The Detroit Lions (1-3) visit the New England Patriots (1-3) Sunday in Week 5. Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (FOX). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Lions vs. Patriots, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
Both teams are on 2-game slides after losing their openers and winning in Week 2.
The big news is the Patriots will start 3rd-string rookie QB Bailey Zappe. Starter Mac Jones is out with an ankle injury – suffered during a 37-26 home loss in Week 3 to the Baltimore Ravens – and backup Brian Hoyer is on IR with a concussion – sustained in last week’s 27-24 OT loss at the Green Bay Packers.
Zappe played most of the Packers game, entering on the Patriots’ 2nd series when Hoyer was hurt. In his unexpected NFL debut, the 4th-round 2022 draft pick out of Western Kentucky completed 10 of 15 passes for 99 yards with a TD and no picks as New England, the NFL’s biggest underdog of the week, covered a 10-point spread in the loss.