The Detroit Lions broke their winning streak, falling to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, December 15. While the Buffalo Bills were leading the whole game, it came down to the wire at the end, but Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Buffalo were able to secure a 48-42 victory.
As the clock got closer to zero, the Detroit Lions tried an onside kick that almost appeared to work. One Bills player didn’t like how the Lions handled that final onside kick and made his feelings known after the matchup.
Buffalo Bills Player Calls Out Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions tried two onside kick attempts during Sunday game, but the one they’re getting called out on is the last one. As the Lions tried to recover the ball at the end of the fourth, Buffalo cornerback Taron Johnson says the Detroit guys put their fingers “where they’re not supposed to be.” Johnson was the Bills player who first recovered the ball.
“Whole lotta pulling, a whole lotta pinching, putting fingers where they’re not supposed to be and all that stuff,” Johnson said following the game, per via WROC-TV. “We just did a good job on that play.”
So, was Johnson calling out the Lions of playing dirty? He didn’t really make that assertion, but he did feel the need to express that he didn’t like what was happening under that pile of NFL players.
Dan Campbell Says the Game Gave the Lions a ‘Bad Taste in Our Mouth’
As for the first onside kick, Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted after the game, speaking to press, that “I thought we’d get that ball” and that “I wish I wouldn’t have done that.”
During an interview on WXYT (97.1) on Tuesday, December 17, Campbell talked about how the loss to the Bills will motivate his team going forward. He also called out fans who think the team is toast due to all of the season-ending injuries.
“What happens is you get used to eating filet, and I’m talking to all of us,” Campbell said. “And everything’s good. Life’s good, but you forgot what it was like when you had nothing and you ate your (bleeping) molded bread and it was just fine, and it gave you everything you needed, and sometimes you got to get punched in the mouth and remember what it used to be like to really appreciate where you are.”
Campbell added that the team will “do that.” He also said, “We got a bad taste in our mouth, we got kicked around the other day, we lost a few guys and you know what? It’s exactly what we needed. This is exactly what we needed.”
After the game, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff discussed the loss. Goff had a mammoth showing during the game, throwing for 494 yards and five touchdowns.
“Maybe it’s a good wakeup call for us,” Goff said in a postgame chat with press. “Nice little recalibration for us. Now we get to go on the road.”
The Lions face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, December 22.
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The Lions likely will exercise their fifth-year option on Williams this spring, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. The Lions have until May 1 to exercise an option that would guarantee Williams a salary around $15.49 million for 2026. That's well below market rate for a quality No. 2 receiver -- something Williams became in 2024 with a 58-1,001-7 line on 91 targets in 15 regular-season games. While unlikely to average more than 6-to-7 targets per game in an offense loaded with other talented playmakers, Williams should have a similar role this upcoming season under new play caller John Morton, who previously worked for the Lions in 2022 and then served as Denver's pass-game coordinator the past two years. Lions GM Brad Holmes said he'll likely pick up Williams' fifth-year option, but Holmes didn't mention a contract extension the way he did when discussing fellow 2022 first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson.
The Lions likely will exercise their fifth-year option on Williams this spring, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. The Lions have until May 1 to exercise an option that would guarantee Williams a salary around $15.49 million for 2026. That's well below market rate for a quality No. 2 receiver -- something Williams became in 2024 with a 58-1,001-7 line on 91 targets in 15 regular-season games. While unlikely to average more than 6-to-7 targets per game in an offense loaded with other talented playmakers, Williams should have a similar role this upcoming season under new play caller John Morton, who previously worked for the Lions in 2022 and then served as Denver's pass-game coordinator the past two years. Lions GM Brad Holmes said he'll likely pick up Williams' fifth-year option, but Holmes didn't mention a contract extension the way he did when discussing fellow 2022 first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson.
Awosika re-signed with the Lions on Friday. Awosika has been mostly a rotational player during his three seasons in Detroit, starting seven of the 36 regular-season games in which he's appeared. However, he could have the opportunity to compete for a starting role during the Lions' upcoming training camp due to Kevin Zeitler's signing with Tennessee in mid-March.
Maddox signed a one-year contract with the Lions on Friday, Glenn Erby of USA Today reports. Maddox, who started 2024 as a starter at slot cornerback for Philadelphia but was replaced by Cooper DeJean during the team's bye, now links up with another NFC contender. He looks primed for a key depth role behind Brian Branch in Detroit.
Dorsey re-signed with the Lions on Thursday. The cornerback suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Detroit's December loss to the Bills last year, but he appears to be healthy again. Dorsey played on 70 defensive snaps in 14 regular-season games with the Lions in 2024 and on 76 defensive snaps in 13 regular-season games the year before. Dorsey projects as a depth corner behind free-agent signing D.J. Reed, 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold, 2024 Pro Bowler Brian Branch and Amik Robertson.
Ya-Sin signed with the Lions on Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The depth corner played in 13 games and on 54 defensive snaps for the 49ers last year, though he also saw action on 107 special-teams snaps, making three solo tackles in total. Ya-Sin has started one game over the past two seasons with the Ravens and 49ers. The 2019 second-round pick of the Colts started 38 across his first four seasons in the NFL, three with Indianapolis and one with Las Vegas.
The Lions re-signed Muhammad to a one-year deal Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Muhammad appeared in just nine regular-season games for the Lions in 2024, recording 11 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, and one pass defended across 230 defensive snaps. Now that he's re-signed with Detroit, the 29-year-old is expected to serve as one of the team's top rotational defensive ends in 2025, playing behind Aidan Hutchinson (lower leg) and Josh Paschal.
O'Connor and the Lions agreed on a contract Tuesday. O'Connor will return to Detroit after recording a career-high 18 total tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, over 12 regular-season games in 2024. The defensive end will provide the Lions with another depth option behind Aidan Hutchinson (lower leg) and Josh Paschal in 2025.
Detroit will re-sign Zylstra for the 2025 season, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports. The Lions added Zylstra to the active roster from their practice squad in November of 2024, and over 13 games including the playoffs, he caught his only target for 22 yards. He also contributed on special teams, logging more snaps in that phase than on offense for the first time in his career. Barring injuries, his role on Detroit's offense is likely to be minor in 2025.
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Bills Player Has Harsh Words for Lions After Win