Above Image Credit: Total Pro Sports
When: Sunday, Dec. 15th, 4:25 PM EST
Where: Ford Field (Detroit, MI)
Channel: CBS (check your local listings)
The Buffalo Bills head to the lion’s den when they face the Detroit Lions in what potentially might be a preview of next year’s Super Bowl.
A Battle of MVP-Level Quarterbacks
Perhaps the biggest battle we will see on the field will be the QB battle between Bills’ Josh Allen and Lions’ Jared Goff, two men in the conversation to become the 2024 NFL MVP. Allen is the favorite so far, and Goff is the third-favorite.
Goff has a 72.4 percent completion rate for 3,265 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Meanwhile, Allen has a 64.1 percent completion rate for 3,033 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions, plus the top QB rating (76.8) in the league this season.
When you look at it that way, Allen is a threat to the Lions. Detroit will have to heavily rely on their defense to keep him down. They’ll need Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch’s expertise in the interception game to ensure he makes a mistake. However, it’s too soon say how much his MVP chances will hurt if he loses.
If will be a long-shot for Goff to become MVP on the other hand. At least his performance this season will be acknowledged.
The “Sonic and Knuckles” Effect
If Buffalo plans to stay ahead of Detroit, they will have to take down two of the biggest weapons in the Lions’ offense: RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (AKA “Sonic and Knuckles”).
Gibbs received the nickname “Sonic” for his speed while Montgomery got the name “Knuckles” for his strength. While there is no clue where the idea to give them these nicknames came from, they have fully embraced it. The popularity of it has grown since.
So far this season, the dynamic RB duo has recorded a combined total of 1,787 yards and 22 touchdowns. Gibbs’s speed helped him ran a season-total of 1,016 yards (5th in the nation) for 10 touchdowns. All the while, Montgomery’s strength helped him score 12 touchdowns (tied for third in the league).
Their combination of speed and strength will play a factor in this game. The Lions’ offense in general will have a lot on their plate to keep their winning streak alive.
Bills vs. Lions: Final Prediction
The Bills are trying to bounce back from a near-controversial loss to the LA Rams last week. They have already clinched a playoff spot along with the NFC East division title, but there is still more work to be done.
If they lose (and probably not in controversial fashion this time), then the chance to get home-field advantage in the playoffs will be wide open to the Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo can’t afford another loss on their record, or their chances to get that all-important playoff perk will be officially dead. They have to treat this game against Detroit as a potential match against the Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
As for the Lions, their 11-game win streak has them holding steady at the top of the NFC. They have clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive year, however, they are not out of the woods yet. Losing this game will mean that the Minnesota Vikings can take the lead in the NFC North, and the Philadelphia Eagles will be a game closer to the top spot in the NFC and home-field advantage.
There is plenty to lose in this Bills vs. Lions matchup. It’s tough to decide who’s gonna win, but I know for a fact that we will experience a game that could be on the same level as the Super Bowl.
