Home Sport live NFL Lions seek to boost franchise-record winning streak to 12 by facing AFC East titleholders Bills

Lions seek to boost franchise-record winning streak to 12 by facing AFC East titleholders Bills

0
Lions seek to boost franchise-record winning streak to 12 by facing AFC East titleholders Bills

Buffalo (10-3) is set to face off against Detroit (12-1) this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST, airing on CBS. The current betting odds from BetMGM have the Lions favored by 2.5 points. This season, the Bills hold an 8-5 record against the spread, while the Lions boast a 9-4 mark. Historically, the Bills lead the series 7-4-1, with their last encounter resulting in a narrow victory for Buffalo, winning 28-25 in Detroit on November 24, 2022. In their most recent outings, the Bills suffered a close 44-42 loss to the Rams, while the Lions secured a win against the Bears, finishing 23-20.

Examining the offensive statistics, the Bills rank 10th overall, 11th in rushing, 12th in passing, and 2nd in scoring. Defensively, they rank 14th overall, 19th against the run, 9th against the pass, and 8th in scoring defense. The Lions, on the other hand, have a more potent offense, ranking 2nd overall, 4th in rushing, 4th in passing, and notching the highest scoring in the league. Defensively, the Lions stand 10th overall, 5th against the run, and 23rd against the pass, sharing 2nd place in scoring defense. Notably, the Bills have a turnover differential of plus-17, while the Lions sit at plus-8.

A key player for the Bills is Josh Allen. In his seventh season, he is making a strong argument for the NFL MVP title, leading with 10 touchdown passes over the last two games. Last week, he distinguished himself as the first player in league history to throw for three touchdowns and score three times on the ground in a single game. Two weeks ago, he achieved a rare feat, being credited with both a passing and receiving touchdown on the same play during a remarkable sequence involving Amari Cooper.

For the Lions, Jared Goff emerges as a crucial player to watch. With a struggling defense, Detroit will need Goff’s strong performance to contend with the Bills. His impressive completion rate of 72.4% places him second in the league. Should he maintain a completion percentage of at least 75% in another game, he will join the ranks of Tom Brady as one of the only players to achieve this in eight or more games. Goff has excelled in his recent home performances, throwing 14 touchdowns and only one interception over the last five games at home, following an earlier misstep during the team’s only loss to Tampa Bay earlier in the season.

A pivotal matchup to watch will be Buffalo’s passing attack versus Detroit’s secondary. Allen’s ability to effectively maneuver against Lions’ defensive backfield will be crucial, especially since the Lions have faced difficulties limiting opposing teams’ passing yards, as well as dealing with penalties for pass interference.

Injuries could play a significant role in this match-up. For the Bills, cornerback Rasul Douglas and safety Taylor Rapp did not practice earlier in the week, raising concerns. Meanwhile, tight end Dalton Kincaid and wide receiver Keon Coleman, both sidelined previously, are set to return. On the Lions’ side, safety D.J. Reader was limited in practice due to a shoulder issue, while Taylor Decker and Alim McNeill look to return after earlier absences. Both teams’ health statuses could heavily influence the game’s outcome.

Historically, the Bills have been dominant in this matchup, winning six of their past seven contests. An interesting note from their previous Thanksgiving meeting featured Tyler Bass making a clutch 45-yard field goal, securing the victory over Detroit. This also marked the second of two consecutive wins for Buffalo at Ford Field within a five-day span after a significant winter storm had altered their schedule.

Despite a recent defeat to the Rams which ended their seven-game winning streak, the Bills have achieved a commendable 10-3 record. This marks only the third instance in team history where they’ve reached at least 10 wins by week 13. Their scoring prowess is notable as they’ve set a franchise record by scoring 30 points or more for seven consecutive games.

As for the Lions, they are looking to extend a franchise-record winning streak to 12 games and have already clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive season, a first since the early 90s. After a period of rest since Thanksgiving, they are prepared to face the formidable Bills. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have impressively combined for over 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in their first 25 games together. Meanwhile, Amon-Ra St. Brown is performing exceptionally well, contributing significantly to the Lions’ offensive efforts.

For fantasy players, Bills’ wide receiver Khalil Shakir is one to watch. He is enjoying his best season yet and is presented with an advantageous matchup against the Lions’ secondary, which has allowed several big plays this season. His ability to capitalize on these opportunities could provide a significant boost.