Dahl was drafted in the fifth round in 2016 by the Lions out of Washington State. He has played in 22 games in his three seasons and made a career-high three starts in 2017.

Dahl is listed as the backup to Kenny Wiggins at left guard on the Lions’ depth chart. Detroit plays its preseason opener Thursday night against New England.

—

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Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 18, 2016
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Giants -4.
O/U: 41
PREDICTION: Giants 24, Lions 20

Oddsmakers currently have the Giants listed as 4-point favorites versus the Lions, while the game’s total is sitting at 40½.

The showdown between two of the NFL’s hottest teams could be decided by a single digit. In this case, that digit happens to be the middle finger on Matthew Stafford’s throwing hand.

Stafford reportedly suffered torn ligaments and a dislocation in the first quarter of the Detroit Lions’ 20-17 win over Chicago on Sunday. He threw two interceptions, including a pick six, after having the finger taped and putting on glove on his hand. Stafford still led his club to its eighth fourth-quarter comeback victory, the most by any team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Detroit, which leads the NFC North, will try to extend its winning streak to six games when it faces the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. The Giants have won seven of their last eight games, including a gritty 10-7 victory over NFC East leader Dallas on Sunday night.

“I expect it to be extremely competitive,” Stafford said. “They’re playing for a lot and we’re playing for a lot. It’s an NFC game and it’s going to be a big one. So we’re excited for the opportunity. It’s great to be in this position, we’ve just got to go out there and play well.”

His finger complicates that process. The Lions’ pedestrian running game puts added pressure on Stafford to carry the offense. He’s ninth in the league in both completion percentage (66.7) and passing yards (3,447). He’s also tossed 22 touchdown passes and was intercepted just five times prior to the injury.

Stafford, who scored the game-winning touchdown against the Bears with a 7-yard scramble, hopes the injury will be less of an issue with a week to experiment on equipment and treatment options. He’s unsure whether he’ll wear a glove against the Giants. An early forecast of inclement weather could force another in-game adjustment.

“It’s never fun when it’s on your throwing hand but I’ll figure it out and we’ll go from there,” he said. “(The glove) is not really for my state of mind, it’s for what’s going to be functional. So whatever’s most functional, with what I can perform the best with, that’s what I’ll go with.”

Stafford’s job won’t be any easier if Detroit is missing its leading rusher once again. Theo Riddick, who is most effective as a receiver out of the backfield, sat out against the Bears with wrist and ankle injuries. Riddick did not practice on Wednesday and one of his backups, Zach Zenner, is in the league’s concussion protocol.

With three games remaining, the Lions (9-4) could wrap up their first NFC North title with a victory on Sunday and a Green Bay loss. The Packers and Minnesota Vikings are tied for second place with 7-6 records and Detroit already holds the tiebreaker over Minnesota after sweeping the season series.

The Lions don’t have any soft touches remaining on the schedule. They have to play the Cowboys in Dallas the night after Christmas, then face the Packers at home on New Year’s Day.

In coach Jim Caldwell’s mind, the upcoming games aren’t any different from the ones his team just played.

“It didn’t matter what the Bears’ record was last week,” he said. “That game still had a lot of magnitude. It was very, very important. This one is exactly the same. It just so happens, and that’s how it’s going to be down the stretch, that you’ve got a team that’s playing very, very well and that’s riding high.”

The Giants (9-4) kept their division title hopes alive by defeating the Cowboys for the second time this season. They diffused the Dallas attack despite the absence of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who underwent sports hernia surgery last week and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. New York forced three turnovers, sacked rookie quarterback Dak Prescott three times and held Dallas to 260 total yards.

Other than the crossing route that wide receiver Odell Beckham turned into a 61-yard touchdown reception, the Giants’ offense was a virtual no-show on Sunday. Quarterback Eli Manning threw an interception and lost two fumbles and the rushing game averaged 2.8 yards per carry.

“I’ve got to play better,” Manning said. “Got to find completions, got to protect the football better. That’s what’s got to happen in these types of games. You get into December, you’ve got to protect the football. That’s the most important thing right now.”

