The Lions head to Miami on Sunday afternoon trying to keep their run going, and the matchup comes with a familiar betting wrinkle: Detroit is favored on the road, even though it has gone just 1-2 away from home this season. The Dolphins, for their part, haven’t protected home turf either, sitting at 0-3 in Miami.
Detroit arrives with three straight wins after the loss in Carolina, including last week’s 19-15 victory over the Vikings. Miami, meanwhile, was knocked back after a 24-19 loss to the Patriots, a step back after its upset road win over the Jets.
One of the biggest reasons the Lions have stayed on track has been Jahmyr Gibbs, who has taken on a massive workload with David Montgomery gone in the offseason. Gibbs’ 157 carries rank second in the league, his 773 rushing yards also rank second, and he is tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns with eight through seven games.
He’s been just as dangerous as a receiver. Gibbs has hauled in 34 of 44 targets for 285 yards and two touchdowns, and he comes into this one after piling up 153 rushing yards and a score last week.
That kind of production makes him the player to watch in this game, especially with Miami showing some fight lately and Detroit’s recent scores coming in a little tighter than expected. Still, the Lions also have a road blowout in Arizona on the résumé, and that came in their last game away from home.
The expectation here is that Detroit should get back to a more productive offensive output than the 20 points it scored against Green Bay and the 19 it managed against Minnesota in the last two weeks. Miami, on the other hand, is not projected to get much past 20.
The lean is to take Detroit laying a touchdown, but not to push much beyond that.
In Other News...
Dolphins Trade Deadline Could Force Painful Decisions In Lost Season
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Among the names drawing attention are Jordyn Brooks, Zach Sieler, Austin Jackson, Jaylen Wright and Josh Uche, a group that reflects both the roster's age curve and the reality of where Miami stands right now. The running back situation only adds to the pressure, with the team already thin there after De'Von Achane's season-ending knee injury, making every deadline decision feel like it could reshape more than just the rest of this year. [Read more 🡒]
Lamar Jackson Trade Buzz Reignites A Big Ravens Question
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For now, the more important detail is what Baltimore believes. Ian Rapoport reported that the Ravens still see Jackson as their franchise quarterback and plan to pick up extension talks again in the offseason, even if the possibility of a trade would have to be considered if no deal gets done. For Dolphins fans, it is the kind of rumor that keeps the imagination running, even if the real decision still sits in Baltimore. [Read more 🡒]
Spencer Browns Back Issue Just Became A Real Bills Concern
Spencer Browns back issue has turned into a genuine concern for Buffalo, and not just because of the pain itself. The Bills offensive lineman said he needed a significant amount of medication, approved by the NFL, just to get through games while managing the injury, a reminder of how thin the margin can be for an offensive line that has to hold up week after week.
For Miami, it is the kind of development worth watching closely because the Dolphins know how quickly one nagging injury can ripple through a division race. Buffalo has leaned on Browns availability and toughness, but the bigger question now is how long that can last if the back continues to be an issue, especially with the season moving into the stretch where every lineup decision starts to matter more. [Read more 🡒]