How Lions and Bills match up ahead of game of the season

The Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills are two of the 12 NFL teams to never win a Super Bowl. A third of those teams, including the Lions, have never played a game. No player has lost four straight like the Bills.

The two cities that border Canada have always supported the team. Detroit and Buffalo both dream of success at football’s highest level, but for now that seems out of reach.

The two teams will face off on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) in something of a Super Bowl preview. According to ESPN Analytics, the Lions (37.9%) and Bills (27.2%) are the conference’s favorites to advance to the Super Bowl.

The next step for the Lions is to win the NFC North, as both teams have already clinched their tickets to the postseason, while the Bills have already clinched the AFC East championship. With four games left, both teams have their eyes on the No. 1 seed. According to ESPN Research, the Bills (10-3) and Lions (12-1) enter this matchup with a combined winning percentage of .846, the fourth-best total entering the matchup after Week 15 since the 1970 merger. It is expensive in Thailand.

The quarterback has taken the lead. According to ESPN BET, the Bills’ Josh Allen is the leader in MVP odds and tops the league in total QBR (76.7), while the Lions’ Jared Goff had the best season of his career with a 72.4% pass completion rate. That performance led to a high-scoring attack. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this will be the fourth time since the merger in 1970 that the two teams, who average 30 points per game, will meet after Week 15.

Game of the season? Maybe. Here are the standings for both teams:

Detroit Lions (12-1)

FPI overall ranking: 1st (8.4)

Chance of winning the division: 89.4%

Chance of making the playoffs: 100%

Chance of getting the No.1 seed: 76%

Chance of reaching/winning the Super Bowl: 38.7 / 24.7%

Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at. Bears, at. 49ers, vs. Vikings

Why is the Lions’ offense so good?

The simple answer is the talent on this roster. But it’s more than that. Goff is coaching the ship alongside coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. Through the draft, the Lions assembled a roster full of young, ready-to-play players, including WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, RB Jahmil Gibbs, WR Jameson Williams, TE Sam LaPorta, and RT Penei Sewell. are also over 25 years old. Younger.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is also arguably the best play-caller in the league and is not afraid to give it his all on any possession. Under his guidance, the Lions have one of the most creative and productive offenses in the NFL, which helps make Johnson a top head coaching candidate heading into the offseason.

What impact has Goff had on this team?

Goff is having an MVP-caliber season with the help of many weapons around him. Heading into Sunday’s matchup, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick has completed at least 75% of his seven passes this season, tied for second all-time in a season behind Tom Brady (eight in 2007). It has become. ESPN Research, minimum 15 pass attempts in each game. More importantly, Goff has earned the trust of his teammates as the man who led the franchise to its first Super Bowl.

“The way he works, the same people come in every day and everyone gravitates to his energy,” Sewell told ESPN. “We all just follow, and we all love that about him.”

How can the Lions make it to the Super Bowl?

The Lions have a top-5 offense and a top-5 defense, and have won 11 straight games. So they need to continue to perform at that level. No steps can be skipped, and Campbell emphasizes always paying attention to detail during weekly preparation. Detroit has the team they have and is confident, making this a nightmare matchup for any team in the league.

“We’re still figuring out the mission. We know whatever happens, but it’s up to us,” Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold told ESPN. “We don’t consider what other factors do. It passes through us.”

What will keep the Lions from making the playoffs?

injury. It’s a miracle that Detroit was able to continue playing at such a high level without players like Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his tibia and fibula in Week 6 against Dallas. But he’s not the only defender down.

The Lions had a league-high 13 defensive players on injured reserve for last week’s 34-31 win over the Packers, but defensive tackle Alim McNeil missed the second half with a concussion. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has been able to adjust so far, but you have to wonder if these injuries will catch up with him at some point.

Who should the Lions worry about in this next matchup?

Detroit’s defense must be ready for this challenge, as the Lions (32.1 PPG) and Bills (30.5 PPG) rank first and second in the NFL in scoring offense this season. Buffalo has explosive weapons in quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook and wide receiver Khalil Shaquille. Despite a rash of injuries to Detroit’s defense, Lions cornerback Carlton Davis said he will continue to view the Bills as a “nameless, faceless enemy.” That means the team’s main focus is on improving each week, regardless of the opponent.

“I feel like we’ve been tested all year. Last week was a test in the heat in Green Bay, but this year we’ve had a different test,” Davis told ESPN. “It’s part of the game, it’s the NFL… For us, we just do our job. We’re setting records, and no matter what your habits are, we’ll make you win. It’s the same.

Buffalo Bills (10-3)

FPI overall ranking: 2nd place (6.7)

Chance of winning the division: 100%

Chance of making the playoffs: 100%

Chance of getting the 1st seed: 17.1%

Chance of reaching/winning the Super Bowl: 27.2% / 14.1%

Remaining schedule: @Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, @Patriots

Why is the Bills offense so good?

Josh Allen. This offense won’t be as good or successful without No. 17.

Many of the stats don’t necessarily jump off the page for quarterbacks, but he threw just five interceptions compared to 14-13 games last season, and the Bills were second in the league in turnovers. Masu.

The offensive line is another key reason for the Bills’ success, allowing a league-low 13 sacks and remaining solid with only one starter missing this year. This is a line that can dominate up front, as seen in the win over the 49ers (220 rushing yards).

What impact has Allen had on this team?

Couldn’t he have answered a shorter question? He stepped up as a leader this year as one of two team captains (the other being LB Terrell Bernard).

In his seventh season, Allen showed the ability to boost his team and score with both his feet and arm. He is tied for second in the NFL in total touchdowns (32).

The Bills have won games this season largely because of Allen’s ability to make plays when needed. There’s no better example than his fourth-down touchdown run against the Kansas City Chiefs.

How can the Bills make it to the Super Bowl?

Everything falls into place. It may sound overly simplistic, but the Bills have faced all sorts of hurdles in their path in playoff after playoff. From injuries to poor time management to defensive mistakes. this The team showed they have the talent, coaching and ability to play with the best teams in the league.

Allen performed at his highest level in the postseason. Taking the next step will require defense and special teams to show up when it matters most.

What’s stopping the Bills from making the playoffs?

defense. In Week 14’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, the problem was too many big plays.

The Bills have allowed the third-most plays of 10 yards or more, including the third-most pass plays. The Baltimore Ravens and Rams offenses have shown the ability to take advantage of that.

Another problem is that the Bills can’t leave the field on third down (25th). Concerns for the Bills extend to the ground, with consistency issues against base running.

One area to watch is kicker Tyler Bass. He has improved from his early-season struggles, but his reliability remains a concern.

Who should the Bills worry about in this upcoming matchup?

Does the entire violation count? The Lions are a big challenge overall, but especially against the Bills against Goff, a formidable running back duo in David Montgomery and Jahmil Gibbs, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Especially for the defense.

Winning battles up front and forcing turnovers will be key after the Bills’ league-best 14-game winning streak ended last Sunday. “They’re doing a great job, especially in the play-action game and the screen game,” coach Sean McDermott said of the Lions.

Safety Taylor Rupp (neck) and cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee) are both dealing with injuries and will be key in their absences for this game.