No NFL team is playing better football right now than the Detroit Lions. They have won six in a row after a somewhat shaky 1-1 start, with four of those six wins by at least two points. Their 32.3 points per game lead the NFL and the 18.5 points they have allowed per game are tied for fifth. Their +110 point differential is 23 points better than the Washington Commanders, who have the second-best point differential in the NFL. They look like the team that can best challenge the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

The vibes are at an all-time high in Detroit, but as every NFL fan knows, things can change in the blink of an eye. Detroit’s injury report for its Week 10 game against the Houston Texans brought the kind of news no Lions fan wanted to see.

One of the most underrated left tackles in the game, Taylor Decker, is listed as out for Detroit. Sunday night football game with a shoulder injury. This isn’t too surprising considering the fact that he was limited in practice on Thursday and didn’t practice at all on Friday, but it’s still a big blow, especially considering the matchup.

Playing without Decker in any game hurts, but being without him against this particular Texans team is tough. The Texans defensive line is really difficult to stop.

Will Anderson Jr., the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was a huge standout in his second NFL season, recording a career-high 7.5 sacks despite playing in just nine games. He has also contributed 11 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits so far. He’s their best defensive lineman, but he’s far from the only one.

Danielle Hunter, a player who signed a big contract to join Houston this past offseason, has fit right in opposite Anderson, recording 5.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits. Anderson and Hunter have been one of the best defensive line tandems in the NFL this season.

Having Penei Sewell and a solid offensive line around him is important when it comes to stopping one of them, but any defensive lineman that Sewell, in particular, isn’t dealing with will likely have an easy path to making things uncomfortable for Jared Goff.

Can the Lions still win this game? Absolutely. The Texans, despite their 6-3 record, have been terribly shaky this season and are dealing with own injuries. Still, not having a major offensive lineman in a matchup against two elite pass rushers makes this much more difficult than Lions fans would have expected coming into the week.