DETROIT -- Few players had a more eventful offseason than Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who was arrested twice and failed his conditioning test upon reporting to training camp.
Those troubles faded into the background Sunday when Dareus set a career high with three sacks in a 17-14 win against the Detroit Lions.
Dareus, who logged a forced fumble on his third and final takedown of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, was the centerpiece of a Bills defense that held the Lions scoreless in the second half and allowed Buffalo's comeback bid to take shape.
"We knew Marcell had been playing extremely well," coach Doug Marrone said after the game. "Kind of under the radar really because from the statistical standpoint [he had two sacks through the first four games], but he really had been playing well."
The Bills especially needed Dareus to play well in the absence of fellow tackle Kyle Williams, who sat out with a knee injury.
In Williams' place, the Bills used a rotation of Stefan Charles and Corbin Bryant, two less experienced players who didn't allow the loss of Williams, a significant cog in the defense, to have a major impact on the game.
But it was Dareus who led the Bills with his three sacks, part of a five-tackle effort from the 2011 first-round pick.
As for Dareus' off-field incidents, Marrone said last week the 2013 Pro Bowler hasn't been an issue at all this season.
"He’s been to work. We’ve had zero issues. He’s worked hard in the weight room. He’s worked hard on the practice field. All of those things. Not one issue with anything," Marrone said last Wednesday. "From that standpoint, I’m proud of him. He’s doing what he should do to be a pro and that’s what you have to do in this league. That’s what’s expected of you."
