These Lions, man. Just when you think they’ve got it all figured out, they go and lose — and lose pretty badly — at home, on Thanksgiving, against the Packers.
Of course, this was preordained. The Lions always lose on Thanksgiving when the moon is in waxing gibbous phase, dropping to 0-13.
Gibbous or not, it didn’t help that Jared Goff was under pressure on half of his dropbacks (per PFF). Goff is a middling passer while under pressure, according to StatMuse, but no pocket passer can survive that kind of onslaught.
It also doesn’t help when the defense can’t get off the field, and the Lions defense has been just short of abysmal over the past few weeks.
So, is a trip to New Orleans going to be a balm?
America’s sportsbooks seem to think so. Opening as 2.5-point favorites, the Lions have been bid up to 4.5 (at -110) at FanDuel, though you can get them for the same price without the hook at BetMGM and Caesars.
Why has the spread grown? Almost certainly because the Saints look to be without their top three wideouts. Chris Olave is in the concussion protocol, Rashid Shaheed has a thigh injury, and Michael Thomas is on the IR with a knee issue.
Of course, the Lions defense will still have to contend with Alvin Kamara and jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill, but clearly, the Saints are coming into this game in physical breakdown mode.
The moneyline, for the record, is set at -200 at most books, and the total for the game is largely 47 at -110 for either side, with BetRivers posting a 46.5 total at -112 on the over.
Prop central
Jared Goff’s yardage prop is set at a healthy 259.5 at Caesars at -117. He’s exceeded that number six times, but only thrice in victories.
David Montgomery is expected to be the lead dog in the ground game, with his total rushing yards prop set at 62.5 at -114 on either side at FanDuel. The lightning to Montgomery’s thunder, Jahmyr Gibbs, has his rushing yard prop at 44.5 at -110 on either side at BetMGM.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is once again set to lead the Lions receiving corps, and his yardage prop is as low as 81.5 on the over at -115 at BetMGM, and as high as 86.5 on the under at -114 at FanDuel.
Photo: Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
