Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills: 25 and Out

The main storyline of the Week 10 matchup today between Buffalo and Detroit is whether the Bills can end speculation that they might be destined to go 0-16 this season. 

This nationally hyped drama has been heightened because the Bills play the Lions, the only team that has ever gone 0-16 (2008), and the very same team that provided the St. Louis Rams with their only win a year later in Week 8 of last season.

You can’t blame the Bills for getting their hopes up.

Yet if Buffalo goes down, they still have seven games to stop their skid toward ignominy.

The truth is that the only team that can set a new NFL record in Ralph Wilson Stadium today is the Lions. If they lose this game, they will break their own previous mark of 24 consecutive road game losses, established 2001-03.

If the Lions win, they not only break their road game losing streak, but they break last year’s two-win record.

The Lions have suffered some devastating loses this year, most notably against Chicago in the first game of the season, and again last week against the Jets.

However, if they lose to the Bills today, the Lions will lose any semblance of respect they have earned by hanging tough against some good teams this season and beating both the Rams and Redskins.

For Detroit, it’s pretty much 25 consecutive road losses and out for the season.

That’s the real drama of this game.

To avoid losing to the Bills today, the Lions will probably have to hit or exceed all the following metrics:

—Go one better than their average three sacks/game mark
—End up with a +2 turnover ratio
—Shift their run/pass ratio from 65/35 to 55/45
—Score at least 21 points

Detroit has accomplished all of these statistics against other teams this season except for the run/pass ratio.

Running the ball more often and with success would take pressure off of Shaun Hill and reduce his odds of getting injured. Additionally, the latest weather forecast for Orchard Park, New York calls for rain.

Both of these are good reasons for the Lions to shift their run/pass ratio.

A few hours from now, Motown fans will be able to see whether their team is “the same old Lions” with different faces or a team worth roaring about.