The Bills finished their preseason schedule by losing to the Lions 28-23 Thursday night in Detroit. The starting units for the Bills didn’t see too much time, but were impressive yet again when they were on the field, helping the Bills jump out to a 10-0 lead before making their way safely to the sidelines.
Trent Edwards had a nice outing for the Bills, going 4-4 for 66 yards, including a 50 yards pass to Lee Evans, on his only series. While it was not the nicest deep ball ever thrown, as Edwards put a little too much air under the ball, it was good to see him giving Evans an opportunity to make a play down the field. The drive was 13 plays for 65 yards and ended with a Rian Lindell field goal. Marshawn Lynch returned to action, but was ineffective, carrying five times for just two yards.
The starting defense had its finest showing of the preseason, highlighted by Drayton Florence intercepting a Matthew Stafford pass (intended for Calvin Johnson), and returning it 40 yards for a touchdown. Matthew Stafford finished just 3-6 with 21 yards and 1 int.
With final cuts due on Saturday, Sept. 4th, several players on the bubble played extended time and tried to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot.
Brian Brohm got some extended time, and did not have the outing he would have liked to. He finished 7-15 with 78 yards and one int. Brohm did not receive much help from receivers, particularly J.P. Foschi, who had two dropped passes, including the ball that former Bills’ LB Ashlee Palmer intercepted. Brohm showed more mobility than he has in previous outings, gaining 34 yards on four carries.
If there will be a fourth RB on the roster, it was likely not decided tonight by the lackluster performances of Joique Bell and Chad Simpson. Bell carried five times for 10 yards, while Simpson carried eight times for 16 yards.
In the defensive backfield, Ashton Youboty and Reggie Corner made strong showings, each defending a couple of passes. With Terrence McGee, Drayton Florence, and Leodis McKelvin locks to make the roster, and Youboty and Corner playing well this preseason, you have to wonder if Ellis Lankster has seen his last game as a Buffalo Bill.
Chad Jackson was the Bills’ leading WR, catching five passes for 59 yards. James Hardy had three catches for 23 yards, but had a 74-yard touchdown catch from QB Levi Brown nullified by a holding call. Naaman Roosevelt, University at Buffalo product, had 2 catches for 23 yards, and returned 3 punts for 16 yards. Donald Jones caught one pass for 11 yards, but was targeted five times and was also a receiver who had trouble holding onto the football when it was thrown his way.
Reserve fullback Rodney Ferguson made a nice catch, shedding a tackler, and gaining 12 yards on one play, and, more importantly, made his presence felt on a couple of special teams plays, including making a nice tackle.
Stay tuned to the BuffaLowDown to keep track of news and insight on the Bills upcoming roster cuts, as the team trims to 53 players by Saturday.