PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NFL Total of the Week
(NFL) Bills (BUF) vs. Lions (DET),
Total: 54.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 54.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Loss
Bills-Lions in a dome certainly has the makings of a high-scoring game. But when you get an NFL total this high a lot has to go right for an Over to cash. That means anything less than touchdowns scored on drives is a win for the Under.
The Bills just got through losing, 44-42, to the Rams. Then this past Thursday against the 49ers, Los Angeles managed only 12 points and didn't score a TD in a 12-6 win. Of course I'm not expecting a similar type score here. But I do believe this one falls short of reaching the mid-50's.
The two defenses are underrated enough for that to happen.
Only seven teams give up fewer points per game than Buffalo, which has held opponents to 20.6 a game. That's after surrendering 44 points to the Rams, too. The Bills rank ninth in pass defense and have the sixth-most takeaways.
The Lions permit only 18 points a game, which is third-fewest in the NFL. They also rank fifth in run defense and have come up with the fourth-most takeaways.
Za'Darius Smith has been a huge addition replacing injured superstar Aidan Hutchinson. The veteran Smith has three sacks and 20 quarterback pressures in four games with the Lions. Detroit has arguably the best safety tandem in the league with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. According to Pro Football Focus grades, Joseph is the No. 1 safety in the NFL and Branch grades fifth.
The Lions also shored up their secondary depth adding veteran Jamal Adams, who was a versatile star at safety just a couple of seasons ago before sustaining repeated injuries. Adams is healthy now and has been added to the roster.
The Bills just got through losing, 44-42, to the Rams. Then this past Thursday against the 49ers, Los Angeles managed only 12 points and didn't score a TD in a 12-6 win. Of course I'm not expecting a similar type score here. But I do believe this one falls short of reaching the mid-50's.
The two defenses are underrated enough for that to happen.
Only seven teams give up fewer points per game than Buffalo, which has held opponents to 20.6 a game. That's after surrendering 44 points to the Rams, too. The Bills rank ninth in pass defense and have the sixth-most takeaways.
The Lions permit only 18 points a game, which is third-fewest in the NFL. They also rank fifth in run defense and have come up with the fourth-most takeaways.
Za'Darius Smith has been a huge addition replacing injured superstar Aidan Hutchinson. The veteran Smith has three sacks and 20 quarterback pressures in four games with the Lions. Detroit has arguably the best safety tandem in the league with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. According to Pro Football Focus grades, Joseph is the No. 1 safety in the NFL and Branch grades fifth.
The Lions also shored up their secondary depth adding veteran Jamal Adams, who was a versatile star at safety just a couple of seasons ago before sustaining repeated injuries. Adams is healthy now and has been added to the roster.
