Browns plus 11 at Lions
Not only is this a division sandwich for the Lions with the Bears on deck, but it’s a huge letdown spot after they defeated the Packers on the road this past Monday night.
As bad as Cleveland is, the Lions aren’t good enough to cover a double-digit spread. The Lions lack the talent to win by huge margins especially on a short week and off a monster nationally televised division win.
The Browns were idle last week. They are as healthy as they’ve been all season with the exception of being without Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Obviously that’s a huge loss. But the Browns get back their best receiver, Corey Coleman, along with a very good cornerback in Jason McCourty.
The Browns are holding opposing running backs to less than three yards per carry and have yielded only three rushing touchdowns all season. Detroit ranks 29th in rushing. So it’s a given the Lions aren’t going to be able to run on Cleveland although they likely will keep trying.
Cleveland actually has a better yards per play differential than Detroit, which ranks 30th in that category. The Browns have been done in by an NFL-high 21 giveaways. Detroit, though, has committed eight turnovers in its last four games.
Half of the Browns’ defeats have been by three points, one coming in overtime.
While the Browns are down Thomas, the Lions may be without their best guard as T.J. Lang is in concussion protocol. Matthew Stafford has been sacked 26 times. The Lions rank 27th in red zone touchdown percentage.
It’s asking too much of the Lions – who can’t run, don’t score touchdowns in the red zone and face a better than perceived Cleveland secondary with McCourty back – to cover this high of a number on a short week off a big win against a rested foe.
