Thursday 1/5/12 Morning Lions Links

Lions Articles from Local Media:

Offiical Lions Website:

How will the Saints contain CJ this time around:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/How-will-the-Saints-try-to-contain-Calvin-Johnson-this-time-around/62515d38-d4e4-415d-9292-ea8cf5a18a78

Titus Young is a different player since the last time the Lions faced the Saints:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Titus-Young-is-a-different-player-since-the-last-time-he-faced-the-Saints/11442993-3f90-40c2-af48-7b685584607a

Lions defense more interested in wins than stats:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2012/01/04/lions-defense-more-interested-in-wins-than-stats/

Detroit News:

Harbaugh's comments upset Raiola:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/SPORTS0101/201050348/1126/Niners-coach-Jim-Harbaugh-s-comment-upsets-Lions-center-Dominic-Raiola

Titus Young pushes past petulance:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/SPORTS0101/201050345/1126/Lions-rookie-Titus-Young-pushes-past-petulance

Comfort of home encourages Saints:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/SPORTS0101/201050346/1126/Comfort-home-encourages-Saints

Free Press:

Playoff action will be new experience for many Lions:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/201050535/nfl-playoff-game-will-be-new-experience-for-many-detroit-lions

Young learns tough lesson:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/201050492/Detroit-lions-receiver-titus-Young-playing-like-a-grown-man

Game's real interest will center around Suh, Saint's guards:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/120104048/New-Orleans-columnist-Game-s-real-interest-will-center-around-Ndamukong-Suh-Saints-guards

How the Lions can beat the Saints:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/120105001/detroit-lions-new-orleans-saints-matthew-stafford

Millen defends Suh, applauds Lions:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/201050500/Matt-Millen-defends-ndamukong-Suh-and-applauds-detroit-Lions

Lions WR want to stay healthy -- and happy:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/201050440/Detroit-Lions-wide-receivers-calvin-johnson

The other side - The Saints running wild for playoffs:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120105/SPORTS01/201050498/new-orleans-Saints-running-wild-for-nfl-playoffs

Oakland Press:

Titus Young grows into role as #3 WR:  http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/01/05/sports/doc4f04db08c18e6792673017.txt

Lions notebook - All is well after scary collinsion; Burleson keeps clear:  http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/01/05/sports/doc4f04e0d268763882108610.txt

Foxsports Detroit:

Stafford and Johnson great, but not MVP yet:  http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/01/04/12/Stafford--Johnson-great-but-not-MVP--yet/landing_lions.html?blockID=639440&feedID=3862

Fox 2 Detroit:

Nothing is guaranteed:  http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/sports/Nothing-is-%22Guaranteed%22

Click on Detroit:

Suh doesn't plan to let Saints win shootout:  http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/football/Suh-doesn-t-plan-to-let-Saints-win-shootout/-/2271344/7644858/-/q78eni/-/index.html

Family's Lions loyalty begins to pay off:  http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/football/Family-s-Lions-loyalty-begins-to-pay-off/-/2271344/7645812/-/4ax9c7z/-/index.html

WXYZ:

Lions have to earn respect:  http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/sports/football/lions/lions-have-to-earn-respect

Former Lions QB Eric Hipple discusses Stafford's success and playoff challenges (with video):  http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/sports/football/lions/former-lions-quarterback-eric-hipple-discusses-matthew-staffords-success-and-playoff-challenge

CBS Local Detroit:

Is the Lions playoff game really unwinnable:  http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/01/04/jeff-riger-is-the-lions-playoff-game-really-unwinnable/

Detroit Scout:

They'll win - 5 reasons the Lions will win:  http://det.scout.com/2/1145419.html

Lions Articles from National Sports Websites:

Yahoo:

Stafford strong-arms his way past Sanchez:  http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AvGny4RuXetJ5vd9sw6hNehDubYF?slug=dw-wetzel_matt_stafford_lions_saints_mark_sanchez_jets010412

Detroit Pride can't seem to fix biggest gaffe in Lions history - No cheerleaders:  http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/hruby-tuesday/201201/lions-pride-cant-seem-fix-biggest-gaffe-lions-history-no-cheerleaders-allo

NFL:

