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Jaguars vs. Lions: Could an offensive shoot-out be in the works at Ford Field?

garry smits, florida times-union
·3 min read
Detroit running back Jamal Williams leads the Lions with 734 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
Detroit running back Jamal Williams leads the Lions with 734 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

When: Sunday, 1 p.m.

Where: Ford Field, Detroit.

TV: FOX.

Radio: 1010-AM, 92.5-FM; Spanish, 930 AM/97.3 FM via Accion; Sirius XM Channel 227.

Live stream: NFL+ Premium.

Records: Jaguars 4-7, Lions 4-7.

Odds: Jaguars -1.5; over-under 51.

Injuries: Jaguars -- questionable, RB Travis Etienne (foot), S Andre Cisco (shoulder), WR Zay Jones (chest); RB Darrell Henderson Jr. (illness); Lions -- out, G/C Evan Brown (ankle), LB Julian Okwara (elbow).

Last week: The Jaguars beat Baltimore 28-27. The Lions lost 28-25 to Buffalo on Thanksgiving Day.

Series history: Detroit holds a 4-3 edge.

Last meeting: The Lions won 34-16 at Oct. 18, 2020, at TIAA Bank Field

About the Jaguars

• The NFC losing streak for the Jags has reached 19 games. The last time they beat an NFC team was the opening game of the 2018 season, a 25-10 victory over the New York Giants. The Jaguars have lost to Washington, Philadelphia and the Giants so far this season.

• Quarterback Trevor Lawrence enjoyed November. His .769 completion percentage last month was the best in the NFL and his 116.1 passer rating was second. Lawrence and Geno Smith of Seattle were the only two quarterbacks to have three games with a passer rating over 100 during November.

• Punter Logan Cooke set an NFL record last week with the highest average per punt (68.7) in one game, with at least three attempts. He is fifth in the NFL in net punting at 55.3 yards.

About the Lions

• The Lions are last in the NFL in defense but they're scoring points. Detroit is tied for eighth in the NFL with 25.0 points per game and are eighth in total defense. The Lions are 10th in rushing and 12th in passing.

• After a 20-year stretch in which they went 3-17 the week after their traditional Thanksgiving Day game, the Lions have won the last two years, beating the Vikings last season (for their first victory of the year) and topping the Bears in 2020. Detroit is 3-7 in their last 10 home games following Thanksgiving.

• Thanks mostly to Jamaal Williams, who has 13 touchdowns this season, the Lions have scored the most rushing TDs in the first 11 games of a season (16) since scoring 18 over the same period in 1981. Detroit has rushed the most yards (1,424) through 11 games in a season since 1998.

Key Matchup

Jaguars CB Tyson Campbell vs. Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

Campbell has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL this season and has two interceptions, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and eight passes defensed -- with teams avoiding his side as much as possible.

Tyson Campbell's fumble recovery last week against Baltimore was his third turnover of the season.
Tyson Campbell's fumble recovery last week against Baltimore was his third turnover of the season.

St. Brown leads the Lions with 65 receptions for 716 yards and four touchdowns. He is coming off a Thanksgiving Day game against Buffalo in which he caught nine passes for 122 yards and has cracked 100 yards receiving in two of his last three games.

Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars vs. Lions: Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff lead potent offenses