A slew of injuries might ruin the Lions' winning ways and chances of winning the Super Bowl.
No, Jared Goff, the sky isn’t falling for the Detroit Lions—not yet, at least.
The Lions’ league-best 11-game winning streak came to an end on Sunday, courtesy of the Buffalo Bills and their electrifying quarterback, Josh Allen, in a thrilling showdown at Ford Field. Despite the Lions’ reputation as the NFL’s top-scoring offense, they met their match in what turned out to be the highest-scoring game of the season.
Final score: Bills 48, Lions 42.
Momentum halted. Bubble burst. Steam vented.
Still, all is not lost. The Lions (12-2) remain in control of their destiny. If they manage to win their final three games, they can secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The sky may yet stay Honolulu Blue.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot written about how the sky is falling,” Goff said after Detroit’s first loss since Week 2. “We had a great run, and it stings to lose. Of course, we wanted to win every game all the way through the Super Bowl. Hopefully, we can look back on this game as a valuable learning experience and move forward.”
For Goff, Sunday’s game was grueling. The veteran quarterback threw a season-high 59 passes, tallying a personal best of 494 yards and five touchdown passes against a depleted Bills secondary missing three starters. However, the Lions ran the ball just 15 times and found themselves in an early hole after Buffalo scored touchdowns on its first three possessions.
**Lessons to Learn**
Sunday’s game provided the Lions with plenty of lessons. The last time Detroit lost—in Week 2 against Tampa Bay—Goff attempted 55 passes. A similar pass-heavy approach resurfaced against the Bills, with a lopsided 59-15 pass-to-run ratio, albeit largely dictated by the need to rally from an early deficit. While such imbalances can happen during catch-up scenarios, this trend exposes deeper issues that should concern the team.
The Lions didn’t abandon the run because they wanted to; they abandoned it because their battered defense left them no choice. Detroit’s defense has been plagued by injuries all season. Star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula in October, while defensive end Marcus Davenport (triceps) and linebacker Alex Anzalone (broken arm) have missed significant time. Despite these setbacks, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has managed to keep the unit competitive, often relying on creative blitz packages to compensate for personnel gaps.
Entering Sunday’s game, Detroit ranked third in blitz rate (32.2%), according to Pro Football Reference. But even the most innovative schemes couldn’t overcome the Bills’ offensive firepower or prevent more injuries.
**Injury Woes**
The defensive attrition continued against Buffalo. Cornerback Khalil Dorsey suffered a gruesome leg injury that head coach Dan Campbell likened to Hutchinson’s season-ending fracture. Defensive tackle Alim McNeill went down with a knee injury, and veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III sustained a jaw injury. Campbell admitted he doesn’t feel optimistic about their immediate availability.
“We’ll know more tomorrow,” Campbell said. “But I don’t feel good about either of those guys.”
Despite the mounting injuries, Campbell refused to use them as an excuse. “No excuses,” he said firmly.
Of course, every NFL team deals with injuries, but the Lions’ defensive woes have been especially pronounced. Allen, a leading MVP candidate, exploited those weaknesses, passing for 362 yards and rushing for two touchdowns. He wasn’t sacked all game. Allen’s dual-threat capabilities—rolling out to extend plays, running designed sweeps, and improvising scrambles—kept Detroit’s defense on its heels.
Buffalo’s ground game also flourished, racking up 197 rushing yards. Running back James Cook led the way with 105 yards on 14 carries, while Allen chipped in with a series of explosive runs. Together, they averaged 6.9 yards per carry. This balanced offensive approach, with 34 rushes and 34 passes, stood in stark contrast to Detroit’s lopsided attack.
**Offensive Burden**
The defensive struggles magnified the pressure on Goff and the offense. Despite trailing by 21 points early in the third quarter, the Lions clawed back to make it a one-possession game. However, their comeback reflected grit and determination more than a genuine shift in control. It also underscored a key issue: the Lions’ reliance on their offense to compensate for defensive shortcomings.
In the playoffs, where competition intensifies, balance and complementary football become paramount. When a defense secures a stop, the offense must capitalize by scoring. Conversely, the offense needs to sustain drives to give the defense a breather. The Lions, who boast an NFL-high average of 32.8 points per game, have leaned heavily on their offense to outpace opponents.
Detroit’s offensive line ranks among the league’s best, and their backfield features a dynamic duo in David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. Unfortunately, Montgomery’s status is now in doubt after reports indicated he suffered a significant knee injury on Sunday. Goff has no shortage of receiving weapons, from star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown to tight end Sam LaPorta and speedster Jameson Williams.
Yet even with such firepower, the Lions’ success hinges on executing a finely tuned formula. Sunday’s loss to Buffalo highlighted how easily that formula can falter when one facet of the team struggles.
**Campbell’s Reflection**
Campbell’s postgame comments weren’t focused solely on injuries or defensive lapses. Instead, he pointed to a lack of urgency. The Lions spent the entire game playing from behind, an unenviable position for any team.
“We got punched in the mouth early,” Campbell said. “That’s on me. I didn’t have us ready to go from the start.”
Buffalo’s ability to land an early blow exposed a potential vulnerability for the Lions. If Detroit hopes to advance deeper into the playoffs than last year—when they fell in the NFC Championship Game—they must address these issues. Teams like the Bills won’t be the only ones capable of exploiting lapses in intensity and preparation.
“Maybe this is a good wake-up call for us,” Goff said. “A chance to recalibrate and refocus.”
**Looking Ahead**
With three games remaining, the Lions have no time to dwell on their first loss in three months. Campbell’s message to his team was clear: resilience and accountability will define their path forward.
“Now it’s about what we’re going to do next,” Campbell said. “We’re not going to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves.”
Indeed, while the Lions’ formula may need adjustments, the sky isn’t falling. Their offensive talent, combined with the lessons learned from Sunday’s defeat, could still carry them to the heights they’ve been chasing all season. For now, the Honolulu Blue skies remain intact—if just a little clouded.
