Josh Allen leads last-second drive, Payments transfer forward in AFC East race

DETROIT — The Buffalo Payments would possibly need to play on Thanksgiving each season. They improved to 3-0 in Thanksgiving video games over the previous 4 seasons, the newest a 28-25 thriller over the Detroit Lions.

After the Lions tied the sport late, the Payments took over with 23 seconds left. Quarterback Josh Allen lead a four-play, 48-yard drive to arrange kicker Tyler Bass for a 45-yard game-winning subject purpose with simply seconds left.

They Lions have not gained on Thanksgiving since 2016 and have simply six victories on the vacation since 2000.

The Payments’ win was overshadowed by a knee harm to pass-rusher Von Miller, who didn’t return after getting injured within the first half.

Buffalo Payments

After Allen and large receiver Stefon Diggs struggled to attach for a lot of the sport, the pair obtained on the identical web page when the workforce wanted them most.

For the primary eight drives of the sport, Diggs caught three of 9 targets for simply 12 yards. Allen’s lone interception within the sport additionally got here when concentrating on Diggs. However on the ultimate two drives, Allen and Diggs linked on all 5 targets for 65 yards and a rating. Allen completed the sport 24-of-42 for 253 yards with two passing touchdowns and one other one dashing.

With the win, the Payments went in opposition to their very own current historical past. The workforce was 1-9 when trailing within the fourth quarter over the past two seasons.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Damage influence. The Payments got here into the sport with out middle Mitch Morse and misplaced left sort out Dion Dawkins (ankle) and allowed 15 pressures on Allen, whereas Miller left the sport, and the protection gave up a primary half lead with the losses of these key linemen taking part in an enormous position for the Payments.

Purchase on a breakout efficiency: Sure, defensive sort out Ed Oliver broke out a very long time in the past, however this was his finest efficiency of the season by far when the Payments wanted it attributable to accidents on the line of defense. Oliver compelled a fumble, recovered a fumble, sacked quarterback Jared Goff for a security and had two tackles for loss. His fifth-year choice for subsequent yr was already picked up, and Oliver continues to indicate why he is a key a part of this protection.

Troubling pattern: Allen is throwing too many crimson zone interceptions. He has now thrown a crimson zone interception in 4 of the final 5 video games and leads the league with 4 crimson zone picks. Previous to this stretch, he had thrown two in his profession (first 67 video games). No quarterback has thrown that many in a complete season since 2019 (Mitch Trubisky and Sam Darnold every had 4. The pattern began earlier than Allen’s proper elbow harm, however both manner, he has to discover a technique to be extra cautious with the soccer. — Alaina Getzenberg

Underrated statistic to know: Josh Allen now has 23 profession video games with a passing landing and a dashing TD, tied for the fifth most in NFL historical past.

Subsequent sport: at Patriots (8:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 1)

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Detroit Lions

Detroit entered as 9.5-point underdogs.The Lions have been on the verge of snapping their five-game dropping streak on Thanksgiving, however regardless of going toe-to-toe with Buffalo — one of many league’s finest groups — they could not get a vital cease on the finish of the sport.

Purchase on a breakout efficiency: Have the Detroit Lions discovered one other hidden gem in James Houston? The rookie linebacker was elevated from the apply squad the day forward of the sport and definitely made essentially the most of his alternative with two sacks and a fumble restoration. He turned the primary participant in workforce historical past to report a multi-sack sport of their NFL debut. Forward of the sport, linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard stated there would “be a spot for James Houston right here sooner or later,” as soon as he was in a position to grasp the workforce’s schematic idea, attributable to his work ethic, so I am shopping for this breakout efficiency and so they’ll discover a place for him on the lively listing..

Daring prediction for subsequent week: The Lions will activate rookie receiver Jameson Williams forward of subsequent house sport in opposition to Jacksonville. Williams, the twelfth general choose of the 2022 draft, was operating routes at Ford Discipline forward of the sport and if all the things goes as deliberate all through this week at apply, he might be able to make his NFL debut subsequent week. Williams reported to apply for the primary time forward of the Buffalo sport, however the workforce did not do a lot throughout a brief week. The Alabama product informed reporters that he is “actual, actual, actual excited to place my cleats on and be capable of put a jersey on” and I am predicting he performs. — Eric Woodyard

Underrated statistic to know: Because the begin of final season (since getting Jared Goff) the Lions are 4-10 when scoring first — as they did on Thursday — that is the worst mark within the NFL over that span..

Subsequent sport: vs. Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Dec. 4)