Reinforcements could be on the way for the Detroit Lions' defense.

Defensive linemen Alim McNeill (concussion), Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) and Josh Paschal (knee) all took part in the open portion of Lions practice on Wednesday. Onwuzurike and Paschal missed last week's game against Green Bay, and McNeill left in the first half and didn't return.

Left tackle Taylor Decker, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, also returned to practice for the offense. Defensive tackle DJ Reader, who also missed last week's game with a shoulder injury, worked off to the side with a trainer during the open portion and Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday he expects Reader to return to practice on Thursday. Wednesday was a padded practice for Detroit at the Meijer Performance Center.

"I expect us to be better in that area," Campbell said of the defense heading into Sunday's monster matchup at Ford Field against Buffalo (10-3). "We'll have a good game plan and I just — I see us playing better defensively. I think we're going to show up. We're going to do some things."

Heading into last week's Green Bay game, Campbell knew he was going to need a lot from his offense with how depleted the defense was injury-wise and with some of the new players they signed earlier that week needing to play big roles. He told the offense he was going to be aggressive and go for it on fourth down knowing they had to possess the football and keep it away from Green Bay.

The Lions face another good offense this week led by MVP candidate Josh Allen as Buffalo is No. 2 in scoring (30.5) right behind Detroit (32.1), but Campbell said the defense is looking forward to the challenge and he expects them to hold their own.

"Look, our defense is looking forward to this and this is one of those matchups you really look forward to playing," he said. "I love the fact that I know we can cover, the guys that we've got, pretty disciplined group up front, and we'll see how these injuries go for us, we may have some guys back, we may not.

"But the guys we do have will do what we ask them to do, and they'll go all out, and if we can limit this run game, then that gives us a pretty good chance."

TOUGH CHALLENGE

Buffalo has scored at least 30 points in seven straight games. They can become just the fifth team all-time to score 30 points in eight consecutive games within a single season, joining the 2013 Denver Broncos, the 2007 and 2010 New England Patriots, and the 2000 St. Louis Rams.

The Bills have scored at least 30 points in 10 games this season, already the most in a single season in franchise history.

REVEL IN THE PRESSURE

Detroit has won 11 straight games and have 12 wins total this season but have just a one-game cushion over Philadelphia (11-2) for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoff picture and just a one-game lead over Minnesota (11-2) in the NFC North title race.

It leaves little room for error for the Lions the final month of the season and ramps up the pressure to keep their winning streak intact.

"Yeah, I mean, I love it, I think it's great," Campbell said of the race at the top of the NFC. "I think it's great for us. It keeps you sharp.

"I've mentioned this before, I think we do well with pressure and it's the right kind of friction and stress that we need and it's motivating. And so, yeah, I love it, I think it's great. Look, nobody's going to lose, nobody's losing, so we're going."

EXTRA POINT

The Lions' defense has faced 140 possessions this season, only allowing 17 drives to last 10-or-more plays (12.1 percent), tied for the fewest in the NFL. They've only allowed five touchdown drives to come on possessions of 10-or-more plays (3.6 percent), also tied for the fewest in the NFL.