yards in the first half: Most ever by a Bills RB in the first half.
- The Bills are the 6th team in NFL history to have 3 rushing touchdowns in four straight games in a season. Only teams with more consecutive games — 1950 Bears and 1954 49ers.
- Ty Johnson is the first Bills RB with 100 yards receiving since Fred Jackson (104) on 11/28/10 vs. Steelers.
- James Cook has three road games this season with multiple rush TD (including today).
- Bills have tied an NFL record scoring 30+ points in eight straight games in a single season. First team to accomplish the feat since Denver in 2013.
- Josh Allen is now the first player in NFL history with 35 or more passing and rushing TD in four consecutive seasons.
- The Bills have surpassed 40 points in consecutive games for the third time in team history (1990 & 2021).
🏈Scoring Plays:
10:57 1Q | BUF 7 DET 0 | Josh Allen up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2:05 1Q | BUF 14 DET 0 | Josh Allen right tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13:45 2Q | BUF 14 DET 7 | Jared Goff pass short right to Tim Patrick for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8:19 2Q | BUF 21 DET 7 | James Cook left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3:08 2Q | BUF 21 DET 14 | Jared Goff pass short left to Dan Skipper for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13:20 3Q | BUF 28 DET 14 | James Cook left tackle for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3:34 3Q | BUF 35 DET 14 | Josh Allen pass short middle to Khalil Shakir for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
1:52 3Q | BUF 35 DET 21 | Jared Goff pass deep middle to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14:06 4Q | BUF 38 DET 21 | Tyler Bass 50-yard field goal is GOOD.
12:08 4Q | BUF 38 DET 28 | Jared Goff pass short middle to Jahmyr Gibbs for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11:55 4Q | BUF 45 DET 28 | Josh Allen pass short right to Ray Davis for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8:07 4Q | BUF 45 DET 35 | Jahmyr Gibbs up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2:06 4Q | BUF 48 DET 35 | Tyler Bass 41-yard field goal is GOOD.
8:07 4Q | BUF 45 DET 35 | Jahmyr Gibbs up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
0:16 4Q | BUF 48 DET 41 | Jared Goff pass short left to Jameson Williams for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
