Mad Dog Russo writes off Josh Allen vs Jared Goff this weekend - “Watch something else”
Josh Allen and Jared Goff are set to face each other in the highlight game of the weekend in terms of the win-loss record between the two teams. Some are calling the matchup a potential Super Bowl preview; however, one analyst is out. Speaking on Wednesday's edition of "First Take," NFL analyst Mad Dog Russo wrote off the game in its entirety.
"How in the world are they going to make a big deal about this game?" Russo said (02:29). "Buffalo can't get the top seed and Detroit has the top seed. So we're going to make a big deal about Lions and the Bills. I mean, come on. No, this game is not important. Watch something else on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. EST."
The take is an unconventional one, as Bills, Lions and NFL fans are expected to watch the game in droves. While playoff positioning won't be affected by the game alone, the showdown could be the best the NFL has to offer.
Many fans love to debate whether the AFC or the NFC is more dominant and one would be hard-pressed to find a better case study this season than the Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions. One could argue that this is the question the entire modern-day NFL is built on, considering the Super Bowl era was born out of two leagues merging.
Josh Allen tasked with rebuilding confidence following surprise Week 14 loss
The Detroit Lions have continued to barrel along, defeating every team in their path since Sept. 16. The Bills have done essentially the same, including handing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs their lone defeat this season.
However, the Bills are coming off a humbling 44-42 loss to the LA Rams on Sunday in a shootout no one could have predicted. After months of sluggish offensive production, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams finally delivered on what many had braced for in the offseason.
It now falls on Josh Allen's unit to prove that the game was a fluke. Allen proved to be more than effective in the game, but the loss was not unlike Joe Burrow's weekly struggles to overcome a nonexistent defense.
Allen will look to keep the Bills hot on offense from the first snap and give the defense a chance to get stops later in the game against the Lions' rushing attack. If the reverse happens, a troubling pattern will emerge at the worst possible moment with the playoffs in view.
Will Josh Allen's team bounce back against the Lions?