Dan Campbell is rising the list of candidates for the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year award; after a 1-6 start, he has the Detroit Lions cooking at 6-7, on the edge of the wild card conversation in the NFC. He has rejuvenated Jared Goff, who has not looked this confident at quarterback since he guided the Rams to the Super Bowl. Next up is a visit to another intriguing team, the New York Jets (7-6). Three different quarterbacks have started for the Jets this season, and Mike White, the third-stringer who had jump-started the Jets’ offense the past few weeks, is not medically clear after a huge hit against Buffalo last week, so it will be back to second-year signal-caller Zach Wilson. Which team will take another step toward a wild card on Sunday? Don’t miss our NFL betting prediction.
NFL Preview: Detroit Lions at N.Y. Jets (Sunday, December 18)
When: Sunday, December 18, 2022, 1:00 pm ET
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
TV: CBS
Radio: WXYT 97.1 FM Detroit / ESPN 98.7 FM New York City
Live Stream: Sling TV
NFL Odds: Detroit -1 / O/U 43.5 // Detroit -125 / New York +105
Why should you bet on the Lions?
That 1-6 start for the Lions was a bit misleading, as four of those losses came by no more than four points. Their only loss in their last six came on Thanksgiving Day against Buffalo, and the Lions looked in position to win that game as well. The last time Detroit won five of six came back in 2016, which was also the last time the Lions made the postseason.
The offense has scored at least 25 points in five consecutive games for the first time in 68 years, and they have broken 30 in four of those games. Jared Goff has thrown for more than 330 yards in two straight games, and the team has scored 74 points combined in wins over Jacksonville and Minnesota. On the season, he has a 22:7 TD:INT ratio and a 65.3% pass completion rate. In the last three games, though, he has 910 passing yards and seven touchdowns without a single pick.
Why should you put your money on the Jets?
After facing the Lions, the Jets take on Jacksonville, Seattle and Miami, which isn’t the hardest way to finish things out, so getting to 11-6 or 10-7 isn’t beyond the realm of possibility. The Jets have not been to the playoffs since 2011, the longest playoff drought in the NFL. However, they have also turned a 7-4 start into a 7-6 record and need to turn things around if they want to get back into wild car position.
The Jets’ performance has been impressive given the fact that Wilson flamed out in terms of leadership. After an ugly loss to the Patriots, Wilson blamed the weather instead of taking accountability, and he got sent to the bench. With White ruled out, though, Wilson gets another chance to take the leadership role. The team has also lost tailback Breece Hall, so it’s a bit of a miracle that the offense has produced much at all. The culture that head coach Robert Saleh has produced is one of accountability and credibility, though, so the Jets will be ready on both sides of the ball on Sunday.
Final Score and Prediction
With White out, it’s hard to see the Jets’ offense being as dynamic. Wilson looked hesitant in the pocket his last few starts, and while he was drafted as the quarterback of the future, he looks well down the learning curve at this point. Jared Goff is red-hot right now, and the Lions are streaking. I predict a final score of Detroit 27, New York 16.
NFL Betting Odds
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