The New England Patriots (1-3, 0-1 Home) host the Detroit Lions (1-3, 0-1 Away) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. The Patriots are three-point favorites, and the total is 45.5. Detroit is coming off a tight 48-45 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field last Sunday. Jared Goff threw for 378 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. Jamaal Williams ran 19 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns. T.J. Hockenson was targeted 12 times, catching eight passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. New England lost 27-24 to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field last Sunday. Bailey Zappe was 10 of 15 for 136 yards and a touchdown. Damien Harris carried 18 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. Nelson Agholor caught three receptions for 46 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time since September 2018, a 26-10 win for the Lions.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Lions are averaging 35.0 points per game so far this season, best in the NFL, and they are facing a Patriots defense that has surrendered 24.5 PPG (22nd). Meanwhile, New England has scored 18.5 points a game this season, 23rd in the league, and Detroit is allowing 35.3 PPG (32nd). The Lions rank as one of the league’s top teams in passing yards per game (283.0, 5th), while they are sixth in rushing yards (164.0). The Patriots are 13th in passing yards allowed per game (226.8) and 26th against the run (135.8). New England is 21st in the league in passing yards per game (230.5) and 10th in rushing (128.5). Detroit’s defense has been beatable on both fronts, as the Lions are 29th in the league in passing yards allowed per game (290.0) and 30th against the run (165.5). Detroit has found the end zone on 88% of trips to the red zone this season, second most in the NFL, averaging 4.2 trips a game (17th). New England ranks as the lowest volume red zone offense in the league, moving inside the 20-yard-line only 2.8 times per game and scoring a touchdown on 55% of those possessions (21st). Detroit has had difficulty defending their own red zone, allowing opponents to find the end zone 87% of the time (32nd).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through four games, Jared Goff has thrown for 11 touchdowns (3 INT) and 281.5 yards per game to lead Detroit in passing. In one prior away game this season, he had one TD (1 INT) and 277 yards passing. Jamaal Williams leads the team in rushing with an average of 69.0 yards a game over four games. He has six touchdowns on the ground. T.J. Hockenson is the Lions’ leading receiver with 65.2 yards a game and three TDs. He is averaging 4.5 receptions on 7.5 targets per game. Mac Jones has two passing touchdowns (5 INT) with 262.0 yards per game through three games to lead New England. In one previous home game this season, he threw for 321 yards with no TDs and three interceptions. Damien Harris has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 61.5 yards a game through four games. He has three touchdowns. Nelson Agholor has been a key target in the Patriots’ aerial attack. He has one touchdown and a 56.2 yard per game average through four appearances.
SportsTips’ NFL Pick:
Detroit Lions (+140)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
