ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Lions quarterback Shaun Hill looked a little rusty early in the 14-12 loss to the Bills, but it could have been a combination of factors including not being able to run the ball.

He had not played since Oct. 17 when he broke his left forearm in the loss at the Giants. He had screws surgically implanted in the break.

After Matthew Stafford went down a week ago, Hill got the nod again. He practiced all week with the starters and on Sunday he wore a half-splint for protection.

He completed 29 of 50 passes for 323 yards, threw one touchdown and one interception.

Hill seemed to improve as the game went on and led the Lions on a 15-play, 88-yard touchdown drive that put them in position to tie the game but they missed on the two-point conversion.

“I think just in general offensively we struggled a little bit, we just shot ourselves in the foot. When you’re playing and the weather isn’t great, when it’s windy, it’s rainy, third and longs are very, very difficult and we were in too many of those,’’ Hill said. “We were making too many mistakes on first and second down getting in those situations.’’

It was Hill’s sixth start of the season and he’s likely to go again next Sunday in Dallas.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)