Passing game will dictate outcome of Lions-Saints game (Kirwan picks Saints to win 40-30):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825b7c32/article/passing-game-will-dictate-outcome-of-lionssaints-battle

X Factors - When it comes to playoffs, expect the unexpected (Brandt picks Pettigrew and Levy as the Lions  x-factors.   He also picks Lions-Saints game as the game of the week.  His is picking the Saints to win 45-38):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825b4f94/article/when-it-comes-to-playoff-heroes-expect-the-unexpected?module=HP11_content_stream

ESPN:

Historic playoff droughts could end:  http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/35713/historic-droughts-could-be-ended

SN:

Advance of fail - keys to NFL wildcard weekend:  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-01-04/advance-or-fail-keys-to-wild-card-weekend

Lions playoff report - The CJ rules:  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-01-04/lions-playoff-report-the-calvin-johnson-rules

Saints playoff report - Another matchup with Megatron:  http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-01-04/new-orleans-saints-playoff-team-report-another-matchup-with-megatron

CBS:

After lost decade with Detroit, Raiola eager for first playoff appearance:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16721130/after-lost-decade-with-detroit-raiola-eager-for-first-playoff-appearance

Film room - Saints vs. Lions Preview:  http://eye-on-football.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/34193517

Prisco's all pro team (CJ is on it):  http://peteprisco.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6315047/34191743

Prisco's postseason awards (He picks Stafford for comeback player of the year):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16714574/postseason-awards-its-close-but-passer-rating-makes-rodgers-mvp-choice

Judge's postseason awards (He picks Stafford for comeback player of the year and Mayhew for executive of the year):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16710720/postseason-awards-we-really-need-three-mvp-trophies-this-season

SI's award picks (3 out of 8 pick Stafford for comeback player of the year):  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/01/04/season.awards/index.html?sct=nfl_t11_a7

Foxsports:

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

Saints look like team to beat in playoffs:  http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/NFL-playoffs-New-Orleans-Saints-look-like-team-to-beat-010212

USA Today:

Four teams end long playoff drought:  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/story/2012-01-04/playoff-waits-49ers-lions-broncos-texans/52384092/1

PFT:

Saturday's playoff games will make history in two ways:  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/04/saturdays-playoff-games-will-make-history-in-two-ways/

Plays NFL wildcard teams can do without:  http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45858358/ns/sports-nfl/page/2/

PFF:

Marquee matchups (He looks at how CJ shredded GB's defense):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/05/marquee-matchups-the-final-act/

Lions Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Guard Evans ready to meet Suh head on:  http://theadvocate.com/sports/saints/1712208-123/guard-evans-ready-to-meet.html

Saints are ready to battle Suh:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/new_orleans_saints_are_ready_t_1.html

Saints feel turnovers are leaning in their favor:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/new_orleans_saints_feel_turnov.html

Saints on the defensive:  http://www.sunherald.com/2012/01/04/3663363/theres-no-place-like-the-dome.html

Expectations higher than ever for Saints:  http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20120105/SPORTS/201050330/Expectations-higher-than-ever-Saints?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

Sean Payton's Wednesday press conference transcript:  http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/Payton-Importance-In-This-Season-Was-to-Find-Offensive-Balanace/3f3d3602-1690-41a0-b05c-64b1399be89f

Lions Articles from Other Websites/Newspapers:

Taming Suh:  http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120105/COL0504/201050334/Taming-Suh?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CSports

Quality QBs will rule when post season kicks off:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Quality+quarterbacks+will+rule+when+post+season+kicks/5949234/story.html

Power Rankings and Playoff Predictions and Previews:

Power Rankings:  http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2012/01/week-18-power-rankings.html

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

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

Video:

No huddle - Can Lions keep pace with Saints:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825b878b/No-Huddle-Can-Lions-keep-pace-with-Saints

Brees over Stafford:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825b833b/Brees-over-Stafford

This day in football - Lions last playoff win:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825b7486/This-Day-in-Football-Lions-last-playoff-win

Lions look to slow down Saints:  http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/nfl/Y_Sports_NFL/27783178;_ylt=AqQqFTJnUFwQ_RjBVXyu02hDubYF

Playoffs a chance for Suh to shine on the field:  http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/45877873#45877873

Can the Lions keep up with the Saints:  http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/22825103/vp/45873688#45873688