The Detroit Lions are coming off their most gratifying win of the season against the Green Bay Packers, though they tried their darnedest to give it away. After scoring a touchdown to extend their lead to eight points with 3:58 remaining, the Lions allowed the Packers to find the end zone on their ensuing possession. Green Bay then recovered an onside kick and promptly got into field goal range, where Mason Crosby missed a 52-yard kick as time expired.
Raiders vs. Lions 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Lions look to follow up their biggest win of the season with a victory over the reeling Raiders.
The Lions escaped with the victory, but they were inches away from suffering yet another devastating loss.
The margin between elation and deflation on any given Sunday is thin in the NFL, and regardless of how they got it done, the Lions defeated the Packers in Lambeau Field for the first time since 1991. What made the win even more impressive is that it followed two weeks of turmoil in Detroit, in which the club’s general manager, president and three assistant coaches were dismissed.
The 4-5 Oakland Raiders are reeling heading into Detroit after dropping two consecutive games and will be playing without Aldon Smith for the rest of the season. The NFL announced Tuesday it is suspending Smith for one year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Smith was arrested on Aug. 6 in Santa Clara for driving under the influence, hit and run and vandalism. He served a nine-game suspension in 2014 for multiple off-field incidents, including a DUI arrest.
Smith’s absence creates a hole in Oakland’s defense, which allowed 30 points to the Minnesota Vikings last week. The Raiders’ defense has surrendered the seventh-most points in the league this season.
Though the Lions have largely been inept on offense in 2015 -- they’ve put up the fourth-fewest points in the NFL through 10 weeks -- they’ve played better as of late. Matthew Stafford has averaged a QB rating of 99 over the last four weeks, and that’s including a stinker against the Kansas City Chiefs in which he posted a rating of 64.2.
Calvin Johnson has been better the last four weeks as well, catching 22 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns. But despite those improved performances from their two most important offensive players, the Lions haven’t cracked 20 points in any of their last three contests.
That’s good news for the Raiders, who have allowed more than 30 points over their last couple of games. Their porous defense cost them a victory at Pittsburgh in Week 9, when they only lost by three points.
Second-year quarterback Derek Carr has thrown for at least 300 yards in three consecutive contests and two or more touchdowns in each of the last four. But turnovers have hurt the Raiders as of late -- they’ve given the ball away six times over the last two weeks.
Even if the Raiders make mistakes Sunday, it’s uncertain whether the Lions will be able to capitalize. It’s also virtually guaranteed that the Lions will play an imperfect game as well. As they showed against the Packers last week, they can barely get out of their own way, even in the midst of a victory.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
TV: CBS
Commentators: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
Online: NFL Game Pass
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SB Nation presents: Lions shock Packers to end lengthy Lambeau losing streak
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