Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images Last seven games will have an impact on the team’s future The New York Giants get back to work this week, playing out the string of a lost 2-8 season, something that has become a far-too-familiar occurrence in East Rutherford, N.J. Here are six things to watch the rest of the way. Quarterback drama It isn’t a matter of “if” the Giants choose to replace Daniel Jones in the starting lineup, but “when”. That may come as soon as this week when the Giants host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium. We may not find that out until Wednesday, since head coach Brian Daboll is not scheduled to speak to media until then. Of course, a resourceful or well-connected insider might find out before then. We will just have to wait and see. Best guess is that whenever the Giants do replace Jones, Drew Lock gets the first opportunity to start games. Lock has been the backup all along, and if you aren’t going to play him in this situation what did you sign him for? Will fans get to see Tommy DeVito play at some point? If so, will he reprise DeVito-Mania or show why he is a third-stringer who went undrafted? Can either Lock or Devito show enough to be the bridge quarterback the Giants are inevitably going to need next season? Can the league-worst offense show improvement once Jones is no longer behind center, which would be even more evidence that the Giants need to start over at quarterback? Can the Giants, 1-5 in one-score games this season, win a couple of close games with Lock or DeVito? Effort (The Tae Banks category) Continuing to lose games won’t help Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll build cases for why they should keep their jobs. More than that, the optics of the remaining seven games are critical. Are the games competitive? is it apparent players are continuing to buy in and giving their best effort? Or, are they making business decisions to protect their bodies rather than trying to help their team? Is their locker room sniping, whether it be at others in the room or at the coaching staff? Does Deonte Banks appear to have gotten, and taken to heart, the effort message? Or, is that a continued issue? This is a dangerous seven weeks for Daboll and Schoen. We know co-owner John Mara doesn’t want to go through another massive change. We know he has said as much. We know, though, that he will Evan Neal After playing well in his first start of the season in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers, Neal figures to get the final seven games at right tackle as a last chance to prove he can play the position effectively at the NFL. How that goes could help determine both Neal’s future and the future structure of the Giants’ offensive line. Individual accomplishments Several Giants players could record significant personal achievements over the final seven games. Tyrone Tracy has 545 rushing yards. He need 455 rushing yards over the final seven games to reach 1,000, an average of 69 rushing yards per game. In his six games as a starter, the fifth-round pick has averaged 86 rushing yards per game. Malik Nabers is on pace for 114 receptions, which would surpass Steve Smith’s 2009 franchise record of 107. He is also on pace for 1,138 receiving yards, which would make him the Giants first 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018. Dexter Lawrence already has a career-high 9.0 sacks. He is second in the league in that category behind Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals? Can Lawrence lead the league in sacks, a stat dominated by edge defenders, despite being an interior defensive lineman? Can we win Defensive Player of the Year despite being on a bad team? Wan’Dale Robinson has 56 catches and is just five shy of setting a career-high in his third season. He is on pace to catch 95 passes. Can he stay healthy over the final seven games and threaten the 100-reception mark? Brian Burns and Azeez Ojulari each have 6.0 sacks. Can Burns get to double digits for the second time in his career? Can Ojulari, who won’t play as much once Kayvon Thibodeaux returns from IR, surpass his career-high of 8.0? Draft order The Giants currently have the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That will change weekly, and will be a constant source of discussion. The Giants are almost certainly going to end up in the top 10. But, how high? Can the Giants win a home game? The Giants are 0-5 at MetLife Stadium. They have been outscored 120-53, and suffered their two worst blowout defeats — 28-6 to the Minnesota Vikings and 28-3 to the Philadelphia Eagles — at home. The Giants have not gone winless at home since going 0-7 in 1974, when they finished 2-12. They haven’t won fewer than two home games since going 1-7 at Giants Stadium in 2003. Continuing to be embarrassed at home, and watching fans head for the exits long before the end of games, is another thing that could lead to regime change.
Quarterback drama, draft order, among 6 things to watch as New York Giants play out the season
Monday Night Football: Texans-Cowboys betting preview (odds, lines, best bets)
Previewing the betting angles for Week 11’s Monday Night Football matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.
