Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions Box Score on Oct 05, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 5, 2014

Bills 17, Lions 14: Dan Carpenter made a 58-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, moments after Detroit missed from 50 yards out as visiting Buffalo completed a second-half rally behind new starting quarterback Kyle Orton.

Orton, who took over after the Bills (3-2) benched EJ Manuel amid a two-game skid, completed 30-of-43 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown, improving to 5-0 in his career versus the Lions. Fred Jackson had 107 total yards and a big two-point conversion to forge a fourth-quarter tie while rookie Sammy Watkins made seven catches for 87 yards as Buffalo became the first AFC East team to reach three wins.

Matthew Stafford was 18-of-31 for 221 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Detroit (3-2), which saw kicker Alex Henery miss all three of his field-goal attempts - with each coming in the second half. Golden Tate was the one bright spot for an offense that failed to produce any points over the final three quarters, finishing with 134 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.

One play after a video review nullified a Lions touchdown, Stafford hit Tate on the left side for a 9-yard score with five seconds left in the first quarter. Less than two minutes later, Rashean Mathis stepped in front of a Bills receiver for an interception and sprinted untouched 41 yards in the other direction for a 14-0 lead.

A pair of field goals by Carpenter and two misses by Henery set things up in the fourth for Orton, who capped a 74-yard drive by finding Chris Gragg alone in the end zone for a 2-yard TD, and Jackson's two-point conversion tied it at 14-14 with 9:23 left. After the teams exchanged several punts, Henery missed wide left with 26 seconds left and Orton responded with a quick 20-yard strike to Watkins to set up the game-winner.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lions All-Pro WR Calvin Johnson re-injured a sore ankle following his only catch early in the third quarter and did not return. ... Bills DB Ron Brooks was carted off after landing on his head while chasing a ball carrier in the first half. He was taken to an area hospital for further evaluation. ... Detroit Ks Henery and Nate Freese are a combined 4-for-12 on the season - and just 1-for-9 from 40 yards or more.