After getting blown out last week, the New England Patriots will be aiming to change the narrative in Sunday's international showdown with the Detroit Lions.
It has been a week of outsiders questioning whether the Patriots are legitimate playoff contenders, much less Super Bowl contenders. The belief in the team has dwindled significantly after they lost 45-27 at home against the Green Bay Packers last week.
There's no sugar-coating the fact that the Patriots are banged up beyond belief. Injuries involving key players is a weekly occurrence, and the team is entering the toughest stretch of their 2026 schedule. With that said, they are still a dangerous football team, even as the walking wounded. Their defense can put the clamps on opposing offenses
when motivated, and Drake Maye is still one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.
But the Lions are rolling.
They have won their last four straight games against the Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Packers and Arizona Cardinals. Jared Goff has an embarrassment of riches at the skilled positions, and their defense can stop the run and get after the opposing quarterback.
They recently defeated the Dolphins at South Beach in a 19-9 victory. If the Patriots' defense can put up as much of a fight as Miami's did last week, they could make this matchup interesting.
Here are the final predictions from the Patriots Wire staff:
Danny Jaillet: Lions 31, Patriots 17
Sophie Weller: Patriots 24, Lions 17
Jordy McElroy: Patriots 27, Lions 19
Matt Legros: Lions 27, Patriots 24
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots Wire staff predictions for Patriots-Lions Week 10 game
