If you want a taste of what it could be like for the Detroit Lions to play in the Super Bowl, then you won’t want to miss the game this week. The Buffalo Bills are coming to town and they are one of the top teams in the AFC. Despite losing to the Los Angeles Rams last week, they have the MVP front runner in quarterback Josh Allen.
Unfortunately for the Bills, he doesn’t play defense, as the run defense for the Bills is going to need help this week. The Lions have the best running duo in the NFL, and with the Bills struggling to stop the run this year, it is the most important matchup this week. The Lions are known to be a run-heavy team, which makes matters even worse for Buffalo. If the Lions are able to pound the rock and move the chains on Sunday afternoon, we could see Buffalo fans starting to question if this team really can do it all.
In order for the Lions to run the ball efficiently, though, it starts with how the offensive line can do. The team has been without starting left tackle Taylor Decker for two weeks, so his status for this week will be important. The running backs can only do so much with what they are given, so if the Lions front five can be the people movers that Detroit believes they are, this game shifts in the Lions’ favor.
Top-five run blocking unit
When your identity on offense is to run the ball, you have to be good at two things: blocking and running. Simple and basic, yes, but the Lions aren’t just good at these things, they’re great. The offensive line is the best in the NFL with talent at each spot, led by right tackle Penei Sewell. When all five of these guys are out there, they can move mountains for their running backs.
According to PFF, Detroit is tied for the third highest running blocking grade at 77.1. Sewell (90.9), center Frank Ragnow (90.3), and right guard Kevin Zeitler (88.7) have elite scores at run blocking. When it’s time to run the ball, it’s best to go to the right side of the line. That doesn’t mean the left side is horrible though, Decker (70), and left guard Graham Glasgow (58) can help create space for either running back too, despite the worse grades.
If Decker can’t go, then tackle Dan Skipper will have to step in, and his run blocking grade (46.7) is a big step back for this team. It doesn’t mean they won’t still run the ball, it will just be a tougher ask in the end.
Bills’ bad run defense
Every team in the NFL has a weakness, and unfortunately for the Bills, it’s their run defense. They are allowing 4.7 yards per carry, which is seventh-most in the NFL. Both Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combine for an average of 5.0 yards per carry.
Buffalo has allowed the seventh-most 20+ yard runs (11) and are tied for the second-most 40+ yard runs allowed (three). So if you have an explosive run game, you can make big plays on the Bills run defense. Well, I got bad news for the Bills. While Montgomery only has had one 20+ yard run this season, Gibbs has had nine, and two that have gone over 40+ yards. The Lions are able to create explosive plays on the ground and with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson calling the shots, he will think of ways to make big plays for either back.
According to PFF, the Bills have the fifth worst rushing defense with a 53.9 grade, and their best defenders are in the secondary, meaning the defensive line isn’t able to hold up on their end. The Bill have only held opponents to under 100 rushing yards five times this season, and the Lions have yet to rush under 100 yards all season.
Finally, the Bills can’t seems to hold up when a good running back is going up against them. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry ran for 199 yards and a touchdown, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran for 114 yards, and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey 53 yards on seven carries before he got hurt. The problem for Buffalo is they don’t just play one good running back this week, they play two.
Lions’ talented backs need to make plays
Last season, Montgomery eclipsed 1,000 yards, but this year Gibbs has gotten there first. He is fourth in the NFL in yards at 1,016 and ninth in touchdowns with 10. Gibbs is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and has improved from last season. He has shown that he isn’t just the speedy back everyone thinks he is, as he has had some solid runs in between the tackles and isn’t afraid to get physical. It’s no secret though that speed is the best part of his game because when he gets loose, he might not get caught.
Despite not having 1,000 yards yet this season, Montgomery is still a big focal point of this offense. He has come up clutch for this team when they have needed a first down or a touchdown. Last week against the Green Bay Packers, Montgomery converted a fourth-and-1 that essentially clinched the game, despite Jared Goff nearly botching the handoff. He has 771 yards on the year, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, and is tied for second in the NFL in touchdowns with 12.
So whether you need a few short yards or a big time play, both backs can do that for you. Both are also capable receivers. Buffalo won’t get a break just because one of them is on the sidelines because that duo is more of a pick-your-poison type of situation. If the Lions can get either one of these running back some options on Sunday, it’s going to be a long day for Buffalo.