The Eagles (12-2) earned an impressive 27-13 win over the Steelers (10-4) in Week 15, and then they received even better news when the Buffalo Bills defeated the Detroit Lions 48-42 at Ford Field.
The win dropped Detroit to 12-2 on the season, keeping Philadelphia within striking distance of the No. 1 seed. Because Philadelphia’s two losses came to NFC teams, the Eagles would need to win out and have the Lions lose to the Bears, 49ers, or Vikings in their next three games. The Vikings would need to lose to either the Bears, Seahawks, Packers, or Lions down the stretch for Philadelphia to earn the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage.
The news that star running back David Montgomery could miss the remainder of the season with an MCL injury adds more uncertainty to the Detriots’ stretch run.
#Lions RB David Montgomery suffered a torn MCL in the team’s loss to the #Bills and could be out for the season, including the playoffs, sources say. He’s having more tests to figure out the severity and next steps.
Montgomery somehow finished the game. pic.twitter.com/ZljyJQVNsU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2024
On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Lions would be without starting defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s loss to Buffalo, ending his season.
Schefter reports that starting cornerback Carlton Davis III suffered a fractured jaw in Sunday’s loss. Davis will undergo surgery and be sidelined indefinitely. Head coach Dan Campbell said the Lions also lost cornerback Khalil Dorsey to a season-ending ankle injury during Sunday’s game.
The injuries are the latest setbacks for the Lions’ defense, with 13 defensive players on the injured reserve list entering Sunday’s game. That includes star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 6.
The loss to the Bills snapped the Lions’ 11-game winning streak. The Lions (12-2) are still in the top spot in the NFC playoff bracket, holding the tiebreaker over the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) based on winning percentage in conference games, with three games to go.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was 23-34 passing for 362 yards (10.6 avg), two touchdowns, and a 122 passer rating; Allen also had ten strong carries for 69 yards (6.9 avg) and two touchdowns.
Buffalo running back James Cook had 14 carries for 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Bills wide receiver Ty Johnson exploded for five catches for 114 yards.
While the Detroit defense struggled on the day, the Lions offense exploded. Jared Goff, who passed for 494 yards and five touchdowns, went 38-59. Amon-Ra St. Brown exploded with 14 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
Detroit’s dynamic duo at running back, Jahmyr Gibbs, was held to 8 carries for 31 yards and a touchdown, while David Montgomery was held to five carries for four yards.
[lawrence-auto-related count=5]