If any team in the NFL is ripe for a letdown, it's the New England Patriots.
Fresh off back-to-back wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots have a quick turnaround as they hit the road to pay a visit to the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
On paper, it looks like a cakewalk for New England (8-2), which is tied for first place in the AFC East and is facing a Lions team with the second-worst record (2-8) in the NFC.
Not to mention Detroit is down to its second-string quarterback and might be forced to start its third-string tailback for its traditional Thanksgiving Day matchup.
Of course, Patriots coach Bill Belichick can quell any feelings of overconfidence by reminding his team what happened the last time it faced a seemingly overmatched opponent on the road.
New England got run over by Peyton Hillis and the Cleveland Browns 34-14 on Nov. 7, a lopsided defeat that snapped a five-game winning streak.
The Lions are not the pushovers that their record indicates. Four of their losses have been by three points or less, and they had the New York Jets - co-AFC East leaders with the Patriots - on the ropes before blowing a 10-point lead in the last three minutes of regulation and losing in overtime on Nov. 7.
Detroit is coming off its third consecutive defeat, a 35-19 loss in Dallas in which it trailed by two points entering the fourth quarter.
With a non-existent running game due to injuries to rookie Jahvid Best, quarterback Shaun Hill has been forced to throw the ball 97 times in the last two weeks. Best, who is dealing with turf toe in both feet, may sit out Thursday. Maurice Morris is expected to start in his place.
Making his second straight start in place of an injured Matthew Stafford, Hill was 32 of 47 for 289 yards with two touchdowns and an interception against the Cowboys.
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson has been the one constant for the Lions. He has 55 receptions for 725 yards and 10 touchdowns – nine of them coming in the last seven games.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is coming off consecutive superb outings. He was an economical 19 of 25 for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 31-28 victory over the Colts.
Brady was officially listed as questionable for Thursday's game after sitting out practice Tuesday and Wednesday, but he is expected to play.
In the previous week’s 39-26 blowout of the Steelers in Pittsburgh, Brady threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns. He had not been intercepted in three straight games and has been picked off only four times against 19 scoring passes.
New England’s running game turned in one of its better efforts of the season with BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushing for 96 yards on 21 carries and Danny Woodhead chipping in with 69 yards on seven rushes. Each found the end zone as well.