Detroit Lions – Atlanta Falcons
USA - NFL
After a spectacular road win at "Arrowhead" against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit Lions lost last week at their home to the Seattle Seahawks after overtime (31:37). The difference was made by three turnovers by the Lions compared to zero by the Seahawks. The Lions' offensive line is one of the best in the league. This gives quarterback Jared Goff enough time in the pocket, while rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs has emerged as a dual threat. He can run well, but he can also catch balls from play-action. The Lions' defense is the weaker part of the team, but against the Chiefs, they showed that they can play well on that side of the field. They are missing a few linemens due to injuries, but despite that, they eagerly anticipate this clash with a lot of optimism.
The Atlanta Falcons managed to win both games at home in the first two weeks. First, they outplayed the Carolina Panthers (24:10), and then they defeated the Green Bay Packers 25:24 after a great comeback in the fourth quarter. Rookie running back Bijan Robinson was superb in both games, and it is already clear that he will be one of the best players in his position in the coming years in the NFL. It can already be said that he is a top 5 running back. The Falcons designed their entire offense to be a good running team. However, this one-dimensionality could cost them for a better result. Desmond Ridder has played decently so far, but he definitely does not rank among the top 20 quarterbacks in the league.
If this game were played in Week 1 fourteen days ago, the Detroit Lions would have been favored by seven or eight points. Bookmakers now trust the Falcons more because they have won two games, although the impression is different. Against the Green Bay Packers, they probably deserved more to lose even though the Packers played without 2 out of their 3 best players. Both teams in this game will have success in running the ball. This will be a showdown between two rookie running backs (Gibbs vs. Robinson), but the difference is that the Lions can gain a lot of yards in the passing game, which is not the case with the Atlanta Falcons. Overall, the Lions are in their progress where the Falcons should be in 12 months.
Dan Campbell's team cannot allow themselves a second consecutive loss at home, and it is realistic for them to do the job as expected.