THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DETROIT — The Detroit Lions were hoping Matthew Stafford would have a brief and productive tuneup for the regular season.
He didn’t.
Stafford’s second pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown and he didn’t lead Detroit to points on his second and last drive. But, third-stringer Drew Stanton threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes to lift the Lions to a 28-23 win over the Buffalo Bills in their pre-season finale Thursday night.
"The interception was a big negative, but we made some positive plays as well," Stafford said. "Now, we just put this behind us and start planning for Chicago."
Detroit opens the season at Chicago — hoping to snap a 20-game skid on the road — and that’s when coach Jim Schwartz will start to care about results.
"It really doesn’t matter, to tell you the truth, how I’m feeling or what our record was in the pre-season," Schwartz said.
The Lions (3-1) had a winning record in the pre-season, but they know more than any other team how meaningless that is because they won all four of their exhibitions two years ago before going on to have the NFL’s first 0-16 season.
"The biggest thing about this season is that talent isn’t an issue anymore," centre Dominic Raiola said. "No matter what we do, we can’t point to a lack of talent."
Stafford was 3 of 6 for 21 yards and an interception against the Bills. The No. 1 pick of the 2009 NFL draft was much more effective in his first three pre-season games, completing 74 per cent of his passes for 332 yards, three TDs and an interception.
His first pass was deflected and the second — a short pass to the flat intended for Calvin Johnson — was picked off by Drayton Florence, who returned it 40 yards for a score.
"It was a great interception and score," Buffalo coach Chan Gailey said. "That was big."
Schwartz blamed himself for forcing Stafford to run a no-huddle offence without much preparation.
"It backfired on us," he said.
The Bills, meanwhile, liked what they saw in Trent Edwards’ tuneup before hosting Miami in Week 1.
Edwards was 4 for 4 for 66 yards on his only drive that set up Rian Lindell’s first of three field goals. He was very efficient and made Gailey happy by taking a calculated chance deep downfield, connecting on a 50-yard pass to a leaping Lee Evans.
Buffalo’s Marshawn Lynch had two yards rushing on five carries after missing two games with an ankle injury. Bills rookie running back C.J. Spiller was rested and running back Fred Jackson missed a third straight game because of a broken left hand. Spiller watched on the sideline in football pants, a jersey and baseball cap.
Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick did not play, giving Brian Brohm and rookie Levi Brown a chance to show the team what they can do.
Brohm was 7 of 15 for 78 yards and an interception — that went off the intended receiver’s hands — and Brown was 10 of 18 for 92 yards and an interception.
"The film is going to speak for itself right now," Brohm said.
The Bills (2-2) led the Lions 16-0 late in the second quarter, but began to lose their cushion when Brohm’s pass went off tight end J.P. Foschi’s hands and Ashlee Palmer made a diving interception and 39-yard return.
Jerome Felton’s one-yard run with 10 seconds left in the half pulled the Lions within nine.
After Shaun Hill was just 2 of 6 for 21 yards, Stanton entered and threw a short pass that DeDe Dorsey turned into a 25-yard TD late in the third quarter and a 16-yard pass to Derrick Williams early in the fourth to put the Lions ahead — for the first time — 21-17.
Dorsey fumbled at the Lions 23 to give the Bills a chance to retake the lead, but they blew it when rookie Brown threw a pass that wasn’t close to a teammate in the end zone. Paul Pratt made a diving interception, got up and returned it 102 yards to seal the win.
"It’s hard when you don’t get a lot of reps in practice and execute everything the way you’re supposed to, not to make an excuse because I just missed throws," Brown said.
Chad Simpson’s one-yard run pulled the Bills within five with 16 seconds left. Buffalo then conceded the exhibition by kicking deep instead of attempting an onside kick.
NOTES: The Lions were without LB DeAndre Levy, who injured his groin last week, and seemed to hold out RB Jahvid Best, OT Jeff Backus, DT Corey Williams, S Louis Delmas, S C.C. Brown as a precaution with nagging injuries. … Gailey said it was "sad" that a QB — Brohm — led the team in rushing. … Lions DE Korey Bosworth, nephew of Brian Bosworth, left with an injured right leg. … Buffalo RB Joique Bell had 10 yards on five carries, playing a mile from Wayne State, where he starred as a small-college player.
NFL pre-season recaps:
Rams 27, Ravens 21
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Top overall draft pick Sam Bradford made another favourable impression, going 6 for 6 for 68 yards and a touchdown for St. Louis.
A.J. Feeley’s thumb injury gave Bradford his starting shot last week, and the rookie may have done enough to get the nod in the opener against Arizona.
The Ravens (3-1) held out all of their starters, plus backup quarterback Marc Bulger in his return to St. Louis after getting released by the Rams (3-1) in April, denying fans a shot to either cheer or boo a player who was the starter from 2003-09.
Vikings 31, Broncos 24
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Denver rookie Tim Tebow outplayed Minnesota’s Tarvaris Jackson in the backup quarterback comparison, but the Vikings forced four first-half turnovers and beat the Broncos.
Tebow fumbled his first snap, Erin Henderson found the ball and scooted into the end zone from 35 yards out for the Vikings. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick from Florida then threw a wobbler over the middle that Tyrell Johnson easily intercepted and returned for 41 yards to set up a field goal.
Tebow was 12 for 16 for 167 yards and one touchdown and also ran for 21 yards on four carries. His favourite target was Matthew Willis, who caught five passes for 122 yards and a score. Minnesota native Eric Decker had 10 catches for 114 yards.
