Can the Detroit Lions Score at Least 21 Points in Week 6?

Dan Campbell took over the Detroit Lions with the resolve to change the culture of the team. Instead, what has followed is a team full of grit, even against some stiff competition.

Yes, they are 0-5, but the way they’ve gotten there is much more encouraging than a season like 2008, which NFL odds have reflected as well.

With the Bengals vs. Lions matchup set to take place at Ford Field this Sunday, let’s take a look at how the offense should fare against an unfamiliar foe.

The Detroit Lions Passing Game

For the first time since 2009, the Lions’ starting quarterback wasn’t Matthew Stafford. Instead, they traded for Jared Goff, and he hit the ground running.

In Week 1, he threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Since then, he has only thrown four touchdowns and has yet to hit over 300 yards again.

A large part of the problem is that he’s facing immense pressure. He’s taken 14 sacks already this season, including eight in the past two games.

The team is also waiting for a receiver to emerge as a genuine threat. Through Week 5, the top receivers in both yards, receptions, and targets are running back D’Andre Swift and tight end T.J. Hockenson.

Detroit’s Running Game

This offseason, the Lions signed Jamaal Williams to pair with D’Andre Swift in the backfield. The results have been encouraging so far.

The team ranks 11th in the league at 4.3 yards per rush. So the volume isn’t high, but they’ve proven that they can be effective when called on.

Scoring Trends

In Week 1, Detroit put up 33 points against the 49ers.

They haven’t been able to cross 20 since then.

The Lions have scored 17 points three times since then and 14 in the other game. They’ve scored all of their points in only one-half of the game in three of their games.

The offense seems to be a force when in a rhythm; it just needs to get there first. They also don’t waste the opportunities they get, as evidenced by a strong 64.29% red zone scoring percentage.

On the season, they’re averaging 19.6 points per game.

A Glance at the Bengals Defense

The Lions Week 6 opponent, the Bengals, have a strong defense this season.

They’re allowing 20 points per game, which is 7th in the NFL. They have, however, allowed 21 or more in their past two contests against the Packers and the Jaguars.

They allow 4.1 yards per rush, which ranks 13th in the league. Through the air, they allow 6.9 yards per pass attempt, which is 8th.

They also have 13 sacks, which puts them at 7th in the NFL.

Clawing for Points

Another tough matchup for a Detroit Lions offense struggling to score doesn’t bode well for them to hit 21 points this week.

I’d look for other candidates when you play BetMGM’s King of the Weekend promo. Choose the top five scoring NFL offenses from a pool of ten teams, and you could win $50,000.