Preview: Lions at Jaguars

The Detroit Lions have yet to string together back-to-back victories this season. They might be looking at their best chance to do just that as they visit the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon. Detroit escaped with a 28-24 win over Seattle last Sunday on a Titus Young 1-yard touchdown reception with 20 seconds left. The Lions can reach .500 with a victory over a Jaguars team that played Green Bay tough a week ago, but still came away with the loss. At 1-6 and with franchise running back Maurice Jones-Drew out indefinitely with a foot sprain, the Jaguars are already looking toward 2013.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Lions -4, O/U 44

ABOUT THE LIONS (3-4): Questions arose earlier in the week about running back Mikel Leshoure, who sat out the final quarter-and-a-half of Sunday's win. Leshoure was spotted limping, but the Lions insisted the second-year back was fine. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan attempted to clarify the situation Thursday, saying the decision to replace Leshoure with Joique Bell late in the game was made to take advantage of Bell's superior pass-catching ability. Leshoure practiced all week and will play Sunday. Wideout Calvin Johnson (knee) did not practice all week but is expected to play.

ABOUT THE JAGUARS (1-6): Few gave Jacksonville much of a chance against a formidable Green Bay offense, but Jacksonville managed to stay within a score until the final moments of the game. One positive takeaway was the performance of quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who threw for a career-best 303 yards and a touchdown. The second-year signal caller has taken plenty of criticism for the Jaguars' struggles over the past two seasons, but he looked sharp against the Packers and has gone back-to-back games without throwing an interception.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Stafford is 52 passing yards shy of 10,000 for his career. If he gets there Sunday in his 37th career game, he'll become the second-fastest player in history to reach the mark behind Kurt Warner (36).

2. The teams made a minor deal ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, with the Jaguars sending slot receiver and return specialist Mike Thomas to the Lions for a fifth-round pick in 2014.

3. The Jaguars say Cecil Shorts will remain their starting outside wide receiver, bumping the disappointing Laurent Robinson to occasional slot duty. Shorts has 12 catches for 195 yards and a touchdown over his last two games.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Jaguars 24.