The Detroit Lions are already in the NFL record books for all the wrong reasons. They will try to avoid breaking one of their own dubious marks on Sunday.
The Lions will look to snap a 24-game road losing streak when they visit the Buffalo Bills, who may threaten the Lions’ imperfect season of two years ago.
In 2008, Detroit (2-6) became the first NFL team to go 0-16.
That isn’t the only record the Lions hold, though. Detroit matched its own mark of 24 straight road losses on Oct. 17 in a 28-20 defeat to the New York Giants.
Detroit, which had a bye and two home games in the past three weeks, hasn’t won on the road since beating Chicago in October 2007.
The Bills (0-8) seemingly present a prime opportunity to end that streak, but the Lions will have to do so behind backup quarterback Shaun Hill. Detroit lost starter Matthew Stafford (perhaps for the season) to a shoulder injury last week.
Stafford, the No. 1 pick in 2009, has been injured four times in 1 ½ seasons. Hill will make his first start since breaking his arm while subbing for Stafford against the New York Giants on Oct. 17.
Hill has thrown for 1,309 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions in six games.
Hill and the Lions are trying to recover from last week's heartbreaking 23-20 loss to the New York Jets that, in part, was caused by an injury to kicker Jason Hanson. Rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh missed an extra point, which would have given the Lions a 21-10 lead.
The Jets then scored 10 points in the final 2:46 of regulation and won on a 30-yard field goal by Nick Folk in overtime.
Buffalo can relate to close losses. The Bills have dropped their last three games by three points each. Last Sunday, they blew a five-point fourth-quarter lead in a 22-19 loss to Chicago.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two interceptions and Fred Jackson’s fumble led to a Bears’ touchdown. As a result, the Bills lost despite outgaining Chicago 340-283.
Buffalo was hopeful that the newly acquired Shawne Merriman would make his debut this week, but he has been ruled out after re-injuring his Achilles’ tendon in practice on Wednesday.
The Bills will also be without receiver Roscoe Parrish (broken wrist) and linebacker Andra Davis, who are both out for the season.
This is the first meeting since 2006, when the Lions prevailed 20-17 in Detroit.