NFL game summary for 10/28/1979:
Buffalo posted 14 points in the fourth quarter to offset a 17-6 deficit and snap a three-game losing streak. Joe Ferguson (17 of 35 for 339 yards and a touchdown) fired a seven-yard scoring strike to tight end Reuben Gant and Curtis Brown rushed for a three-yard touchdown in Buffalo's comeback. The Bills blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt by Benny Ricardo as time expired to preserve the victory.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 93.1 (27) | 201.0 (8) | 294.1 (18) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 178.9 (28) | 137.4 (4) | 316.2 (16) | 16 | |
 | OFFENSE | 106.4 (22) | 158.0 (21) | 264.4 (27) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 165.7 (26) | 134.0 (2) | 299.7 (14) | 13 |
Line: Even
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (4-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 20 |
| Detroit Lions (1-8-0) | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
( 0- 7) DET Freddie Scott 5 yard pass from Jeff Komlo (Benny Ricardo kick) ( 0-14) DET Horace King 11 yard rush (Benny Ricardo kick) ( 3-14) BUF Nick Mike-Mayer 23 yard field goal ( 3-17) DET Benny Ricardo 40 yard field goal ( 6-17) BUF Nick Mike-Mayer 42 yard field goal (13-17) BUF Curtis Brown 3 yard rush (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) (20-17) BUF Reuben Gant 7 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)
BUF DET
First Downs: 18 20
Rushes-yards: 20-105 41-208
Yards/rush: 5.2 5.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-35-339-2 14-18-174-0
Sacked-yards: 4-20 1-5
Net pass yards: 319 169
Net yards/pass: 8.2 8.9
Total net yards: 424 377
Total plays: 59 (33% run) 60 (68% run)
Yards/play: 7.2 6.3
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 2-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 9-87 5-39
Attendance: 61,911
Passing:
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 17 of 35 for 339 yards and 1 TD (2 int) DET: Jeff Komlo, 13 of 17 for 138 yards and 1 TD; Larry Swider, 1 of 1 for 36 yards
Rushing:
BUF: Curtis Brown, 10 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Roland Hooks, 5 for 31 yards; Terry Miller, 5 for 22 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 26 for 139 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 4 for 12 yards; Horace King, 4 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Komlo, 3 for 26 yards; Rick Kane, 2 for -2 yards; Gene A. Washington, 1 for 24 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Frank Lewis, 7 for 190 yards; Jerry Butler, 3 for 41 yards; Curtis Brown, 3 for 20 yards; Lou Piccone, 2 for 66 yards; Roland Hooks, 1 for 15 yards; Reuben Gant, 1 for 7 yards and 1 TD DET: Freddie Scott, 4 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Dexter Bussey, 4 for 23 yards; David Hill, 3 for 49 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for 36 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 10 yards; Horace King, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
BUF: Lou Piccone, 3 for 41 yards; Steve Powell, 1 for 14 yards DET: Ken Callicutt, 3 for 63 yards; Robert Woods, 2 for 34 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 3 for 23 yards DET: Robert Woods, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Jimmy Allen, 1 for 0 yards; James Hunter, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Rusty Jackson, 3 for 130 yards DET: Larry Swider, 5 for 228 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Nick Mike-Mayer, 2/2 DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/2
BUF: Joe Ferguson, 17 of 35 for 339 yards and 1 TD (2 int) DET: Jeff Komlo, 13 of 17 for 138 yards and 1 TD; Larry Swider, 1 of 1 for 36 yards
Rushing:
BUF: Curtis Brown, 10 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Roland Hooks, 5 for 31 yards; Terry Miller, 5 for 22 yards DET: Dexter Bussey, 26 for 139 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 4 for 12 yards; Horace King, 4 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Komlo, 3 for 26 yards; Rick Kane, 2 for -2 yards; Gene A. Washington, 1 for 24 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Frank Lewis, 7 for 190 yards; Jerry Butler, 3 for 41 yards; Curtis Brown, 3 for 20 yards; Lou Piccone, 2 for 66 yards; Roland Hooks, 1 for 15 yards; Reuben Gant, 1 for 7 yards and 1 TD DET: Freddie Scott, 4 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Dexter Bussey, 4 for 23 yards; David Hill, 3 for 49 yards; Leonard Thompson, 1 for 36 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 10 yards; Horace King, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
BUF: Lou Piccone, 3 for 41 yards; Steve Powell, 1 for 14 yards DET: Ken Callicutt, 3 for 63 yards; Robert Woods, 2 for 34 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Keith Moody, 3 for 23 yards DET: Robert Woods, 2 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Jimmy Allen, 1 for 0 yards; James Hunter, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Rusty Jackson, 3 for 130 yards DET: Larry Swider, 5 for 228 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Nick Mike-Mayer, 2/2 DET: Benny Ricardo, 1/2