Morning Lions Links for Monday 11-19-18

Articles:

Lions defense holds on 2-point conversion: 'They ain't getting this (bleep)':  https://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2018/11/lions_defense_holds_on_2-point.html

Even in triumph, the Detroit Lions take a hit:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2018/11/even_in_triumph_the_detroit_li.html

Inside the locker room: Lions beat another top QB in Cam Newton:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2018/11/inside_the_locker_room_lions_h.html

Albom: Lions' season lives on for another week:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/mitch-albom/2018/11/19/mitch-albom-detroit-lions-carolina-panthers/2051244002/

Detroit Lions WR Kenny Golladay has the tools to succeed:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/jeff-seidel/2018/11/19/detroit-lions-wr-kenny-golladay-has-tools-succeed/2048153002/

Lions know it's ‘win or go home’ time already:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/18/detroit-lions-win-go-home-vs-panthers/2051413002/

Lions end skid, but Kerryon Johnson injury looms:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/18/detorit-lions-carolina-panthers/2047737002/

Detroit Lions' defense steps up, gets seal win vs. Panthers:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/18/detroit-lions-carolina-panthers-two-point-conversion/2051518002/

Wojo: Lions' victory is costly if Kerryon Johnson is out:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-wojnowski/2018/11/18/lions-victory-comes-heavy-cost-if-kerryon-out/2051876002/

Niyo: Stopgap victory eases pressure on Lions:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/john-niyo/2018/11/18/stopgap-victory-eases-pressure-lions/2051278002/

Lions' Ford makes most of promotion from practice squad:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/18/lions-cb-mike-ford-makes-most-promotion-practice-squad/2051318002/

Lions' Stafford downplays play-call wrist band:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/18/lions-matthew-stafford-downplays-play-call-wrist-band/2051396002/

Kenny Golladay embraces role as Lions' go-to receiver: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/18/kenny-golladay-embraces-role-detroit-lions-go-receiver/2051430002/

Darius Slay seizes milestone in win over Panthers:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/18/darius-slay-seizes-milestone-in-win-over-panthers/

Three up, three down for Lions after Panthers win:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Lions-stock-report-vs-Panthers-124956536/

247Sports hands out NFL Week 11 game balls (Kenny Golladay, WR: "Another huge day for Golladay, as he secured the game winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter and the Lions would hang on to get the win. Down weapons on the day, all the attention was going on Golladay, and the Lions managed to find him in a big way for a big score and a big couple plays on the afternoon considering his 113 yards and a score. Golladay, simply put, is becoming an NFL star." — Max DeMara):  https://247sports.com/nfl/tennessee-titans/ContentGallery/NFL-Week-11-game-balls-best-players-124933440/

Matt Patricia fired up after win over Panthers:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Matt-Patricia-locker-room-celebration-Lions-win-124958228/

Quiet confidence fuels Kenny Golladay's Lions rise:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Kenny-Golladay-Lions-rise-fueled-by-confidence-124953910/

What we learned from Sunday's Week 11 contests (1. Riverboat Ron pushed all his chips onto the table -- and came up empty-handed. After scoring a touchdown with 1:07 left in the fourth quarter to move to within one point of the lead, the Panthers went for two points. Cam Newton had all the time in the world, but couldn't find an open receiver and darted the ball over the head of wide receiver Jarius Wright in the end zone to annihilate the Panthers' chances of a win. The decision to go for two came after kicker Graham Gano looked inexplicably off his game. He missed a 34-yard field-goal attempt earlier in the game and an extra-point attempt. Had he made those, it's hard to believe Panthers coach Ron Rivera would have elected to go for two in that scenario. At 6-4 following two straight losses, Carolina is out of chips when it comes to risking their playoff hopes.  2. Perhaps the end of the Golden (Tate) era in Detroit isn't as bad as everyone thinks it might be. Kenny Golladay has taken over the role of top wide receiver in Motown since Tate's trade deadline detour to Philly, and he played a decisive role in keeping the Lions' postseason aspirations on life support for another week. Golladay made 8 catches for 113 yards and constantly challenged a relatively shallow Panthers secondary that was looking to make amends for last week's Big Ben thrashing. James Bradberry provided sticky coverage on Golladay most of the game, but he couldn't match the speedy playmaker play for play. Golladay's biggest moment came on an insane, full-extension, backward fading, leaping catch over Bradberry at the front of the end zone that broke a 13-13 tie in the fourth quarter. He made a handful of other impressive catches but his Sistine Chapel of a catch in the fourth quarter made his other grabs look like Jeff Koons knockoffs. Golladay might not be Megatron, but Matthew Stafford still has a true No. 1 receiver.  3. The Lions (4-6) found some success on the ground, spearheaded by the efforts of rookie running back Kerryon Johnson, who tallied 87 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Johnson left the game early with a knee injury and will have an MRI on his knee Monday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. After initial tests, Johnson is believed to have suffered a knee sprain, not an ACL tear, Rapoport added. If he misses any significant amount of time, it would be a huge blow to Detroit's chances of resurrecting itself from the depths of the NFC North.-- Austin Knoblauch):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000989379/article/what-we-learned-from-sundays-week-11-games

