The New York Jets will travel to Detroit to take on the Lions in the first game on Tuesday morning. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting from 9:10am AEST.
At 21 years and 97 days, Sam Darnold will be the youngest quarterback in NFL to start a regular season game when the Jets open their season in Detroit.
Darnold, the number three overall pick from this year’s draft, beat out the incumbent Josh McCown for the starting job.
The Jets have nothing to lose this campaign, after only one season above .500 since 2010.
Expect running backs Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell to take a lot of the ball early on while Darnold is finding his feet. Robby Anderson and Jermaine Kearse are the most likely wide receivers.
The Jets defence was sixth overall last season, averaging only 15.2 points against per game.
Matthew Stafford enters his tenth year as quarterback for the Lions. This season he has a new head coach in Matt Patricia, fresh from a number of years spent at the Patriots.
LeGarrette Blount comes into an offense that lacked toughness in 2017. His direct and hard running style will help the Lions run game. Expect a run-first offense.
The defence was the big problem last season. They ranked 27th in yards allowed and were gashed for an abysmal 23.5 points per game.
Former New York Giants linebacker Devon Kennard, former Patriot Jonathan Freeny, free agent Christian Jones, and Tennessee Titan nose tackle Sylvester Williams.
Put those players together with franchise-tagged Ezekiel Ansah and second-year linebacker Jarrad Davis, and you have got yourself a solid front seven.
Prediction
The Lions will be far too good for a Jets team under a new quarterback.
Lions 24-9
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 9:10am AEST.
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FINAL SCORE 48-17
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Jets win this one. What an incredible start from Sam Darnold.
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TWO MINUTE WARNING - JETS LEAD 48-17. Jets have the ball on the Lions 5 yard line
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2nd and 9 with 4.10 on the clock
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Jets with the ball on the 25
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JETS LEAD 48-17 with 6.31 left in the match.
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INTERCEPT AGAIN - Jamaal Adams takes the ball from the 20 down to the Lions 40. That's the fifth intercept from Stafford tonight.
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The Jets fans have moved to the seats behind the Jets bench and are going beserk
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Catch downfield for the Lions. They move inside the 30
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Lions back with the football on halfway
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JETS LEAD 48-17 with 8.15 left in the match.
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Aussie Lachlan Edwards comes back in to punt for the Jets. Punt from the 10 goes out the the Lions 40.
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Darnold back with the football inside his own 10
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4th and 5 from the 10 - The Lions go for it. Incomplete pass.
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On 3rd and 5 - Stafford throws the ball away.
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Theo Riddick with a catch down to the 5
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The Lions get a first down on the 14
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On 2nd and 4 the Lions throw Jones who cannot hang on to it.
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Six catches for 105 yards for Golloday
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Stafford throws over the top for Kenny Golloday and the Lions move inside the Jets redzone.