Despite having a number of players sidelined due to injury, the Detroit Lions have been winning consistently, which speaks something about their strength. The team is now making some efforts to improve the team as they prepare to play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, November 15, but there are still holes on the roster. Although the Lions are currently dealing with a serious injury in one section of their roster, they should still be able to defeat the Bills.
Detroit Lions Extra Weak in One Position
The Lions are struggling at linebacker going into their game against the Bills. Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin are among the important players in that area that are on injured reserve. Additionally, Trevor Nowaske has been ruled out of Sunday’s game due to concussion protocol as of this week.
The Lions are attempting to replicate their successful approach of covering the voids left by injured players at the linebacker position. Two players were promoted on Saturday to assist in supporting the linebacker position: Jamal Adams and Abraham Beauplan
Adams will be on the Lions’ active roster for the second week in a row when they play the Bills. Two weeks ago, Adams, a seasoned player, joined the practice squad to assist cover for injuries. Throughout the season, Beauplan has alternated between the practice squad and the starting lineup. His previous two appearances with the Bills were in Weeks 9 and 10, however he played on special teams during those weeks. This will be his third appearance with the team.
Kwon Alexander, Jack Campbell, David Long Jr., Ezekiel Turner, Ben Niemann, Adams, and Beauplan will thus fill in at linebacker for the Lions’ game against the Bills. Anzalone, Rodriguez, and the other injured linebackers would be very helpful, but things are as they are.
The Lions vs. Bills game might not be as thrilling as anticipated.
Even if a lot of people are anticipating Sunday’s game and believe it will be a high-scoring affair, the reverse might really occur. According to Pride of Detroit special teams expert Hamza Baccouche, the game might end up being a “low-scoring slugfest.” Well, that’s not enjoyable.
Both clubs have strong defences, which could result in a low-scoring contest, according to Baccouche. The Lions’ pass defence is ranked first and their run defence is ranked sixth in the NFL’s DVOA, while the Bills’ pass defence is ranked eleventh and their run defence is ranked eight. Given how many players are injured on the Lions’ defence, those figures speak volumes.
However, a nickel-and-dime game may be made of more than just powerful defences. According to Baccouche, he believes the Bills will experience a “hangover effect.” In the December 14 feature, Baccouche said, “It’s easy to think they’re going to do the same to the Lions after watching the Bills put up 42 points a week ago.” “However, it frequently has the opposite effect.”
It’s hard “to turn around and replicate that effort,” he continued, adding that Buffalo gave it their best in a “thrilling game” last weekend but “came up short.” But the Lions “have three more days off after a close victory, and several players are fully recovered.”
Unsurprisingly, the opinions on the Bills’ website predict a close victory for the team, but that is still up in the air. According to senior director of content Chris Jenkins, the Bills are ahead 28–24.