Roquan Smith exits Ravens game vs. Steelers with a hamstring injury
Roquan Smith exits Ravens game vs. Steelers with a hamstring injury glenn erby The Ravens and Steelers are involved in a physical AFC North contest, and Baltimore must finish Week 11 without Roquan Smith. The Ravens middle linebacker was forced to exit Sunday’s game with a hamstring suffered late in the fourth quarter. Smith had 13 tackles and two for loss before exiting, and Malik Harrison will likely fill his spot in the lineup. Baltimore trails 15-10 with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation.
Zac Taylor makes it clear very little, if any changes are coming
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images Taylor is 6-13 vs. the AFC since last season and went 6-25-1 in his first two seasons in Cincinnati. With their season slipping away, the Cincinnati Bengals looked to be on their way to a remarkable comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. After falling behind 27-6, the team scored 21 unanswered points to tie the game up early in the fourth quarter. The result? A 34-27 loss. More questions. More frustration. More calls for change. Fans are upset. They dedicate time, money, and energy to a team that was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender this season but have been left with close losses and “almosts.” Head coach Zac Taylor spoke to the media after the game and made it clear that there will be very little change, if any. See for yourself. Zac Taylor: Wholesale changes would be panic, that’s not what the answer is. We’ve played good football, we’re a good football team, we’re going to hang in there. I stand here today with utmost belief. I’m not just saying it to convince others. I believe it. — Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) November 18, 2024 Sure, a head coach can’t exactly stand at the podium and declare a season over in mid-November, but there clearly does need to be some change. The likely change would be that different players will see more snaps. Rookie cornerback Josh Newton saw an uptick in snaps after Cam Taylor-Britt was benched. Sheldon Rankins missing the game with an illness lead to Kris Jenkins seeing the field more. Jordan Battle is playing more and Vonn Bell less. As far as change, that is about all fans should expect. The Bengals now have just a 17% chance for the NFL Playoffs, and if they can’t navigate the difficult path to do so, there will be even more calls for change. The question is whether or not the front office will make them.
SNF open thread: Bengals-Chargers gambling lines and picks
Ja’Marr Chase | Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images A matchup with BIG AFC Wild Card implications This Week 11 Sunday Night Football matchup has major AFC Wild Card implications as the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Chargers. According to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, the 6-3 Chargers have a 92 percent chance of making the playoffs with a win and 72 percent with a loss. Meanwhile, the 4-6 Bengals desperately need a win as their postseason odds swing from 39 percent to 15 percent depending on the outcome of tonight’s game. This is your place to discuss the game with other Las Vegas Raiders fans and any gambling picks you have as the lines below are provided by FanDuel Sportsbook. Bengals vs. Chargers [The lines below are as of 11/13 at 2:45 p.m. PST] Spread: LAC -1.5 O/U: 47.5 LAC ML: -126 CIN ML: +108 Holder’s picks: CIN +1.5, Under 47.5, CIN ML To be honest, I don’t know how you don’t take the hungrier and more desperate dog in a game like this one. Also, despite their record, the Chargers don’t have that strong of a résumé as their most impressive win this season came against the Broncos. So, I’ll take the Bengals who have extra time to prepare after playing on Thursday night last week and have been playing well recently. The injury report wasn’t available at the time of writing but follow this link to see who is in and who is out for tonight’s game. Head to the comments section to share your thoughts and join the conversation. You can sign up for a commenting account below and we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.
