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BUFFALO
DETROIT |
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| 463 | BUFFALO | 44 | 43 | | 464 | DETROIT | -7 | -5.5 |
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| All Games | 2-2 | +0.7 | 2-2 | 0-4 | 19.7 | 9.7 | 320.7 | (5.3) | 0.7 | 18.7 | 6.7 | 338.5 | (5.2) | 2.0 | | Road Games | 1-1 | +1.2 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 20.0 | 13.5 | 338.0 | (5.5) | 1.5 | 21.5 | 7.0 | 364.0 | (5.7) | 3.0 | | Last 3 Games | 1-2 | -1.5 | 1-2 | 0-3 | 18.7 | 7.3 | 307.7 | (4.9) | 0.7 | 18.3 | 6.7 | 309.0 | (4.8) | 1.7 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 19.7 | 9.7 | 15.7 | 29:11 | 28-122 | (4.4) | 19-33 | 57.6% | 198 | (6) | 61-321 | (5.3) | (16.2) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 20.4 | 11.6 | 19.3 | 29:58 | 25-114 | (4.5) | 23-36 | 64.8% | 233 | (6.6) | 61-347 | (5.7) | (17) | | Offense Road Games | 20.0 | 13.5 | 16.0 | 29:48 | 28-144 | (5.2) | 18-33 | 56.1% | 193 | (5.9) | 61-338 | (5.5) | (16.9) | | Defense (All Games) | 18.7 | 6.7 | 22.7 | 32:07 | 25-72 | (2.9) | 27-40 | 67.5% | 266 | (6.7) | 65-338 | (5.2) | (18.1) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 23.6 | 11 | 21.4 | 31:22 | 29-108 | (3.8) | 23-35 | 65.2% | 240 | (6.9) | 64-349 | (5.5) | (14.8) | | Defense Road Games | 21.5 | 7.0 | 24.0 | 32:49 | 21-61 | (2.9) | 29-43 | 68.6% | 302 | (7) | 64-364 | (5.7) | (16.9) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 14-5 | 35.1% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 3-75 | (27.5) | 1-10 | (6.8) | 8-74 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 1 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 13-5 | 40.4% | 1-0 | 36.8% | 3-79 | (23.1) | 16-2 | (9.9) | 7-62 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 14-4 | 32.1% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 2-61 | (24.4) | 1-12 | (8.3) | 8-74 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.2 | 0.7 | 2.0 | | 14-5 | 36.4% | 1-0 | 25.0% | 1-30 | (23.8) | 3-9 | (3.5) | 5-49 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.3 | | 14-6 | 44.0% | 1-0 | 35.7% | 2-45 | (23.3) | 10-2 | (5.1) | 6-53 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | | 13-5 | 38.5% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 1-31 | (31) | 3-12 | (4.2) | 6-66 |
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| All Games | 3-1 | +2.1 | 3-1 | 1-3 | 21.2 | 10.7 | 363.2 | (5.6) | 1.5 | 15.5 | 5.7 | 267.2 | (4.8) | 1.2 | | Home Games | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 27.0 | 13.0 | 385.0 | (5.7) | 1.5 | 10.5 | 7.0 | 210.0 | (4) | 1.5 | | Last 3 Games | 2-1 | +1.1 | 2-1 | 0-3 | 16.7 | 9.7 | 345.3 | (5.2) | 2.0 | 16.0 | 5.3 | 290.7 | (5.2) | 1.0 | | Dome Games | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 27.0 | 13.0 | 385.0 | (5.7) | 1.5 | 10.5 | 7.0 | 210.0 | (4) | 1.5 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 21.2 | 10.7 | 19.7 | 34:58 | 28-87 | (3.1) | 24-37 | 64.2% | 276 | (7.5) | 65-363 | (5.6) | (17.1) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 23 | 10.7 | 20.6 | 31:32 | 27-117 | (4.4) | 21-35 | 61.5% | 231 | (6.6) | 61-348 | (5.7) | (15.1) | | Offense Home Games | 27.0 | 13.0 | 20.5 | 37:08 | 34-95 | (2.8) | 22-33 | 66.7% | 289 | (8.8) | 67-385 | (5.7) | (14.3) | | Defense (All Games) | 15.5 | 5.7 | 16.7 | 25:02 | 24-81 | (3.4) | 18-32 | 57.5% | 186 | (5.9) | 55-267 | (4.8) | (17.2) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.6 | 11.9 | 20.5 | 29:28 | 27-108 | (4) | 22-34 | 64.9% | 231 | (6.8) | 61-339 | (5.6) | (15) | | Defense Home Games | 10.5 | 7.0 | 15.0 | 22:51 | 22-64 | (2.9) | 17-30 | 56.7% | 145 | (4.8) | 52-210 | (4) | (20) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.5 | -0.2 | 16-8 | 52.4% | 0-0 | 50.0% | 1-31 | (24.8) | 2-23 | (10.3) | 6-48 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 13-6 | 44.2% | 1-0 | 63.9% | 2-44 | (21.3) | 19-2 | (10.7) | 6-57 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 16-10 | 63.6% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 1-28 | (28) | 2-13 | (5.4) | 7-62 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | | 12-4 | 34.0% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 1-24 | (24.2) | 2-19 | (7.8) | 5-33 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | | 13-6 | 44.3% | 1-0 | 51.5% | 2-43 | (22.5) | 13-2 | (6.2) | 6-59 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | | 11-3 | 30.4% | 2-1 | 50.0% | 1-32 | (21.7) | 2-26 | (13.2) | 4-27 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: BUFFALO 18.8, DETROIT 19.8 |
