By Jeremy T. Ballreich
While normally I go into analytics and stats for a game preview. I want to focus on the Lions defense. Who everyone has questioned every week since the Aiden Hutchinson injury.
And, every week but one, we’ve had new additions to the roster, or a practice squad player be the highest rated defensive player in those match ups. The one week it was Zadarius Smith.
I say, ‘The Legion Of Whom’ not as a discredit to who’s playing. But, more because they have done so well. Even dominated a few teams on this run since we lost who could have arguably been the defensive player of the year.
Pat O’Connor, Al Quadin-Muhammed, Trevor Nowaske, Ezekiel Turner. Not household names. But just keep plugging in and contributing immediately!
Now on to the match up. The Bills defense is very good against the pass. But not as good at keeping the passing game out of the End Zone.
Detroit gives up more yards, but less TDs. I’ll take the latter.
Run defense is where the Bills lack on defense and it isn’t close. They average 123.1 YPGA, on the ground and 10 TDs against.
The Lions average 93.9 YPGA, and 12 TDs against (last week vs GBs Josh Jacobs was the first time a RB ran for 3 TDs versus Detroit!)
The Rams ran rough shot over the Bills defense and I expect the Lions to do the same. Thus making them more susceptible to play action passing. Where it’s Goff, Tua, and Darnold leading the league in play action passing this year (no particular order).
I have the Lions winning this game, and covering the spread with some of our guys coming back healthy this week. Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal, and Taylor Decker. DJ Reader is still dealing with his shoulder and is questionable. Alim McNeil has been full participant at practice too.
If it all goes right:
Bills 27
Lions 31
If it all falls apart:
Bill 31
Lions 27
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