Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills Week 15 NFL Picks & Predictions 12/16/2018

Sunday, December 16, 2018

New Era Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Detroit Lions travel to New Era Field to take on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, December 16, 2018. The opening line for this game has Detroit as 2.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 38.5.

The Lions have an ATS record of 7-6-0 while their over/under record is 6-7-0. The Bills have an over/under record of 6-7-0 and they are 5-8-0 against the spread.

Valuable Detroit Lions Betting Trends

The Detroit Lions are 6-7-0 against the over/under

The Detroit Lions are 7-6-0 against the spread

Important Buffalo Bills Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bills are 6-7-0 against the over/under

The Buffalo Bills are 5-8-0 against the spread

Key Detroit Lions Injuries

12/10/18 DE Ezekiel Ansah Shoulder is downgraded to doubtful Sunday vs Buffalo
12/09/18 WR Brandon Powell Undisclosed is questionable Sunday vs Buffalo
12/09/18 S Charles Washington Hamstring injured last game, is questionable Sunday vs Buffalo
12/09/18 DL Da'Shawn Hand Knee left last game, is questionable Sunday vs Buffalo
12/09/18 DE Kerry Hyder Jr. Illness is questionable Sunday vs Buffalo
12/09/18 RB Kerryon Johnson Knee is questionable Sunday vs Buffalo
12/09/18 T Rick Wagner Concussion left last game, is questionable Sunday vs Buffalo
12/09/18 LB Trevor Bates Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Buffalo
12/09/18 WR Bruce Ellington Hamstring injured last game, is questionable Sunday vs Buffalo
12/06/18 LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin Neck IR
11/26/18 WR Marvin Jones Jr. Knee IR
11/14/18 G T.J. Lang Neck IR
10/15/18 CB Jamal Agnew Knee IR
09/04/18 S Marcus Cromartie Undisclosed IR
09/04/18 FB Nick Bawden Knee IR
09/04/18 LB Steve Longa Knee IR

Key Buffalo Bills Injuries

12/11/18 LB Matt Milano Foot is out for season
12/11/18 K Stephen Hauschka Back is questionable Sunday vs Detroit
12/10/18 RB Chris Ivory Shoulder is questionable Sunday vs Detroit
12/10/18 RB LeSean McCoy Hamstring is downgraded to doubtful Sunday vs Detroit
12/09/18 QB Derek Anderson Concussion is questionable Sunday vs Detroit
12/09/18 TE Jason Croom Groin is questionable Sunday vs Detroit
12/09/18 CB Taron Johnson Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Detroit
12/05/18 C Russell Bodine Fibula IR
11/01/18 RB Taiwan Jones Neck IR
09/04/18 P Cory Carter ACL IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Detroit Lions are 7th in the NFL in points scored with 271. They have run 823 plays this season for 4,298 yards, which ranks them 13th in the league in total offense. The Lions average 5.2 yards per play, which is 10th in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 269 1st downs this year, placing them 21st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Detroit has run for 1,339 yards as a team, which ranks 32nd in the NFL. They've run 317 times, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Lions have been penalized on offense 80 times for 682 yards so far this season, which has them 18th in the league in penalties. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 3,187 yards this season. He has completed 307 passes on 462 attempts for a completion percentage of 66.5%. His quarterback rating is 89.3. He averages 6.9 yards per pass attempt and 10.4 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Detroit is 21st in the league in points allowed on defense with 319. They have surrendered a total of 4,533 yards on D, which is 27th in the NFL. The Lions are ranked 25th in yards per play allowed with 5.9. Their pass defense has given up 6.9 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 22nd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 270 passes on 402 attempts against the Detroit Lions defense this season, placing them 27th and 28th in the National Football League. The Detroit pass defense has also given up a total of 3,035 yards through the air, which is 27th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 325 attempts for 1,498 yards this year, putting them in 18th place in the league against the run. The Lions have committed 75 penalties for 750 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 24th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 37.7% of possessions on defense, which is 11th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Detroit is ranked 10th in the league in punt returns with 19. They've accumulated 116 punt return yards and average 6.1 yards per return, which is 1st in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 16 yards. They have returned 17 kicks for 413 yards on special teams, ranking 26th in kick return yardage. The Lions average 24.3 yards per kick return and have a long of 45 yards this year. They are 11th in the league in all-purpose yards with 5,069. The Detroit Lions have attempted 27 field goals this season and made 24, which is 13th in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 88.9%. Detroit Lions kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 25 for 25 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,584 yards on 57 punts, averaging 45.3 yards per punt. That places them 25th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Buffalo Bills have run for 1,629 yards as a unit, which ranks 6th in the league. They've run 380 times, averaging 4.3 yards per rush as a unit. The Bills have been penalized on offense 107 times for 919 yards so far this year, which has them 23rd in the NFL in penalties. They are 22nd in the National Football League in points scored with 201. They have run 825 plays this year for 3,796 yards, which ranks them 29th in the NFL in total offense. The Bills average 4.6 yards per play, which is 27th in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 226 1st downs this season, ranking them 26th overall as an offensive unit. Josh Allen has completed 119 throws while attempting 227 passes for a completion percentage of 52.4%. He has passed for 1,429 yards this year. He averages 12 yards per completion and 6.3 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 62.8.

Defensive Statistics

The Bills rush defense has given up 342 attempts for 1,362 yards this season, putting them in 29th place in the NFL against the run. They have had 86 penalties for 811 yards on defense this year. That places them 10th in the league. They've allowed a score on 36.2% of possessions on defense, which is 25th in the NFL. Buffalo is 18th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 320. They have given up a total of 3,778 yards on D, which is 26th in the league. The Bills are 15th in yards per play allowed with 4.8. Their pass defense has allowed 5.5 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 17th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 259 throws on 406 attempts against the Buffalo Bills defense this season, ranking them 30th and 29th in the league. The Bills pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,416 yards in the air, which is 20th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Buffalo Bills have tried 24 field goals this season and made 20, which is 14th in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 83.3%. Buffalo kickers have made 94% of their extra points, going 17 for 18 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,928 yards on 67 punts, averaging 43.7 yards per punt. That ranks them 17th in the NFL in punting average. Buffalo is 31st in the NFL in punt returns with 24. They've totaled 167 punt return yards and are averaging 7 yards per return, which is 10th in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 31 yards. They have returned 30 kicks for 662 yards on special teams, placing them 17th in kick return yardage. The Bills average 22.1 yards per kick return and have a long of 49 yards this season. They are 30th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 4,895.

Who will win tonight's Lions/Bills NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Lions -2.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn