Fansided

Top 5 stories of NFL’s Week 12: Cowboys, Lions, Seahawks, Bengals and the return of Josh Gordon

By Andrew Garda

Aug 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) scrambles against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) scrambles against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Lions at New England Patriots

In a tight NFC, the Detroit Lions don’t want to leave anything to chance. They would be much happier to win the North and get in safely. The Green Bay Packers won’t go away though, and the two face each other in Week 17 with a good chance that game will determine the division title.

The two are tied, with Detroit currently holding the tiebreaker by virtue of a win the last time the two met in Week 3. That’s too close for comfort though, and it will be hard to beat Green Bay in Lambeau.

The Packers face the Vikings this weekend and while Minnesota will put up a fight, it’s probably going to end up a win for the Packers. Which makes winning this all the more important for Detroit.

Too bad it’s in New England against a red-hot Tom Brady.

This is a tough win for anyone, much less a team with an offense which is misfiring. Matt Stafford is shaky and is focusing on Calvin Johnson way too often the last few weeks. Last week it bit them in the rear end as the offense staggered against the Cardinals.

The Patriots have been a tough team on defense lately and will keep Stafford on his toes. They have two very good corners in Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner and will make it very tough on Stafford if he locks onto Johnson. He needs to get Golden Tate back involved, and do it early.

If he can’t, this could be a long day for the Lions.

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