Sunday's NFL final Wembley

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Golden opportunity for Lions (November 1st - 2015) 20:23 GMT

David John (SL) predicts an upturn in fortune for Detroit when they take on Kansas City at Wembley on Sunday.

Recommended bets:

2pts Detroit to beat Kansas

2pts Golden Tate to score a TD anytime

It would be remiss not to focus on Sunday's final London game this season although Detroit and Kansas City can hardly boast being in sparkling form.

A grand total of three victories between them leaves the pair rooted to the foot of their respective divisions and on the brink of seeing their campaign slip down the plughole as we reach the halfway stage.

Kansas City have given up a home game at the formidable Arrowhead Stadium to play this fixture - you would think that would be a negative but it took them until last weekend to finally come out on top in Missouri thanks to a 23-13 victory over a Pittsburgh side beset by injury, including to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

But at least they bring some sort of positivity across the Atlantic. Detroit lost their opening five games and unsurprisingly received both barrels from the media before edging past Chicago in an overtime shootout.

Any thoughts that they had turned a corner of sorts were soon put firmly back in their place as they capitulated last week against Minnesota when quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked seven times

The finger was pointed firmly at the line in front of Stafford - he can't continue to take that sort of punishment so action was taken as the Lions dismissed offensive co-ordinator Joe Lombardi along with line coaches Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan.

The overhaul coincides with the trip abroad and hopefully a successful, fresh approach under Jim Bob Cooter, who is just 31 -years-old and steps in to replace Lombardi.

He immediately gets thrust into the limelight with a nationally televised game but this is a good opportunity and Cooter does have some pedigree having worked in both Indianapolis and Denver with Peyton Manning.

He has taken practice this week with the team in Watford and his approach is straightforward - simplify the blocking schemes to give Stafford the chance to remain upright and find the talent downfield like Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate.

It would be handy as well if they could get a running game going of some description as they rank dead last in the NFL with an average of just 68 yards per game - any sort of improvement from Ameer Abdullah and/or Theo Riddick would be valuable to give Stafford another option.

The Lions face a good defense that might just have turned a corner as well with five turnovers in the last two weeks and a much-hyped pass-rush involving Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.

But I am going to predict that all the flak the Detroit offense has taken over recent weeks will finally elicit a the right response on the field and they look a little bit of value as underdogs.

There are good memories from playing in London last year when they came from a seemingly impossible position to sneak past Atlanta thanks to a last-gasp field goal while the whole shake-up within the coaching structure should provide some much-needed freshness, enthusiasm and a clean slate for everyone.

Tate's production this year has slipped noticeably but Cooter is no idiot and will be desperate to get him involved more.

Johnson remains the primary target and is coming off a couple of good weeks but Tate had 151 yards and a touchdown from seven receptions against the Falcons and knows it is time to make a contribution.

"I need to be a little better and I hope that starts on Sunday," he said during the build-up and a touchdown from him along the way at is well worth adding to an outright bet on the Lions to double their tally of victories.

Verdict: Detroit 23 Kansas City 19