FOXBOROUGH, MA (MyFoxBoston.com) – The Detroit Lions defensive numbers are a misnomer so don't believe what you see on paper. In every statistical metric they have the best defense in the NFL. They've held the high octane offenses of Green Bay and New Orleans to a combined 30 points. Both games, however, were played at Ford Field. On offense, the Lions have struggled to score points, managing more than 24 just once in the team's 10 games.
It is a complete role reversal from years past when Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson were lighting up defenses and living off the deep ball.
They gave up seven points to Green Bay before Aaron Rodgers told the Packer faithful to "R-E-L-A-X" and started lighting up the score board and finding their groove. They allowed 23 points at home to a Saints team that forgets how to play football when they leave the state of Louisiana, and somehow squeaked out a win in London against Atlanta, allowing 21 to the Schizophrenic Falcons offense.
What the Lions lack is a signature road win against a playoff contender. All of their key wins have come at home and I view them the same way that I saw the Patriots entering Sunday night's game in Indianapolis. The Lions have to go out and prove that they can win a tough game on the road in less than ideal conditions to prove that they belong in the Super Bowl contender conversation. They had an opportunity against the Arizona Cardinals last week and managed to fall flat on their face, managing only six points. SIX!
Unfortunately for the Lions, their signature road win won't come this week in New England. It's because they're a soft dome team that will struggle in the elements of a New England winter that will hopefully rear its ugly head this weekend, right now the forecast is calling for sunny and 50 but that can always change. They simply don't have the mental fortitude to stand toe to toe with a battle tested playoff team. The Lions also happen to be 22-78 in their last 100 road games.
Say what you want about how the Patriots played earlier in the season, this team is focused, on a mission and playing with an immense chip on their shoulders. The comments and noise surrounding the loss to Kansas City have galvanized the locker room, unifying them like Tom Jackson's infamous 2003 comments stating that Belichick had lost the locker room after cutting Lawyer Milloy and losing their opening game 31-0 to the Buffalo Bills. That 2003 team went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl. Just 11 years later, similar remarks criticizing the Patriots and professing there was a rift between management and Tom Brady has given the team fire.
Bottom line this week, the Patriots are a buzz saw, scoring points in bunches and are by far the best team the Lions have faced this season. The Pats have averaged 40.5 points over their past six victories while the Lions have yet to score over 24 points in a road game.
The Pats will not only win, they will win convincingly and expose the Lions for what they are, NFC pretenders.