Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images The Detroit Lions defense was absolutely torn apart by Josh Allen and the Bills. Recapping their 48-42 loss to Buffalo. The dam may have finally broke with the Detroit Lions defense. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills torched Detroit’s defense for four quarters, and Detroit didn’t have a single answer for them. Allen finished 23-of-34 for 362 yards and two passing touchdowns—and an additional 68 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Buffalo’s offense finished with 559 total yards, averaging a whopping 8.2 yards per play. Meanwhile, the Lions offense had slow starts to both halves, which gave the Bills the cushion they needed to always stay a step or two (or three) ahead of the Lions. Detroit’s offense tried everything they could—including a touchdown pass to Dan Skipper. Jared Goff would finish with nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Buffalo. The Lions eventually lost 48-42 and dropped to 12-2 on the season. With the Eagles’ win over the Steelers, Detroit now has company atop the NFC—although the Lions currently own the tiebreaker (better conference record). Here’s how the Lions vs. Bills game went down. First quarter The Bills won the toss and deferred, giving the Lions offense the first opportunity to take the field. Detroit would quickly go three-and-out after a pair of incomplete passes and a run of no gain. The Bills got on the board first with an impressive drive from Josh Allen. He immediately got into Lions territory with a well-placed ball to Ty Johnson on a wheel route over Kwon Alexander for 33 yards. Josh Allen dropping dimes ASAP. : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/HFk1GhzAAx— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 On third-and-5, Allen then roped another ball to Johnson after scrambling to create time for another 25 yards. "Come on! Oh my goodness. This is Josh Allen to a tee."- Tony Romo on the @BuffaloBills completion that set up a TD pic.twitter.com/mW1r9YOGQg— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024 Two plays later, the Bills were in for the score and the 7-0 Bills lead. Josh Allen sneaks for six! : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/kkUD1XE7xe— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 The Lions were able to pick up a single first down on the next drive, but on the next series, the Bills sent a cornerback blitz that wasn’t picked up and Jared Goff was sacked. The Lions couldn’t work their way out of the jam, and Goff was sacked again on third down. Allen picked up where he left off, scrambling, finding time then connecting with James Cook for 28 yards. From there, the Bills methodically worked their way down the field, and capped it off with a 4-yard touchdown run from Allen. 14-0 Bills. Josh Allen's second rushing TD of the quarter! : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/S1uvjiJwJQ— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 Jahmyr Gibbs gave the offense a little bit of a spark on their third drive. He took a screen 13 yards and followed it up with a 9-yard run to midfield. Then the Lions pulled out their bag of tricks with a David Montgomery throw back to Jared Goff, who found an open Amon-Ra St. Brown for 24 yards. The @Lions dipping into the bag of tricks early with the double pass CBS & Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/T0CAgUjRYi— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024 Second quarter A Gibbs 13-yard run moved Detroit into the red zone. Then on third-and-9, Tim Patrick made a wonderful catch, then reached over the pylon for a 12-yard touchdown catch. 14-7 Bills. "TIM PATRICK WITH THE STELLAR EFFORT"@Lions answer pic.twitter.com/hTsiRklT1Z— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024 The Bills worked to midfield, where they found themselves in a fourth-and-2. Again, Allen found Ty Johnson on the wheel route over Ezekiel Turner for 31 yards. Bills get the 4th down party started with this conversionThis matchup is heating up pic.twitter.com/RVbVfZUWb0— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024 Three plays later, James Cook went untouched into the endzone for a 6-yard touchdown. 21-7 Bills. James Cook strolls in, Bills lead 21-7. : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/QWoffXRiXw— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 Lions cornerback Carlton Davis was hurt on the first play of that drive, he was listed as questionable to return with a jaw injury, while also being evaluated for a concussion. He would later be downgraded to out with the jaw injury. The Lions’ ensuing drive started out promising with an 18-yard gain to Jameson Williams. Then they converted a fourth down of their own after Goff hit St. Brown for a 21-yard gain. Goff then converted a third-and-10 by scrambling for 11 yards. A few plays later, the Lions pulled out another trick play, running a play-action fake and throwing it to jumbo offensive lineman Dan Skipper for a 9-yard touchdown. 