Manning was also picked off twice the previous week in a 24-14 loss to Pittsburgh and has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in the last three games. Fortunately for him, the defense has masked the offense’s struggles. Opponents have been held to 20 or fewer points in five of the team’s last six victories.

“We’ve got to keep finding ways to win,” he said. “The defense is playing outstanding, so we’ve got to help them out. We’ve got to score more points, give them a lead and don’t make it hard on them.”

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It’s not for the Detroit Lions and New York Giants as they head into Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium.

Both are 9-4, in good position, and either team can make the postseason with a win and a combination of other results.

The Lions are riding a five-game winning streak that has given them a two-game lead over Minnesota and Green Bay in the NFC North. The Giants are two games behind Dallas (11-2) in the NFC East but they hold a one-game lead in the wild-card race after winning seven of eight.

The problem for the loser will be the schedule. After the Giants, the Lions close at Dallas and then return home to face the Packers, who have are playing much better after a midseason slump.

The Giants close with road games against division rivals. They have a quick turnaround for a Thursday night game against the Eagles (5-8) and finish at Washington (7-5-1), which beat them earlier this season.

”They’re playing for a lot, we’re playing for a lot,” said Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford , who will be playing with an injured middle finger on his throwing hand. ”It’s an NFC game, it’s going to be a big one. We’re excited about the opportunity, obviously, great to be in this type of a position. Just got to go out there and play well.”

The Lions, who made the playoffs as a wild card in coach Jim Caldwell’s first season in 2014 with an 11-5 record, are looking to get back to the postseason after going 7-9 last year. The Giants are looking to end a four-year playoff drought in Ben McAdoo’s first season as coach.

”For us to be here where we are, standing at 9-4 with playoff contention right there on the horizon, it is definitely fun to be here and to understand that the offense hasn’t reached that top pinnacle of where we want to be, and we know it is coming,” said receiver Victor Cruz, a member of New York’s Super Bowl-winning team in February 2012. ”We know it is only a matter of time and hopefully it is this week.”

The defense has been the strength of both teams, with New York’s group preserving probably all nine wins. The Giants’ offense has yet to score 30 points. The Lions’ offense has played well in the fourth quarter, posting comeback wins eight times.

Some things to consider for Sunday’s game:

MATCHING MANNINGS: Caldwell is close with Peyton Manning, dating to their years with the Indianapolis Colts. While he has watched Eli Manning from afar, he sees a lot of similarities.

”He has the same sort of mental makeup and you’d have to certainly attribute that to Archie and Olivia,” Caldwell said of the quarterbacks’ parents. ”They’ve had some young guys in that family, or the men in that family, that have performed very, very well under pressure. They’ve been built for it. He’s had maybe some of the best tutelage that one can have watching his older brother play, and then obviously both of them watching their dad play.”

ELI WOES: The Giants’ offense has been horrible in recent weeks, and so has Eli Manning. His passing yards have been in the 190s in the last three games and he has thrown three interceptions and lost two fumbles. He has not had a 300-yard game since throwing for 403 against Baltimore on Oct. 16.

”I got to play better,” Manning said. ”Got to find completions, got to protect the football better. That’s what’s got to happen in these type of games, and you get into December, you got to protect the football. That’s the most important thing right now.”

LEANING ON THE OL: Detroit desperately needs its offensive line to keep the Giants’ line off Stafford, who hurt the middle finger on his right hand early in last week’s win over Chicago . The line, which includes first-round pick Taylor Decker at left tackle and third-round pick Graham Glasgow at center, will have to block 350-pound defensive tackle Damon Harrison and defensive end Oliver Vernon.

The Giants have 26 sacks since mid-October, second best in the league in that span.

FIELD POSITION: Giants punter Brad Wing has placed 10 of his last 22 punts inside the opposition’s 20. He was the NFC special teams player of the week for netting 42.9 yards in the win over the Cowboys. Watch New York long snapper Zak DeOssie; he is dealing with a hamstring issue.

