Jets vs. Lions: Five Bold Predictions

Disclaimer:  A Bold Prediction is not something that is likely or probable to happen. Bold Predictions are guesses that are beyond what anyone can reasonably expect to happen, but not so far as to be physically impossible. Saying that Geno Smith is going to throw for 162 yards and one touchdown is not a bold prediction, nor is saying that Chris Johnson will run for 423 yards and eight touchdowns.  Nor is saying that Ben Schneier22 will predict that Geno Smith is going to throw for 162 yards and one touchdown and Chris Johnson will run for 423 yards and eight touchdowns. By definition, Bold Predictions are unlikely, but possible, to occur.  Since this is a Jets site, they are also pro-Jets predictions. As always, the Final Score prediction is meant to be realistic, not a Bold Prediction.

Let's take a quick look at last week's Bold Predictions results before moving on to Sunday's game.  I predicted that the Jets defense would hold the Bears wide receivers to less than 110 yards receiving and zero TDs.  The actual numbers for Bears wide receivers were 120 yards and zero TDs.  That's so close to being perfect I'm going to give myself credit for getting that one (mostly) right.  Yay me!  Good thing that one wasn't too bad, because the rest of my predictions were straight garbage (sigh).   So far out of 15 Bold Predictions this year I've gotten two kinda sorta almost exactly right.    My bonus prediction last week was that Ryan Quigley would not do anything to make GGN members call for his job on Monday Night.  With Quigley averaging 48+ yards on 3 punts and limiting the Bears to a single 11 yard punt return, I would say I nailed that one.  That's three for three this year in bonus predictions.  Not bad at all.   I fell to 2-1 in predicting the winner of the game, having predicted a narrow Jets win last Monday.

Let's see what I can get right this week.

Here are my five Bold Predictions for Sunday's game:

1.  Jets tight ends will combine for 8 or more catches for 100+ yards and a TD.

2.  Calvin Pryor will have a sack, a forced fumble and an interception as he proves to be the one man wrecking crew in this game we've been waiting for.

3.  Chris Ivory will follow up his amazing, astounding, incredible, impossible, extraordinary 4 catch performance of last week with another 5 or more catches this week, and he'll take one of those catches to the house.

4.  Geno Smith will have a better completion %, better passer rating, more passing yards and fewer turnovers than Matthew Stafford.

5.   The Jets defense will hold Calvin Johnson under 80 yards receiving and without a TD.

And a bonus prediction:  Jalen Saunders will do something, anything, to make you think he actually deserves a roster spot on this team.

Final Score:  This game is like a fight between twin brothers.  It's hard to tell these teams apart by the stats.  The Lions are #1 on defense, the Jets are #2.  The Lions average a league leading 2.8 yards per carry given up in rushing defense, the Jets give up an identical figure.  The Lions have six offensive turnovers, the Jets have six offensive turnovers.  Both teams struggle generating defensive turnovers, with the Lions having generated only three and the Jets only two. Both teams' strengths on defense are their star defensive linemen.  Both teams have quarterbacks who turn the ball over way too much.  It's like the Jets are playing themselves.  In the battle of the twins, I'm taking the twin fighting on his home turf.  That would be the J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets!  In JetLife Stadium the Jets play like it's a home field advantage: Jets 23, Lions 17.