Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots Prediction & Preview

The Detroit Lions and New England Patriots will be looking to snap two-game losing skids Sunday when the two squads clash at Gillette Stadium. The Lions rolled to a 26-10 victory over the Patriots in their last meeting during the 2018 season.

Keep reading until the end for our Lions vs. Patriots prediction.

Lions Preview & Team News

Detroit (1-3) lost a 48-45 shootout against the Seattle Seahawks last week despite racking up 27 first downs and 520 total yards. The Lion’s high-octane offense is averaging a league-high 35 points and ranks first in the NFL with 447 yards a game.

Jared Goff continued his torrid start to the young season with 378 passing yards and four touchdowns. The former top overall pick has posted a 99.9 Quarterback Rating while tossing 11 scoring passes with just three interceptions. Goff is 1-1 against the Patriots with two touchdown passes and three picks.

Jamaal Williams paced Detroit’s sixth-ranked rushing attack with 108 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Williams is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and has found the end zone twice in three of the Lions’ four games this season. Craig Reynolds rushed for 30 yards on two rushes, including a 21-yard scamper.

Tight end T.J. Hockenson caught eight passes for 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Josh Reynolds had seven catches for 81 yards and a score. Tom Kennedy hauled in three passes for 54 yards, and Kalif Raymond caught a trio of balls for 38 yards.

The hard-luck Lions have suffered three setbacks by a combined 10 points. Detroit should be able to move the ball on the ground against a Patriots defensive unit that is allowing 135 rushing yards an outing. However, New England’s pass defense is ranked 11th, limiting Tua Tagovailoa, Lamar Jackson, and Aaron Rogers to less than 250 passing yards.

Patriots Preview & Team News

New England (1-3) boasts the league’s 10th-ranked rushing attack and will lean on running backs Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson against the Lions’ 30th-ranked run defense. Harris posted 18 rushes for 86 yards last week against the Green Bay Packers, while Stevenson had 14 carries for 66 yards.

Brian Hoyer or rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe will be under center for the Patriots. Zappe threw for 99 yards and a touchdown after Brian Hoyer left the game with a brain injury. Detroit allows 279 passing yards a game to rank near the bottom of the league.

Stevenson led New England with four catches against the Packers, while Nelson Agholor tallied three receptions. DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, and Hunter Henry each caught two passes last week.

Lions vs. Patriots Prediction

The Patriots are three-point favorites at home in a matchup featuring two of the league’s worst defensive units at stopping opposing rushing attacks. Detroit will struggle to throw the ball against New England, while a backup quarterback will hinder the Patriots passing game. Both squads will look to establish the running game with the Patriots’ 1-2 punch of Harris and Stevenson winning the battle.

Prediction: New England 27, Detroit 24