When the 2022 schedule was released this spring most Patriots fans likely looked to Game Five, Lions @ Patriots, and thought, “Oh, easy win!” And there would have been every reason to do so. The Patriots went to the playoffs last season. They have Bill Belichick, the greatest coach of all-time, running the show. And they’re at home. Plus, the Lions have been the benchmark for futility in the league for the better part of the past decade. Plus, they have the original kneecap biter, Dan Campbell, at head coach, who though he beat Belichick in their one game against each other (a baffling if not infuriating 20-10 Dolphins win to wrap the 2015 regular season), on paper it’s a massive coaching mismatch.
Can the Patriots' offense turn down the clock?
And yet here we are, early October 2022, and the game between the 1-3 Patriots and the 1-3 Lions...is a total toss-up. Nobody would have predicted the Lions would come to town boasting the league’s #1 scoring offense, averaging almost 36 points per game. Many would have assumed, and correctly so, that Detroit would come bearing the league’s worst defense, giving up the same tally each week. But Jared Goff now being a model of efficiency, a master of play-action (119 rating when doing so), with 11 TDs to just three INTs? And the Lions can tote that rock, averaging over five yards per carry. Wild times we live in!
And nobody would have predicted that this Lions team, potent yet injured, as my dad would say “out the wazoo” (15 players, including DNP’s for receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and RB D’Andre Swift), would travel to face a Pats team likely lead by third string QB Bailey Zappe, dressed in Pat the Patriot throwbacks, in a Gillette Stadium decorated to look like it’s the late 80’s again. Surreal to say the least. Pats are kinda banged up themselves, 10 players on the Thursday injury report. They too have a dynamite rushing attack, and a defense that’s underwhelmed a bit of late, at least against the rush (31st in the NFL). The playing field seems oddly leveled for what could be a terrifically entertaining tilt.
Can the Patriots run enough to set Zappe up for success? Will the Lions power their way past the Pats D for a stunning win? And who is this a bigger Matt Patricia revenge game for; the Lions or the Pats coach? We’ll find out soon enough! Let’s see what the experts are calling for...first locally, and then nationally, shall we?
Our pals at CBS News in Boston, from Steve Burton to Dan Roche, all pick the Patriots.
In a stunning turn of events all the writers at The Detroit News went with the Lions.
Will Burchfield, a writer for 97.1 The Ticket (an Audacy sister station) and guest on the most recent 6 Rings podcast, picked the Patriots over the Lions.
In a stunning turn of events, the Boston Globe sportswriters went six for six in favor of the Patriots! https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/nfl/staffpicks/
Bleacher Report went four for seven in favor of the Lions.
Five out of seven CBS Sports people, including Will Brinson and Pete Prisco, picked the Pats.
ESPN.com’s staff was split right down the middle; four for Detroit, and four for New England.
The USA Today sports staff was two-thirds (4 of 6) in favor of the Patriots...ensuring I’ll take a courtesy copy and read it next time I stay at a quality chain motel.
The Sporting News said Patriots 30, Lions 20 and made it their LOCK OF THE WEEK!
Sports Ilustrated’s MMQB staff went four for five in picking the Lions...aaannnd I’m canceling my SI subscription.
The NY Times said take the Lions +3.
The Athletic took the Lions against the spread...mostly as an “against Bailey Zappe” prediction.
Pro Football Talk was all about the Patriots.
The FiveThirtyEight algorithm gives the Pats a 55% chance to take home the W.
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com thinks it comes down to a field goal...in favor of the Lions.
And Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer picked the Lions (bossman Bill Simmons can’t be too pleased about that!)
We’re calling for Patriots 39, Lions 27. Depending on where you get the line it might be a bust, push or win (seen it everywhere form Pats -3.5 to Pats -2.5), but the over should be in a play, and so should the shouts of victory from the Foxboro Faithful decked out in red. However the game turns out be sure to tune in to The 6 Rings Postgame Show on WEEI-FM and WEEI.com for the full breakdown, analysis and more!