Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes seems to be pushing all the right buttons, whether it's with the NFL Draft, signing free agents, extending contracts to core players or most recently acquiring talent via trade.
Holmes made a deal with Cleveland at the trade deadline last month to acquire veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, and that move has paid off big time for the Lions over the last four weeks.
Since joining the Lions Week 11, Smith has generated 19 pressures and three sacks on 97 pass rushes. The 19 pressures are tied for the third most in the NFL over that span.
"He fits the room, fits the guys, our players have embraced him," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "Of course, you love having players that produce, but it's really, they bring something different than the guy next to you.
"It's why you like having different receivers, it's why you like having defensive backs, different rushers, different D-linemen, backers, because it just enables you to do more and that's what he does for us."
Smith has been a huge component of a Lions' pass rush that's been able to keep up the pressure on opposing passers despite the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes and others due to injury along Detroit's front seven on defense.
Detroit's 130 pressures are third most in the NFL behind only Denver (147) and Minnesota (145) this season, per Pro Football Reference statistics. The Lions play a Buffalo team Sunday that has allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL this season with just 13.
INJURY UPDATES
Five of the six players who showed up on Detroit's practice report this week are expected to be ready to play Sunday vs. Buffalo, Campbell said Friday, and there's some key names on that list.
Left tackle Taylor Decker (knee), defensive tackle Alim McNeill (concussion), defensive tackle DJ Reader (shoulder), defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) and defensive end Josh Paschal (knee) are all expected to suit up Sunday barring any late setbacks.
"I think we're trending the right way with all those guys," Campbell said. "Today will certainly be the icing on the cake with those guys, but they all look pretty good right now."
Those defensive players in particular could be huge for a Lions' defense tasked with slowing down MVP candidate Josh Allen and the Bills' No. 2 scoring offense (30.5 ppg).
The only player on the 53-man roster Campbell said won't be available Sunday is linebacker Trevor Nowaske, who showed up on the practice report Thursday with a concussion.
PRACTICE CANCELLATION
The Bills were forced to cancel practice Thursday after more than 2 feet of snow dumped down on the Buffalo area and the team opted to handle team meetings virtually.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, the nearby area of Orchard Park — where the Bills' practice facility and stadium are located — received 30 inches of snow through Thursday morning. There was a travel ban in effect for Erie County and surrounding areas.
Campbell expects Buffalo's schedule shift to have little impact on Sunday's contest.
"I don't put anything into that. I think one day in COVID, I don't even know if we practiced at New Orleans one week and we went out and put up 30," he said.
"That team will be ready. So, all good. And guess what, if we couldn't practice, we'd be ready, we'll find a way. So, they're going to be good, they'll be ready."
