Thursday 1/5/12 Afternoon Lions Links

Lions Articles from Local Media:

Official Lions Website:

Lewand - We haven't accomplished anything yet:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Lewand-We-havent-accomplished-anything-yet/06258da6-3741-4a6b-910c-d0da1572d120

Saints bring the blitz .. but Stafford thrives on it:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Saints-bring-the-blitz--but-Stafford-thrives-on-it/0aa24714-c560-4292-b899-29b580190e22

Lions playing under playoff overtime rules Saturday:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2012/01/05/lions-playing-under-playoff-overtime-rules-saturday/

CJ returns to practice; starters look ready to go:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2012/01/05/calvin-johnson-returns-to-practice-all-hands-are-on-deck/

Detroit News:

Saints - Suh a dirty and phenomal player:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/SPORTS0101/201050437/1126/sports0101/Saints-Lions-Ndamukong-Suh-dirty-phenomenal-player

Healthy Lions?  Each starter participates in Thursday's practice:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/SPORTS0101/201050444/1126/sports0101/Healthy-Lions-Each-starter-participates-Thursday-s-practice

Delmas healing, but you won't hear that from him:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/SPORTS0101/201050457/1126/sports0101/Lions-safety-Louis-Delmas-healing-you-won-t-hear-from-him

Rating Stafford - a discrepancy:  http://blogs.detroitnews.com/lions/2012/01/05/rating-stafford-a-discrepancy/

Free Press:

All Lions on field for final practice except Chris Harris:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/120105012/All-Lions-on-the-field-for-final-practice-today-Johnson-Delmas-Berry

Las Vegas - Lions are 80-1 to win the SB:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/120105022/super-bowl-odds-nfl-playoffs

Oakland Press:

Lions vs. Saints pits two 5000 yd QBs in Stafford, Brees:  http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/01/05/sports/doc4f05c5d9e115d974853620.txt

Foxsports Detroit:

Gunslinger showdwon in NO:  http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/01/05/12/Gunslinger-showdown-in-New-Orleans/landing_lions.html?blockID=640128&feedID=3862

CBS Local Detroit:

Searching for the bright side in the Lions and Saints game:  http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/01/05/eric-thomas-searching-for-the-bright-side-in-the-lions-and-saints-game/

Detroit Scout:

Burleson stands behind winning prediction:  http://det.scout.com/2/1145783.html

Playoffs?  Many Lions brace for the unknown:  http://det.scout.com/2/1145780.html

Lions Articles from National Sports Websites:

ESPN:

Stafford's rise has given Detroit Lions swagger:  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread-stafford/matthew-stafford-rise-given-detroit-lions-swagger

NFC 411 - Mayhew's quiet rise:  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/37059/nfc-411-martin-mayhews-quiet-success

Lions/Saints - Big test for Suh:  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/37040/lions-saints-big-test-for-ndamukong-suh

QB Pressure key in Lions/Saints matchup:  http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/35831/qb-pressure-key-in-lions-saints-matchup

NFL:

Statistics show strengths, weaknesses for playoff teams:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825bb0e6/article/statistics-show-strengths-weaknesses-of-playoff-teams

Four things that might make the difference in wildcard weekend:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825bccd6/article/four-things-that-might-make-the-difference-in-wildcard-weekend?module=HP11_content_stream

First timers (this one discusses which first time coach has the best chance of winning):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825bba4c/article/kubiak-smith-among-coaches-that-could-get-first-playoff-win?module=HP11_content_stream

Yahoo:

If the NFL embraced the BCS instead of these silly playoffs:  http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/shutdown-corner/nfl-embraced-bcs-instead-silly-playoffs-191623837.html

Five storylines to watch on wildcard weekend:  http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/five-storylines-watch-wild-card-weekend-193444798.html

Quiz - The last time Houston, Cincinnati and Detroit won in the playoffs:  http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/quiz-last-time-houston-cincinnati-detroit-won-playoffs-160050021.html#more-15286

CBS:

After further review - Saints will repeat Packers tactics against Lions:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16735320/after-further-review-saints-will-repeat-packers-tactics-against-lions

SN:

Strangers in our midst - Lions, Texans are NFL playoff newcomers:  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-01-05/strangers-in-our-midst-lions-and-texans

SI:

Burke's wild-card weekend predictions (He predicts there will be more than 700 passing yds in the Lions-Saints game):  http://nfl.si.com/2012/01/05/bet-on-it-nfl-wild-card-weekend-predictions/?sct=nfl_t11_a5

NFP:

The deep ball is coming on wildcard weekend:  http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-deep-ball-is-coming-on-Wild-Card-weekend.html

PFF:

2011 PFF Offensive Player of the Year (CJ is 3rd):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/05/2011-pff-offensive-player-of-the-year/

2011 PFF Most Valuable Player (CJ is 3rd and is in the rising above of the rest group):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/05/2011-pff-most-valuable-player/

2011 PFF All Pro Team (CJ makes it on the first team and Tulloch makes it on the second team):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/05/2011-pff-all-pro-team/

PFT:

Breaking down the NFL's wildcard playoff games (Silva predicts the Lions to win 37-34):  http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45874708/ns/sports-nfl/

Unlike regular season, Lions fully healthy for playoffs in NO:  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/05/unlike-regular-season-lions-fully-healthy-for-playoffs-in-new-orleans/

PFW:

The jokers are wild (A look at the wildcard games.  He predicts the Saints to win 34-23):  http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/01/05/the-jokers-are-wild

Lions Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Saints wary of Suh factor:  http://www.wwltv.com/sports/Saints-wary-of-the-Suh-Factor-136745938.html

Lions Articles from Other Websites/Newspapers:

49ers Whitner respects Lions, expects Saints:  http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/01/05/49ers-whitner-respects-lions-expects-saints/

Davis, 49ers nothing to lose by predicting NO matchup:  http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/2012/01/05/davis-49ers-nothing-to-lose-by-predicting-new-orleans-matchup/

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

Video:

Schwartz post practice video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Post-Practice-Video-Jim-Schwartz-1-5-12/fe19b3aa-768c-421e-86d7-7f0217822a27

Cunningham post practice video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Post-Practice-Video-Gunther-Cunningham-1-5-12/d3c069ea-d049-4e43-9f7c-cdd832db08bf

Tom Lewand media session video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Media-Session-Video-Tom-Lewand-1-5-12/f9ea78e9-998f-44c1-92d3-38effd5c6620

Hanson locker room video:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Locker-Room-Video-Jason-Hanson-1-5-12/c7ee8a06-cf9e-4808-a166-b722c9d34f7a

Hot reads with Troy Aikman (they discuss the Lions starting at 3:15.  Aikman picks the Saints to win.):  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-01-05/hot-reads-with-troy-aikman-lions-defensive-line-needs-to-live-up-to-hype

Audio:

Schwartz post practice audio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Post-Practice-Audio-Jim-Schwartz-1-5-12/0a6c8a78-3c89-4397-9619-413aedc03578

Cunningham post practice audio:  http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/audio/Post-Practice-Audio-Gunther-Cunningham-1-5-12/24e5acad-26d7-4560-b9f2-e8ec2cbc4006