2002

Bills 13
Detroit 20

Attendance:  

DETROIT (AP) -- After last year's awful season, the Detroit Lions will take any win they can get -- even if it's an preseason game.

"We got a little momentum going into the regular season,'' Detroit coach Marty Mornhinweg said. "Nobody wants to lose them all.''

The Lions (1-3) and Bills (0-4) limited most of their starters to just a quarter of play in an attempt to avoid injuries in the preseason finale. Detroit was 2-14 last year and Buffalo was 3-13.

"It was a big goal of ours to come through the preseason as healthy as possible and we achieved that,'' Buffalo coach Gregg Williams said.

The Bills scored their lone touchdown on Charlie Rogers' 71-yard punt return after the game's first possession.

They had a chance to tie it with about 6 minutes left, but Corey Harris hit Morris as he tried to reach over a pile for a score and Brian Walker recovered the fumble.

Buffalo had another opportunity with just under 2 minutes to play, but rookie Chris Cash intercepted Travis Browns' pass at Detroit's 8.

"Our defense basically won the game for us down there,'' Mornhinweg said.

The Lions went ahead 17-10 for their first lead late in the third quarter when Harrington led a 14-play, 87-yard drive over 8:48. Harrington converted three third downs and found a wide-open Aveion Cason for an 11-yard touchdown play.

Mike Hollis' 51-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter pulled Buffalo to 17-13. Detroit's Jason Hanson made a 38-yard field goal at 10:55 of the fourth for the final score.

"Being a starter is a dream come true,'' McMahon said.

Harrington was 21-of-35 for 187 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He entered late in the first quarter and left midway through the fourth.

Scotty Anderson, whose role has increased with wide receiver Germane Crowell out for at least the first six weeks of the season, caught six passes for 63 yards. Ricks caught two passes for 91 yards.

Drew Bledsoe, who led Buffalo's first four drives, was 9-for-16 for 128 yards. Alex Van Pelt was 4-for-8 for 47 yards with an interception.

That changed Thursday night.

When Detroit went three-and-out on the opening possession, the crowd began to boo. The fans broke out a chorus of boos moments later when Rogers scored on a punt return and when the Lions went three-and-out on their second possession.

But McMahon tossed a perfect pass to Ricks, who streaked past rookie safety Coy Wire and scored.

Bledsoe did not lead the Bills to a score, but he made a couple of plays to provide some hope for the season.

He eluded a rush and used a soft touch to connect with Charles Johnson, who was double-covered, for a 23-yard pass in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Bledsoe connected with Peerless Price for a 52-yard gain to the Detroit 9.

Penalties, sacks and dropped passes plagued the Bills in all four exhibition losses.

"We've got way too many negative plays and we need to get rid of them,'' Bledsoe said.

Hollis and Hanson both made and missed a field goal in the first half, which ended tied at 10.

NOTES: Detroit RB James Stewart, who bruised his knee last week against Pittsburgh, and WR Bill Schroeder, who hurt his hip last week, and KR Desmond Howard (shoulder) did not play. ... Buffalo WR Eric Moulds (hamstring) and DE Kendrick Office (back) did not play. ... Lions LBs Chris Claiborne (shoulder) and Clint Criewalt (foot) were injured in the first half, and defensive end Jonathan Taylor (ankle) was hurt in the second and did not return. Mornhinweg said Kriewaldt's and Taylor's injuries could be serious enough that they might be out for some time.

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