Detroit Lions

Vs.

Buffalo Bills

August 14, 1967

LIONS TRIUMPH OVER BILLS
 

Eddy, Fair Get Touchdown Each in Pro Debuts

DETROIT (UPI)- Just like everybody promised, there's a new look to the Detroit Lions- Nick Eddy, Mel Farr and chartreuse goal posts.

Even the score was different Monday night as the Lions turned over the leaf and hung a 19-17 defeat on the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League in an exhibition game at Tiger Stadium.

It was Eddy and Farr and, yes, the new one-legged chartreuse goal posts that made the difference for the team that tied for last in the NFL's Western Division. Eddy and Farr did it with a touchdown apiece and the chartreuse goal posts made a perfect target for Garo Yepremian's game-winning pair of field goals.

"What can I say," asked Coach Joe Schmidt when he was asked his impression of his two hot-footed rookies. "I can't say enough about those two boys."

Farr, who started the game, scored the first Detroit touchdown on a 38-yard pass play from Milt Plum and Eddy scored only minutes later on a 75-yard punt return. Yepremian added his field goals and the Bills couldn't make up the difference.

The Lions thereby gained a measure of revenge for the loss they took to another AFL team, the Denver Broncos, in the first game of the season nine days ago. That occasion, in Denver, marked the first time an AFL team had defeated a haughty NFL club.

"You really outhustled and outplayed us, was Buffalo owner Ralph Wilson's comment to Schmidt in the Detroit dressing room after the game.

But there were other bright spots in the Lions show, even though the final score didn't indicate the very overwhelming Detroit edge.

For instance, veteran Plum went three quarters instead of just the first half since he was moving the team well. Plum completed 12 of 20 passes for a total of 206 yards and a touchdown

Bill Malinchak, a second-year end from Indiana played the split end position for injured Gail Cogdill, and caught four passes for 95 yards. John Henderson slipped into the flanker position for Pat Studstill and caught four passes for 51 yards and veteran tight end Jim Gibbons caught three passes for 52 yards.

In all the Lions more than doubled Buffalo's total yardage gaining 292 yards compared to 140 for the Bills.

The Lions got off to a quick lead with some nervy play and some cool work by Plum.

Buffalo held the Lions for a minus three yards on the first three plays but then Malinchak, who also had to handle punting duties, faked a punt and ran 13 yards for the first down.

"The kid did it himself," said Schmidt after the game, "I didn't know about it. I'm not that kind of a gambler."

Plum then completed a 19-yarder to Henderson for a first down and one play later tossed 16 yards to Malinchak. Two plays later he threw a 23-yarder to Farr, who scampered the last 15-yards into the end zone for a 6-0 lead.

After gaining a quick first down, Buffalo couldn't move against the Detroit defense and had to punt. Eddy took the ball on his own 25 yard line and hustled it 75 yards for a second Detroit touchdown with less than 10 minutes of the game gone.

"That's the first punt I've ever returned," Eddy said after the game.

"I was hoping I could go all the way with it and once I got by the first man I knew I had a chance. It's never easy, especially the last 20 yards. "It was like I was pulling a trailer," he grinned.

Yepremian booted one of his soccer-style field goals in the second quarter and added the final one in the fourth quarter after Karl Sweetan had taken over at quarterback and moved the Lions inside the Buffalo 10-yard line.

The Bills scored both touchdowns on the passing of second string quarterback Tom Flores.

Flores hit end Paul Costa on a four-yard scoring shot late in the second quarter and connected with Art Powell on a seven yarder with 1:12 left in the game. A second-quarter field goal by Booth Lusteg completed the Bills' scoring.

The loss was the second straight for the Bills who were the Eastern Division Division AFL champs last year. Detroit now has a 1-1mark for the exhibition season.
 

Detroit's Nick Eddy (40) tries to get away from the Bills' Al Bemiller (50) on punt return.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
DET- Farr 38 yard pass from Plum (kick failed)
DET- Eddy 75 yard punt return (Yepremian kick)

Second Quarter
BUF- FG Lusteg 37
DET- FG Yepremian 12
BUF- Costa 4 yard pass from Flores (Lusteg kick)

Fourth Quarter
DET- FG Yepremian 12
BUF- Powell 7 yard pass from Flores (Lusteg kick)

Att- 43,503

RETURN