Afternoon Lions Links for Wednesday 9-9-15

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Seven contenders stand out in Power Poll (Lions are 8th and in the playoff contenders tier. The top two tiers are balanced, with nine AFC squads and eight from the NFC. It wouldn't be a surprise if any of the teams in this tier made the playoffs, but they feel like squads that will be battling to clinch until the final weekend. Chris Wesseling is leading the Lionsbandwagon, believing that the offense should make strides with a healthy Calvin Johnsonand the addition of rookie running back Ameer Abdullah. Detroit's prime competition for a wild card spot could be Arizona and Minnesota.):   http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000524484/article/seven-contenders-stand-out-in-power-poll

USA TODAY Sports NFL experts' 2015 NFL predictions (Nate Davis picks Ameer Abdullah to win rookie of the year):  http://sportswire.usatoday.com/2015/09/08/nfl-super-bowl-award-predictions-experts-staff/

Ranking every NFC team by projected finish (6. Detroit Lions:  There are four teams with 11 or more players on their roster with a PFF rating above 80, and the Lions are one of them. Even though they lost all of their defensive tackles in the offseason, which was previously a position of strength, they replaced them well with Haloti Ngata (86.2) and Tyrunn Walker (73.5). The offense should be better this year than last, assuming WR Calvin Johnson (89.2) can stay healthy. The main thing holding the team back is QB Matthew Stafford (74.3), and having only a few Pro Bowl-caliber players. There were only four games last year where Stafford had an above-average PFF grade for a quarterback. The results for this team should be similar to last year unless Stafford steps up: a wild card spot and probably an early playoff exit.):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/09/09/ranking-every-nfc-team-by-projected-finish/

Local Media:

TIM AND MIKE: Expectations for the 2015 season:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/tim-mike/article-1/TIM-AND-MIKE-Expectations-for-the-2015-season/c6465490-ab62-42df-964b-8ed5191d4516

Lions practice report: Levy, Warford, Reid still out:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/09/detroit-lions-injury-report/71951232/

Lions' Waddle: 'Up in the air' if I'll be ready Week 1:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/09/laadrian-waddle-knee-detroit-lions/71929922/

Old? Not Calvin Johnson: 'I still got it in me, man':   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/09/detroit-lions-calvin-johnson-stats/71954680/

Niyo: '0-16 to the top' would be remarkable rise for Johnson:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/09/niyo-0-16-to-the-top-would-be-remarkable-rise-for-johnson/71923114/

Lions' Cudjo back in time for team picture, 'dirty work':   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/08/lions-re-sign-dt-cudjo-two-days-after-releasing-him/71905940/

Lions cornerbacks coach polishes style in Japan:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/08/lions-cornerbacks-coach-polishes-style-japan/71909740/

5 things to watch: Time for Lions offense to put up, or shut up:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/5_things_to_watch_time_for_lio.html

Just how good could Lions rookie RB Ameer Abdullah be?:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/just_how_good_could_lions_rook.html

Detroit Lions update: Ameer Abdullah, Melvin Gordon friends since high school:  http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150909/detroit-lions-update-ameer-abdullah-melvin-gordon-friends-since-high-school

Lions notes: Updated depth chart, more:   http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/9/9/9286393/lions-notes-updated-depth-chart-practice-squad-signings

Previews and Predictions:

Josh Katzenstein predicts Lions' season (he predicts the Lions to finish 9-7):   http://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/09/josh-katzenstein-predicts-lions-season/71876610/

SI's game by game prediction (Greg Bedard has the Lions finishing 6-10):   http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/09/08/nfl-predictions-picks-nfc-north-schedule

Power Rankings:

SI's Power Rankings (12. DETROIT LIONS - There is playoff-level talent, maybe more, to be found in the Motor City—at least one SI NFL mind (not this one) picked the Lions to not just make, but host the NFC title game. Will the schedule prove to be overwhelming? Detroit opens with three of four on the road (at San Diego, at Minnesota, Denver, at Seattle), then hosts Arizona. Finishing 2–3 would be acceptable. At 1–4 or 0–5, the Lions could be too far gone.):   http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/09/09/nfl-power-rankings-week-1-patriots-seahawks

Shutdown Corner's Power Rankings (14. Detroit Lions (LW: 14) - If I'm the Lions I'm finding out very early in the season exactly what I have with rookie running back Ameer Abdullah. If he's special, it brings that offense to a new level.):   http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-power-rankings--some-changes-after-a-crazy-preseason-150053421.html

PFT's Power Rankings (17. Lions (0-0): They can say they won’t miss Ndamukong Suh because what other choice do they have? With solid Packers and Vikings teams and a strong out-of-division schedule, the chances of two straight playoff berths aren’t great.):   http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/09/pfts-week-one-power-rankings/