Instant analysis: Bills ends Chiefs perfect season with convincing Week 11 win
Instant analysis: Bills ends Chiefs perfect season with Week 11 win The Buffalo Bills won in the NFL’s Week 11 feature matchup, 30-21, at Highmark Stadium. Buffalo (9-2) ended Kansas City’s (9-1) undefeated season in the matchup between AFC heavyweights. The first half started with a bang for the Bills. Buffalo’s defense made the first big play of the evening as safety Taylor Rapp intercepted Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on the second play of the game. The Bills offense responded with an eight-play touchdown drive culminating with a James Cook three-yard touchdown rush. Kicker Tyler Bass missed the PAT, giving Buffalo a six-point lead. The defenses kept things under wraps for the remainder of the first quarter. Kansas City answered early in the second quarter, with receiver Xavier Worthy scoring on a 10-yard touchdown catch. The remainder of the first half looked like a shootout was brewing. Buffalo’s offense put together a nine-play drive to retake the lead. Once again, Cook found the end zone, plowing through the middle of the line for a six-yard touchdown. Kansas City retook the lead late in the second quarter. Mahomes found backup tight end Noah Gray for a two-yard touchdown reception. The Bills rounded out the half with a 12-play drive. Bass was successful from 33 yards out, giving Buffalo a two-point halftime lead, 16-14. The defenses were at the forefront in the third quarter. The teams combined for four punts in the quarter, but the four drives totaled only 55 yards between the two offenses. Buffalo would finally break the second-half stalemate. The Bills offense sustained a strong 10-play drive, 83-yard drive. Allen retreated from a Kansas City blitz to find receiver Curtis Samuel in space. The wideout scurried into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. The fireworks continued with Kansas City’s offense. Mahomes extended a play from Buffalo’s one-yard line, rolling out to the right and finding Gray for their second connection on the evening. Buffalo then rattled off a 12-play drive to once again give the Bills a two-score lead. The Bills put the ball in the hands of Josh Allen, and it paid off. On fourth-and-two from the Chiefs 26-yard-line, Buffalo decided against the field goal attempt. The call paid dividends, as Allen rushed from 26 yards, knifing through the Kansas City defense on his way into the end zone. Buffalo would take the lead 30-21 with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Kansas City attempted a comeback bid, moving into Bills territory. However, a penalty forced the Chiefs into a fourth-and-thirteen attempt. The final play for Kansas City was an interception at the hands of linebacker Terrel Bernard. Here is the rest of Bills Wire’s instant analysis following the win over the Chiefs: Scoring recap Imagn First Quarter BUF 6, KC 0: James Cook 3-yard touchdown rush. PAT failed. (10:00) Second Quarter KC 7, BUF 6: Xavier Worthy 10-yard touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes. Spencer Shrader PAT. (14:53) BUF 13, KC 7: James Cook 6-yard rushing touchdown. Tyler Bass PAT. (10:08) KC 14, BUF 13: Noah Gray 2-yard touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes. Spencer Shrader PAT. (2:51) BUF 16, KC 14: Tyler Bass 33-yard field goal. (0:00) Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter BUF 23, KC 14: Curtis Samuel 12-yard touchdown reception from Josh Allen. Tyler Bass PAT. (12:51) BUF 23, KC 21: Noah Gray 1-yard touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes. Spencer Shrader PAT. (7:53) BUF 30, KC 21: Josh Allen 26-yard touchdown rush. Tyler Bass PAT. (2:21) Key stats Getty The Bills defense forced two intercep4tions at critical times. They intercepted Patrick Mahomes on the Chiefs opening and closing drives. The Bills outgained the Chiefs 366-259 total yards on offense. Allen totaled 317 total yards (262 passing, 55 rushing). Allen led the Bills in rushing with 55 yards. Allen’s total exceeded the combined yardage of James Cook, Ty Johnson, and Ray Davis. Khalil Shakir led the Bills with eight receptions for 70 yards. Terrel Bernard and Von Miller each recorded a sack. Buffalo allowed zero sacks in the game. The Bills defense has forced a turnover in all 11 games this year. Allen’s touchdown moved him into second place in franchise career rushing touchdowns. The play of the game Imagn Josh Freakin’ Allen. The Bills put together a total team effort, with standout plays coming from players on every unit. However, the most outstanding play fell into the arms of Allen. With just over two minutes remaining in regulation time, Buffalo was faced with their biggest decision of the night. On fourth down-and-two, head coach Sean McDermott could call for a 43-yard field goal attempt. This would give the Bills a chance at a five-point lead, forcing the Chiefs to score a touchdown to win the game. However, as anyone in Buffalo knows, we’ve seen that script before. McDermott sent his offense back on the field. Allen dropped back momentarily and then saw the Kansas City defense drop off in man coverage. With no one spying on Allen, the possible MVP took off, cutting through the Chiefs defense. Allen finished the run by bowling through two Kansas City defenders at the goal line on his way into the end zone. With Tyler Bass’ successful PAT, the Bills took a nine-point lead. With the way the Bills defense was playing and Allen’s penchant for heroics, it was a game worth taking. Game balls Imagn Josh Allen- Allen’s heroics have been documented from the game. Once again, he outbattled Mahomes in a thrilling contest. His 317 total yards paced everyone on the field. His ability to extend plays is nothing short of remarkable. Allen put up these numbers with a run game that struggled quite a bit on the afternoon, two of his top targets missing the game due to injury, and his No. 1 receiver playing at less than 100-percent. Offensive Line- The offensive line did not give up a sack. They battled injuries, as Spencer Brown did not play due to an ankle
