Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions - Final Score Prediction

Following a tough but impressive loss against the L.A. Rams on the road, the Buffalo Bills drift closer to home. Their home-away-from-home, actually. The Detroit Lions play host to another electric matchup, and Buffalo gets another their second opportunity to topple a giant. They made the first one fall; Will they do it again?

Prediction #1 - Running The Road To Victory

The Detroit Lions, like the Buffalo Bills, have an excellent pass defense. They're consistent and disciplined and just splashy enough to get you the big plays when you absolutely need them. They also benefit from a nuclear offense. In a press conference following the Bills loss to the L.A. Rams, Sean McDermott remarked that he wished the team had run the ball better. Many took this as a call to take the ball out of Josh Allen's hands, but in reality it was a call to avoid a three-score second-half deficit in the first place. The Lions run defense has given up the fifth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL this season, but their yards per carry numbers are average. The Lions benefit immensely from the same boon that the Rams did last Sunday; An opposition playing from behind and running out of time. Running consistently and early against them will be part of the Bills gameplan.

Fortunately for Buffalo, Ray Davis shines through contact, and James Cook can take an open lane to the house. Even picking up yards with Josh Allen's legs will be enough to keep the offense on the field and take the ball out of Detroit's hands. It's a tall order, but Buffalo should open with a strong running game and stick with it. If it fails, the game could get out of hand quickly for the Bills.

Prediction #2 - Detroit Declares Open Season

The Detroit Lions run a very high-percentage offense. They take all the simple things that work, dotting the 'i's and crossing the 't's, and deliver them in a way that consistently makes you think they're doing something unthinkable. Then, when teams finally feel comfortable, they throw a double reverse to the left tackle. Detroit's approach to the running an offense is disrespectful, nonsensical, inconsistent, and better than anything else in football this year. This is not a criticism but an understanding of the method, and appreciation for how it's so effective against those bulwark defenses of the league today.

Tragically, the Buffalo Bills defense is one such bulwark. Until last weekend against the Rams, they had been largely untested, but now they've been found wanting. Likely shorthanded in the secondary this week, they will continue to struggle. Matt Milano has yet to return to full form, and the Lions have such a wealth of talent at skill positions that even containing TE Sam LaPorta will do little to stem the flow of points. Every little trick in the book is part of their offense, and they will confuse you with a running back at tight end, a tight end out wide, a receiver in the backfield, but run a conventional play that you don't know how to cover because of the awkward positioning of personnel. It won't decimate the Bills right off the bat, but their conventional zone defense won't hold up forever against this onslaught. If the Bills start to fall behind then Detroit will rack up scores, and Buffalo has to keep pace. Unfortunately, the only team that scores more than Buffalo this season is the Lions.

Prediction #3 - Final Score

The Lions are the boogeyman of the 2024 NFL season. The Bills are one of only a select few teams with a realistic expectation to beat them, but coming off an exhausting trip to L.A. and heartbreak, they may not get this one done. They'll need defensive stops that they simply couldn't produce a week ago against the Rams. Whilst the Rams are very talented, the Lions pose a significantly more impressive threat. It's no shame to suffer another close loss, but the Bills are more than capable of winning this one. By my expectation, they don't.

Prediction: The Buffalo Bills fall short in a 32 - 27 struggle against the Detroit Lions.

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