DETROIT -- Matthew Stafford threw a go-ahead touchdown in his first preseason game of the year and the Buffalo Bills came back to beat the Detroit Lions 24-20 Friday night in a preseason game that became significant because key players on both teams were hurt.
Detroit linebacker Jarrad Davis was carted off the field early in the first quarter with an injured right leg and center Frank Ragnow (Arkansas Razorbacks) had to be helped off the field midway through the second quarter after appearing to hurt his right knee.
Bills guard Quinton Spain limped off the field with an ankle injury in the first quarter and cornerback Tre'Davious White left the game with a bruised quadriceps in the second quarter.
Ragnow, a first-round draft pick in 2018, was injured during a running play on second-and-8 from Buffalo's 8-yard line. He appeared to get rolled on by a Bills player. Ragnow had to be helped off the field by medical staff after laying on the turf for a few minutes. It was unclear Friday night how severe Ragnow's injury is.
The Lions have been counting on Ragnow to take over the center position after he played left guard last season.
Stafford, meanwhile, got on and off the field unscathed.
He was 12 of 19 for 137 yards with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ty Johnson, perfectly connecting with the rookie running back in the flat while linebacker Matt Milano was covering him closely, to give Detroit a 14-10 lead early in the second quarter.
Buffalo's Josh Allen was 3 of 6 for 49 yards in the first half, playing against starters. Against reserves, Matt Barkley completed 12 of 14 passes for 142 yards and a 16-yard touchdown pass to Duke Williams late in the third quarter to give Buffalo an 11-point lead.
The Bills (3-0) were able to run out the clock on the final possession to stay undefeated, leaving the Lions (0-3) winless in the preseason.
BUCCANEERS 13, BROWNS 12
TAMPA, Fla. -- Matt Gay kicked a 21-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining, giving Tampa Bay a victory over Cleveland.
The rookie's game-winner capped a 16-play drive lasting more than seven minutes. Cairo Santos booted a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter, and third-string quarter Ryan Griffin threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Leggett for the Bucs (2-1).
Rookie Austin Seibert kicked four field goals for the Browns (2-1), who led 9-0 when Baker Mayfield and the rest of Cleveland's starters left the game.
Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 draft, started and played the entire first half. The second-year quarterback led three short field-goal drives and was not particularly sharp while completing 10 of 26 passes for 72 yards and one interception.
Tampa Bay's Jameis Winston had an even tougher night, though it wasn't all his doing. Tampa Bay's leaky offensive line had difficulty protecting Winston, allowing five sacks while the fifth-year pro was in the game.
Winston finished 9 of 19 for 88 yards without an interception.
Sports on 08/24/2019