The Vikings held out 20 of their 22 starters. Brett Favre watched in a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers.
Giants 20, Patriots 17
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Rhett Bomar may have nailed down the job as New York’s backup quarterback, throwing a 60-yard scoring pass to Duke Calhoun with 1:49 to play as the Giants rallied to beat New England.
The winning score came just minutes after Darnell Jenkins put the Patriots ahead 17-12 by catching a short pass from Brian Hoyer and turning it into a 66-yard scoring play with one move and a burst of speed.
The good news for the teams, both 2-2 in exhibition play, was they came out the pre-season finale relatively healthy.
Steelers 19, Panthers 3
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Byron Leftwich, expected to replace Ben Roethlisberger during his suspension, injured his left knee in the second quarter and Pittsburgh (3-1) beat starter-less Carolina (1-3).
Carolina’s offence ended the pre-season the way it began with no touchdowns as No. 3 quarterback Hunter Cantwell and No. 4 Tony Pike took all the snaps in a game both teams played with the intent of not getting any key player hurt.
Leftwich, tuning up for his anticipated start Sept. 12 against Atlanta, completed an 18-yard pass to rookie Emmanuel Sanders before being knocked off his feet as running back Mewelde Moore and safety Marcus Hudson collided near him.
Cowboys 27, Dolphins 25
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — David Buehler kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired, lifting Dallas (3-2) past Miami (2-2).
The kick capped a convincing night for Buehler, who handled only kickoffs as a rookie last season. He also made field goals of 51, 45 and 40 yards.
Third-string quarterback Stephen McGee played the entire game for Dallas. He threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd against Miami’s starters, then led the winning drive in the final two minutes.
Titans 27, Saints 24
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Alvin Pearman had a five-yard touchdown run with 3:18 left to help Tennessee (2-2) beat Super Bowl champion New Orleans (2-2).
Vince Young threw a scoring pass, and LeGarrette Blount also ran for a score.
The Saints’ Harry Coleman recovered the ball off the first of two blocked punts for a TD, and Chase Daniel had a 35-yard TD pass to Adrian Arrington. Daniel tried to pull out the victory, but his pass to Tyler Lorenzen was intercepted by Gerald McRath in the final seconds.
49ers 17, Chargers 14
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Manny Lawson and rookie Taylor Mays each had interceptions and rookie Anthony Dixon ran 46 yards for a first-half touchdown to help San Francisco complete its first unbeaten pre-season in 18 years.
Jehuu Caulcrick caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis with 8:41 left and Joe Nedney added a 25-yard field goal. San Francisco (4-0) went undefeated in its exhibition schedule for the first time since 1992.
Jeremy Williams returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown, then caught a 29-yard pass to set up Curtis Brinkley’s two-yard TD run late for San Diego (1-3).
Browns 13, Bears 10
CLEVELAND (AP) — Montario Hardesty, Cleveland’s highly touted rookie running back whose career at Tennessee was slowed by knee injuries, hurt his left one in the second quarter of the Browns’ victory.
Fellow rookie Colt McCoy got his first pro start and went 13 of 13 for 131 yards in two-plus quarters. The former Texas star fumbled his first snap, but finally showed some potential in easily his best performance for the Browns (2-2).
Todd Collins, recently signed by Chicago to back up Jay Cutler, completed 10 of 15 for 139 yards and a 15-yard TD pass to tight end Greg Olsen for the Bears (0-4).
Bengals 30, Colts 28
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Cedric Peerman had a 93-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and reserve Jordan Palmer — starter Carson Palmer’s brother — completed 10 of 14 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-2).
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning didn’t play, and most of Indy’s starters took the night off. Curtis Painter got the start and completed nine of 20 passes for 114 yards. Tom Brandstater was 10 of 18 for 177 yards and three TDs, all to Brandon James.
Indianapolis was 0-4 in the pre-season.
Chiefs 17, Packers 13
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Matt Cassel and Brodie Croyle each led touchdown drives and Kansas City (1-3) won for the first time in the pre-season since 2008.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a host of other Green Bay starters didn’t suit up for the final tuneup. Backup Matt Flynn played into the third quarter, completing 23 of 37 passes for 304 yards. The Packers were 2-2 in exhibition play.
Buccaneers 24, Texans 17
HOUSTON (AP) — Rudy Carpenter threw two TD passes to Arrelious Benn, and Corey Lynch returned one of his two interceptions 91 yards for a score to help Tampa Bay (2-2) beat Houston (1-3).
Carpenter completed 15 of 22 passes for 203 yards and played into the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay rested starter Josh Freeman and backup Josh Johnson.
Houston backup Dan Orlovsky started and threw both interceptions to Lynch. Third-stringer John David Booty played the second half and threw touchdown passes to Bobby Williams and Derek Fine. Booty completed 17 of 37 passes for 209 yards.
Raiders 27, Seahawks 24
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Bruce Gradkowski threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter, and Kyle Boller also threw a scoring pass and Swayze Waters kicked two field goals for Oakland (3-1).
Charlie Whitehurst threw a touchdown pass and former Raider Louis Rankin scored on a 99-yard kickoff return for the Seahawks (1-3). Olindo Mare kicked three field goals.
Jaguars 13, Falcons 9
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Fullback Brock Bolen scored on a 16-yard run, and Josh Scobee kicked two field goals for Jacksonville (2-2).
Jacksonville’s Luke McCown filled in for David Garrard and completed 5 of 12 passes for 39 yards. Chris Redman, starting in place of Matt Ryan for Atlanta (2-2), completed 15 of 22 passes for 142 yards.