NO RUNNING: The Lions and Giants are among the NFL’s worst rushing teams. Detroit is ranked No. 29, averaging 83.7 yards. The Giants are No. 31, averaging 78.7 yards. Theo Riddick leads the Lions with 357 yards on 92 carries, a 3.9 yard average, but is a major threat as a receiver. Rashad Jennings has 459 yards on 136 carries for New York, a 3.4 yard average.

—

AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Allen Park, Michigan contributed to this report.

—

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Washington Redskins vs. Detroit Lions
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 23, 2016
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Lions -1. O/U: 49
PREDICTION: Redskins 24, Lions 23

Oddsmakers currently have the Lions listed as 1-point favorites versus the Redskins, while the game’s total is sitting at 48½.

Wide receiver Marvin Jones has cooled down from his hot start, but still found the end zone in back-to-back weeks despite reeling in just six total receptions for 47 yards. The 26-year-old is expected to see a healthy dose of cornerback Josh Norman on Sunday, so perhaps Stafford will shift his focus toward veteran Anquan Boldin or Golden Tate. The 36-year-old Boldin collected his third touchdown this season last Sunday and has eight scores in his last five encounters with Washington while Tate erupted after a sputtering start to haul in eight catches for 165 yards and a touchdown versus Philadelphia last week. Detroit was a 31-28 winner in its last match at home against the Rams. They covered the -2.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 59 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

Team record: 3-3 SU,3-3 ATS
Detroit is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games
Detroit is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 6 games

Cousins will look to Pierre Garcon and Jamison Crowder to exploit Detroit’s 23rd-ranked pass defense, although fellow wideout DeSean Jackson’s involvement in Sunday’s game is in question. Jackson missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday with a sore shoulder, sustained in the second half against the Eagles. “I want to play and I think I’ll be able to, so I’ll be all right,” Jackson said. “It’s nothing too serious, but still enough to hold me back from practicing. They’re giving me the time I need to get it right, so hopefully I’ll be ready for Sunday.” In their last action, Washington was a 27-20 winner at home against the Eagles. They covered the +3-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (47) was profitable news for OVER bettors.

Team record: 4-2 SU,4-2 ATS
Current Streak: won 4 straight games.
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Washington’s last 11 games

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Los Angeles at Detroit
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 16, 2016
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Oddsmakers currently have the Lions listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Rams, while the game’s total is sitting at 43½.

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions have failed to find any consistency on offense. Their opponent this week has been even worse.

Both teams will be seeking better results when the Los Angeles Rams visit Detroit on Sunday.

The Lions snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles 24-23 last Sunday despite gaining just 45 yards in the second half. Detroit’s offense failed to produce a touchdown the previous week against Chicago’s injury-riddled defense.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford did throw three first-half touchdown passes against the Eagles but is mindful that the Rams held Detroit’s offense to two scores in a 21-14 Lions loss last season in St. Louis.

“We played a team that was undefeated and was playing really well on defense. But each week presents a new challenge,” he said. “This week against the Rams is no different. They have a really talented defense and a smart defensive coordinator (Gregg Williams) who gives you a bunch of looks. It will be on us to adjust and move forward.”

Stafford was sacked four times by the Rams last season and that’s a big concern for coach Jim Caldwell.

“They can rush the passer,” he said. “They’ve got guys that can get up the field. Everybody knows about (defensive tackle Aaron) Donald. He’s an inside rusher that can give you a lot of problems. But out on the edge you can just go on and on about those guys. There’s a lot of guys that can get up the field and they give you a lot of problems in terms of the looks they have.”

The Lions fortified their backfield by signing veteran Justin Forsett this week. It’s uncertain how much he’ll play behind current starter Theo Riddick.

Detroit (2-3) is hopeful of getting its top pass rusher, Ziggy Ansah, back in action after he missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain. It’s likely to be without defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who has a shoulder injury.

