Friday 1/6/12 Afternoon Lions Links

Lions Articles from Local Media:

Official Lions Website:

Having a plan for Saints TE Jimmy Graham will be key for Lions:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Having-a-plan-for-Saints-TE-Jimmy-Graham-will-be-key-for-Lions/0960e490-450b-4106-9c47-910c73444b6e

Detroit News:

5 keys to Lions upsetting Saints in playoffs:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120106/SPORTS0101/201060403/1126/sports0101/Five-keys-Lions-upsetting-Saints-playoffs

Oakland Press:

5 things Lions must do to beat the Saints:  http://oplions.blogspot.com/2012/01/5-things-lions-must-do-to-beat-saints.html

What make Stafford so special?:  http://oplions.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-makes-matthew-stafford-so-special.html

Lions Articles from National Sports Websites:

NFL:

Potential breakout NFL superstars (For the Lions it's Calvin Johnson):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825c1b4e/article/ravens-rice-saints-sproles-among-possible-playoff-stars-?module=HP11_content_stream

ESPN:

Lions/Saints - Penalties and success:  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/37091/lions-saints-penalties-and-success

Seifert's final word - Lions at Saints:  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/37094/final-word-lions-at-saints

NFC South blogger's final word - Lions at Saints:  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post?id=30006

Schefter's 10 spot (there's some stuff on the Lions in there):  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/10spot-wildcard/impatient-owners-allow-coaches-develop--adam-schefter-10-spot

Foxsports:

Calvin Johnson, Jared Allen lead All-Pro voting:  http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Calvin-Johnson-Jared-Allen-lead-AllPro-voting-60805107

SI:

Lions hope smarter approach a winning strategy in Saints duel:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/01/06/wild-card/index.html?sct=nfl_t11_a1

A dominant passing game is the key to who will win it all (It says for Detroit that the wheels are falling off the wagon):  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/01/06/streaks/index.html?sct=nfl_wr_a1

CBS:

Peek at the week - Lions, Falcons face tough wild card road tests:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16750141/peek-at-the-week-falcons-lions-face-tough-road-wildcard-tests

NFP:

NFL Wild Card weekend - Five things to watch (#5 is game planning Calvin Johnson):  http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFL-Wild-Card-weekend-Five-things-to-watch.html

Yahoo:

Smarter stats, wild card edition - Lions at Saints:  http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/smarter-stats-wild-card-edition-detroit-lions-orleans-121309379.html

Ranking the four NFL wild card games (The Lions-Saints game is #1):  http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/shutdown-corner/ranking-four-nfl-wild-card-games-195514204.html

PFT:

Saturday's games could break a couple of long streaks:  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/06/saturdays-games-could-break-a-couple-of-long-streaks/

PFF:

Three to focus on - Lions at Saints, wild card round:  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/06/three-to-focus-on-lions-saints-wild-card-round/

Lions Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Saints have task of stopping Calvin Johnson again:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/saints_have_task_of_stopping_l.html

Saints have converted third downs into success this season:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/saints_have_converted_third_do.html

Lions Articles from Other Websites/Newspapers:

The Lions almost traded for Asante Samuel back in August for two second day draft picks):  http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-eagles/

Lions playoff run is no surprise to Monroe's Maddux:  http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120106/SPORTS/701069997

Three Lions vs Saints games you meet in heaven:  http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/13450/the-three-lions-vs-saints-games-you-meet-in-heaven

Windsor Detroit Lions fans pounce on jerseys:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/01/06/wdr-lions-playoffs-windsor.html

Playoff Predictions and Previews:

Predictions:  http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2012/01/playoff-predictions.html

Previews:  http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2012/01/lions-saints-playoff-previews.html

2012 Draft Articles:

Prospects to watch in weekend bowl games:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tony_pauline/01/05/bowl.prospects4/index.html?sct=nfl_bf2_a3

Bowl observations:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825c1564/article/bowl-observations-luck-still-the-best-qb-in-college

Video:

Wildcard QB ranks (Stafford is #4):  http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7431502

Field Pass - Lions/Saints:  http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7432329

Audio:

Schwartz on sirius radio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Jim-Schwartz-on-Sirius-NFL-Radio----1-5-12/6d8db062-d6be-43aa-a381-f772fc2aa8e4