Two of the best teams in the NFL take the field in the next exciting edition of Sunday Night Football. The Detroit Lions are on top of the NFC but they face a tough test against one of the AFC’s top teams, the Houston Texans.
When these two Super Bowl contenders take the field, who should you back to make the winning pick? Let’s check the NFL odds at top sportsbooks to find out.
NFL Pick: Texans +3.5 (-110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Detroit Lions vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, November 10, 2024 – 08:20 PM ET at NRG Stadium
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions made another statement last Sunday by defeating the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay. Many were questioning Detroit’s ability to get a win outside in cold conditions, but the Lions exceeded expectations and got an easy win. This is the first time since 1956 that the Detroit Lions have started the season 7-1.
The Lions have the best offensive line in the league, which leads them to have the best rushing attack in the league. Their ability to crush at the line of scrimmage has them first in points per game this season at 32.3.
The Lions’ rushing attack is spearheaded by the combination of David Montgomery and Jamhyr Gibbs. These two provide an excellent thunder-and-lightning combination that NFL teams have had a problem stopping so far this season.
Detroit’s quarterback Jared Goff has been a picture of accuracy this season. Goff is first in the NFL in completion percentage at 74.9%. Goff is averaging 8.72 yards per attempt and has a QB rating of 115. This combination of strong rushing and accurate passing has made the Lions the top offense in the NFL this season.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans will try to bounce back after a disappointing loss on Thursday Night Football last week to the New York Jets. Being on Thursday Night Football means that the Texans have had extra rest and time to prepare for this game this weekend.
The Texans will hope to have leading wide receiver Nico Collins back in the lineup.
Collins has missed time with a hamstring injury but still leads the team in receiving so far with 567 yards. He has been crucial to Texans quarterback CJ Stroud‘s success this season, so if the Texans get Collins back for this game, it will be a huge boost.
The Texans also have an excellent rushing attack led by Joe Mixon. Mixon has rushed for 609 yards and six touchdowns this season. Mixon is also an excellent pass blocker, meaning the Texans have the option to keep him in on every single down, even in obvious passing situations. Mixon’s steady production has been a bright spot for the Texans offense this season.
The Texans’ defense is second in yards allowed this season at 281.7 yards per game. However, they are 14th in points allowed at 22.2 points per game. The Texans are going to need all of their defensive acumen to be able to stop the high-powered Lions offense this Sunday night.
Key Matchup: Texans Wide Receivers vs Lions Secondary
This Detroit offense is too good to stop. If the Texans are going to win this game, they are going to need to put up an impressive offensive performance of their own.
While the Texans will rely on the run game to set things up, the key to this game will be whether they can get their passing attack back on track. The Texans struggled moving the ball through the air against the Jets and are going to need to be able to pick up big plays in the passing game if they are to get this win.
If the Texans can put pressure on the Detroit secondary and move the ball through the air, they have a great chance of keeping pace with Detroit’s high-powered offense. If Detroit can shut down the Texans’ primary routes and keep them looking for their third and fourth options on offense, the Lions could achieve an easy win.
The Pick
With Nico Collins potentially back in the lineup, the Houston Texans’ offense should be much better. The extra time to rest and prepare means we will get a fully focused Texans’ attack that will be ready to keep pace with the high-powered Detroit offense. I expect a close game in this matchup.
In the end, the extra points that we are catching will become too valuable. The Texans have a chance to win outright but will definitely cover the point spread. Take the Houston Texans +3.5
NFL Pick: Texans +3.5 (-110) at Bet365
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