By Roy J. Akers-www.skyviewsports.net
Detroit Lions – Buffalo Bills Preview
A preview of a potential Super Bowl LIX matchup is on tap at Ford Field on Sunday and the Detroit Lions 11 game winning streak will be put to the test by the visiting Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen scored six TD’s in the Los Angeles 44-42 loss. No NFL team has ever lost before when one player scored six TD’s in a game and it broke up a Bills 7-game winning streak. As for Detroit, they have not beaten Buffalo since 2006.
The Lions have won a franchise record 11 games in a row and have NEVER won 13 games in an NFL season. The Bills mark a stern test for Detroit.
The statistical lines for QB’s Josh Allen and Jared Goff and both are under consideration for NFL MVP with Allen holding the advantage. Goff has thrown for more yards (NFL 7th 3265 to Allen’s 11th 3,033). Goff has more TD’s and picks (25 TD’s- 10 Int.) to Allen’s (23 TD’s to 5 Int.) and pass completion percentage at 72.4% to 64.6%. Allen is considered to almost singlehandedly willed Buffalo to the AFC’s second playoff seed behind Kansas City at 12-1. Buffalo holds any tiebreakers due to the Bills win over KC in week 11.
Goff has seven receivers he routinely throws to and an NFL record 5 receivers catch five passes in Detroit’s win over Green Bay on December 5th.
The Lions have two running backs that should be over 1,000 yards rushing this season. Jahmyr Gibbs is already over the century mark at 1,016 and David Montgomery has 771 with four games to go. The Bills James Cook is behind both Lions’ players with 723 yards.
As for the bills receivers, Khalil Shakir is a favorite target of Allen. He has hauled in 65 catches this season for 735 yards. Only the Lions Amon-Ra St. Brown has caught more passes with 81 catches for 863 yards.
“When you talk about Shakir, I mean, he’s a damn good slot receiver,” Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said Thursday. “He gets in and out of his cuts real well. Listen, he’s faster than what people give him credit for.”
Buffalo coming into the game
1. Buffalo has scored at least 30 points in seven straight games, the longest streak in franchise history.
2. Allen became the first player in NFL history to record three passing and three rushing touchdowns in a single game in the loss to the Rams last week.
3. The Bills’ seven turnovers are the second fewest in the league and are tied with Detroit for fewest fumbles lost with two.
Week 1-14 Stats
The Lions Key to beating Buffalo
Putting a spy on Josh Allen and taking him down. He extends drives with his running and if he gets going, the Lions winning streak may come to an end.
Key 2
Detroit is getting back five lineman for the game and it will be a huge factor. DJ Reader, Alim McNeill, Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike will all be back to plug the gap against Allen. The Lions LT Taylor Decker will also return to the Detroit lineup. Only reserve LB Trevor Nowaske will not play among the guys not listed on injured reserve.
Roy J. Akers is a NFL writer and writes for several sports with www.skyviewsports.net
