Morning Lions Links for Friday 9-25-15

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Matt Prater has 'no hard feelings' with how things ended in Denver:   http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/19105/lions-kicker-matt-prater-has-no-hard-feelings-with-how-things-ended-in-denver

Undefeated Broncos look to keep Lions winless Sunday night:   http://sports.yahoo.com/news/undefeated-broncos-look-keep-lions-winless-sunday-night-204240311--nfl.html

Hopes For 0-2 NFL Teams (Detroit (vs. Denver): Oh joy, another Broncos prime-time game, thus another opportunity for NFL Twitter to overreact to every single Peyton Manning pass, handoff and grimace. Instead, let's concentrate on the Detroit side of things. The Lions won 12 games a year ago but are definitely out of sorts after a couple of furlongs this season. Matthew Stafford is banged up but most likely will play. Surely he recognizes how critical this game is for his team. Stafford will need his offensive line to play better. As with many of the 0-2 teams, poor play up front is a critical culprit in the slow start. The run game, expected to be so electric, has struggled since halftime of the opener against San Diego, thanks to poor play from a thrown-together line. There are two new starters and two more just returning from injury. Communication and cohesion has naturally been affected, and Minnesota's active front in particular wreaked havoc. It won't get much easier against Denver, whose boatload of defensive playmakers has been unleashed in the first two games. Detroit will need its stars at quarterback and wide receiver (Calvin Johnson hasn't been the Megatron we love so far, struggling to separate from defenders) to plant its feet and grab a tough one on the road.):   http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/151407124/nfl-teams-0-2-start-playoffs-super-bowl

Panic levels: Ranking the 0-2 NFL teams (Detroit Lions - Panic Station: Tough Start Taking Its Toll - Two Road Games To Start The Year, Followed By Tilts Against The Broncos And The Seahawks, Was Always Going To Tell Us A Lot About The Lions In September. What We’ve Found Is That They’re Not Quite Ready To Build On Their 2014 Playoff Berth. Offensively, Matthew Stafford (-7.9) Is Off To A Disastrous Start, And Sits As Our Lowest-graded Quarterback After Two Weeks, Facing Off With Our Second Lowest-graded Quarterback (Peyton Manning, -7.4) This Sunday. The Lions Offensive Line Isn’t Helping Matters, Either, With Manuel Ramirez (+2.6) The Only Starter With A Positive Grade, As They Struggle To Spring Their Talented Backfield Into Action. Without An Immediate Improvement From The Defense, Both As Pass Rushers And In Coverage, The Lions Are Staring Down A 0-4 Trail.):   https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/09/24/panic-levels-ranking-the-0-2-nfl-teams/

Local Media:

NOTEBOOK: Tough task ahead with Denver's edge rushers:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook/article-1/NOTEBOOK-Tough-task-ahead-with-Denvers-edge-rushers/f0f3a397-ecbb-4f72-95de-6bc2532e1968

PRACTICE REPORT: Brandon Pettigrew sits out again:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider-short/article-1/PRACTICE-REPORT-Brandon-Pettigrew-sits-out-again/0136f40b-431f-47e2-bae4-804253273bc6

10 takeaways from Austin & Lombardi:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/10-takeaways-from-Austin--Lombardi/49b4a08a-4be3-4f8c-9ce7-7f6a39dd1ea7

Lions' Tulloch now a 'role player':   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/detroit-lions-stephen-tulloch-demoted/72747878/

Caldwell: If you talk about how tough you are, you aren't:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/jim-caldwell-rodney-harrison-tough/72748804/

Lions K Prater hopes for big game vs. team that cut him:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/25/detroit-lions-matt-prater-denver-broncos/72782658/

Lions Caldwell says Ebron is improving after rookie struggles:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/caldwell-says-ebron-improving-rookie-struggles/72765210/

Lions’ toughness becomes matter of debate:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/lions-toughness-becomes-matter-debate/72747988/

Lions’ Levy remains out, likely to miss Broncos game:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/lions-levy-remains-likely-miss-broncos-game/72750248/

Lions’ defensive woes correctable:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/lions-defensive-woes-correctable/72774674/

Kubiak, passed over by Lions, leads Broncos:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/kubiak-passed-lions-returns-lead-broncos/72739342/

Lions’ odds to win Super Bowl grow to 100/1:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/lions-odds-win-super-bowl-grow/72746178/

Tickets still available for all Lions home games:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/tickets-still-available-lions-home-games/72761080/

