A must-see Week 15 matchup between the Lions and Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills is scheduled for Sunday. Dan Campbell’s team will have to limit the output of several Bills playmakers, including as pass-catchers Khalil Shakir and Amari Cooper, if it is to extend its winning streak to 12 games.
Let’s look at the Buffalo weaponry that Detroit should be worried about on Sunday afternoon without further ado.
QB Allen Josh.
Allen will be the centre of attention during this Week 15 matchup. One of 2024’s most explosive offensive players, Allen is a strong candidate for MVP this season. Along with his 416 yards and nine scores as a rusher, he has thrown for 3,033 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Lions will surely have a difficult time stopping the dual-threat passing on Sunday.
EDGE Rousseau, Greg.
Rousseau has the stats to support his status as one of the best pass-rushers in the game. In 13 games, he has recorded 50 total pressures, 29 hurries, and 14 QB hits, and he leads the Bills with 6.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus has given him an 84.0 pass-rush grade for his efforts, ranking him 12th out of all eligible EDGEs. He also has a PFF overall score of 83.6, which ranks him 14th out of all EDGE defenders. Rousseau will be a tough opponent for Detroit’s offensive tackles on Sunday, in my opinion.
WR Khalil Shakir
Shakir has been Allen’s go-to target throughout the course of this season.
With 65 catches and 735 yards, the third-year receiver leads all Bills pass-catchers. He’s also fresh off a devastating Week 14 performance against the Los Angeles Rams, where he caught five passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Boise State alumnus Shakir has emerged as a major force in 2024 and will be a formidable opponent on Sunday at Ford Field.
Amari Cooper, wide receiver.
Since being acquired by Buffalo at the NFL trade deadline on November 5, Cooper has produced some respectable numbers. Cooper, who played in Cleveland for the first half of the 2024 season, has caught 40 passes for 481 yards and three scores in 11 games. In five games with the Bills, he has accumulated 16 of those receptions and 231 of them yards. Furthermore, he recorded six receptions for 95 yards a week ago, which was his best production of the season. The seasoned receiver may not be as productive as he was when he was younger. During seven of his first nine NFL seasons, he amassed more than 1,000 receiving yards.
Even if those times may be behind him, Allen may still rely on him as a target. The Lions’ secondary cannot afford to overlook him on Sunday because of this.