Detroit Lions: Can they Cover the Spread on the Road in Week 11?

The Detroit Lions finally didn’t lose a game. Last week in a downpour, they tied the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, 16-16.

In Week 11, the Lions are again on the road, facing off against the Cleveland Browns. The latest NFL odds have the Lions as 11.5-point underdogs.

Can they cover it?

Detroit Lions: Winless in Week 11

Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are having a tough year. They’ve given up an average of 28.9 points per game, making them the worst in points allowed in the NFC.

On offense, the Lions have averaged 16.7 points per matchup. In that category, they’re tied for last in the NFC along with the Chicago Bears.

Last week in Pittsburgh, the Lions leaned heavily on running back D’Andre Swift. He carried the ball 33 times for 130 yards. Quarterback Jared Goff completed 14 out of 25 passes for 114 yards.

Due to penalties, the Lions ended up with 84 yards in infractions. They also allowed four sacks, dropping their total passing yards to 77 for the game.

The Lions only converted 22% of their 3rd downs, and they got shut out in the second half.

In overtime, they punted twice and missed a 48-yard field goal.

Ben Roethlisberger missed the game due to COVID-19. I believe this is one of the main reasons the Lions managed to get a tie in this game. If Roethlisberger played, I don’t think this game would have made it to overtime.

At the end of the day, it took terrible weather and Big Ben on the bench to keep Detroit from losing again, and they still only managed a tie. Surely something has to change.

Can the Lions Build Off a Tie?

A tie on the road is better than a loss. The Detroit Lions have a much better record when it comes to beating the spread.

They are 5-4 ATS this season and 3-2 ATS when they’re on the road.

Cleveland is 2-3 ATS at home. Both teams are 2-1 ATS in non-conference games.

So, the Lions have a shot at covering the spread against the Browns.

One major factor in the game could be the weather. The Lions will still be in the Rust Belt, which has a harsh climate in November. The forecast around kickoff time projects rain showers and wind gusts between 10-20 MPH.

This type of weather tends to lead to low-scoring games, which will help the Lions’ chances to cover.

The Browns Were Embarrassing Last Week

The Browns got whooped on the road last week against the New England Patriots, 45-7. Baker Mayfield has been dealing with injuries for a few weeks.

Last week, he left the game and was listed as questionable for Sunday (he practiced on Thursday).

Is Detroit a Good Pick for King of the Weekend?

If the Lions have any chance of covering against the Browns, this is the week to do it. Detroit will have a hard time running the ball against the Browns, who allow the fifth-fewest running yards per game, but Cleveland has a hard time scoring. They’re 23rd in red-zone percentage (54.5%) and are 18th in points per game.

Do you think the Detroit Lions can cover the spread in Week 11? Then, head on over to BetMGM’s King of the Weekend promo for your chance to win $50,000. Pick the top six teams to score the most points this week, and you could be eligible for that grand prize. So create your account and get started today.