21-14 Bills. OL DAN SKIPPER RECEIVING TOUCHDOWN. : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/fmdNnVDnPe— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 But Allen answered almost immediately. On the very first play, he escaped yet another sack attempt, then fired a deep shot to Keon Coleman for a 64-yard gain. JOSH ALLEN LAUNCHES DEEP. : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/xz6WwJ1N7h— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 The Lions finally got a defensive stop, but it came at a cost. Cornerback Khalil Dorsey collided with his own players and injured his leg. The cart immediately came out and Dorsey appeared to be put in an aircast. That said, the Bills missed the chip-shot field goal to keep it 21-14 with 1:43 left in the half. The Lions drive kicked off with a 22-yard gain to Sam LaPorta. But the Lions stalled on the Bills side of the field and had to settle for a 52-yard field goal attempt, and Jake Bates pushed it wide left. That left the Bills with 36 seconds from their own 42-yard line to add to their lead. Alim McNeill forced an intentional grounding to start the drive and put the Bills in a bind. Buffalo couldn’t dig their way out with enough time and the half ended 21-14 Bills. Third quarter To start the second half, Allen went right back to his favorite target this game—Ty Johnson—for a 19-yard gain. Then Buffalo hit Detroit right up the gut for a 41-yard rushing touchdown from Cook. 28-14 Bills. JAMES COOK. 41-YARD TD. : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/9aiKnkhTjr— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 Much like the first half, the Lions offense struggled to start the third quarter. After two unsuccessful runs, Goff was sacked on third down, forcing a three-and-out. After a special teams penalty, the Bills started from inside their own 10-yard line. Allen was able to pick up a couple of first downs, burning clock and flipping field position, but Detroit would force Buffalo’s first punt of the game. That said, Alim McNeill went down with an injury on the third down stop and was immediately ruled out. Detroit would have their own shot at a 90+ yard drive, starting at their own 4-yard line. Three straight passes to Montgomery earned them 25 yards. But on a deep shot over the middle, Amon-Ra St. Brown caught it and fumbled and it was recovered by the Bills at the 41-yard line—plus a personal foul penalty on the Lions. The Bills would later punch it in for a 35-14 Bills lead. Khalil Shakira dancing into the end zone. : @paramountplus & @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/ERsxbomj9Z— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 15, 2024 The Lions would not completely go away, though. Goff threaded a needle on a 66-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown to make it 35-21 Bills with just two minutes remaining in the third quarter. GOFF TO AMON-RA. 66-YARD TD.Not over in Detroit. : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/uHEKLWabzy— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 Detroit’s defense had an opportunity to get off the field, but Allen laid a perfect pass on a third-and-5 to Dalton Kincaid for 29 yards down to Detroit’s 35-yard line. Fourth quarter Detroit got a third-down stop thanks to pressure from Josh Paschal and and pass breakup from Terrion Arnold. But Tyler Bass drilled a 50-yard field goal to make it a three-score game one minute into the fourth quarter. 38-21 Bills. The Lions moved quickly with passes to Gibbs and LaPorta down into the red zone. Then Goff connected with Gibbs again for a 12-yard touchdown, taking just two minutes off the clock and making it 38-28 Bills. Hey youYou like touchdowns?We got a lot of them right now on CBS pic.twitter.com/vi08YSMxLs— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 16, 2024 With the defense struggling, the Lions opted to onside kick it with 12 minutes still remaining. They did not recover. In fact, the Bills recovered and returned it to the 5-yard line. "Seems a little early, Tony, but OK — here we go."- Jim Nantz as Lions fail to recover an onside kick with 12 minutes left pic.twitter.com/MVquIlSURQ— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 16, 2024 The Bills cashed in immediately with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ray Davis. 45-28 Bills. Too easy for Ray. : @paramountplus & @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/pGYdg8FkPh— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 16, 2024 Detroit quickly worked their way downfield, and found the end zone again with a 1-yard rush from Gibbs to make it 45-35 Bills with 8:02 remaining. .@peneisewell58 pushes @jahmyr_gibbs1 across the goal line for the score #ProBowlVote#BUFvsDET | CBS pic.twitter.com/QoPe3Zo1b8— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 16, 2024 This time, the Lions did not onside kick it, hoping to get a defensive stop or two. They wouldn’t get it. Dawson Knox made a nice one-handed grab for a 22-yard gain into Lions territory. Then Allen ran for another 22 yards. Then on third-and-5, Allen picked up the first down again with his legs—essentially ending any hope of a comeback. The Bills would be held to a field goal, but with only 2:03 remaining, the Lions didn’t have much of a shot to overcome the 48-35 Bills lead. The Lions would add a touchdown, but with only 12 seconds left, they needed an onside kick recovery and a hail mary, but they didn’t recover the onside kick. So the game would finish 48-42 Bills.