4% Detroit Lions OVER 27.5 (-130) — 

Last season we saw how explosive and exciting this Detroit offense was capable of being. They were top 3 in the NFL in offensive TDs and they got it done on the ground and through the air. They were top 5 in passing TDs and led the league in rushing TDs, they were top 5 in both rushing yards and passing yards, while also ranking in the top 5 in comp% and YPC. To close out the season they went over this number in 3 of the L4, 5 of the L7 and 4 of their L5 games as a favorite!

The entire core is basically back, and healthy. Now they will look to start the season off against their ex-signal caller, Matthew Stafford and a Rams defense that looks very different then it did a year ago. For some teams, a new look is a good thing, for the Rams, not so much. 

LB Ernest Jones, DB Jordan Fuller and Aaron Donald were the defensive captains last season, but this year all 3 of them are gone. On top of those 3 huge names, DE Jonah Williams, OLB Michael Hoecht, DT Murchison and DB’s Ahkello Witherspoon & Derion Kendricks have also ended up elsewhere this year. When you look at the production from those guys last season, they accounted for 113 combined starts, 49.5% of the teams tackles, over 50% of the FFs, and 70% of the teams interceptions! 

While they definitely secured a younger defense, it is a defense that lacks experience with 7 rookies in the 1st and 2nd defensive units combined for the Rams. I think the Lions will pick up right where they left off and take advantage of a defense that is going to need to figure out who they really are moving forward this season.