Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills: 2002 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-10-27, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 24–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with +7.64 total EPA.

On the individual side, P. Price (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.79 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.5% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (1:15) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 81-P.Price for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at DET 30, went to middle then left after catch. J.Jennings injured on play, assisted off.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 P. Price · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +7.79 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Bledsoe · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +7.64 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Moulds · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.66 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Ricks · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.37 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Bledsoe · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +1.70 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Reed · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.65 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Crosby · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +0.91 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Morris · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +0.85 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Buffalo Bills — T. Henry (Q1 48:41)
• Detroit Lions — A. Hakim (J. Harrington pass) (Q2 35:10)
• Detroit Lions — J. Stewart (Q2 33:05)
• Buffalo Bills — P. Price (D. Bledsoe pass) (Q2 31:15)
• Buffalo Bills — T. Henry (Q3 17:07)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — M. Hollis (Q3 26:14)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q4 3:12)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 7–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q1 48:41) — (3:41) 20-T.Henry right tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Key block: P.Crosby; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 48:40) — 1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 14–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the BUF 23 (Q2 35:10); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 35:03) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the BUF 2 (Q2 33:05) — (3:05) 34-J.Stewart right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 33:00) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the DET 59 (Q2 31:15); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 31:04) — 1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 10–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the DET 16 (Q3 26:14) — (11:14) 1-M.Hollis 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q3 17:07) — (2:07) 20-T.Henry left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Key block: J.Reed.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 17:02) — 1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 3–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the BUF 17 (Q4 3:12) — (3:12) 4-J.Hanson 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Buffalo Bills (Q2 31:15) — (1:15) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 81-P.Price for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at DET 30, went to middle then left after catch. J.Jennings injured on play, assisted off. [WPA +18.5% · EPA +5.83]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 1:58) — (1:58) 34-J.Stewart up the middle to BUF 20 for no gain (59-L.Fletcher, 55-E.Robinson). [WPA -17.5% · EPA -3.05]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 35:03) — 4-J.Hanson kicks 50 yards from DET 30 to BUF 20. 31-C.Rogers MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by DET-29-C.Cash at BUF 22. [WPA -15.2% · EPA -4.47]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 3:00) — (3:00) 20-T.Henry left tackle to BUF 31 for 4 yards (28-Bracy Walker). FUMBLES (28-Bracy Walker), RECOVERED by DET-50-C.Claiborne at BUF 29. [WPA -14.9% · EPA -3.90]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 21:48) — (6:48) 3-J.Harrington pass incomplete to 30-C.Schlesinger (55-E.Robinson). Receiver and breakup at BUF 38, right flat. QB stumbled before throw. [WPA -13.1% · EPA -2.72]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Buffalo Bills (Q2 31:15) — (1:15) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 81-P.Price for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at DET 30, went to middle then left after catch. J.Jennings injured on play, assisted off. [WPA +18.5% · EPA +5.83]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 35:03) — 4-J.Hanson kicks 50 yards from DET 30 to BUF 20. 31-C.Rogers MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by DET-29-C.Cash at BUF 22. [WPA -15.2% · EPA -4.47]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 3:00) — (3:00) 20-T.Henry left tackle to BUF 31 for 4 yards (28-Bracy Walker). FUMBLES (28-Bracy Walker), RECOVERED by DET-50-C.Claiborne at BUF 29. [WPA -14.9% · EPA -3.90]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 35:10) — (5:10) 3-J.Harrington pass to 81-A.Hakim for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 5 yds. into end zone, left side. Pass for B.Schroeder tipped by C.Watson at goal line, then caught by A.Hakim. [WPA +11.0% · EPA +3.82]

Quarterback report card

D.Bledsoe led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) · 45 dropbacks · 46.7% completion · +0.17 EPA/play · +7.64 total EPA
• J.Harrington (Detroit Lions) · 45 dropbacks · 44.4% completion · -0.10 EPA/play · -4.54 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Buffalo Bills held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.07), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 13 drives, -1.32 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 13 drives, -6.39 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Buffalo Bills leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• P. Price (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 48:41 · DET 5 · Score 0-6
   (3:41) 20-T.Henry right tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Key block: P.Crosby
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 48:40 · DET 2 · Score 0-7
   1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 35:10 · BUF 23 · Score 6-7
   (5:10) 3-J.Harrington pass to 81-A.Hakim for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 5 yds. into end zone, left side. Pass for B.Schroeder tipped by C.Watson at goal line,
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 35:03 · BUF 2 · Score 7-7
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 33:05 · BUF 2 · Score 13-7
   (3:05) 34-J.Stewart right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 33:00 · BUF 2 · Score 14-7
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
7. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 31:15 · DET 59 · Score 14-13
   (1:15) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 81-P.Price for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at DET 30, went to middle then left after catch. J.Jennings injured on play,
8. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 31:04 · DET 2 · Score 14-14
   1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
9. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 26:14 · DET 16 · Score 14-17
   (11:14) 1-M.Hollis 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
10. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 17:07 · DET 5 · Score 14-23
    (2:07) 20-T.Henry left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Key block: J.Reed.
11. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 17:02 · DET 2 · Score 14-24
    1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
12. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 3:12 · BUF 17 · Score 17-24
    (3:12) 4-J.Hanson 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.