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| 9/7/2014 | @ CHICAGO | 23-20 | W | 6.5 | W | 47 | U | 33-193 | 16-22-167 | 1 | 18-86 | 34-49-341 | 3 | | 9/14/2014 | MIAMI | 29-10 | W | -1.5 | W | 43 | U | 33-113 | 16-26-202 | 0 | 21-80 | 31-49-210 | 2 | | 9/21/2014 | SAN DIEGO | 10-22 | L | -3 | L | 45.5 | U | 22-87 | 23-40-205 | 0 | 37-85 | 18-25-251 | 0 | | 9/28/2014 | @ HOUSTON | 17-23 | L | 2.5 | L | 44 | U | 23-96 | 21-44-220 | 2 | 24-37 | 25-37-264 | 3 | | 10/5/2014 | @ DETROIT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/12/2014 | NEW ENGLAND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/19/2014 | MINNESOTA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/26/2014 | @ NY JETS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 9/8/2014 | NY GIANTS | 35-14 | W | -6.5 | W | 45.5 | O | 30-76 | 22-32-341 | 0 | 22-53 | 18-33-144 | 2 | | 9/14/2014 | @ CAROLINA | 7-24 | L | 1.5 | L | 43 | U | 18-70 | 27-48-253 | 3 | 24-62 | 22-34-251 | 0 | | 9/21/2014 | GREEN BAY | 19-7 | W | -1 | W | 51.5 | U | 38-115 | 22-34-238 | 3 | 22-76 | 16-27-147 | 1 | | 9/28/2014 | @ NY JETS | 24-17 | W | 2 | W | 43 | U | 27-88 | 24-34-272 | 0 | 27-132 | 17-33-204 | 2 | | 10/5/2014 | BUFFALO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/12/2014 | @ MINNESOTA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/19/2014 | NEW ORLEANS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/26/2014 | *ATLANTA | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | BUFFALO: Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett brought a much different look to the Bills' running game in his first season with the team in 2013, and it didn't do C.J. Spiller any favors. Buffalo uses a lot of read option plays to try to take advantage of quarterback EJ Manuel's mobility. Spiller was hesitant in read-option situations, and Manuel was fragile as a rookie, so they might move back to a more traditional look this year. Spiller figures to take back more of a No. 1 workload from Fred Jackson, though that was the plan a year ago and Jackson proved too valuable to keep off the field. Bryce Brown provides insurance for the aging Jackson. In the red zone, the Bills quickly moved away from Spiller in goal-to-go situations, opting for Jackson's more decisive running instead.
Hackett uses play-action and crossing action in the middle of the field. Rookie Sammy Watkins will likely be penciled in at flanker, where they'll rely on his YAC ability to make Manuel's life easier. After spending the early part of the year on the perimeter last year, No. 2 WR Robert Woods should work a larger set of routes, similar to what former No. 1 receiver Stevie Johnson used to run. Marquise Goodwin figures to overtake T.J. Graham as their primary deep threat, while Mike Williams comes in as a red zone specialist. Tight end Scott Chandler will be utilized as a receiver underneath.
The Bills will be playing for their third defensive coordinator in three years with Jim Schwartz replacing Mike Pettine, who improved this group a lot in 2013, especially with sacks and interceptions. Free agent outside linebackers Keith Rivers and Brandon Spikes will greatly help Buffalo's transition to a 4-3 scheme. | | DETROIT: New offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi will call the plays, and he has said that he's essentially bringing the Saints' playbook to Detroit. That should mean a diverse running game that borrows concepts from across the league. Reggie Bush will likely retain his spot atop the Lions' backfield committee, as Detroit still figures to be a pass- first offense. Joique Bell has the size and power skill set to be an asset on the inside zone runs that figure to be heavily featured this season. Bush and Bell often split the red-zone snaps a year ago, though the more durable Bell more often gets the call on the goal line.
