The Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, despite their similarities, are not common foes. The two teams last played on Thanksgiving Day in 2022, and that game became an instant classic.

At that point, the Lions were not the winners they are now, having not yet gone on their epic run down the stretch of the 2022 season. In some respect that game against the Bills was a coming out party, as they showed they could compete with one of the best rosters in the NFL on a national stage.

The Lions lost that day, 28-25, but a new confidence was born from battling a Super Bowl contender down to the wire. Now that the Lions have evolved into such contenders themselves, they look back on the experience and remember that bitter taste of defeat.

Perhaps nobody is as motivated by that defeat or excited to see the Bills again as Amon-Ra St. Brown. The wide receiver perfectly recounted the events of the loss, which saw the Lions rally from deficits, yet eventually surrender a close game.

“I remember that game. It was back and forth, and I remember we ended up getting a big field goal and they went down and scored with I think less than a minute left. They got a field goal and end up beating us, but it was a back and forth game. We almost came out with the win, but they ended up (winning). They had that long, deep pass to Stefon Diggs over the middle, and then they kicked the field goal. It was back and forth. That was a fun game, but (I’m) excited to play them again. They’re a good team. It’s going to be fun.”

St. Brown is famous for having a long memory, so it makes perfect sense that he could recount the exact way the Lions lost to the Bills in 2022.

Jared Goff sees similarities in Bills’ defense then and now

Coming off a game in which they allowed 44 points, it could be easy to undervalue the Bills’ defense. In spite of that, it’s a solid group that has played plenty of football together the last few seasons. Goff sees some changes, but understands the constants that translate.

“(They’re) a little bit different. Still, they are who they are and we know that. I think they’re extremely sound (and) extremely well coached. You can tell that a lot of these guys have been in that scheme for quite some time and they know what they’re doing.”

Overall, Goff is impressed with the mindset of the Bills on both sides of the ball and is well aware of the threat they provide as a top contender.

“They’re tough. Tough group. Really tough group. Obviously, they’re one of the top teams in the AFC and (a) hell of a group. Good defense and very well coached. Good on offense as well, and it’ll be good.”

If the game is half as good as the last one these teams played two years ago, it will be a treat for the nation to watch.