Detroit (9-1 straight up, 8-2 against the spread) won its eighth consecutive game Sunday when it destroyed Jacksonville 52-6 as a 14-point home favorite.
However, the Lions saw linebacker Alex Anzalone, one of their team captains, sustain a broken forearm that’s going to sideline him for the next 6-8 weeks. The injury occurred late in the second quarter.
Nevertheless, Detroit blanked the Jaguars in the second half and produced a franchise-record 645 yards of total offense.
In a post to his X account after the game, Anzalone said, “Thank you everyone for the well wishes! As an athlete, a lot of times you think “Why did this have to happen?” But I like to think about all the countless reps something bad didn’t happen. I’m beyond blessed! I’ll be back in no time, fresh legs and all.”
Before leaving the game, Anzalone recorded five tackles and one tackle for loss. In nine games this year, the 30-year-old University of Florida product has produced 56 tackles, seven TFL’s, four passes broken up, four QB hits and one sack.
Anzalone, who is in his fourth season with the Lions, has started in 76 of 94 career regular-season games across his eight-year career that started with the Saints. The former third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft has 511 career tackles, 33 QB hits, 30 TFL’s, 26 PBU, 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.
In three postseason games last year, Anzalone had 23 tackles, two TFL’s and one QB hit. He’s played in seven career playoff games, recording 35 tackles, two TFL’s and one QB hit.
Detroit has already lost Pro-Bowl EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson and DE Marcus Davenport to season-ending injuries. LB John Comiskey, who had 36 tackles and two sacks in 2023, tore his MCL in August and it remains to be seen if he can make it back for the playoffs.
Furthermore, reserve LB and special-teams ace Jalen Reeves-Maybin is on injured reserve with a neck injury, and Derrick Barnes is also on IR due to a knee injury. The Lions are hoping both players can return in late December.
Despite the injuries, Detroit keeps on rolling. After throwing five interceptions in last week’s 26-23 win at Houston, Jared Goff bounced back with a masterful performance vs. Jacksonville.
Goff completed 24-of-29 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. He also had 21 rushing yards on four attempts.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had 11 receptions for 161 yards and two TDs on 11 targets. WR Jameson Williams had four catches for 124 yards and one TD.
David Montgomery had 75 rushing yards and two TDs on 15 carries, while Jahmyr Gibbs had 69 rushing yards and one TD on 11 totes. Gibbs also had a 54-yard reception.
The loss, which was the largest in franchise history, dropped the Jaguars to 2-9 SU and 6-5 ATS. They’ll host Houston on Dec. 1 after their open date.
As of Monday morning, Detroit was listed as a 7.5-point road favorite for Sunday’s showdown at Indianapolis. The total was 50.5 or 51 points, and the Colts were +320 on the money line at DraftKings.
FanDuel has the Lions as +420 ‘chalk’ to win Super Bowl LIX. The next-shortest odds belong to the Chiefs (+500), Ravens (+650), Bills (+700), Eagles (+900) and 49ers (+1400).
The betting shop has Detroit as a -410 favorite to win the NFC North. The Vikings have +500 odds, while the Packers are at +1200.