At halftime of last season’s NFC Championship Game, the Detroit Lions were up 24-7 and it looked like this franchise would finally make its first appearance in a Super Bowl. However, the San Francisco 49ers came from behind and defeated the Lions 34-31 to eventually lose their second Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs in a five-years span. Despite the loss, Detroit proved it can compete with the best and entered the 2024 season with a label it hasn’t had in decades: NFC contender.
A solid team on all areas
The Lions are probably the most balanced team in the NFL. After destroying the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, Detroit has scored more than 40 points in two consecutive games for the first time since 1962.
The Lions’ 89 points in the past two games are their most in two weeks since that same 1962 season.
Detroit is the only NFL team to have four players with 250 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns this season: running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
In fact, Montgomery and Gibbs are the first running back duo in NFL history with 70 scrimmage yards in each of the first five games of a season.
Since playing together in Detroit’s backfield in 2023, they are the only teammates to surpass 1,000 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns. Montgomery has 1,577 yards (1,366 rushing; 211 receiving) and 19 touchdowns, while Gibbs has 1,713 combined yards (1,293 rushing; 420 receiving) and 15 touchdowns.
Jared Goff on the radar
The leader of this orchestra is Jared Goff, who rarely appears on any list of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL. However, this season he is third with 71.1 completion percentage, first with 8.93 yards per attempt and sixth with a 105.3 rating.
In his last 22 starts in Detroit, Goff is 16-6 with 38 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
In his last three games, Goff is 54 of 66 (81.8%) for 806 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception for a 146.6 rating. He is the first player since 1970 with a 140 rating or higher and at least 80 completion percentage (minimum 50 attempts) in three consecutive games.
Their biggest challenge so far
This Sunday the Lions visit the undefeated Minnesota Vikings, in the duel that will decide the leadership of the NFC North Division.
The Vikings are looking for their 81st victory over Detroit, their division rival, and their first victory over the Lions since September 25, 2022.
This Sunday’s duel is a true train wreck, as the Lions’ powerful offense faces one of the best defenses in the league.
Minnesota has allowed the second-fewest points so far, limiting its opponents to 76 combined points. Against the Vikings, teams are averaging just 15.2 points per game, the third-lowest mark in the NFL.
If the Lions want to prove that they are indeed contenders in the NFC, they must win this game in Minnesota and show themselves as favorites to repeat as NFC North champions.
And they will do it.
Pick: Lions 30-27 Vikings
Top picks for Week 7
| Broncos @ Saints | Denver -2.5 |
| Patriots @ Jaguars | New England +5.5 |
| Titans @ Bills | Buffalo +9 |
| Dolphins @ Colts | Indianapolis -3 |
| Lions @ Vikings | Detroit +2 |
| Bengals @ Browns | Under 41.5 |
| Texans @ Packers | Green Bay -2.5 |
| Seahawks @ Falcons | Atlanta -3 |
| Eagles @ Giants | Under 42.5 |
| Panthers @ Commanders | Over 51.5 |
| Raiders @ Rams | Over 43.5 |
| Chiefs @ 49ers | Over 46.5 |
| Jets @ Steelers | Pittsburgh +2.5 |
| Ravens @ Buccaneers | Baltimore -2.5 |
| Chargers @ Cardinals | Los Angeles -2.5 |
Be ready for the 2024 NFL football season with our NFL Betting Guide and follow every NFL football game with our printable NFL schedule; available for download as a spreadsheet, Google Sheet for the entire season or get every week from Week 1 through Week 18 with free picks.
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