The Rams (3-2) had a three-game winning streak snapped by the Buffalo Bills, 30-19. Quarterback Case Keenum threw for a season-high 271 yards but tossed two interceptions, including a pivotal pick-six with the score tied in the third quarter.

Los Angeles also failed to convert a fake punt at its 25-yard-line while trailing by four late in the game, allowing Buffalo to score a clinching touchdown.

“They created turnovers and made big plays in two situations,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “We didn’t get any turnovers and we gave up too many rushing yards.”

The Rams outgained the Bills 365-305, which Fisher saw as a sign of progress for an offense ranked last in average total yards (284.2) and tied for last with Houston in points (16.4 per game).

“We’re getting better on third down,” he said. “We made some plays on third down, we had nine explosive plays against a really good defense and had 23 first downs. You can take the 32nd in the league and write all you want about it, but this offense is improving.”

Perhaps so, but the centerpiece to the attack can’t find much room. Second-year back Todd Gurley is averaging 2.7 yards per carry and is still seeking his first 100-yard game this season.

Gurley had 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Detroit last year.

“Don’t be fooled by (his stats),” Caldwell said. “I’m going to tell you something — that guy is dangerous.”

The most consistent element of the offense has been kicker Greg Zuerlein, who has made all nine of his field-goal attempts and his seven extra-point tries.

“Greg is kicking really well right now,” Fisher said. “I’d like for Greg to kick off and kick extra points. He’s hitting his field goals, but our touchdown-to-field goal ratio is not where it should be. We need touchdowns.”

Los Angeles’ defense took a big hit against Buffalo when top cornerback Trumaine Johnson suffered an ankle injury that will sideline him for this week’s game. Johnson returned an interception for a touchdown against Stafford and the Lions last season.

He’ll be replaced by second-year corner Troy Hill. The team added some depth by claiming Dwayne Gratz off waivers from Jacksonville.

Los Angeles:
Team record: 3-2 SU,3-2 ATS
Los Angeles is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games
Los Angeles is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Los Angeles’s last 17 games

Detroit:
Team record: 2-3 SU,2-3 ATS
Detroit is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Detroit is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 5 games at home

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Detroit at Minnesota
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 20, 2015
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Vikings -3. O/U: 43
PREDICTION: Lions 20, Vikings 17
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Oddsmakers currently have the Vikings listed as 3-point favorites versus the Lions, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.

Labeling his team’s performance as “embarrassing,” Peterson rushed for 31 yards on only 10 carries in his first game since missing more than a year while dealing with child abuse allegations. Minnesota defensive end Everson Griffen provided bulletin-board material with his proclamation on Wednesday. “We’re going to beat Detroit,” Griffen told reporters. “I’m very angry right now, as you can see, because we prepared way too hard (to lose on Monday). But we’re going to go out there and get ’em.”

Minnesota lost its last outing, a 20-3 result against the 49ers on September 14. The Vikings failed to cover in that game as a -3-point favorite, while the 23 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 0-1 SU,0-1 ATS
Minnesota is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Minnesota’s last 12 games
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

Calvin Johnson was held in check last Sunday with just two catches for 39 yards, but could break out in a big way against Minnesota. The veteran wideout recorded an amazing 207-yard performance versus the Vikings in 2012 and has four touchdowns in his last five meetings. Rookie Ameer Abdullah rushed for a 24-yard touchdown on his first carry against the Chargers and looks to take advantage of a Vikings defense that was torched for 168 yards by 49ers running back Carlos Hyde.

Last time out for Detroit, they were a 33-28 loser as they battled the Chargers on the road. The Lions failed to cover in the match as a +3.5-point underdog, while 61 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Team record: 0-1 SU,0-1 ATS
Detroit is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Detroit’s last 21 games
Detroit is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road

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Detroit at Dallas
When: 4:40 PM ET, Sunday, January 4, 2015
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: 4:40 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Cowboys -6.5. O/U: 48
PREDICTION: Cowboys 27, Lions 17
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Oddsmakers currently have the Cowboys listed as 7-point favorites versus the Lions, while the game’s total is sitting at 48.

