It’s the first season with two SNF appearances for the franchise since 2012, when they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in September and the Green Bay Packers in December. More recently, the Lions have won three in a row on NBC (after a six-game skid when the network picked up the late Sunday slot) in the dark. Likewise, the Lions have won six in a row; it’s their longest winning streak since they won seven in a row during the 1995 season (and the fifth-longest in franchise history, behind that 1995 streak, a seven-gamer in 1962, an eight-gamer in 1931 – as the Portsmouth Spartans – and a 10-gamer in 1934.)

Can they continue their NBC you-later streak against the Texans? Four Free Press sportswriters have some thoughts:

Dave Birkett

The Texans are comfortably in first place in the AFC South, but this matchup doesn’t have as much momentum as it did early in the season given Houston’s meandering play. Stroud has looked like a young quarterback at times, and the Texans have lost two of their past three games. They are still dangerous because of Mixon and their defense, and if they win the battle it could end the Lions’ win streak.