Giants news, 11/18: Daniel Jones, Joe Schoen, Saquon Barkley, more
Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images New York Giants news for Monday Good morning, New York Giants fans! From Big Blue View As the Daniel Jones era nears its end, let’s look at the last three years What do execs, analysts think of New York Giants GM Joe Schoen? We asked, and here are the answers Despite Saquon Barkley’s greatness, the Giants are fine at running back without him George Young didn’t build the Giants into a powerhouse overnight Big Blue View mailbag: Draft, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, more questions More headlines Top IDLs Giants Could Target in 2025 DraftHere are three interior defensive linemen who could land on the Giants’ radar in next spring’s draft. Ten Saquon Barkley stats that will blow your mind – NBC Sports PhiladelphiaSaquon, Saquon and more Saquon in Roob’s Special Edition Saquon Barkley Stats column. Michael Strahan Makes Hall of Fame Case for Tom Coughlin: ‘I Love You, Coach’Tom Coughlin, who led the New York Giants to two Super Bowls, is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class BBV mailbag Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag. BBV YouTube You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page Follow BBV BBV on Twitter: Follow @BigBlueView Ed Valentine: Follow @Valentine_Ed BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page
NFC Playoff Picture: Vikings Still Sit In Top Wild Card Spot
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images And they’re keeping pace in the NFC North Because tonight’s Monday Night Football matchup won’t appreciably change anything we’re going to be talking about here, let’s kick off our Monday by looking at the playoff picture in the NFC. The Minnesota Vikings are currently in a pretty good position to make the postseason and are keeping pace for a shot at a division title. There’s plenty of work to be done, but the purple are doing what they need to do. Here’s a look at what the playoff picture in the NFC would look like if the season ended today, with some odds courtesy of our friends from FanDuel. 1) Detroit Lions (9-1, 1st place NFC North, -410 to win division, +440 to win Super Bowl) Yes, the Lions had another blowout victory on Sunday, over the same Jacksonville team the Vikings struggled with last week, no less. They’re in the driver’s seat in the conference right now, but there are still plenty of things that can happen over the next seven weeks of the season. Will they actually stumble at some point? We don’t know for sure, but we’ll have to hope for it to happen, I suppose. Week 12 opponent: at Indianapolis 2) Philadelphia Eagles (8-2, 1st place NFC East, -490 to win division, +950 to win Super Bowl) The Eagles made a statement on Thursday night, taking down Washington to take control of the NFC East. The Eagles are now a game and a half up on Washington in that race and are in a position to host at least one playoff game. Jalen Hurts has turned it around lately and the defense in Philadelphia is coming together nicely as well. I know we don’t like the Eagles around here, necessarily, but they’re figuring things out, and that’s bad for everyone else. Week 12 opponent: at L.A. Rams 3) Arizona Cardinals (6-4, 1st place NFC West, +100 to win division, +6000 to win Super Bowl) The Cardinals improved on Sunday by. . .not doing anything at all. During their bye week, they moved up to the #3 spot in the conference due in large part to Atlanta deciding not to show up in Denver in Week 11. The Vikings will get an up close look at the Cardinals in a couple of weeks when they head to U.S. Bank Stadium in a game that could end up getting moved into prime time. Week 12 opponent: at Seattle 4) Atlanta Falcons (6-5, 1st place NFC South, -550 to win division, +4400 to win Super Bowl) It looked a couple of weeks ago like the Falcons could be on cruise control, and they should still win the NFC South. However, they lost to the Saints in Week 10 and then got obliterated by Denver in Week 11, so there are still some things to iron out. If the season ended today, the Falcons would host Minnesota on Super Wild Card weekend. It wouldn’t be surprising if it still ended up that way. Week 12 opponent: Bye 5) Minnesota Vikings (8-2, 2nd place NFC North, +500 to win division, +2500 to win Super Bowl) With other teams around them stumbling, the Vikings continue to do just enough to keep themselves in the top wild card spot in the NFC and keep pace with Detroit in the division. Yes, they’re struggling to put away teams that they should be blowing out, but wins are wins. . .we’re not trying to impress the playoff committee here or anything. Still, with Detroit not showing any signs of slowing down, the Vikings are going to have to keep their foot on the gas. Week 12 opponent: at Chicago 6) Green Bay Packers (7-3, 3rd place NFC North, +1200 to win division, +1900 to win Super Bowl) That the Packers have a worse chance of winning the NFC North than the Vikings do and yet somehow have a better chance of winning the Super Bowl is pretty funny. The Packers backed into a win over Chicago on Sunday but are still firmly in third place in the division. They’re currently behind Minnesota on both regular record and head-to-head record and will still get another shot at the Vikings down the track. I don’t get gambling odds, man. . .honestly, I don’t. Week 12 opponent: vs San Francisco 