Bills Top Lions in Thanksgiving Thriller

The Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions got Thanksgiving off to a delightful start with a 28-25 back-and-forth affair on Thursday. The two teams traded scores and leads all afternoon until Bills quarterback Josh Allen put a nail in the Lions' coffin with a game-winning field goal drive that left only two seconds remaining in regulation. It was the 14th game-winning drive of his career.

Victory hugs.@JoshAllenQB @StefonDiggs pic.twitter.com/QUIxG6bqWp

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2022

It was a tough, emotional day for the Bills. Allen labored through obvious pain and exhaustion all afternoon, netting 237 passing yards on 45 dropbacks and adding 78 yards on 10 rushes while throwing an interception and fumbling once. Star wide receiver Stefon Diggs secured only eight of his 15 targets for 77 yards. But the Bills kept fighting. Tied 25-25 in the fourth quarter, the Bills got the ball back one last time with only 23 seconds on the clock. Diggs keyed the game-winning drive with a tough 36-yard catch, Allen added a couple tough runs, and kicker Tyler Bass sent the Bills home happy with a 45-yard game-winning field goal.

As for the Lions, they'll have to content themselves with a moral victory as their three-game winning streak comes to an end. They hung tough with one of the league's elite teams. Quarterback Jared Goff had a solid day, netting 230 yards without a turnover on 39 dropbacks. Running back Jamaal Williams added a rushing touchdown, bringing his league-leading total to 13. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was sensational, nabbing nine of his 12 targets for 122 yards and one touchdown. Now at 4-7, the Lions will struggle to make the playoffs, but they'll be a tough out for any team that faces them the rest of the year.

Looking ahead to Week 13, the Lions will have a chance at their fifth win when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Bills travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots in a crucial AFC East clash on Thursday Night Football.

Photo Credit: © Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports