Lions Close Out Preseason With 28-23 Win Over Bills

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Drew Stanton threw a pair of second-half touchdowns and rookie Paul Pratt returned an interception 102 yards for the eventual game-winning score, as the Detroit Lions rallied for a 28-23 win against Buffalo to put the wraps on an encouraging preseason.

Stanton got the majority of snaps under center and threw for 94 yards on just 5-of-13 efficiency but two were on key scoring plays -- a 25-yarder to DeDe Dorsey and a 16-yard scoring strike to Derrick Williams.

Unquestioned starter Matthew Stafford worked a pair of quick series to start the game -- quick because the Lions' first drive ended in a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Buffalo's Drayton Florence. Stafford ended 3-of-6 for 21 yards with the pick.

Dorsey drove the offense with 33 yards rushing and 59 yards receiving, while fullback Jerome Felton had a rushing touchdown as Detroit ended its preseason slate a promising 3-1. Detroit has just two total wins the last two seasons.

Trent Edwards started for the Bills and did nothing to hurt his chances of being the No. 1 QB come Week 1. He completed all four of his throws for 66 yards in lasting a full quarter. Next in was Brian Brohm, who threw for 78 yards on 7-of-15 attempts with an interception. Rookie Levi Brown finished out the game and was also picked off on the way to a 10-of-18, 92-yard showing.

Marshawn Lynch (ankle) saw limited action, gaining two yards on five carries while rookie starter C.J. Spiller was given the night off. Chad Simpson rushed for a fourth-quarter score and Chad Jackson led the receivers with 59 yards and five receptions.

The Bills raced out to a 16-0 lead in the second quarter before the Lions snuck in a score before halftime. Dorsey kept it going for the hosts on his 25-yard TD grab that made it 16-14 in the third quarter.

Williams hauled in the go-ahead score from Stanton four minutes into the fourth, and with under seven minutes remaining, Pratt was able to seal up the win by intercepting Brown deep in the end zone and taking it the other way to paydirt.

Simpson's one-yard plunge came too late for the Bills, who ended the preseason at 2-2.

Buffalo, coming off a 6-10 season, opens its 2010 campaign against the Dolphins at home on September 12th. The Lions will face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field the same day.

NFL Preseason, Lions Vs. Bills: Previewing Today's Game

(Sports Network) - Trent Edwards will try to solidify his presumed status as the opening day starter of the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, when Edwards and Co. travel to meet the Detroit Lions in the final preseason tune-up for each team.

Edwards, who has started each of the Bills' preseason games thus far, comes off a strong outing in a 35-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, in which he connected on 13-of-17 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. The Stanford product has looked sharper during the preseason than QB competitors Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm, and barring a meltdown in what is likely to be a short stint on Thursday night, Edwards will be in the lineup when the Bills host the Miami Dolphins in Week 1.

Marshawn Lynch (ankle) is expected to be in action for the Bills after an injury-plagued preseason, though fellow running back Fred Jackson (hand) will remain out. Rookie starter C.J. Spiller is unlikely to see much time.

After a very promising first three games of the preseason, the Lions' highest- profile offensive starters should likewise see the field only sparingly on Thursday.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford (34-of-46 passing, 332 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 106.4 passer rating), first-round rookie running back Jahvid Best (15 carries, 129 yards) and wide receiver Calvin Johnson (6 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TD) are among those who will likely make a cameo at best against the Bills.

Defensively, linebacker Rocky Boiman, who was signed by the Lions on Monday, will be among the players who will state their case for a roster spot on Thursday.

A banged-up Detroit secondary could be without safeties Louis Delmas (groin), C.C. Brown (forearm), Ko Simpson (knee) and cornerback Jack Williams (knee) against the Bills.

Following Thursday's games, all 32 NFL teams will have until 6pm ET on Saturday evening to trim their rosters to the 53-player maximum.

Detroit leads the all-time preseason series with the Bills, 17-11-1, including a 17-6 road victory prior to last season.

The teams will also meet in a meaningful contest during the 2010 regular season, with the Lions visiting Buffalo on Nov. 14th.

As mentioned, the Bills open their 2010 regular season schedule against the Dolphins at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sept. 12th, while the Lions will face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field the same day.

NFL Preseason, Lions Vs. Bills: DeAndre Levy Ruled Out

When the Lions wrap up the preseason against the Bills on Thursday, they will be without linebacker DeAndre Levy. Levy is out after pulling a groin muscle against the Browns, which is going to put his status for the start of the 2010 regular season up in the air.

"We know Levy isn’t going to play against Buffalo," Schwartz said Monday. "We’re going to get him some rest and try to get him back as quickly as possible."

Schwartz, though, acknowledged that there’s a chance Levy won’t be ready for the Sept. 12 regular-season opener in Chicago. Levy isn’t sure.

"It is hard to say right now," he said. "It is going to depend on how it heals and how I feel next week."

With Jordon Dizon already done for the season, the Lions are a little thin when it comes to having starting-caliber players at middle linebacker. They've made due in the preseason with Vinny Ciurciu and Isaiah Ekejiuba, but not having Levy for the season opener against Chicago would certainly be a blow to the defense.