7) Washington Commanders (7-4, 2nd place NFC North, +400 to win division, +3800 to win Super Bowl) The Commanders missed out on an opportunity to take control of the NFC East when they got thumped by Philadelphia on Thursday night, but they’ll get another opportunity at them later on in the season. For now, they occupy the final NFC playoff spot and would get a matchup with the Eagles in Philadelphia if the season ended today. Jayden Daniels hasn’t been the same since he suffered a rib injury a couple of weeks ago, and hopefully the mini-bye will give him a chance to heal up a bit. Week 12 opponent: vs Dallas Outside Looking In 8) Los Angeles Rams (5-5, 2nd place NFC West) 9) Seattle Seahawks (5-5, 3rd place NFC West) 10) San Francisco 49ers (5-5, 4th place, NFC West) 11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6, 2nd place, NFC South) 12) Chicago Bears (4-6, 4th place, NFC North) 13) New Orleans Saints (4-7, 3rd place, NFC South) 14) Dallas Cowboys (3-6, 3rd place, NFC East) 15) Carolina Panthers (3-7, 4th place, NFC South) 16) New York Giants (2-8, 4th place, NFC East) That is your NFC Playoff Picture after 11 weeks, ladies and gentlemen. We’re coming down the stretch and hopefully the Minnesota Vikings can maintain where they are and make that Week 18 game at Ford Field actually mean something.
Dolphins take care of business against the Raiders – The Splash Zone 11/18/24
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. For the first time this season, the Miami Dolphins have a two game win streak after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders yesterday afternoon. The Dolphins offense was methodical as they did not have to punt at all yesterday. Tight end Jonnu Smith has become a weapon over the past few weeks as he went for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns on 6 receptions. It could have been a bit cleaner on defense, but the Dolphins will take a win any way they can get it right now. Next weekend, the Dolphins will host the New England Patriots for an AFC East showdown. You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below. Big Day for the Offense Sparks Victory Against RaidersThe Miami Dolphins scored on all but one of their possessions in their victory against the Las Vegas Raiders Raiders at Dolphins Miami Dolphins prove they can handle major shakeup teams have thrown at them in 2024The Dolphins’ offense was a machine on Sunday against the Raiders Dolphins Offense Miami Dolphins morphing into ball control, long-drive offense. And it’s working. | Schad – Yahoo SportsThe Miami Dolphins have a new identity. At least for 2024. It’s all about ball control and sustained scoring drives. Tua Tagovailoa is playing well. Dolphins Quarterbacks ‘Best in the World’ – Highest of Praise for Tua Tagovailoa After Dolphins’ Win Over RaidersDolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is completing nearly every pass he throws, and he was as good as ever in Sunday’s win over the Raiders. Dolphins Running Backs De’Von Achane, with or without Guardian Cap, certainly looks like Dolphins’ No. 1 running back – Yahoo SportsSecond-year Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane carried the bulk of the backfield load vs. the Raiders with 17 carries for 73 yards and a score. Dolphins Tight Ends Miami Dolphins’ TE Jonnu Smith making defenses pay for focusing on Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle – Yahoo SportsJonnu Smith has 39 catches for 448 yards and three TDs this season. And his two scores Sunday against the Raiders were as different as they could be. Phinsider News You May Have Missed Previewing Raiders/Dolphins week 11 matchup – Miami Dolphins News 11/16/24 – The PhinsiderWelcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. LV Raiders @ Miami Dolphins Predictions and Players You Would Steal – The PhinsiderMiami Dolphins fans share their predictions for tomorrow’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders and players they would steal. Dolphins’ WR Tyreek Hill plans to play through wrist injury, will wait to have surgery – The PhinsiderSave us, Tyrek Hill! You’re our only hope! NFL Winners Picks Week 11 2024: Schedule, odds, predictions for Sunday games – The PhinsiderThe NFL schedule is on to Week 11 and includes an additional nationally televised game. Who will win each game on Sunday? Our contributors take a look at the schedule and make their picks. Miami Dolphins Week 11 preview vs Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers, Scott Turner, Christian Wilkins – The PhinsiderThe Miami Dolphins host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon. To get a closer look at the Raiders, we turn to Silver and Black Pride. Miami Dolphins elevate long snapper Tucker Addington, tackle Jackson Carman for Week 11 – The PhinsiderThis will be Jackson Carman’s second start for the Miami Dolphins. SB Nation Reacts Miami Dolphins fan confidence poll Week 11: Fans starting to trust team again – The PhinsiderThe Miami Dolphins beat the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football to end Week 10. As Week 11 begins, the fan confidence in the Dolphins has jumped. Las Vegas Raiders @ Miami Dolphins Open Live Thread & Game Info – The PhinsiderJoin us live to follow and discuss this afternoon’s game between the Las Vegas Raiders and your Miami Dolphins. What are the odds for Week 12 Patriots vs Dolphins? FanDuel sportsbook opening line – The PhinsiderCan the Miami Dolphins sweep the New England Patriots this year? The oddsmakers seem to think so. Raiders vs. Dolphins reactions: Stock up, stock down from Miami’s win in Week 11 – The PhinsiderThe Miami Dolphins came away with an emphatic win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Who saw their stock rise or fall during the game?
