The Lions-Jets matchup in Week 3 has the feel of a game that could go sideways fast for one side. Detroit’s offense should have chances to pile up points, but the other end of the field is where things get tricky, because the Lions may have a hard time slowing New York down.
That sets up the kind of game where points come in bunches. It could turn into a shootout, or it could become a one-sided result for whichever team lands the first heavy punches. Either way, this does not look like a night for clean, suffocating defense.
Detroit’s defense has not exactly been shutting doors lately, and that opens the door for New York to put up numbers. The Lions have had trouble limiting explosive plays and getting off the field quickly, which has worn them down without paying off enough.
This week, they avoid Josh Allen, but they still have to deal with Garrett Wilson downfield and Breece Hall on the ground. Even so, the prediction here is that the Jets will reach 30 points and Detroit will still come away with the win.
On the other side, Jahmyr Gibbs looks positioned for a much louder performance than he had in Week 2. He was held to 52 rushing yards in the loss to the Buffalo Bills, but this matchup should be friendlier, especially with Detroit’s offensive line getting healthier.
Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller are both expected to play, and both were part of the group that helped with run blocking and pass protection in Week 1. That should give Gibbs a better runway, and the call is for two rushing touchdowns against New York.
Jameson Williams is another Lion who feels due for a bigger night. The Jets have been stingy so far, allowing just 131.5 net passing yards per game and only three passing touchdowns through two games.
They’ve also given up just 197 yards on offense per game, which leads the NFL. Still, Williams is expected to break through.
Drops and limited targets have kept his start quiet, but that’s not exactly unusual for him. The expectation is that Jared Goff will find him for a few chunk plays and finally get his season moving in the right direction.
Then there’s Aidan Hutchinson, who could have one of the biggest defensive nights for Detroit. Geno Smith averages 2.86 seconds to throw, according to Sumer Sports, and while the Jets’ offensive line has been solid, that extra time can work against a quarterback when Hutchinson is coming off the edge.
Smith scrambles only 8 percent of the time, which makes him less of a moving target than Allen was. Hutchinson has already said how much he wants to go off in this game out of respect for Glenn, and the prediction is for two sacks on Smith.
In Other News...
Isaac TeSlaa May Be Giving The Lions Offense Something New
Isaac TeSlaas Week 3 breakout against the New York Jets gave the Lions another encouraging look at what their passing game can become when the opportunities arrive. He caught all three of his targets for 66 yards, and his work on crucial fourth-down plays and on the long grab that helped set up the game-winning score stood out in a game Detroit needed to finish strong after another uneven start.
What made TeSlaas night matter beyond the box score was the way he described his role. He pointed to the value of blocking and helping create chances for teammates, which fits a Lions offense that has often needed more consistency early in games before finding its rhythm later. If TeSlaa can keep adding that kind of versatility, Detroit may have found another piece that helps smooth out those slow starts. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Ended Up On The Wrong Side Of A Stafford Milestone
Matthew Stafford added another line to a career already packed with them, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to top 20,000 passing yards with two different franchises. He reached the mark with the Los Angeles Rams, building on the massive production he had already piled up during his long run with the Detroit Lions.
It came in a game against the Denver Broncos, where Stafford threw for 390 yards while crossing into rarefied territory again. For Lions fans, it is another reminder of how much of his rsum was built in Detroit, and how his work there still sits alongside what he has done since moving on. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Just Caught A Break Before A Favorable Week 4 Matchup
Jaycee Horns injury gives the Lions a little extra room to breathe heading into their Week 4 trip to Carolina. The Panthers cornerback suffered a torn quad in Week 3 and is expected to be out indefinitely, with injured reserve now a possibility, a tough blow for a pass defense that had been one of Carolinas best early-season strengths.
For Detroit, the timing matters because this matchup was already lining up as one it could attack through the air. Losing Horn changes the look of the Panthers secondary and could force Carolina to adjust on the fly, which is exactly the kind of wrinkle an offense wants to see before a road game. The Lions will still have to handle a defense that has played well overall, but the absence opens a clearer path than they were facing a week ago. [Read more 🡒]