Though they've lost their first 2 games, the Detroit Lions certainly have shown promise thus far in 2021. After almost completing a miraculous comeback in Week 1 against the 49ers and taking a lead into the half in Green Bay in Week 2, they've clearly shown that they can hang with contenders when they're on their game.
The Lions' early-season gauntlet continues with a Week 3 battle with the Baltimore Ravens, who lost a heartbreaker in OT against the Raiders and upset the Chiefs, 36-35, in a crazy Week 2 finish. It's a difficult matchup on paper, but Ravens defense thus far has not been what it once was. Now that they've given up 33+ points in each of the first two games, Detroit should be confident that their makeshift offense will still be able to do some damage, just as it has the first two weeks of the season.
With two teams hungry to not fall too far behind in their respective divisional races, the matchup figures to be a good one. Here are 4 bold predictions for the Lions' bout with the Ravens in Week 3.
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4. De'Andre Swift feasts with a Lion's share of touches
No pun intended. But seriously, De'Andre Swift is too stinking talented to not be gaining a larger share of the touches in this Lions backfield. Jamaal Williams is good, but, just as we saw with Green Bay and Aaron Jones, unleashing your star back for bigger touches and using Williams as a mere change of pace option simply makes an offense more dynamic.
The Lions, in the heat of a big battle and in need of a win, will succumb to giving Swift a ton of touches and he'll reach 150 scrimmage yards.
3. T.J. Hockenson feasts for the third week in a row
The Hockenson breakout has been real so far this year. He's had exactly 8 catches in each of the first two games, a touchdown in each, and he's averaged over 80 yards per game as well. Baltimore has been good at containing tight ends historically, but they allowed huge games to Darren Waller and Travis Kelce in the first two weeks, and Hockenson should be able to follow suit with his monster target share. Look for 100 yards and a touchdown.
2. Lions force two fumbles
Given that the Ravens are a monster team on the ground and Lamar Jackson has been putting up some gaudy stat totals, the Lions will need to create some havoc and force takeaways. Lamar will be especially conservative in this matchup after throwing two picks against the Chiefs, which should give the Lions time to get home for a strip-sack and also force one of the Ravens new running backs to cough the pigskin up as well.
1. Lions pull of stunning upset
Though the Lions have been one of the laughing stocks of the league for some time, they have been fiercely competitive so far this year. With a Ravens team that has shown its cracks despite all the electricity they have, the Lions will catch them slipping on short rest.
PREDICTION: Lions 30, Ravens 27
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