Open thread: What is the Detroit Lions’ biggest hurdle to win a Super Bowl?
David Reginek-Imagn Images The Detroit Lions are playing like the best team in football. With the dream of a Super Bowl title getting closer and closer, what remains their biggest hurdle to winning it all? It feels like a faux pas to talk about the Detroit Lions and the Super Bowl in the same sentence, but when you are a football team that can score 52 points and make it look casual, the inevitable thought will arise. The Lions walked away from their Sunday victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars with plenty of points and plenty of records. Following the Kansas City Chiefs losing to the Buffalo Bills and falling from undefeated grace, the Lions now boast the best Super Bowl odds. The concept is surreal to many within the Lions community, having spent many exhausting seasons reaching mediocrity at best and putrid at worst. Now that Detroit has turned their franchise around, the hope and optimism are at all-time highs. If Detroit play like they did against Jacksonville, they would coast to a dominant Super Bowl victory. Yet as we learned from the week prior against the Houston Texans, there are many different ways to win a football game. Great teams know how to win anyway possible, and the Lions certainly look like they fit that description. From blowouts to comebacks, these Detroit Lions fight for every snap and every down. Detroit might be a Super Bowl favorite right now, but they are still a long way from achieving that goal. If the Lions want to make history, there is no shortage of hurdles they will need to overcome. Today’s Question of the Day is: What is the Detroit Lions’ biggest hurdle to win a Super Bowl? My answers: Injuries and pass rush. I’m cheating by giving two answers, but they are related. The Lions have suffered multiple injuries to key players this season. Missing a player like Aidan Hutchinson would be devastating to any football team, and while the Lions have suffered a steep decline in their pass rushing prowess, Detroit has truly thrived with the next-man-up mentality. The Lions will be without Alex Anzalone for many weeks due to a broken forearm, but the Lions have talent like Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez capable of stepping up. The depth of this roster has been tested, and they have largely succeeded. However, one has to wonder how far that depth can go. Detroit has now lost three important linebackers to long-term injuries (Derrick Barnes, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and now Anzalone). The pass rush is missing Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, and John Cominsky. How many more injuries can the Lions incur before the depth becomes depleted? You can credit Aaron Glenn for building a defense capable of weathering such storms, but I am concerned that the defense is becoming very banged up on all fronts. Even with the addition of Za’Darius Smith (who was himself hurt for a little while against Jacksonville), I do not feel overwhelmingly confident in the Lions pass rush, and I truly believe it is the most important part of a good defense. If the Lions lose a player like Alim McNeill or Levi Onwuzurike to injury, can they really muster a capable replacement? At some point, the well is going to go dry. This does not even touch upon how pivotal an injury on offense would be. Jared Goff is the obvious key cog, but losing anyone like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, Jahmyr Gibbs, or David Montgomery would hamper a truly elite offense as well. Injuries will always play an important role in the success or failure of a sports team. For these Detroit Lions, they have done well to overcome the absence of multiple critical players. That being said, their biggest hurdle to winning the Super Bowl will be health. If this lineup can stay relatively healthy, there are not many things that can slow them down. Your turn.
