Odds Lions Beat Falcons in Week 3
The Lions return to Ford Field, for a second consecutive week, on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Detroit will be looking to bounce back, after suffering a disappointing, overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.
Meanwhile, the Falcons will be attempting to improve to 3-0 for the first time since the 2017 season, the last time Atlanta made the playoffs.
Atlanta beat the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, and followed that up with a victory over the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday.
The Falcons have been able to go undefeated through the first two weeks of the season by being solid on defense and running the football effectively.
Atlanta has allowed the eighth-fewest points (34) and the third-fewest yards (505), including the second-lowest amount of passing yards (267) and the second-lowest number of yards per pass attempt (4.0).
In stark contrast, the Lions have allowed the fifth-most points (57) and the 11th-most yards (709), including 37 points and 326 total yards of offense a week ago against Seattle.
Meanwhile, spearheaded by rookie running back Bijan Robinson, the Falcons have accumulated the fourth-most rushing yards (341), the fifth-most rushing touchdowns (three) and the eighth-highest number of yards per carry (4.8) through two weeks. Robinson, in fact, just rushed for a career-best 124 yards, on 19 carries, in Week 2 against Green Bay.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson
Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta should pose a formidable test for a Lions defense that will be without both safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (torn pectoral muscle) and EDGE James Houston (fractured ankle). Gardner-Johnson and Houston are each expected to miss a significant period of time, with the veteran defensive back potentially being sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Headed into Week 3, Detroit will also be without running back David Montgomery (bruised thigh) and right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee injury).
Despite all the injuries the Lions have suffered, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith understands that a tough challenge lies ahead Sunday at Ford Field.
"We know we have a good challenge coming up, going on the road against Detroit,” Smith told reporters Monday. “They lost a tough one yesterday in overtime. That place (Ford Field), I’m sure will be rocking. So, it will be good to get into a foreign environment. It will be loud. There will be a lot of energy in the building, and we’ve got to be ready to roll.”
At this present juncture, I'm going to give Detroit a 55 percent chance to rebound and capture the Week 3 victory.
