The Detroit Lions (1-1) look to stop the defensive bleeding when the New York Jets (1-1) come to town for a Week 3 showdown. Things can't get much worse for a Lions defense that ranks second-to-last in the NFL with 915 yards allowed and 71 points going the other way.
Granted, the Jets are not bringing as much firepower as Detroit's previous two opponents, but it's a real cause for concern and a reason to believe the Lions could pick up their second loss on Sunday.
The Lions will need their offense, led by quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, to carry the weight in this game. The Jets, however, were able to take the Green Bay Packers to overtime -- which means New York has yet to suffer a regulation defeat in 2026.
It'd still be
an upset to see the Jets prevail in this one, but the Lions' defense is a legitimate weakness and has already been widely exploited this season. Let's take a look at how our experts see this one playing out.
Lions vs Jets odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Lions -9.5
- Moneyline: Lions -410; Jets +320
- Total: 45.5
Get the edge with our exclusive NFL betting picks
Jets at Lions score predictions
Adam Kaufman: Lions 30, Jets 23
The Lions are as dependable offensively as they are unreliable defensively. That combination produced a predictable shootout in last Thursday's loss to Buffalo but, back home at Ford Field, Detroit should take care of business against New York. It's Jets coach Aaron Glenn's first game back in Detroit since departing as Lions defensive coordinator, so he's certainly familiar with how to scheme against Jared Goff and this incredibly talented offense. In a more favorable spot for Breece Hall after his disappointing performance against Green Bay, the Jets will try to exploit a Lions defense surrendering roughly 450 yards per game through two weeks. Detroit's issues in the secondary should also create opportunities for Geno Smith to target Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. Again, we should expect points. Ultimately, though, the home team simply has significantly more to work with.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Lions 31, Jets 21
Things are looking dire for Detroit's defense, which ranks second-to-last in the NFL with 915 yards and 71 points surrendered. Gang Green likely won't pile up production the way that the Saints and Bills did, but this is still a team that can do damage if it rediscovers its run game. Ultimately, though, there's probably not enough firepower for New York to topple Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs. If ever there were a time for the defense to turn on the lights in generating takeaways, this would be it.
Nate Davis: Lions 30, Jets 24
The Jets currently feature the league's top-ranked defense, but they haven't faced an offense with anything close to Detroit's level of firepower. And while this actually might be a more entertaining matchup than maybe it appeared to be just a month ago – and the Lions' decimated secondary will apparently keep most of their opponents in games for the foreseeable future – their offense, especially at climate-controlled Ford Field, will probably prove too much to deal with for Gang Green's D, no matter how good it's looked in oppressive heat and rain to date.
Richard Morin: Lions 27, Jets 24
I'm seriously concerned about the Detroit defense. I don't know how long it will stay this ineffective or whether the answers are in-house or external, but it's putting too much pressure on Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs to outrun and outgun defensive shortcomings. The Jets should provide less of a threat offensively, but I'm not exactly bullish on the way things have been going for the Lions. I don't know if it's enough for me to take the Jets outright, but it bears consideration.
Where to watch Jets at Lions
- Matchup: Lions vs. Jets
- Date: Sept. 27
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
- Venue: Ford Field
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- TV: Fox
NFL Week 3 picks and predictions
- Falcons at Packers
- Chargers at Bills
- Raiders at Saints
- Patriots at Jaguars
- Texans at Colts
- Seahawks at Commanders
- Chiefs at Dolphins
- Jets at Lions
- Bengals at Steelers
- Vikings at Buccaneers
- Titans at Giants
- Cardinals at 49ers
- Panthers at Browns
- Ravens at Cowboys
- Rams at Broncos
- Eagles at Bears
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jets at Lions: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 3 game
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