Prediction 1
Detroit (+3) to cover vs. New England Spread
(-106)
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Prediction 2
DET vs. NE game total over 45.5 Total
(-115)
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Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots Week 5 matchup preview and current betting lines
New England plays host to Detroit on Sunday at 1 p.m. as it hopes to not fall to 1-4 for the first time since 2000 under Bill Belichick. The Lions have been on fire offensively and will certainly post a stern test.
Detroit (1-3) will attempt and bounce back from a 48-45 home loss to Seattle. The Lions cut the lead to 41-38 with 5:46 in the fourth quarter but surrendered a 41-yard rushing touchdown to Rashaad Penny to put the game out of reach. The Lions added a late touchdown through Justin Jackson with 1:06 left but could not recover the onside kick.
The team was missing its leading wide receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown due to injury. Through the first three weeks of the season, St. Brown has posted 253 receiving yards on 23 receptions with four total touchdowns. The 4th-round pick is questionable for Sunday but is expected to play.
The Patriots also lost in week 4, 27-24 at the hands of Green Bay in overtime. Belichick had to put in third-string quarterback Bailey Zappe after backup Brian Hoyer (now on injured reserve) went down with a concussion.
New England took a 24-17 lead with 11:14 to play, but Aaron Rodgers led a comeback and found Romeo Doubs with 6:14 remaining for a 13-yard score. Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby made a 31-yard field goal as time expired to give the Patriots their second consecutive loss.
The current moneyline odds for this contest on BetRivers Sportsbook are Detroit (+144) vs. New England (-164). Oddsmakers favor the Patriots as 3-point favorites at -115 odds. Among the public, 54% of spread bets have been placed on the Lions to cover.
Players to watch in the Detroit vs. New England contest
Detroit
TJ Hockenson: The 2019 No. 8 overall pick exploded on Sunday with a career-best game. Hockenson recorded eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. One of his receptions went for 81 yards. Jared Goff will likely target Hockenson again heavily when mismatched with linebackers.
New England
Jakobi Meyers: The 4th-year wideout has been considered New England’s top receiving threat for the second consecutive year. Meyers missed last week with an injury and is returning to face a weak Lions defense. Slot receivers have been imperative to New England since Belichick arrived and Zappe will likely use him as a security blanket throughout the game.
Our NFL bet of the week for the Lions vs. Patriots
ESTNN is providing wagerers with two free selections for this game.
Detroit vs New England Spread: Detroit +3 @ -106
It will be tough for the Patriots to field a rookie third-string quarterback for his first NFL start. The 4th-rounder went 10-of-15 for 99 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay but was sacked three times and posted a measly 15.6 quarterback rating. It was evident down the stretch that Belichick did not trust him throwing the ball.
Detroit’s defense allows 444.8 yards per game ranking it last in the league. The unit is also the worst in points per game (35.2).
The defense won’t be New England’s problem. It’ll be limiting the Lions from scoring. The offense is first in the NFL in both total offense (436.8 yards per game) and in points scored per contest (35). The Patriots are 22nd in points allowed per game (24.5).
Detroit’s rushing attack is led by both De’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. Swift is likely to miss the contest but Williams is dangerous both on the ground and through the air. The two-headed monster will now become one with Williams for the second game in a row.
The BYU product played well against Seattle recording 108 yards on 18 carries (5.7 average) and scored twice. Williams leads the NFL in touchdowns with six. Detroit is averaging 5.6 yards per carry this season (2nd in the NFL) while the Patriots are allowing 5.4 yards per tote which is the third-worst among the 32 teams.
Dan Campbell’s squad has scored on 47.8% of its drives after halftime in 2022 (3rd). Belichick’s team has allowed opposing offenses to score 47.6% of the time in second halves (29th).
The Lions are 3-1 against the spread this season with two losses coming by three points and one game by four. New England is 1-2-1 versus the spread in 2022. Our pick at ESTNN is to take the Lions to cover the 3-point spread at +106 odds on BetRivers Sportsbook.
Lions vs. Patriots odds: Game total over 45.5 points @ -115
The Lions scored 45 points alone in their last contest vs. Seattle. The Patriots aren’t the Seahawks and have a legendary coach at the helm who is a game-planning master. Although, it will be hard to keep the NFL’s top-scoring team from reaching the endzone, especially if the Patriots have trouble moving the chains with Zappe.
New England averages 18.5 points per contest and adding the number with the 35 points per game from Detroit equals 53.5. The Lions have hit the game total over in its last six games and the Patriots have in their last seven games in Foxborough.
With the 22nd and 32nd-ranked defenses in points per game matching up, the over should hit. Our advice at ESTNN is to take the over 45.5 point total on FanDuel at -115 odds.
If you’re interested in learning about more prop bets for week 5, read our NFL player props page.
Frequently asked questions regarding Detroit vs. New England in week 5
The coach who often rocks a hoodie with cut-off sleeves has coached New England for 23 seasons. The 70-year-old is in his 47th year as a head coach and has lifted the Lombardi Trophy with the Patriots on six occasions.
If you’re interested in reading about other game lines, view our NFL Odds for this week page for more information.
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