DETROIT -- Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan told quarterback Kellen Moore to do the one thing no one expected in the fourth quarter Thursday night at Ford Field: Run.

While officials determined on replay that running back Joique Bell was stopped 4 inches from the goal line on the previous play, Linehan devised a new play for Moore.

The former Boise State star faked a handoff to Bell and curled around the left end - strolling into the end zone for his first NFL touchdown.

It was such a surprise that Buffalo Bills defensive end Robert Eddins never looked at Moore as he crashed toward Bell.

“We just kind of made it up on the sideline,” Moore said. “… Obviously I'd prefer not to run it, but I had to do it.”

It was the winning touchdown for the Lions, who closed out the preseason with a 38-32 defeat of the Bills.

Moore — playing in front of hundreds of Boise State fans in town for Friday's opener at Michigan State — went 17-of-30 for 211 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. His line would have been much more impressive if not for a series of drops in the second quarter, including one on a hard hit in the end zone.

“He threw the ball great tonight,” Lions starting quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Didn't finish some of the plays we could have made with him. I thought guys were getting open for him and he was hitting them for the majority of the night.”

Moore played the final three quarters, his most extensive playing time in four games. His preseason totals: 41-of-78 for 434 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

“He's played great, all preseason,” Stafford said.

Moore's future with the Lions is on the line Friday. The NFL deadline to cut rosters to the 53-man limit is at 7 p.m. MDT.

There's no question Moore is the Lions' No. 3 quarterback, but many teams only keep two these days. If he's cut, he likely will land on the practice squad -- unless another NFL team opts to sign him.

Moore signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent.

“That's out of my control,” said Moore, who will attend Boise State's game in East Lansing. “We'll see what happens. Whatever happens will be a good situation and you'll make the best of it.”

This game was the best of Moore's preseason, he said. He had at least five passes dropped and the Lions missed two of their three field-goal attempts while he was in the game. He also underthrew what could have been a long touchdown pass.

“You just want to continue to improve,” he said. “Being your first preseason, your fourth one you want it to look a lot better than your first, second or third, and you feel like that's how it came out.”

He and wide receiver Titus Young, a second-year pro from Boise State, noticed the orange shirts scattered in the stands before the game.

Young, who didn't play for reasons he wouldn't disclose, gave the fans a bow.

“Kellen told me to go suit up for them,” Young said. “… They were there before anybody in Detroit. I was like, 'Wow. This is forever. Boise State is bleed blue for real.' ”

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398,Twitter: @IDS_BroncoBeat