The Detroit Lions would prefer to take an easier path to victory this week.
The Lions managed to extend their winning streak to seven games on Sunday night even though Jared Goff was picked off five times and they trailed by 16 points at halftime. Jake Bates hit a pair of 50-plus yard field goals in the fourth quarter, including the final play of the game, as the Lions pulled out a 26-23 win over Houston.
The Lions (8-1), who hold the top spot in the NFC, now host struggling Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon. Another victory would give the Lions their longest winning streak during the Super Bowl era.
“We’re going to get everybody’s best shot and you have to understand that we have to assume that we will get the best version of what they are and what they’re capable of,” coach Dan Campbell said. “So, with that, we have to be on our game, and it really is about yourself and it’s about the details to what we do.”
Goff hadn’t thrown an interception in the Lions’ previous five games and will look to be more efficient against the Jaguars.
“There’s a million things that we can improve on, that I can improve on, that we’re going to have to improve on if we want to continue on the trend we’re on,” Goff said.
Defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith is expected to make his Lions debut on Sunday. He was acquired at the trade deadline from Cleveland to fortify the pass rush.
“I’m looking for a complementary piece and somebody that’s going to be able to help our defense, that’s going to elevate us a little bit and I think that he’ll do that for us,” Campbell said.
The Jaguars (2-8) will be without their starting quarterback again this week. Trevor Lawrence will miss his second straight game with a shoulder injury.
Mac Jones will fill in once again as Jacksonville looks to snap a three-game losing streak ahead of its bye next week.
Jones’ first start with the Jaguars didn’t go too well. He threw for 111 yards and two interceptions in a 12-7 loss to Minnesota last Sunday.
The team’s top wide receivers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis, were limited to a combined three receptions.
“I thought we played with good tempo in and out of the huddle,” Jones said. “Obviously, there are a lot of things to work on throughout the game but it boils down to finishing better by me. I thought I left three plays out there and if you change those three plays then maybe the outcome’s a little different.”
He’ll now face a ball-hawking pass defense that’s tied for second in the league with 13 interceptions.
“They’re sound all around,” Jones said of the Lions’ defense. “They do everything well together and they play very physical. It’s a physical group. The fan base is awesome and playing at Ford Field will be great and I feel like that whole city embodies football and tough football.”
Running back Tank Bigsby suffered an ankle injury in the Vikings’ contest and didn’t practice on Wednesday. That could mean a heavier workload for Travis Etienne Jr., who was held to 44 yards on 11 carries by Minnesota. Bigsby and Lawrence were the only Jaguars players to miss practice Wednesday.
Detroit had a walkthrough on Wednesday and the lone non-participant was tight end Sam LaPorta, who departed Sunday’s game early in the second half with a shoulder injury. Offensive tackle Taylor Decker missed the game with a shoulder injury but Campbell is optimistic he’ll play against Jacksonville.
–Field Level Media