Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions: Predicting the Final Score
By Nick Richardson
@NickSonofDave
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
The 2-2 Buffalo Bills will head to the Motor City this Sunday to take on the 3-1 Detroit Lions. Expect this game to be a low-scoring battle, as fans will see two of the best defenses in the NFL match up against one another.
Buffalo’s defense is headed by Jim Schwartz, a man who is very familiar to Lions fans. Schwartz was Detroit’s head coach from 2009 to 2013, mustering a paltry 29-52 record in his time with the team. Schwartz has found success as a defensive coordinator for Buffalo however, as the Bills have been extremely impressive on that side of the ball, especially against the run.
The Bills made headlines around the league this week when coach Doug Marrone benched second-year quarterback E.J. Manuel in favor of veteran Kyle Orton. Buffalo’s offense has struggled mightily in their last two games, both losses. Marrone is hoping that Orton is an upgrade over the young Manuel, who looked terrible in last week’s loss to the Houston Texans.
Orton will be in for a stern test this week when he goes up against a Lions defense that is currently ranked no. 1 in the league. Detroit has been just as stout against the run (sixth) as they have been against the pass (second), and with playmakers like Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and DeAndre Levy, that doesn’t figure to change this week.
Injuries could play a big role in this Week 5 showdown, with both teams facing the possibility of playing without one of their best players. Detroit’s all-world wide receiver Calvin Johnson is likely a game-time decision with a bad ankle, while the Bills’ Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kyle Williams is doubtful to play with a knee injury. In Johnson’s case, even if he plays, he will likely be severely limited and might not get as many looks as he’s used to seeing.
In the end, this game will come down to which quarterback has more success against one of these extremely strong defenses. That man figures to be Detroit’s Matthew Stafford, especially considering that the guy he is going up against hasn’t played since last season and had ‘announced’ his retirement at one point this offseason. Even without a healthy Megatron, Stafford will find holes in a Buffalo pass defense that has been shaky this year, while getting another great game from his defense.
Prediction: Lions 23, Bills 13
Nick Richardson is an NFL blogger covering the Buffalo Bills for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickSonofDave, Like him on Facebook or add him to your circles on Google.
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