Throughout the offseason, NewYorkJets.com reporters Eric Allen, Ethan Greenberg, Randy Lange, Caroline Hendershot and John Pullano will each give their predictions to a series of questions regarding this year’s Jets.
Today’s question: Are you surprised the Jets opened the week as a home underdog vs. the Lions?
EA: Yes. The Lions are hotter, having won 5 of 6 games. In that one defeat, Detroit probably had the better of the play against the Bills on Thanksgiving. After a 5-2 start, the Jets have lost 4 of 6by an average of 6 points. But the Lions are 0-3 against AFC East clubs and they’re also 2-3 on the road. The Jets are 2-1 against the NFC North this season and they let one slip away in Minnesota. While Detroit has scored 25+ points in five consecutive games for the first time since 1954, QB Jared Goff has thrown for 2 TDs and 4 INTs outside of Detroit compared to 20 TDs and 3 INTs in the Motor City. We’ll have to see the status of Jets DT Quinnen Williams and the Lions have an outstanding O-line, but I see the Jets defense rising to the challenge. On the other side of the ball, the Jets should produce against a Lions unit ranked in the bottom 3 in scoring and total and pass defense.
EG: Not particularly because the Vikings were underdogs last week to the Lions as a 10-2 team facing a 5-7 team. Without that tidbit, I would have been surprised. While the Lions, winners of 5 of their last 6 games, are roaring, Detroit isunbalancedstatistically. It has the No. 4 overall offense and the No. 31 defense. The Lions have scored at least 25 points in each of their last five games, but have also struggled against good defenses at times throughout the season. They were scoreless on the road at New England (No. 5 scoring defense) and lost, 24-6 ,to Dallas (No. 3 scoring defense). The Lions’ one loss in their last 6 games was to Buffalo (No. 2 scoring defense) despite scoring 25 points. The Jets allow 18.7 points per game, which ranks No. 6 in the NFL. Detroit is hot,…
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