Novig pricesPatriots defense prepares for Jared Goff and the Lions ahead of Munich game
Patriots coaches and defenders praise Jared Goff before Sunday's Munich game, as New England tries to recover from a 45-point loss to Green Bay.
The Patriots allowed 45 points to Green Bay last week. Their next opponent is a quarterback who rarely gives the ball away, and New England's defenders spent the week making clear they know it. Speaking to reporters before Sunday's game against Detroit in Munich, head coach Mike Vrabel said Jared Goff has played at a high level for three straight years. Linebacker Robert Spillane went further, calling Goff "an elite pocket passer" who likes to step up in the pocket and throw downfield, Pats Pulpit reported via SB Nation.
Goff's numbers back up the praise. Through eight games he has completed 185 of 273 passes, about 68 percent, for 2,134 yards with 15 touchdowns and two interceptions. The outlet noted that he ranks at or near the top 10 in both traditional and advanced efficiency measures. Defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr pointed to how much freedom Detroit gives Goff to manage its offense at the line. Safety Kevin Byard listed the targets the secondary has to account for: Jameson Williams as the deep threat, Amon-Ra St. Brown working the middle and intermediate areas, and tight end Sam LaPorta. They all play alongside Jahmyr Gibbs, who leads the league in scrimmage yards.
Goff will play. He had been limited by a chest injury but practiced fully on Thursday, NBC Sports reported. Detroit arrives at 6-2 with four straight wins, according to CBS Sports.
What it means for Sunday
At 5-4, the Patriots have alternated wins and losses lately. Over their last five games they lost 27-45 to Green Bay, beat Miami 24-19 on the road, lost 24-30 at Chicago, beat the Jets 26-19 and beat Las Vegas 45-17. For the season they have scored 211 points and allowed 207, a margin of plus-four. Their 6-35 loss at Jacksonville and the Green Bay game account for 80 of the points allowed. Away from Foxborough they are 2-3, and this game will be played on neutral ground in Germany. The early defensive results hold up better: Pittsburgh scored three points and Seattle scored 13.
The Green Bay loss is the direct concern. Jordan Love played as a big-play passer, and Goff's game is built more on efficiency and spreading the ball around. A defense that just gave up 45 points now faces an offense that can sustain long drives and finish them with Gibbs.
Detroit is the designated home team and is favored on this site's board, which tracks 12 venues. Novig, one of those venues, prices the Lions at -138 on the moneyline and the Patriots at +135. Novig lists the spread at Detroit -2.5, with New England +2.5 at +108. The best Patriots spread price anywhere is +3 at -115 on Hard Rock Bet, the only number on the board that gets New England past a field goal. Novig sets the total at 50.5, and bet365 has the lowest total on the board at 49.5. Sportsbook holds on the game range from about 3 to 5.4 percent, so the venues are close together on this one.