5 Takeaways from Lions' 28-25 Loss to Bills
The Detroit Lions were seeking to record their first 4-0 month of November since 1962, against a talented Buffalo Bills squad.
Winners of three straight games, Detroit had plans to showcase its young roster to a nationally televised audience.
Facing a team many have tabbed to be in the mix to win the Lombardi trophy, Detroit was unable to extend its winning streak.
Here are five takeaways from the Lions' 28-25 loss to the Bills at Ford Field.
James Houston has stellar NFL debut
The young defensive lineman made his debut after spending the majority of the first half of the season on the practice squad.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes has had a knack for finding productive players on defense in later rounds of the draft, and Houston is no exception.
Drafted in the sixth round, Houston aided a defensive line that needed to pressure Josh Allen to have a chance this week.
With his multi-sack performance against the Bills, the rookie became the only player in Lions history to produce a multi-sack game in his first career game.
Jamaal Williams sets tone early, has costly fumble
After trading three-and-outs to start the game, Detroit's offense capitalized on multiple Bills penalties on its second drive.
Lions running back Jamaal Williams capped off a 12-play, 61-yard drive that ate up nearly 7:00 of the first quarter.
With 13 rushing touchdowns this season, Williams now has as many trips into the end zone this season as he did during his entire five-year stint with the Green Bay Packers.
With the opening touchdown scored, Williams tied Barry Sanders and Billy Sims for the third-most touchdown rushes by a Lions player in a single season.
Early in the second quarter, Williams turned the football over, as he lost a fumble. It was only his second ever lost fumble.
The Bills took advantage, and marched down the field following the turnover.
Allen rushed it in from three yards out to give the Bills the 14-7 lead.
Amon-Ra St. Brown finds the end zone for first time in weeks
When the Lions needed a first down early in the game, St. Brown was the go-to target.
Surprisingly, Buffalo's defense did not hone in on one of Detroit's top offensive weapons early in the game.
With 1:52 remaining in the first half Thursday, he recorded his first touchdown catch since Week 2. It capped off a 15-play, 76-yard drive that evened the game at 14 apiece.
St. Brown finished the half with four catches and 34 yards.
Additionally, on a key fourth down late in the fourth quarter, St. Brown's number was called.
He delivered a first down, which gave the Lions an opportunity to go for the game-tying field goal.
Lions try to make do on offensive line
Not having guards Evan Brown and Jonah Jackson available this week impacted Detroit's offensive line.
The team decided to play Dan Skipper at left guard and Kayode Awosika at right guard.
Goff, who had only been sacked twice the past few weeks, was pressured early and often, and was sacked in the first half.
With the Lions near the end zone late in the second quarter, Dan Skipper barely got out of his stance on first down, which could have resulted in Goff being sacked for a huge loss, had the veteran signal-caller not escaped the pressure and attempted a pass to Swift.
The run game was impeded, as the line struggled early to contain the pressure from Leslie Frazier's defense.
Jared Goff can't execute the big throw, has costly safety
Goff had an up-and-down day on Thanksgiving.
In the second half, running back Justin Jackson saved what would have been a sure interception.
Throughout the afternoon, the offense took shots deep, but could not connect deep often enough with his allotment of receivers.
The veteran's lack of mobility proved costly in the third quarter when he could not escape the Bills' Ed Oliver.
A safety in the end zone increased the Bills' lead to five, 19-14.
With an opportunity on third down, and trailing, 25-22, Goff could not connect with Chark.
As a result, Michael Badgley hit a game-tying field goal.
Unfortunately, the Lions left too much time on the clock, and Allen marched down the field to secure the three-point win.
