By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-12-13 16:31:07 | Updated at 2024-12-13 19:04:00
2 hours ago
There are just four weeks left in the regular season and the race is on for the NFL play-offs.
It's crazy that the Kansas City Chiefs keep finding bizarre ways to win, but the Detroit Lions keep winning too.
They need just one more win to become just the sixth team in NFL history to go from a 13-loss season to 13 wins in three seasons or fewer. Their transformation under head coach Dan Campbell is incredible.
Everyone laughed at his introductory news conference in 2021 when he said his team would 'bite your kneecaps off' - but you could see he was fully bought in.
He's an ex-player and his coaching staff is made up of ex-players. I didn't have full faith that it would work but actually, it's been one of the best things for them. The respect from the players is already there because they understand that the coaches have been there and done it.
Campbell still comes out with some crazy lines. Last week, one of the offensive lineman was puking in the locker room and he was like 'that's how you lay it on the line'. It's old-school, but that's what Campbell was like as a player and he's exactly the same as a coach.
His interviews make you want to run through a wall for him. He's so authentic and raw, 24/7. Imagine what it's like, being around that every single day.
The Lions have 13 defensive players injured so to keep winning is pretty impressive. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn wanted that 'next man up' mentality and they've done something really special because they truly have found a way to get more from guys who, rather facetiously, people didn't even know till they were on the field.
They understand the scheme and they fit right in. There's a very clear standard of what the expectation is, and their leadership upholds that standard.
Since joining the Lions in 2023, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have become the first running back duo in NFL history to each score 10-plus rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons. They've also gained more than 1,000 yards each in those seasons, and earned new nicknames - Sonic and Knuckles after Sega's famous hedgehogs.
They're two different style backs. Gibbs has so much speed in bursts, he stretches your defence laterally. Then Montgomery is straight down the line and has very good balance in contact, he hits people and keeps driving his feet.
That combination is physically exhausting for a defence because you've got to keep adjusting to the speed and size of whichever back's in front of you - and it's fun to see the relationship they have with quarterback Jared Goff.
The Lions' offensive line gives Goff so much time in the pocket. That allows him to make clean decisions and protect the ball. He's been a phenomenal leader, and he has a smart and reliable receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The Lions have had a couple of close games but they're finding different ways to win, and that resiliency makes you feel that Sunday's game with the Buffalo Bills could be a Super Bowl preview.
The Bills have also had injuries but they've had a strong offensive line for a while, they just didn't have the weapons, so one of the best things they did was trade for Amari Cooper. They needed that number one receiver with reliable hands.
James Cook has got 11 rushing touchdowns, receiver Khalil Shakir has stepped up and running back Ray Davis has been a great addition.
They're alleviating the pressure on quarterback Josh Allen. He's always felt he needs to put the team on his back, whereas now they're kind of the same as the Lions in that they both have that 'everybody eats' mentality.
It doesn't matter who is receiving the ball, they're so excited for each other and they know success comes from a team perspective.
Allen is protecting the ball - five interceptions is much improved on recent years – and he doesn't feel like he has to make those amazing plays. But he can still make them, as we've seen the past two weeks, such as with the 'lake effect lateral' from the snow game against San Francisco.
In that win Allen became the first quarterback to have a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game. Then last week he became the first to have three passing and three rushing touchdowns in the same game, so he's making history. It's madness what we're witnessing, and it's just so fun to watch.
Sunday's game is going to be so exciting. You've got two teams willing to go for it on fourth down, they're the top-two scoring offences and the Lions are leading the NFC Conference while the Bills are number two in the AFC (behind the Chiefs).
The Bills' defence has struggled against the run this season and my biggest fear is that the Lions will run all over them, but I do think these teams will challenge each other to throw the ball so it could be a shootout.
I don't want to go against my Bills but it's in Detroit so I have a feeling it'll be the Lions.
After that, the Lions have a tougher schedule and they've never been to a Super Bowl. They and the Bills are two of 12 teams who have never won a Super Bowl.
So these two teams, with the fan bases they have, imagine them in New Orleans if they get to the Super Bowl. It would be crazy.
Allen and Goff are both in the conversation for this season's Most Valuable Player award. My prediction was passing leader Joe Burrow, and if the Cincinnati Bengals' defence could stop a cold, I actually think he'd be in the running.
Saquon Barkley is doing a phenomenal job. He's blown people away with his athleticism and he'd have to continue on this trajectory (to surpass 2,000 rushing yards), but Adrian Peterson was the last non-QB to win MVP (2012) so it's tough for a running back, especially if Allen is setting NFL records and creating magic.
Earlier in the season I thought maybe the Ravens' Lamar Jackson but I don't think he's taking enough chances, and the Chiefs haven't necessarily been winning games because of Patrick Mahomes.
So I honestly think this could be Allen's year. He's very deserving, and if it isn't this year, when is it?
Phoebe Schecter was speaking to BBC Sport's Ben Collins