Murray ran away with the league rushing title, setting franchise records with 1,845 yards and 12 100-yard games despite undergoing surgery for a broken hand suffered in Week 15. Murray has rushed for six of his 13 touchdowns over the past five games, but Dallas has been equally effective through the air with Dez Bryant hauling in six scoring passes in the last three games en route to a league-best total of 16. The much-maligned Romo played superbly down the stretch to enter the MVP conversation, throwing for 12 touchdowns versus one interception during the four-game winning streak while posting a quarterback rating of at least 129.1 in six of the final nine contests. The Cowboys’ defense, which ranked last in 2013, yielded only three first-half TDs during the winning streak.

Last time out for Dallas, they were a 44-17 winner as they battled the Redskins on the road. The Cowboys covered in the match as a -6.5-point favorite, while 61 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Team record: 12-4 SU,10-6 ATS
Current Streak: won 4 straight games.
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Dallas is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas’s last 7 games
Dallas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home

Detroit allowed a total of 15.5 points during a four-game winning streak – all against teams with losing records – but was gashed for a season-worst 152 rushing yards in the 30-20 loss to the Packers. That more than doubled the per-game average of 69.3 yards allowed by the Lions, who ranked second in the league in points (17.6) and total yards (300.9) allowed while registering 42 sacks and 20 interceptions. Detroit’s offense continues to battle inconsistency despite Matthew Stafford going over 4,000 yards passing for the fourth straight season and wideouts Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate each surpassing 1,000 yards. Johnson, who missed three games due to injury, torched the Cowboys last season with a franchise-record 329 yards and a TD on 14 receptions.

Last time out for Detroit, they were a 30-20 loser as they battled the Packers on the road. The Lions failed to cover in the match as a +8-point underdog, while 50 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Team record: 11-5 SU,7-9 ATS
Detroit is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Detroit’s last 19 games
Detroit is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

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Detroit at Green Bay
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, December 28, 2014
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Packers -7½. O/U: 48
PREDICTION: Packers 27, Lions 20
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Oddsmakers currently have the Packers listed as 7½-point favorites versus the Lions, while the game’s total is sitting at 48.

Despite the injured calf, Rodgers threw for 318 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win at Tampa Bay, rebounding from a dismal performance in the previous week’s loss in Buffalo. Rodgers has thrown 23 touchdowns versus zero interceptions at home this season and has a pair of elite targets in wideouts Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, who have each surpassed 1,200 yards while combining for 179 catches and 23 touchdowns. Second-year running back Eddie Lacy was limited to 36 yards in the first meeting against Detroit, but has scored all 13 of his touchdowns since while rushing for 1,000 yards for the second straight season. Linebacker Clay Matthews has 4.5 of his 10 sacks in the past two games as the Packers limited the Bills and Bucs to 253 and 109 total yards, respectively.

In their last action, Green Bay was a 20-3 winner on the road against the Buccaneers. They covered the -11.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (23) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

Team record: 11-4 SU,8-6-1 ATS
Green Bay is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
Green Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Green Bay’s last 19 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Green Bay’s last 5 games

Detroit won its fourth in a row with a come-from-behind victory at Chicago, ending a string of nine straight division road losses in December and January. The Lions rank second in total yards allowed (295.9) and points allowed (16.8) and have surrendered an NFL-low 63.8 yards rushing behind an outstanding front four led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Although Stafford struggled against the Bears last week, he went over 4,000 yards for the fourth straight season and has a pair of 1,000-yard wideouts in Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson, who has eclipsed 100 yards in three of the past four games. Joique Bell and Reggie Bush are a solid backfield tandem, but Detroit will be without starting center Dominic Raiola, who was suspended one game for stomping on the ankle of a Chicago player.

