The Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions enter today’s game as two of the best teams in the NFL. The Lions are literally the league’s top seed, as they are 12-1 overall, first in offense and second in defense. The Bills enter the game at 10-3 overall and only have a slim lead over the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

The last time these two teams met was on Thanksgiving in the 2022 NFL season. In that game, the Lions tied the game when Michael Badgley made a 51-yard field goal with 23 seconds left and the game ended at 25. However, the Bills went 48 yards in three plays, helped by a 36-yard strike from Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs to set up a game-winning 45-yard field goal from Tyler Bass as time expired.

The Lions have played two close games in a row, earning victories over the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving (23-20) and over the Green Bay Packers the following Thursday (34-31). Buffalo lost 44-42 to the Los Angeles Rams last week for the first time in over two months. It was the seventh straight game in which Buffalo scored at least 30 points and the first time they allowed over 40 points since the “13 Second” game in January 2022.

Will it be Josh Allen or Jared Goff who quarterbacks his team to victory this weekend? Will Buffalo’s struggling defense be able to slow down Detroit’s elite offense? Will Detroit’s struggling defense be able to slow Buffalo’s elite offense? Will Dan Campbell and Sean McDermott challenge each other to a tricky, culture-making wrestling match at halftime? We will find out the answer to these and many other questions in about three hours.

Your first half thread is here, friends. Please remember to be polite to one another. Remember to toggle these comments to oldest if you want the traditional game thread experience. And most importantly, remember to enjoy the game no matter where you watch it.

Come on, bills!