The Bills head to Detroit for a highly anticipated matchup between two of the best teams in the NFL. Buffalo is looking to rebound from their worst defensive performance since the 2021 season after their 44-42 loss to the Rams in Week 14. The Lions are on an 11-game winning streak and have overcome a rash of injuries while maintaining a one-game lead in the competitive NFC North.

The Bills came up short in a 44-42 shootout to the Los Angeles Rams, ending their seven-game winning streak and leaving them with a 12% chance at the number one seed in the AFC. The Rams started the game with a 12-play, 70-yard scoring drive, where they went 3-3 on third down with little resistance or pressure from the Bills’ defense. This drive would serve as a precursor for what we would see the rest of the game.

I’ve never heard a player come out and say, “We’re not game-planning for these games,” but it makes sense. I view preseason games as a way to identify players' performance more than the teams’ performance.