Detroit was a 20-14 winner in its last match on the road against the Bears. They failed to cover the -9.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 34 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

Team record: 11-4 SU,7-8 ATS
Current Streak: won 4 straight games.
Detroit is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Detroit’s last 14 games
Detroit is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

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Detroit at Chicago
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 21, 2014
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
TV: 1 p.m. FOX.
LINE: Lions –7. O/U: 46
PREDICTION: Lions 34, Bears 13
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Oddsmakers currently have the Lions listed as 4½-point favorites versus the Bears, while the game’s total is sitting at 47½.

Cutler has posted an NFL-high 24 turnovers and last year’s No. 2 scoring offense has dropped to 19th this season. “We haven’t been able to do the things that we want to get done,” Trestman said about Cutler and the offense. “We’ve seen moments of it, but it’s not where we need to be. But it’s not all about Jay. It’s about our entire offense, working together to get it done.” The defense has been just as bad or worse, as the preseason Super Bowl contender has surrendered the most points (409) in the league, and the problems aren’t just limited to the field. Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer had to extend a tearful apology after disparaging comments he made about Cutler hit the press last week.

In their last action, Chicago was a 31-15 loser at home against the Saints. They failed to cover the +3.5-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (46) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

Team record: 5-9 SU,5-9 ATS
Current Streak: lost 3 straight games.
Chicago is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Chicago is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Chicago’s last 18 games
Chicago is 3-13-1 ATS in its last 17 games at home

The defense, which shut out Minnesota in the second half and intercepted two passes, picked up an offense that garnered a season-low 233 total yards while Matthew Stafford finished with a season-worst 18.5 total quarterback rating. The Lions rank first in points allowed (17.0) and rushing defense (63.8) and second in total defense (300.3), and that unit will play a key role should next week’s game in Green Bay be for the division title. The offense is operating at its lowest level since Stafford’s 2009 rookie season, scoring only 20.7 points and averaging 340.9 yards of total offense.

In their last action, Detroit was a 16-14 winner at home against the Vikings. They failed to cover the -8-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (30) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

Team record: 10-4 SU,7-7 ATS
Current Streak: won 3 straight games.
Detroit is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Detroit’s last 13 games
Detroit is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Detroit is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road

The post Detroit vs. Chicago Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

TV: 9:30 a.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Lions -3.5. O/U: 46.5
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Oddsmakers currently have the Lions listed as 3-point favorites versus the Falcons, while the game’s total is sitting at 47.

Atlanta came into the season with questions surrounding its defense, but the Falcons have struggled on the other side of the ball – blowing a 10-point second-half lead against the New York Giants in Week 5 and scoring only one touchdown in each of their last two losses to Chicago (27-13) and Baltimore (29-7). Ryan opened the season with a 448-yard, three-TD performance in a win over New Orleans, but he has been limited to one scoring pass in four of the past six games. An already-suspect running game has been further hindered by an injury-ravaged offensive line that is missing four starters. Atlanta is 30th overall in both points (28.4) and total yards (412.1) and has only seven sacks.

In their last action, Atlanta was a 29-7 loser on the road against the Ravens. They failed to cover the +6.5-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (36) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

Johnson has been a non-factor since his ankle issues cropped up in Week 4, but Detroit has compensated for the superstar receiver’s loss with a defense that permits a league-low 290.3 yards and ranks second with 15.0 points allowed. The Lions have also registered 21 sacks and could build upon that total against Ryan, who has been sacked nine times over the past two games. Lions quarterback Matt Stafford has thrown for only nine scoring passes versus six interceptions, but he rallied Detroit with two TD passes in the final 3:38 last week to erase a 13-point deficit against the Saints. Golden Tate had 10 catches for 154 yards and a TD last week and has at least seven receptions in four straight games.

Detroit won its last outing, a 24-23 result against the Saints on October 19. The Lions failed to cover in that game as a -1.5-point favorite, while the 47 combined points took the game OVER the total.

Detroit:
Team record: 5-2 SU,4-3 ATS
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit’s last 6 games
Detroit is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Detroit is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta

Atlanta:
Team record: 2-5 SU,2-5 ATS
Current Streak: lost 4 straight games.
Atlanta is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta’s last 6 games
Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Detroit

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