There’s the old ‘adding insult to injury’ adage perfectly encapsulated the Detroit Lions this past weekend.
In a potential Super Bowl preview, the Buffalo Bills went into the Motor City and bested the Lions by a score of 48-42. Josh Allen’s MVP campaign was bolstered further by throwing for 362 yards and two TDs, as well as rushing for 68 yards and another two touchdowns.
The loss drops Detroit to 12-2 and doesn’t help the team’s playoff hopes.
The real impact came from the injuries suffered in this contest. DB Khalil Dorsey sustained a leg fracture. Fellow defensive back Carlton Davis broke his jaw. Starting DT Alim McNeill tore his ACL. As the proverbial cherry on top of the sundae, RB David Montgomery sprained his MCL.
Dorsey, McNeill, and Davis are likely all out for the remainder of the season. Montgomery’s status is unknown, and he will be out indefinitely.
These injuries hurt Detroit moving forward. Already without Aidan Hutchinson, the defensive line was heavily reliant upon McNeill. Losing arguably the team’s best two defensive linemen on top of two core members of the secondary is not ideal as the team moves toward the postseason.
Montgomery’s injury isn’t ideal, either. Even though the Lions have Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield, Montgomery is a tone-setter. He’s reliable, and the physicality he brings to the field mirrors the identity cultivated by head coach Dan Campbell.
The Lions are now O.5 games up on Minnesota and 2.0 games up on Green Bay. Detroit will play at Chicago this Sunday.
