Can Ryan Fitzpatrick’s magic continue?
The 2-0 Buccaneers and their soaring quarterback face the reeling Steelers. Who wins?
Passing
Patriots Opp. Rushing Patriots Opp. Scoring Patriots Opp. Att
74 79 Att. 55 58 TD Cmp
50 487 67.6 46 535 58.2 Yds Avg Lng TD 204 3.7 15 271 4.7 31 Rsh Rec Ret 5 050 6 150 Possession Avg. Total Net Yards Net Yards Rushing Avg. Per Game Net Yards Passing Avg. Per Game Yds Patriots Cmp% 0 1 Pts 47 51 Opp. Yds/ Att TD
6.6 5 6.8 5 Receiving Patriots Opp. Int.
Patriots Opp.
Kicking
Patriots Opp. Int
1 2 Rec. Lng
30 61 Yds
4/24 104.1 3/18 90.3 Avg Lng TD 50 511 10.2 30 46 553 12.0 61
No. Yds Avg
2 1
PAT
5/5 4/5 6/6 3/3
Patriots
Total First Downs Rushing
3rd Down Pct. 4th Down/Att. 4th Down Pct. Penalties/Yards Sack/ Lost
0 1
0.0 1.0
FG Rtg 5 5 TD
0 0
Pts
17 15 Opp. L ......... N.Y. Jets ......... 48-17 L ...... at San Fran . ...... 30-27 Sept. 23 New England 8:20 Sept. 30 ....... at Dallas ....... 1 Oct. 7 ........ Green Bay ........ 1 Oct. 14 .............. Bye .............. Oct. 21 ........ at Miami ........ 1 Oct. 28 ......... Seattle ......... 1 Nov. 4 ..... at Minnesota ..... 1 Nov. 11 ...... at Chicago ...... 1 Nov. 18 ........ Carolina ........ 1 Nov. 22 .... Chicago .... 12:30 Dec. 2 ........ L.A. Rams ........ 1 Dec. 9 ..... at Arizona ..... 4:25 Dec. 16 ....... at Buffalo ....... 1 Dec. 23 ...... Minnesota ...... 1 Dec. 30 ...at Green Bay .... 1
Sunday, 8:20
Field, Detroit
TV: NBC
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 61⁄2
Patriots’ keys to victory: QB Tom Brady needs to find someone other than TE Rob Gronkowski to step up and make plays for the offense. Lions coach Matt Patricia coordinated New England’s defense for years and knows the tendencies, so Brady and the offense must not be predictable. The trade for former Pro Bowl WR Josh Gordon should help. Gordon, 27, led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards in 2013. But he played just 10 games from 2013 to 2017, missing two full seasons while serving suspensions for multiple violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Lions’ keys to victory: The Detroit run defense has looked uncoordinated and chaotic in both the preseason and through the first two weeks. The front seven must figure out who has what gap assignments and execute better. LB Devon Kennard has impressed as a pass rusher, and he’s getting help from rookie DE Da’Shawn Hand. They must be able to make an impact against the run as well. QB Matthew Stafford has missed too many downfield throws, notably to WR Marvin Jones, on plays he routinely hit in prior seasons.
Matchup to watch: Patriots RB James White vs. Lions LB Jarrad Davis. White is a capable dual-threat back who can win as a runner or receiver. Davis has struggled in space and must diagnose more quickly, but he has playmaking ability, too.
Who wins? Detroit hasn’t found consistent success on either side of the ball against two teams not as good as the Patriots. Even at home, it’s a leap of faith to think the Lions can pull off the upset.
Patriots, 36-28
Jeff Risdon p.m. ET, Ford Patriots