ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — This game between the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions has been circled on NFL fans' calendars for some time.
A possible Super Bowl preview, the contenders kicked off at 4:25 p.m. Sunday at Ford Field in downtown Detroit.
The Bills, prone to slow starts at time this season, had no such issues on Sunday. After forcing a three-and-out, the Bills drove 73 yards in seven plays, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills quickly led 7-0.
After another Lions drive didn't go far, the Bills scored on another Allen touchdown, this one from 4 yards out. Buffalo led 14-0 less than 10 minutes in following that nine-play, 78-yard drive.
That score also gave Allen 64 career touchdown runs, one shy of Thurman Thomas' team record, the Bills said.
The Lions offense finally got going with a drive that started in the first quarter and ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Tim Patrick. That cut Buffalo's lead to 14-7 with 13 minutes, 36 seconds left before halftime.
The Bills restored their two-touchdown lead on the ensuing possession, going 70 yards in nine plays. James Cook scored on a 6-yard touchdown run, and the Buffalo led 21-7 with 8:15 to play before halftime.
The Lions closed within 21-14 on Goff's 9-yard touchdown pass to offensive tackle Dan Skipper with 3:01 left before halftime. That score stood going into the break after both teams missed field goals.
The Bills didn't settle for a field goal to start the second half, when Cook ripped off a 41-yard touchdown run to make it 28-14 less than two minutes into the third.
Allen threw his first touchdown pass of the game with 3:31 to play in the third, on a 3-yard connection with wide receiver Khalil Shakir as Buffalo pushed the lead to 35-14.
The Lions made it 35-21 on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the next drive.
Tyler Bass kicked a 50-yard field goal to make it 38-21 Bills with 14:02 to play.
Detroit countered with a five-play, 70-yard drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Goff to running back Jahmyr Gibbs. With the point-after try, the Lions cut their deficit to 38-28 with 12 minutes left.
The momentum for Detroit was short-lived. Nine seconds, to be precise. An onside kick was returned 37 yards by wide receiver Mack Hollins, and Buffalo scored on the next play, a 5-yard touchdown pass from Allen to running back Ray Davis. That extended the lead to 45-28 with 11:51 left.
Detroit continued the trend of exchanging touchdowns with a Gibbs 1-yard touchdown run, making it 45-35 Bills with 8:02 left.
Buffalo made it a 48-35 lead with 2:03 left on a 41-yard field goal by Bass.
Pregame notes
Buffalo was missing three key members of the secondary when they play the Detroit Lions on Sunday evening at Ford Field.
Safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin, along with cornerback Rasul Douglas, will not play. Other inactive players include linebacker Eddie Ulofoshio, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, defensive end Casey Toohill, and quarterback Mike White.
The Bills are coming off a wild 44-42 loss last week in Los Angeles against the Rams.