Motown Bombers

If you take away the Patriots game, the Lions point differential is -3 over 9 games. They have played a brutal schedule and have come away still in playoff contention. The schedule now gets easier. If 8 wins makes the playoffs, I think they have a greater than 50/50 chance of making it.

They should just play it safe and shut him down for the rest of the season. No need to rush Cooper Kupp back either.

Looking at the standings, the Lions strength of schedule is .612. That is the toughest in the league and no other team is over .600. The Lions strength of victory is .465 which would make it tied for 6th best in the league. The Lions have played a brutal schedule and are in playoff contention. For reference, the Giants have played the 4th easiest schedule in the league and are bottom 10 in strength of victory.

But the Jets...

Alim McNeil is not being talked about enough. I'm not sure I have seen an interior DLine play like that since Suh. Also Derrick Barnes is quietly getting better.

Run double crosses. St Brown on the shallow cross and Williams on the deep cross.

Perfect example of how Williams can be utilized. Goff excels at this intermediate over the middle throws. The Lions run play action with crossing routes better than anyone.

Tyreek Hill hasn't missed a beat with Tua throwing him the ball. A guy like Williams can be utilized more than just someone who runs Go routes. I have confidence Ben Johnson can devise plays that get him the ball in space and utilize his speed.

I don't think you need to chuck it 40 yards to fully utilize Williams. Williams should be devastating on those play action crosses that the Lions are so good at running. I do think Goff has the arm if Williams can take the top off the defense. The Lions really don't have that player right now.

Romeo Okwara is getting close to returning. Not sure what he'll be able to provide but that could be big if he regains his form. Williams will probably be added soon so the Lions are gearing up for their playoff push.

Arguably the three best players on defense were McNeil, Hutchinson and Joseph, all young players that Holmes drafted.

Hockenson was the Vikings leading receiver with 5 catches and 34 yards in their 40-3 loss.

I can easily see 8 wins which very well could be enough in the NFC.

The Giants, with a 7-3 record, are only +1 in point differential. This is a team that won some games they shouldn't have and now have a tough schedule ahead. I think this game may have been the game the Giants came back to earth.

LOL this Vikings game is so bad CBS switched to a more competitive game. I wanted to see the Vikings get pummeled.

I think they are beatable at home for the Lions. At the risk of "homerism and blindness to just defend them at all cost know no bounds," I don't think it's impossible for the Lions to beat the Vikings and get to 9 wins. Carolina, Jacksonville and Chicago are bad, the Jets are cratering back to earth, so that would mean picking up a win against Minnesota, Green Bay or Buffalo. I would say Minnesota is the most winnable of that three.

Giants have two games against the Eagles and two against the resurgent Commanders. They also have games against the Vikings and Cowboys and against the Colts who are no gimme.