Week Fifteen: Buffalo Bills (10-3) @ Detroit Lions (12-1)

[MichiganCardinal]

          vs.          

Setting: 12/15/2024 4:25pm EST on CBS

Site: Ford Field in Detroit, MI

Weather: Climate Controlled

Opening Spread: Lions -3

All-Time Series Record: Bills lead, 7-4-1

Last Meeting: 11/24/2022, Bills won 28-25

 

Buffalo Bills (10-3)

Head Coach: Sean McDermott (8th Season: 83-44)

Projected Starting QB: Josh Allen (7th Season: 73-33)

Last Game: 44-42 L @ Los Angeles Rams (7-6)

Looking Ahead to Week #16: Sunday v. New England Patriots (3-10)

 

Your Detroit Lions (12-1)

Head Coach: Dan Campbell (4th Season: 36-27-1)

Projected Starting QB: Jared Goff (9th Season: 78-51-1)

Last Week: 34-31 W v. Green Bay Packers (9-4)

Looking Ahead to Week #16: Sunday @ Chicago Bears (4-9)

 

Elsewhere in the NFL

Primetime: Rams @ 49ers (TNF), Packers @ Seahawks (SNF), Bears @ Vikings (8:00pm MNF), Falcons @ Raiders (8:30pm MNF)

1:00pm: Cowboys @ Panthers, Chiefs @ Browns, Dolphins @ Texans, Jets @ Jaguars, Commanders @ Saints, Ravens @ Giants, Bengals @ Titans

4:05/4:25pm: Patriots @ Cardinals, Colts @ Broncos, Buccaneers @ Chargers, Steelers @ Eagles

[Motown Bombers]

Last time the Lions played the Bills, they had the ball late and faced a 4th and 1 and chose to kick instead of going for it and then kicking. The Bills got the ball, went down the field, and kicked a FG and won. 

[MichiganCardinal]

Lions will be wearing their black alternates for this one.

[lordstanley]

Despite the Bills’ loss today and the Lions’ two extra days of rest, I expect this to be the Lions’ toughest game. If they win this, there’s no reason they can’t go 16-1. 

[Sports_Freak]

29 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

Despite the Bills’ loss today and the Lions’ two extra days of rest, I expect this to be the Lions’ toughest game. If they win this, there’s no reason they can’t go 16-1. 

What's the best record for an NFC team? I mean, 16-1 is a better winning % than 15-1. Just sayin'......

[MichiganCardinal]

3 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

What's the best record for an NFC team? I mean, 16-1 is a better winning % than 15-1. Just sayin'......

In the AFC/NFC era, the 2015 Panthers, 2011 Packers, 1998 Vikings, 1985 Bears, and 1984 49ers are all tied at 15-1. I would concur that 16-1 > 15-1.

Interestingly though, only the 85 Bears of that group won the Super Bowl. I would take 15-2 if it meant a Super Bowl. 😁

[lordstanley]

10 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

What's the best record for an NFC team? I mean, 16-1 is a better winning % than 15-1. Just sayin'......

If the Lions win the next three, they’d be just the 8th team ever to be 15-1 or better after 16 games. If they win the next four, they’d be just the 2nd team ever (and first NFC team ever) to win 16 regular season games. The NFL played a 14-game schedule from 1961-1977, a 16-game schedule from 1978-2020, and 2024 is the 4th season with 17 games. 
 

Edited December 9, 2024 by lordstanley

[Motown Bombers]

So the last five 15-1 teams there didn't win the Super Bowl. 

[Motown Bombers]

Reading the Bills forum, and they are all convinced they are going to lose this game. 

[MichiganCardinal]

33 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Reading the Bills forum, and they are all convinced they are going to lose this game. 

We would be too if the Bills had just beaten the Packers 34-31 and we had just lost to the Rams 44-42.

These teams are both very good. Man coverage tends to struggle against elusive QBs. This should be another very good game.

[NYLion]

18 hours ago, lordstanley said:

Despite the Bills’ loss today and the Lions’ two extra days of rest, I expect this to be the Lions’ toughest game. If they win this, there’s no reason they can’t go 16-1. 

This might sound weird but I think the game at Chicago will be their toughest test. The conditions will likely turn the game into a bit of a slugfest and the Lions always struggle with the Bears even the last 2 years in which they were the much better team. 

Really, all the games left on the schedule will be challenging. The Lions will be up to it but this is the toughest part of their schedule.

[NYLion]

52 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

We would be too if the Bills had just beaten the Packers 34-31 and we had just lost to the Rams 44-42.

These teams are both very good. Man coverage tends to struggle against elusive QBs. This should be another very good game.

The Rams are better than the record shows IMO. If Puka hadn't been injured, they probably would have run away with that division already.

[Jason_R]

1 hour ago, NYLion said:

The Rams are better than the record shows IMO. If Puka hadn't been injured, they probably would have run away with that division already.

That toe drag catch by Nacua was one of the most athletic catches I’ve seen and Stafford had maybe the most creative and elite ball placement I’ve seen. It looked impressive in real time but the replays bring home what an incredible play that was on both of their parts. Literally impossible to defend that pass. 

[NYLion]

3 hours ago, Jason_R said:

That toe drag catch by Nacua was one of the most athletic catches I’ve seen and Stafford had maybe the most creative and elite ball placement I’ve seen. It looked impressive in real time but the replays bring home what an incredible play that was on both of their parts. Literally impossible to defend that pass. 

Yeah Puka is unreal and Stafford can still play at an elite level. The Rams are very dangerous if they get in.

