The Detroit Lions saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end with a 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, a game that highlighted the struggles of their defense. Despite a strong performance from quarterback Jared Goff, who threw for 494 yards and five touchdowns, the defense couldn’t contain Josh Allen, who passed for 362 yards, rushed for 68, and accounted for four touchdowns.
Here are the key winners and losers from the Lions’ Week 15 loss:
Winners:
Jared Goff: Goff delivered a stellar performance, completing 38 of 59 passes for 494 yards and five touchdowns, setting an NFL record for the most passing yards and touchdowns in a loss without throwing an interception.
Jahmyr Gibbs: With the Lions trailing for much of the game, Gibbs was heavily involved in the passing game, catching five passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, in addition to rushing for a touchdown and 31 yards on eight carries.
Amon-Ra St. Brown: Despite a crucial fumble, St. Brown had a monster game, setting career highs with 14 receptions and 193 yards, and added his 10th touchdown of the season.
Losers:
Offensive Line: The Lions’ offensive line struggled, allowing Goff to be sacked three times and hit 10 times. Their inability to run the ball efficiently (just 3.2 yards per carry) compounded the issues, especially with injuries affecting key players like Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow.
Defensive Line: The Lions’ defensive line failed to pressure Josh Allen, who had a career day, and allowed Bills running back James Cook to rush for over 100 yards. Despite McNeill’s injury, the defensive line did not make an impact against a potent Buffalo offense.
Linebackers: Injuries to key linebackers were evident as they struggled in coverage. Kwon Alexander was beaten for a 33-yard completion, and Ezekiel Turner was exploited by the Bills in several key moments, showing the vulnerabilities in the Lions’ defensive schemes.
Despite the loss, the Lions’ offense showed resilience, but their defensive issues were too much to overcome against a high-powered Buffalo team.
