Friday 1/6/12 Morning Lions Links

Lions Articles from Local Media:

Official Lions Website:

The Lions defensive line will need a stellar perfomance to help the Lions win:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/The-defensive-line-will-need-a-stellar-performance-to-help-the-Lions-to-a-win/3ec893cd-b43e-47bb-b135-12aea863bfbf

Delmas and Houston injuries were killers to Lions pass rush:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2012/01/05/delmas-and-houston-injuries-were-killers-to-lions-pass-defense/

Johnson - My self and Nate - We're going to have the guys right so we come ready to play on Saturday:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2012/01/05/johnson-myself-and-nate-were-going-to-have-the-guys-right-so-we-come-ready-to-play-on-saturday/

Detroit News:

Lions are ready to rumble:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120106/OPINION03/201060344/1126/SPORTS0101/Lions-ready-rumble

Lions pumped up for Delmas return:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120106/OPINION03/201060345/1126/SPORTS0101/Lions-pumped-up-safety-Louis-Delmas-return

Hanson has chance to try a first - playoff winner:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120106/SPORTS0101/201060349/1126/SPORTS0101/Lions-kicker-Jason-Hanson-has-chance-try-first-Playoff-winner

Fire zone has singed defensive guru Cunningham:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120106/SPORTS0101/201060350/1126/SPORTS0101/-Fire-zone-has-singed-Lions-defensive-guru-Gunther-Cunningham

Brees gets the spotlight, but Saints can run too:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120106/SPORTS0101/201060351/1126/SPORTS0101/Drew-Brees-gets-spotlight-Saints-can-run-too

NFL Playoff Preview - The road to Indianapolis:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120106/SPORTS0101/201060342/1126/SPORTS0101/NFL-playoff-preview-road-Indianapolis

Free Press:

With Stafford, Lions finally have an answer:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/COL01/201060477/Mitch-Albom-With-Matthew-Stafford-detroit-Lions-finally-have-an-answer

How the Lions rose from the ashes of 0-16 season:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060459/Detroit-Lions-nfl-playoffs

Lions walk 99 memory lane from junior high to child birth:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060423/detroit-Lions-walk-1999-memory-lane-from-junior-high-to-childbirth

Return of Delmas and Suh pumps up Lions defense:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060431/Return-of-louis-Delmas-and-ndamukong-Suh-pumps-up-detroit-Lions-defense

To combat CJ, Saints D-backs to hit low, let ground do the work:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060437/Downsizing-Calvin-johnson-detroit-lions

1999 - Lions last taste of the playoffs:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060421/Detroit-Lions-nfl-playoffs

Hot topics for the Lions-Saints playoff game:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060455/Detroit-Lions-New-Orleans-Saints

Three questions with KVB:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060427/Dave-Birkett-Three-questions-with-Detroit-Lions-Kyle-Vanden-Bosch

Pundits - Lions not a lost cause:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/301060001/Detroit-Lions-not-lost-cause-new-orleans-saints

For the Lions, win or tie a record for playoff futility:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060433/Detroit-Lions-New-Orleans-Saints

Meet the Saints - Some storylines for Saturday's game:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060443/Detroit-Lions-New-Orleans-Saints

Drew Brees has a go to guy too:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120106/SPORTS01/201060463/drew-Brees-new-orleans-saints-jimmy-graham

Oakland Press:

Do you believe in miracles?  It won't be one if Lions win at NO:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/01/06/sports/doc4f06a891259ee869580912.txt

WXYZ 7:

The night the Lions won the SB:  http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/sports/football/lions/the-night-the-detroit-lions-won-the-super-bowl

Lions Articles from National Sports Websites:

NFL:

Breaking down the key battles of wild card weekend:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825be7dc/article/breaking-down-the-key-battles-of-wildcard-weekend?module=HP11_hot_topics

ESPN:

Clayton's first and goal (#3 and #4 are on the Lions):  http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2011/story/_/page/1standgoal-wildcard/biggest-nfl-games-wild-card-round-john-clayton-first-goal

Foxsports:

Lions Team Report:  http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/detroit-lions/teamreport/67045?q=detroit-lions

CBS:

Playoff matchups (One is Saints DE Will Smith vs. Backus and another is CJ vs. Saints corners Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter):  http://peteprisco.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/view/6315047

USA Today:

Comparing the 2008 Lions vs. the 2011 Lions:  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/lions/story/2012-01-06/comparing-2008-vs-2001-rosters/52402986/1

Saints look for clean sweep against Lions:  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/story/2012-01-05/saints-lion-wildcard-advance/52402132/1

SN:

Lions playoff report - Schwartz message to team - don't be happy to be here:  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-01-05/detroit-lions-team-report-schwartz-message-to-team-dont-be-happy-to-be-here

Yahoo:

Passing numbers could take hit in the playoffs:  http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-cole_nfl_playoffs_passing_numbers_brees_rodgers_010512

PFF:

32 Teams, 32 Observations (For the Lions it's that no QB has had more passes dropped on him than Stafford with 45):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/06/32-teams-32-observations-10/

Lions Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Saints hope for repeat performance against CJ:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/new_orleans_saints_hope_for_re.html

Sean Payton's Friday press conference transcript:  http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/Paytons-Final-Wild-Card-Presser-/d2efc667-6c34-4ac0-809e-32f4bc423d13

Lions Articles from Other Websites/Newspapers:

CJ may cash in on spectacular season with 1 year left on his contract:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/lions-wr-calvin-johnson-returns-to-practice-for-1st-time-this-week-to-prepare-for-the-saints/2012/01/05/gIQAHR31cP_story.html?tid=pm_sports_pop

Playoff Predictions and Previews:

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

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

2012 Draft Articles:

Rang's Big Board:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/16742181/underclassmen-control-top-10-of-nfl-draft

Video:

Suh vs. the Saints o-line:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/video/nfl/2012/01/05/010512.perloff_det_no.SportsIllustrated/

Stafford on Lions upcoming game:  http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7429874

Will Lions defense be their achilles heel:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825bd69f/Will-Lions-defense-be-their-Achilles-heel

Roaring rematch:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825bdb78/Roaring-rematch

Greatness on the road - Lions challenge:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825beb74/Greatness-on-the-Road-Lions-challenge