On Sunday afternoon, the Detroit Lions will try to stack a fourth straight win when they face the Miami Dolphins on the road.
Detroit is coming off a 19-15 win over Kyler Murray and the Minnesota Vikings, while Miami enters at 1-6 after a 24-19 loss to the New England Patriots. Even with the records pointing in different directions, the Lions’ Week 9 trip has plenty of noise around it, and the Detroit Lions On SI staff leaned heavily toward the same conclusion: Detroit should handle business.
The biggest concern hanging over the matchup is the injury to linebacker Jack Campbell. His absence leaves a real hole in the middle of the defense, and the staff noted how much his leadership and presence mattered to how the unit operated. Derrick Barnes, a veteran with experience, is expected to take on a bigger role, though there was acknowledgment that he may need time to settle into the new assignment.
Still, the expectation is that Dan Campbell will have his team ready despite the circumstances. One prediction pointed to the coach’s ability to keep the group locked in after a tough week, even if the Lions start a little slowly. The same outlook said Detroit should get its offense rolling quickly enough and find enough defensive stops to leave with a win.
Another view hit the same theme from a different angle: the Lions will be without multiple core defenders in Miami, including Jack Campbell, D.J. Reed and DJ Wonnum, and they could also have one eye on next week’s highly anticipated Week 10 matchup with the New England Patriots in Germany.
Even so, that prediction argued none of it should derail Detroit against a Dolphins team that may be better than its record, but still not on the Lions’ level. The result, in that view, is a gritty road win built on the “next man up” approach.
There was also concern about an emotional letdown after Detroit’s hard-fought win over a division rival. Jack Campbell’s injury was framed as the kind of loss that can test a locker room, and the Dolphins were labeled a possible trap game. But the staff still expected the Lions to rally around the moment and find enough resolve to come away with the victory.
That same prediction suggested Campbell’s injury could have a wider effect on the roster, drawing a comparison to how the 1991 team responded after Mike Utley suffered a serious injury. Offensively, the Lions were projected to move the ball against a young Miami team still trying to figure out how to close games under a new head coach. Tight end Sam LaPorta was mentioned as a player who could see a heavy workload, especially with the Dolphins having allowed plenty of production to opposing tight ends.
The final prediction took the bluntest view of the matchup: Miami was not expected to be very good this season, and the Dolphins have lived up to that billing so far. Even so, the concern was that this could still become a trap game with Munich looming next week and the emotional weight of the Jack Campbell injury still fresh. The formula for Detroit, according to that outlook, is simple - create turnovers with quick pressure, shut down the run, and take advantage of a Dolphins team that is missing the mark in several areas.
That same prediction called for the Lions to seize control and head home with an easy win, fueled by 175 total yards from Jahmyr Gibbs and 100 yards and a touchdown from Amon-Ra St. Brown.
In Other News...
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The NFLs emphasis on sportsmanship has once again landed on Detroit, with the league continuing to crack down on taunting as it tries to keep emotions from spilling over. For the Lions, it is another reminder that even in the heat of a divisional matchup, the line between competitive fire and unnecessary attention from the officials can be a thin one.
Detroit also received the leagues latest reminder about preventing unsportsmanlike conduct, a message that extends beyond game day and into the controlled chaos of joint practices. With the NFL making clear it wants those standards enforced consistently, the Lions are being asked to keep their edge without giving the league a reason to step in again. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Need These 3 Defenders To Hold Up Vs Miami
The Lions are heading into their Week 9 matchup with Miami with some real strain on the defensive side of the ball, and the ripple effect is putting more on the plate for several depth pieces. Moore is in line for a bigger workload, Rodriguez is set for a heavier role in the middle, and Ya-Sin should see more snaps in the secondary, all because Detroit is trying to patch together a defense that has been hit by injuries at multiple levels.
For a team facing a Dolphins offense that can stress a defense in a hurry, the timing is far from ideal. Moore, Rodriguez and Ya-Sin now have a chance to show they can hold up under expanded responsibilities, but their performance grades and recent usage suggest different levels of readiness as the Lions try to get through a game that could ask a lot more of them than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Face A Week 9 Depth Chart Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Lions are heading into their Week 9 matchup with Miami with the kind of updated depth chart that always gets attention, even when the headline names are still expected to suit up. Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown are all projected to be available, but the list still reflects the wear and tear that comes with this point in the season, and Detroit has already started making small roster moves to keep the week on track.
One of those moves points to a thinner margin than the Lions would prefer, especially in the backfield and along the defensive front. Practice squad elevations are often a sign of caution rather than panic, but they also tell the story of a team trying to protect itself against short-term absences while waiting for the final injury picture to settle. [Read more 🡒]