This late-season game between the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills and the NFC-leading Detroit Lions could be a preview of the Super Bowl.
According to BetMGM, Detroit (12-1) is the clear favorite to win the NFL championship, with Buffalo (10-3) not far behind as a strong contender.
Lions coach Dan Campbell once remarked, “There’s no place you’d rather be than playing this type of football, this type of team, in December.”
For the first time in thirty years, the Lions have earned consecutive postseason invitations after winning a franchise-record eleven games in a row.
Despite suffering their first defeat in eight games, the Bills’ 44-42 loss to the Los Angeles Rams did not lower expectations for a club that was predicted to contend for the AFC championship against the two-time reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
“You saw a team that’s fighting for their lives to try to make the playoffs in the Los Angeles Rams, and they came out ready to play,” stated Josh Allen, the quarterback for Buffalo. “And, maybe we didn’t have that type of urgency.”
MVP candidates
Allen, who has previously placed second, third, and fifth in the vote, is the favorite to earn his first MVP award.
“Means your team’s in a position to make the playoffs and give yourselves the chance to win the Super Bowl,” Allen, who last week became the first player in the league to rush for three touchdowns and throw three touchdown passes, said.
Because he is perhaps the most important player for one of the top clubs in the league, Goff is ranked third among the candidates by BetMGM.
“It’s cool to be recognized in some ways, but it doesn’t really mean anything,” he stated. “I want to be holding that trophy at the end of the year, and I know that’s what matters.”
The quarterbacks hit the links together during the offseason.
Allen remarked, “He’s freakin’ awesome,” in reference to Goff’s golf skills. It also sort of shows who he is on the field. When he plays, he’s simply really cool, collected, and peaceful.
Campbell’s roommate
After living together as assistant coaches for the New Orleans Saints, Joe Brady, the offensive coordinator for the Bills, isn’t shocked that Campbell has changed the Lions.
Brady remarked, “He’s as real as it gets,” “He is a fantastic instructor and coach. The success he’s achieved there isn’t shocking at all.”
Keep-away
Trying to get his injury-plagued defense off the field, Campbell was even more aggressive than normal on fourth down in Detroit’s most recent game. In a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on December 5, the Lions converted four of his five fourth-down attempts.
The Lions may continue with the plan in an effort to keep Allen out of action as much as possible, even though several injured defensive players may make a comeback against Buffalo.
“We’re not playing their offense on our side of the ball, but they do such a good job over there of holding onto the football and scoring points,” Allen explained.
Playoff positioning
The Lions are matched with Kansas City for the best record in the league, but they don’t have much leeway to secure the NFC’s top spot or win the NFC North again.
Minnesota (11-2), who finish the regular season against Detroit, is just one game behind in the division. In the competition for home-field advantage through the conference playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) are likewise one game behind.
“We’d love to say, ‘Yeah, 12-1, our division’s wrapped up,’ but it’s not even close,” Goff stated. “We have two teams on our heels that are pushing us pretty hard, and we have to keep winning and I’m sure that they’re just waiting for us to lose.”
Nearly two weeks ago, Buffalo secured the weak AFC East. However, the Bills’ prospects of contending with the Chiefs for the conference’s top seed were harmed by the loss to Los Angeles.
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott stated, “It’s all a good reminder for us of how competitive this dang league is week to week.” “A lot of teams take a lot of scars on their way to having a darn good season, and we’re having a darn good season.”
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