Dolphins vs Lions preview, predictions, betting odds, live stream info
By Phil Watson
Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions
For one team, the first half of the season was like uncharted territory. For the other, a fan base casts a wary eye toward the second half of the year, having been teased before.
The Miami Dolphins (5-3) are better than .500 at the midpoint of the season for the first time since 2003, while the Detroit Lions (6-2) have squandered good starts a couple of times in recent years.
Last year, the Lions led the NFC North at 6-3 before faltering down the stretch. In 2007, Detroit’s 6-2 start wound up in a 7-9 finish and set the stage for an 0-16 nightmare the following season.
Details for Sunday’s game are below:
Date: Sunday, Nov. 9
Start Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Detroit
Stadium: Ford Field
TV Info: CBS
Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket
Radio: Sirius XM Radio
Ticket information: For Lions ticket info click here. For Dolphins ticket info click here.
Keys to Victory
The Dolphins are coming off their most dominant win in nearly two decades, a 37-0 demolition of the San Diego Chargers in which Miami’s defense held the Chargers to 178 total yards and sacked Philip Rivers four times.
Miami has won three in a row overall, including two on the road, and that streak could be five games save for a last-second loss to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 12.
Detroit has also won three straight and is coming off its bye, although the Lions’ last two wins over the Saints and Falcons were as much their opponents not closing out games they should have won as it was anything the Lions did.
Detroit has the 31st ranked rushing offense in the league, but should get Calvin Johnson back this week, which will help Matthew Stafford.
Ryan Tannehill has been much more efficient this year, completing 63.3 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions after throwing 36 picks in his first two seasons. He comes in off his third game with a 70 percent or better completion percentage this season—matching his total for his first two full seasons.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Dolphins plus-2½
Moneyline: Miami plus-127, Detroit minus-147
O/U: 43½
Prediction
Detroit seems like a much more mature team this season with fewer tendencies toward blowing off all of its toes while shooting itself in the foot repeatedly. Miami is improving, but Detroit has become a tough place to win and the Lions also have to at least taken a peek at the upcoming schedule to see back-to-back road games at Arizona and New England looming. A loss to the Dolphins could have Detroit staring at 6-5 as the fan base has a collective nervous breakdown.
Final Score: Lions 24, Dolphins 20