The Detroit Lions are back at Ford Field on Sunday, Sept. 27, and they’ll be trying to climb back above .500 when they host the New York Jets in Week 3.
Both teams enter at 1-1, but they arrive in different spots. Detroit is coming off a 36-30 loss to the Buffalo Bills on “Thursday Night Football” after opening the season with a win over the New Orleans Saints. The Lions now start a stretch that features three of their next four games at Ford Field.
New York also comes in looking for its second win after beating its season opener and then dropping a tough one to Green Bay.
Here’s how to watch the game:
TV channel: FOX
Streaming: FOX One, NFL+ for eligible viewers
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
FOX will air the matchup as part of its Sunday afternoon NFL slate, with the game available in the Detroit market and other areas assigned the broadcast.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit.
The Lions are listed as a 6½-point favorite entering the weekend, according to FanDuel. Detroit opened as a bigger favorite before the line moved toward New York during the week. Odds can change.
The Jets have gotten strong early results on defense, and that’s been a major reason they’re in the conversation at 1-1. Still, the Lions’ offense has the kind of firepower that can put pressure on a defense if Detroit gets rolling early. The Lions are also expected to get some pieces back on the offensive line after being without Blake Miller and Christian Mahogany against Buffalo.
On the other side, Detroit’s defense is trying to clean things up after a rough two weeks. The team held a “transparent” meeting Monday, Sept. 21, to address the issues, and the Lions are hoping the extra rest helps.
The matchup also brings familiar faces into the picture, with Dan Campbell facing Aaron Glenn. The Lions have already handled former Campbell assistants before, and this one adds another layer because Glenn’s defense has looked sharp through two games.
Still, the common thread in the predictions is the same: Detroit is expected to respond at home.
Nolan Bianchi picked the Lions, 34-20, noting that New York’s defense has been dominant against offenses that have had their own issues, but that Detroit should have more success. John Niyo also went with the Lions, 34-24, pointing to the benefit of the mini-bye and the Lions’ strong record with extra rest under Campbell.
Richard Silva chose Detroit, 28-21, while pointing out that the Jets have not looked like last year’s version and that the Lions’ offense can still be among the league’s best. Bob Wojnowski also picked the Lions, 27-13, saying Detroit needs a faster start on offense and that the Jets’ attack should have trouble keeping pace.
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