DETROIT – The Detroit Lions are on the prowl for some “get back” when they play host to the Buffalo Bills in a Thanksgiving Day game rematch inside Ford Field.
Both teams faced off in 2022, and the Lions fell 28-25, thanks to a Tyler Bass tiebreaking 45-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.
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Coming into Sunday’s (Dec. 15) game, the Bills offense, led by MVP favorite Josh Allen, was flying high but fell to Matthew Stafford and his Los Angeles Rams in a 44-42 shootout, highlighting their poorest defense.
But the Bills Mafia will bring their breakaway tables to Detroit to try and stop the NFC-leading Lions' 11-game winning streak, which is the longest in franchise history.,
After 14 weeks of football, the Bills and the Lions have the top two offenses, with Detroit leading the league with 32.1 points per game after toppling the Green Bay Packers with a 34-31 victory.
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Allen and the Bills average 30.5 points per game, which is second behind the Lions this season, but their 42-point effort against the Rams was the seventh consecutive game they’ve scored 30 or more points.
| Offense | Lions | Ranking | Bills | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points/Game | 32.1 | 1 | 30.5 | 2 |
| Total Offense | 394.8 | 2 | 355.0 | 10 |
| Rushing Offense | 151.1 | 4 | 125.7 | 11 |
| Passing Offense | 243.8 | 4 | 229.3 | 12 |
| 3rd Down Offense % | 45.8 | 4 | 43.4 | 9 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 67.3 | 6 | 68.5 | 5 |
| Giveaways | 12 | 8 (Tied) | 7 | 2 |
Allen has been getting a lot of praise thus far, but Lions quarterback Jared Goff is no slouch.
last week vs. the Packers, Goff accumulated 283 yards passing, three touchdowns, and one interception with a third straight game with a completion rating above 100 (109.7).
Goff has the second-highest completion rate (72.5) in the NFL and the second-highest rating (109.7).
Allen is coming into the matchup touting a three-touchdown, 342-yard game with a rating of 117.2.
Through his previous three games, Allen has racked up 11 total touchdowns (six passing, five rushing), one interception, zero sacks, and a passer rating of 114.0.
But he will have to deal with the Lions’ defense, which may be getting some much-needed help back to their injury-depleted side of the ball.
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D.J. Reader returned to practice on Thursday to help his team resemble what they once did earlier in the season.
“He’s an MVP-caliber guy,” said defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. “There is no way about that, and we know that. But we’re going to go out there and do whatever we can to stop what he’s trying to do, as it’s going to be a tough challenge.”
| Defense | Lions | Ranking | Bills | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points/Game | 18.0 | 2 (Tied) | 20.6 | 8 |
| Total Defense | 318.6 | 10 | 332.0 | 14 |
| Rushing Defense | 93.9 | 5 | 123.1 | 19 |
| Passing Defense | 224.7 | 23 | 208.9 | 9 |
| 3rd Down Defense % | 31.3 | 1 | 43.2 | 25 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 47.2 | 4 | 54.2 | 16 |
| Takeaways | 20 | 6 (Tied) | 24 | 3 (Tied) |
Defensive end Za’Darius Smith has averaged half a sack or more in three of his last four games. But the offensive line of the Bills has not allowed a sack in their last three games.
In Los Angeles, Allen used his legs, toting the rock 10 times for 82 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
For the season, Allen has 3,033 passing yards and 416 rushing yards, while Goff has 3,265 yards passing.
Bills running back James Cook has 723 yards on the ground, while Jahmyr Gibbs has 1,016 yards, and David Montgomery has 771 yards on the ground.
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir has 735 yards receiving. In contrast, former Michigan State Spartans receiver Keon Coleman, who has missed the last four games with a wrist injury, the rookie will make his return to the field with 417 yards receiving.
Pro Bowl wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown has 883 yards receiving, while Jameson Williams has 710 yards.
Even the kickers are in a tight battle amongst the league’s best, as Tyler Bass has scored 101 points while Jake Bates has 111.
Hopefully, Sunday’s game will be one for the ages, as both teams are first in their division.
The Bills lead the AFC East at 10-3, and the Lions sit atop the NFC North at 12-1.
How do you feel about the Lions’ chances on Sunday, and do you feel, with players coming off of the injury report, that they’ll be ready to outgun Allen and his Bills?