The Lions figure to be pass-happy as usual under Lombardi and new head coach Jim Caldwell. They'll continue to move Calvin Johnson around the formation to keep teams from keying on him. Golden Tate will provide a deep threat on the other side of the field, and the Lions will frequently use the screen game with Bush and Bell. They also figure to use two tight ends more often than three-wide. TE Brandon Pettigrew is more of an in-line blocker and underneath threat, while rookie TE Eric Ebron is the chess piece who will be flexed out to create mismatches. He could be the No. 2 target by the season's second half. Not surprisingly, Johnson is almost always their first look when they throw near the goal line. Coverage often dictates if they'll look elsewhere. Pettigrew had been a traditional play-action target under the old regime, and he and Ebron are red-zone threats.
After posting a mere 39 turnovers and 67 sacks in the past two years combined, new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was hired in the offseason to help this team make more plays with his ultra- aggressive style. New starters, safety James Ihedigbo and rookie linebacker Kyle Van Noy should help an underachieving front four. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (BUFFALO-DETROIT) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Bills-Lions Preview* =====================
By JEFF BARTL STATS Senior Writer
Cornerback Rashean Mathis refuses to relate the 2013 Detroit Lions to this season's squad despite identical 3-1 starts, virtually ignoring last year's collapse down the stretch.
He believes these Lions are more mature, more prepared and more focused under first-year coach Jim Caldwell to prevent anything similar from happening.
Boasting the NFL's top defense, Detroit looks to continue its strong start Sunday as it hosts a struggling Buffalo Bills team which is changing quarterbacks.
The Lions held sole possession of first place in the NFC North in Week 10 last season before dropping six of their final seven games, leading to the firing of former coach Jim Schwartz.
Alone again atop the division after last week's 24-17 victory over the New York Jets, they are determined to turn this season into something special rather than withering away as the importance of each contest grows.
"If you ask everyone in here who was on last year's team, I'll bet 95 percent of them wouldn't even know (we started 3-1)," Mathis said. "We know it's a long season. We know we have a long ways to go. We also know if we don't shoot ourselves in the foot, we'll be smiling at the end of the day."
Running back Reggie Bush must be one of the few who remembers.
"If anybody should know better than to get caught looking ahead, it's us," Bush said. "Last year is a perfect example of that."
This season has the potential to turn out much differently. After ranking in the middle of the league in total defense in 2013, the Lions are allowing an NFL-low 267.3 yards per game. They've held both Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning under 170 yards passing.
Detroit also possesses one the league's top receivers in Calvin Johnson along with Matthew Stafford, but it has found a way to win without either of them at their best, too.
Stafford had two interceptions and no TD passes in a 19-7 win over Green Bay two weeks ago before Johnson was held to two catches and 12 yards against the Jets while battling an ankle injury.
"I think you have a number of guys that understand what the situation is and understand the problems they've had maybe previously in some situations," Caldwell said. "You have a group of guys with enough leaders that have sort of taken that cause on themselves."
While Detroit is thinking about the big picture, Buffalo is starting anew under center as veteran Kyle Orton takes over for 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel.
The Bills (2-2) beat Chicago and Miami to open the season, but the offense sputtered in a 22-10 loss to San Diego on Sept. 21 before Manuel threw two picks - including one returned for a touchdown - in last Sunday's 23-17 loss to Houston. Manuel's completion percentage has dropped with every game and was a Week 4-worst 47.7.
Coach Doug Marrone confirmed Monday he's decided to start Orton, who signed Aug. 29 after being released by Dallas and contemplating retirement.
"It's not all EJ's fault, but we need to get better production out of that position," Marrone said. "We've got to make some changes because we can't keep going in the direction that we're going."
Buffalo ranks 27th in total offense at 320.8 yards per game despite a solid rushing attack that features Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller as well as a talented receiving threat in rookie Sammy Watkins.
"It's not a one-man show," Spiller said. "In this league, the quarterback is the focal point and the emphasis of wins and losses of teams. We didn't give (Manuel) a lot of help either."
Orton, who has made one start over the previous two seasons, presents a different set of challenges for the Lions.
"He's been in the league for a reason," Mathis said. "Regardless if he's been a starter or if he's been a backup, he can play football. The read option and things of that nature we probably don't have to worry about (like with Manuel), but (Orton is) probably a more efficient passer. It all goes hand in hand."
Lions tight end Joseph Fauria is still in a walking boot after missing last week's contest with a freak ankle injury suffered in an incident while chasing his dog, and it's unclear if he'll be available.
These teams haven't met since Johnson caught a 20-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds remaining to give Detroit a 14-12 victory at Buffalo on Nov. 14, 2010.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 11:44:04 PM EST. |
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