Josh Allen threw for a score and ran for another and the Buffalo Bills rallied to beat the Detroit Lions 14-13 at Orchard Park, N.Y.
Allen connected with undrafted free-agent wide receiver Robert Foster for a 42-yard touchdown, which proved to be the game-winner, early in the fourth period.
Earlier in the second quarter, Allen ran three yards to give the Bills a 7-6 lead.
Allen completed 13 of 26 pass attempts for 204 yards and the one score to Foster. He also rushed nine times for just 16 yards.
Foster finished with four receptions for 108 yards to lead Buffalo (5-9).
Detroit (5-9) was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Matthew Stafford went 22 of 29 for 208 yards and one touchdown.
Theo Reddick rushed for 47 yards for the Lions and Zack Zenner ran for a score as the Lions were held to 105 yards on the ground.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Lions drew first blood when Stafford directed a nine-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a four-yard TD pass to Andy Jones. A botched snap doomed the Lions’ extra-point attempt.
Allen answered, taking less than three minutes to direct a five-play, 87-yard drive that put Buffalo ahead, 7-6. The rookie quarterback took it the final three yards for the score.
Not to be outdone, Stafford engineered a 77-yard drive with Zenner bursting in for a score. Matt Prater’s extra point was good this time for a Detroit 13-7 lead.
The score would remain the same until Allen found Foster for the game-winner.
Stafford did drive the Lions on the next possession into field-goal territory, but Prater’s 48-yard attempt to give the Lions the lead was wide right.