Lions agree Manning is aging gracefully:   http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/23/lions-agree-manning-aging-gracefully/72714946/

Ezekiel Ansah back at Lions practice; LaAdrian Waddle gets treatment on ankle:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/ezekiel_ansah_back_at_lions_pr.html

Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi says playcalling 'not good enough':   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/lions_offensive_coordinator_jo.html

Detroit Lions say team doesn't put emphasis on playing no-huddle offense:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/detroit_lions_say_team_doesnt.html

Detroit Lions' coaches acknowledge team is struggling with fundamentals:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/detroit_lions_coaching.html

First look: Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning has 3-0 career record vs. Detroit Lions:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/first_look_denver_broncos_peyt.html

Detroit Lions notes: Matt Prater no bitterness toward Broncos:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150924/detroit-lions-notes-matt-prater-no-bitterness-toward-broncos

Detroit Lions — Five reasons LaAdrian Waddle’s return can boost O-line:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150924/detroit-lions-x2014-five-reasons-laadrian-waddles-return-can-boost-o-line

Lions Try To Get Offense Back On Track Against Top Passing Defense In NFL:   http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/09/24/lions-try-to-get-offense-back-on-track-against-top-passing-defense-in-nfl/

Top 5 Lions Storylines Of This Week: Stafford's Ribs, And More:   http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/09/24/top-5-lions-storylines-of-this-week-staffords-ribs-and-more/

Lions notes: Coaches at Thursday press conference:   http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/9/24/9392853/lions-notes-coaches-speak-at-thursday-press-conferences

Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Wade Phillips: Lions' Stafford 'heck of a QB':   http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Wade-Phillips-Matthew-Stafford-is-a-heck-of-a-quarterback/68767efa-afe4-4543-a521-62b6c01b4fb0

Broncos Injury Update: Aqib Talib returns, C.J. Anderson good to go:   http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Broncos-Injury-Update-Aqib-Talib-returns-CJ-Anderson-good-to-go/858a3b04-0d58-4d09-8eec-308b1e4174fd

Run D aims for bounce back after KC's 100+ yds:   http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Defense-looking-to-bounce-back-after-giving-up-rare-performance/44d3f429-1de9-4e01-b99f-9a589621cfb7

Coords.' Corner: Offense keeps improving:   http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Coordinators-Corner-Offense-keeps-improving/291f6f3a-05a6-4ed7-bfb2-5a360c34101a

Anderson looks to rediscover 'fun' in his game:   http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/CJ-Anderson-finds-his-enthusiasm----about-everything-but-fantasy-football/e61bc68a-d353-43d7-b5ad-ea3dac0c1a7e

Do you trust Chris Harris to cover Calvin Johnson?:   http://sportsshow.denverpost.com/2015/09/24/do-you-trust-chris-harris-to-cover-calvin-johnson/

Jim Caldwell, Matt Stafford other Lions players weigh in on Broncos:   http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2015/09/24/jim-caldwell-matt-stafford-other-lions-players-weigh-in-on-broncos/35680/

Gary Kubiak wanted be head coach of the Detroit Lions prior to going to Baltimore:   http://sportsshow.denverpost.com/2015/09/24/gary-kubiak-wanted-be-head-coach-of-the-detroit-lions-prior-to-going-to-baltimore/

Previews and Predictions:

Game 3:   http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2015/09/game-3-lions-vs-broncos-previews-and.html

Video:

National Media:

ProFootballTalk: Can Stafford, Megatron get on track vs. Denver?:   http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/24/profootballtalk-can-stafford-megatron-get-on-track-vs-denver/

Local Media:

Caldwell on the team's health for Week 3:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Caldwell-on-the-teams-health-for-Week-3/3e3e1187-f594-47bf-8fde-44b9e0f58fe0

Austin on the defense in Week 2:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Austin-on-the-defense-in-Week-2/79f0f7fb-2651-4e0f-976e-493274b4939f

Lombardi on offensive play calling:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Lombardi-on-offensive-play-calling/a59430f5-b2af-4db9-9fc0-405be703fe40

Waddle on his status for Sunday:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Waddle-on-his-status-for-Sunday/0004b1ce-ced0-4340-abfc-92b1891c090f

Prater on his time with the Broncos:   http://www.detroitlions.com/media-center/videos/Prater-on-his-time-with-the-Broncos/3f7c0bd1-3cea-4e6a-9b83-0e9eebd15a26

Stafford endured worst beating of any Lions QB in years:   http://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/24/72748150/