Edited December 10, 2024 by NYLion

[Jimbo]

If I had to pick one game the rest of the schedule for the Lions to lose, it would be this game.  First it's an AFC team which means they are still in control of their own destiny to get the bye if they win the rest of the games (only 1 loss in the NFC).  Second its a legit Superbowl contender.  So with our injuries it wouldn't be a huge let down.  Obviously I want them to win although its the one game I won't be that upset if we lose.  I would prefer that they don't rush back injured players for this game.  Buffalo has some injured players as well but I think they want this game more than us based on last weeks loss and still fighting for that #2 seed (home field advantage until the AFC Championship game).  If we lost last week, this week (and really the rest of the games) would be a lot more important.  Below is a list of players injured and their situation.  Its crazy how big this list is although I am feeling a little better after reading this.

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/12/9/24317299/full-list-detroit-lions-injuries-latest-news-potential-returns-ir-anzalone-decker-hutchinson

Edited December 10, 2024 by Jimbo

[RedRamage]

16 hours ago, NYLion said:

This might sound weird but I think the game at Chicago will be their toughest test. The conditions will likely turn the game into a bit of a slugfest and the Lions always struggle with the Bears even the last 2 years in which they were the much better team. 

Really, all the games left on the schedule will be challenging. The Lions will be up to it but this is the toughest part of their schedule.

I disagree, kinda. I mean I know any given Sunday and all that, but...

• Bills: Definitely a tough game.
• @ Chicago: I hope the weather will be bad because I think we're better in bad weather. Sure, this could be a trap game, but the Bears are a mess right now. Rookie QB, Rookie (interim) HC. This should not be a tough game. The only thing I worry about here is health. As long as we're mostly healthy we should win this one. Should NOT be a touch game.
• @ SanFran: The 49ers aren't good right now. It's been a bad year for them and we should be able to win this one decently. Should NOT be a tough game.
• IF it comes down to the Vikings having a shot at the division (and possibly #1 seed) this will be a dangerous game. But again, assuming reasonable health... we beat them in Minny, we should be able to beat them at home. It WILL be a tough game

So two tough games, but two that should be relatively easy.

[RandyMarsh]

Idk about SF, I know it was just the Bears but they looked like the 49ers of old in that game. The Bears for all their faults usually play close games but SF trucked them. I think they are getting healthier and if they have something to play for I think that game is gonna be tough. 

[NYLion]

47 minutes ago, RedRamage said:

I disagree, kinda. I mean I know any given Sunday and all that, but...

• Bills: Definitely a tough game.
• @ Chicago: I hope the weather will be bad because I think we're better in bad weather. Sure, this could be a trap game, but the Bears are a mess right now. Rookie QB, Rookie (interim) HC. This should not be a tough game. The only thing I worry about here is health. As long as we're mostly healthy we should win this one. Should NOT be a touch game.
• @ SanFran: The 49ers aren't good right now. It's been a bad year for them and we should be able to win this one decently. Should NOT be a tough game.
• IF it comes down to the Vikings having a shot at the division (and possibly #1 seed) this will be a dangerous game. But again, assuming reasonable health... we beat them in Minny, we should be able to beat them at home. It WILL be a tough game

So two tough games, but two that should be relatively easy.

The Lions barely beat the Bears, at home, so I don't know how you can say this won't be a tough game at a place that has been historically very tough on the Lions even last year when the Lions were the far better team but got whipped.

The Niners will absolutely be a tough game. They're desperate and there's still a lot of very good players on that team and a strong culture much like the Lions. There's no way that's an "easy" game, no way.

Edited December 10, 2024 by NYLion

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Sports_Freak]

17 hours ago, Jason_R said:

That toe drag catch by Nacua was one of the most athletic catches I’ve seen and Stafford had maybe the most creative and elite ball placement I’ve seen. It looked impressive in real time but the replays bring home what an incredible play that was on both of their parts. Literally impossible to defend that pass. 

It sure was. Live, I said, nice catch but out of bounds. The replay showed a totally incredible catch and great footwork. Put that guy on Dancing with the Stars...🤣🤣

[MichiganCardinal]

1 hour ago, NYLion said:

The Lions barely beat the Bears, at home, so I don't know how you can say this won't be a tough game at a place that has been historically very tough on the Lions even last year when the Lions were the far better team but got whipped.

The Niners will absolutely be a tough game. They're desperate and there's still a lot of very good players on that team and a strong culture much like the Lions. There's no way that's an "easy" game, no way.

The Niners/Rams game Thursday Night will be interesting. If the Rams win, the Niners will be 2.5 games back of both the division and wildcard with three games to play, holding no tiebreakers.

They play the Dolphins in Week 16, but with Week 17 being Monday Night against us, there’s probably a decent chance they’re mathematically eliminated at 7-8 by kickoff (again, if they lose Thursday). That didn’t matter for the Lions in 2022, but who knows if they would shut down their veterans at that point.

If they beat the Rams though, they’ll be in the thick of it, probably entering Monday Night at 8-7, in must-win mode.

[Motown Bombers]

Just like with Dallas, the Lions have a score to settle with the 49ers. I expect the Lions to attempt to clown the 49ers. 

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Sports_Freak]

7 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

The Niners/Rams game Thursday Night will be interesting. If the Rams win, the Niners will be 2.5 games back of both the division and wildcard with three games to play, holding no tiebreakers.

They play the Dolphins in Week 16, but with Week 17 being Monday Night against us, there’s probably a decent chance they’re mathematically eliminated at 7-8 by kickoff (again, if they lose Thursday). That didn’t matter for the Lions in 2022, but who knows if they would shut down their veterans at that point.

If they beat the Rams though, they’ll be in the thick of it, probably entering Monday Night at 8-7, in must-win mode.

I'm actually thinking the Rams are a scarier team than SF. SF has no running game, their top 3 backs are injured.

[Tigeraholic1]

Really love how part of this team/franchise culture is to embrace the fan base.