Cleveland Browns vs Detroit Lions Betting Preview: A Must Win for the Browns
In Week 11, the Cleveland Browns will leave Ohio to go to Detroit to take on the Lions in a must-win for Cleveland. With the Lions failing to win a game this season, the Browns have to take advantage of their opportunity to pick up a victory and move above .500. But, as one of the Browns’ top rivals proved last week, the Lions cannot be overlooked and are more than capable of giving the Browns a game.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns enter this game as 10.5-point favorites against the Detroit Lions, as they look to bounce back from an embarrassing loss last week to the New England Patriots. Cleveland lost 45-7 against New England, coming out flat and never recovering against a surging Patriots team. This week, the Browns have a chance to move to 6-5 on the season against a Lions team that has yet to win a game this season.
Cleveland, not looking ahead to future weeks of their season, will have to pay attention if they want to win and cover the double-digit point spread. The Browns play a key division game against the Browns the week after their matchup with the Lions and play the Ravens in a second straight game after their bye week. It could be easy to overlook the Lions based on that upcoming schedule, and the Browns will have to be diligent to avoid falling into the trap.
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Detroit Lions
Detroit had their best result of the 2021 NFL season last week when they tied the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. The 16-16 game between the Lions and Steelers was less than aesthetically pleasing, but it was the first game of this season for the Lions that did not end in a loss. This week, the Lions look to pick up their first win of the season against a Cleveland franchise that is no stranger to completing a winless season itself.
Who the quarterback will be for the Lions is a question that must be answered before the start of this contest. Jared Goff has been struggling mightily in Detroit and is considered questionable for this matchup with an oblique injury. If he cannot go, the Lions will have to reach into their depth chart for a backup option, but that could be a blessing in disguise given how poorly Goff has played.
Keys to the Game
The biggest key to this game for the Browns will be just how seriously they take the Lions. Cleveland should use their running game to control the ball and the clock, leaving the Lions with fewer chances than usual to come back and pull out their first victory of the season. But a lack of focus could lead to a lack of execution, which every member of the Browns on both sides of the ball must work to avoid.
On the Detroit side, the key to this game is going to be their mindset. Dan Campbell has made it clear that his team is not giving up this season, as evidenced by last week’s tie and their aggressive approach in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams earlier in the year. If they can continue to bring that aggression, even with a backup quarterback, they could steal this at home if they catch a few breaks.
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