Detroit Lions predictions 2017: Week 13 at Baltimore Ravens
By Zac Snyder
The Detroit Jock City writers make their predictions for the Detroit Lions’ week 13 road game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Each week, the Detroit Jock City staff will make their picks for that week’s Detroit Lions game with a quick take on the matchup and a final score.
The Lions head east to take on the Baltimore Ravens with their season at a crossroads. Last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings effectively ended the team’s hope of a division championship but the Lions remain in the wild card hunt. With an uphill battle in terms of tie breakers the Lions can’t afford many (if any) more losses.
This week’s game against the Ravens looks fairly even on paper as a matchup between 6-5 teams. That may make it a toss-up but it’s one the Lions have to have. Here is what the Detroit Jock City staff sees for the game ahead.
Mike Rizzo (8-3) – The Lions need to win at least four of their final five games to have a shot at the playoffs. Unfortunately the Ravens defense has been stellar this year and I can’t trust the Lions until they win big games. I’m picking the Ravens to win and shut down the Lions offense. Ravens 21, Lions 6
Bruce Walker (7-4) – You have to dig pretty deep to find things that the Detroit Lions defense does better than most. The category of interceptions returned for touchdowns is the clear winner with a number one ranking when compared with everyone else in the NFL. If you average most other categories that affect the outcome of a game, the Lions struggle to approach 20th out of 32 teams defensively. The Baltimore Ravens however, have a whole bunch of top ten defensive rankings. Make no mistake: The Ravens have a good defense. The Lions have a decent offense. If they can solve their slow-starting ways, they would be a good offense. If they somehow find a run game, they would suddenly have a dangerous offense.
That is too many “ifs” for me, though. I will need to see proof that Jim Caldwell is capable of identifying and solving specific problems before I get excited about “ifs”. Fortunately, the Ravens struggle on offense. The Lions can win this game and should win this game, although I expect a low-scoring, close and competitive game. Lions 20, Ravens 17
Matt Snyder (6-5) – Joe Flacco goes for 400 yards as the Ravens effectively end the Lions hopes for a playoff berth. Ravens 31, Lions 17
Zac Snyder (6-5) – After a Thanksgiving loss in which the Lions got off to another slow start, struggled to run the ball and the defense couldn’t get themselves off the field on third down, it’s easy to be really down on the Lions. However, things can flip quickly in the NFL and I think the long week after playing last Thursday will do the Lions well. It’s not a full bye week but it provides a few extra days to heal and put eyes on the things that need to change. Lions 23, Ravens 17
Jack Ozark (5-6) – I really thought the Ravens would be bad this season, yet here we are with both teams at 6-5. The Lions need this one more, and I think they come out and play that way. On Thanksgiving they were sniffing a comeback until Matthew Stafford went down. He didn’t look the same after that, but I’m sure the long week helped him out greatly. What am I most excited for? Seeing Darius Slay pick off a Flacco deep ball. I have a lot of faith that Sunday is going to be a fun one. Lions 24, Ravens 17
Zack Caldwell (5-6) – No pick
Matt Bosko (5-6) – I just do not see the Lions snapping out of their funk on the road after a tremendous letdown on Thanksgiving. There seems to be no answer up front for the opponent’s running game, and Alex Collins has made the most of his opportunity since being named the starter. I see that being the difference, once again, on Sunday. Ravens 17, Lions 13
Ash Thompson (5-6) – If you are looking for a template for bad teams the Lions have trouble against it is the ones with stout defenses who have the ability rush the passer and an offense that can run the ball. Joe Flacco is not a great quarterback but he is better than Trubisky and Kizer. Unfortunately I think the Ravens edge the Lions out this week. On the bright side the Team is 3-2 when I predict a win. Ravens 21, Lions 18
Colton Wesley (3-8) – The Lions have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL down the stretch, but the Ravens are also in a playoff battle of their own. The Ravens’ defense is one of the best in the league at turning teams over, which might be what keeps the Lions from winning this game. The running game has not been consistent and Matthew Stafford is likely to be limited by an ankle injury, both of which play into the Ravens’ strength in the secondary. The Lions lose this one and will need to win out to make the playoffs. Ravens 24, Lions 17
Next: What to watch for between Lions and Ravens
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