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.