Wednesday 1/4/12 Morning Lions Links

Lions Articles from Local Media:

Official Lions Website:

Texas high school QBs Stafford and Brees take different paths to Saturday's matchup:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Texas-high-school-QBs-Stafford-and-Brees-take-different-paths-to-Saturdays-playoff-match-up-/9ea7ba68-bfd1-4916-9ee4-b9e4c2162d3c

Suh - We continue to rebel against that and prove that we are a team to be reckoned with:  http://blogs.detroitlions.com/2012/01/03/suh-weve-continued-to-rebel-against-that-and-prove-that-were-a-team-to-be-reckoned-with/

Detroit News:

Stafford earns a fan in Scott Mitchell:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120104/SPORTS0101/201040323/1126/Matthew-Stafford-earns-fan-former-Lions-QB-Scott-Mitchell

Talk of offenses fires Lions defense's fuel:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120104/OPINION03/201040341/1126/SPORTS0101/Talk-offenses-fuels-Lions-defense-s-fire

Lions backup QB Shaun Hill ponders future:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120104/SPORTS0101/201040342/1126/SPORTS0101/Lions-backup-QB-Shaun-Hill-ponders-career-future

Lions playoff shirts on sale:  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120104/SPORTS0101/201040316/1126/SPORTS0101/Lions-playoff-shirts-sale

Free Press:

Stafford knows only winning will make him like his idols:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120104/SPORTS01/201040442/Lions-Matthew-Stafford-knows-only-winning-will-make-him-like-his-boyhood-idols

Lions focused on Saints, not playing respect card:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120104/SPORTS01/201040410/Dominic-Raiola-Lions-focused-on-beating-Saints-not-playing-respect-card

Suh - I don't plan on anybody shooting out defense out:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120104/SPORTS01/120104002/Ndamukong-Suh-I-don-t-plan-on-anybody-shooting-out-defense-out-

Saints Safety say they will combine coverage on Calvin Johnson:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120104/SPORTS01/201040446/Saints-safety-says-they-ll-combine-coverage-on-Calvin-Johnson

Saints Jahri Evans eager for test against Suh, Fairley:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120104/SPORTS01/201040422/Saints-Jahri-Evans-eager-for-test-against-Ndamukong-Suh-Nick-Fairley

The other side - Saints dangerous passing attack set up by run:  http://www.freep.com/article/20120104/SPORTS01/120103068/The-other-side-Saints-dangerous-pass-attack-set-up-by-run

Oakland Press:

Lions smarter, better, healthier team on this visit to NO:  http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/01/04/sports/doc4f03867a9cee9444526794.txt

Lions notebook - Scheffler sees big picture; did Stafford rip Tebow:  http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/01/04/sports/doc4f038dc586378969235065.txt

Lions Articles from National Sports Websites:

NFL:

Playoff teams ranking (Lions ranked 9th):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825add9e/article/packers-saints-cream-of-the-crop-entering-nfl-playoffs

ESPN:

Lions didn't sign Joique Bell as a scout:  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/29922/lions-didnt-sign-joique-bell-as-scout

Foxsports:

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

Billick's Playoff Teams Rankings (Lions ranked 7):   http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/playoff-power-rankings-new-orleans-saints-not-green-bay-packers-are-super-bowl-favorites-010312

Whatifsports give the Lions a 38.1% chance of beating the Saints:  http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings?powerRankingsType=predictions

Yahoo:

Lions scoff at the us against world approach vs. Saints:  http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=dw-wetzel_lions_saints_underdogs_schwartz_brees_010412

USA Today:

NFL's 4 wildcards far from long shots:  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/story/2012-01-03/wild-card-chances/52372986/1

PFW:

MVP Meter (CJ is #5 and Stafford is #8):  http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/01/03/mvp-meter-by-narrowest-of-margins-its-rodgers

PFF:

All had a bad day team (Suh made this team):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/04/all-had-a-bad-day-team-week-17/

All PFF Team, week 17 (CJ made this team):  http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/04/all-pff-team-week-17/

Lions Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Lions say playoff experience overrated:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/detroit_lions_say_playoff_expe.html

Brees previews upcoming game against Lions:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/new_orleans_saints_quarterback_118.html

Sean Payton discusses upcoming game against Lions:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/new_orleans_saints_coach_sean_206.html

Transcript from Schwartz conference call:  http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/transcript_from_detroit_lions_1.html

Week 18 Power Rankings:

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

2012 Draft Articles:

Top 10 o-lineman:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d824cc19f/article/top-10-olinemen-uscs-kalil-stanford-duo-lead-the-way

Video:

Can the Lions adapt:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825b05d5/Can-the-Lions-adapt

Lions ready to take on Saints:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825b0def/Lions-ready-to-take-on-Saints

Burleson on Lions playoff hopes:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825b1580/Burleson-on-Lions-playoff-hopes

Slowing down Calvin Johnson:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/09000d5d825b19ba/Slowing-down-Calvin-Johnson

Stafford, Lions ready to pounce:  http://msn.foxsports.com/video/NFL?vid=23bfca85-6810-43cb-b942-2c1827c3cce3&from=foxsports/nfl/home_gallery

Countdown Daily Insight - Where Stafford ranks (He's ranked in the top 10):  http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7420830