Week 11 Takeaways: Brees Having Season for the Ages, Big Ben Comes Back from the Dead, Cowboys D Can Make Them This Year’s Jaguars (Lions Are Eating Good Teams in Detroit: Ford Field has now claimed Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton, as the Lions continue to infuriate with inconsistency on both sides of the ball.  Matthew Stafford to Kenny Golladay: Breathtaking. This is going to be one of football’s best connections over the next five years (though no one will notice because it's the Lions).):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/11/18/week-11-analysis-breakdown-steelers-jaguars-roethlisberger-comeback-cowboys-falcons-alex-smith

Early word on Kerryon Johnson positive, Lions don’t expect ACL tear:  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/11/18/early-word-on-kerryon-johnson-positive-lions-dont-expect-acl-tear/

Ron Rivera: I think you go for two to win a game on the road:  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/11/18/ron-rivera-i-think-you-go-for-two-to-win-a-game-on-the-road/

Detroit Lions upset Panthers after Ron Rivera's two-point conversion decision backfires:  https://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/11/18/detroit-lions-upset-panthers-after-ron-riveras-two-point-conversion-decision-backfires/adqcf4q/

NFL: Bruce Ellington ties career high in Detroit Lions win:  https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article221866165.html

Lions show fight in 20-19 victory over Panthers:  https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/lions-show-fight-in-20-19-victory-over-panthers-111818

NFL Winners and Losers: Once left for dead, Cowboys now in driver's seat of NFC East (Losers - The Carolina Panthers’ costly two-point conversion miss: Ron Rivera’s decision to go for two was flawed, Cam Newton’s execution wasn’t good, and the Panthers might regret it the rest of the season.  The Panthers started 6-2 but have now lost two in a row. They’re all but out of the NFC South race with the Saints moving to 9-1, and they’ll be in a battle for a wild-card spot. The Panthers had a chance to win Sunday, but Rivera probably got aggressive at the wrong time.  The Panthers are better than the Lions. They weren’t being outplayed. The Panthers out-gained the Lions 387-309 and averaged 6.8 yards per play to 4.8 for Detroit. Yet, when the Panthers scored late they acted like the underdog, going for the two-point conversion and the win instead of playing for overtime. Kicker Graham Gano didn’t have a good day, and that might have affected Rivera’s decision.  “I think you go for two on the road to win the game,” Rivera said, according to the Charlotte Observer. “That’s what I did at the end of the day. What’s to say the coin toss (to begin overtime) is going to go in our favor (or) we’re going to stop ‘em? So why not go for two?”  On the play, Newton had a lot of time but his receivers were well-covered. When Jarius Wright flashed open, Newton hurried a throw that went too high. “I gotta make that play,” Newton said, according to the Observer. “That’s what it comes down to. Jarius did a good job kind of improvising and I’ve just got to make that play.”  Rivera’s decision wasn’t indefensible, though it seemed like he would have been better kicking the extra point. Newton missed a bang-bang throw, but that happens. That’s the tight-rope life of the NFL, and the loss for the Panthers on Sunday could prove costly.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-winners-losers-left-dead-cowboys-now-drivers-seat-nfc-east-034421636.html

Eight of 11 games so far decided by 3 points or less:  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/11/18/eight-of-11-games-so-far-decided-by-3-points-or-less/

Grades:

Grades: Colts get 'A+', Steelers 'C' (Lions: B-:  With Marvin Jones out due to an injury, Kenny Golladay exploded for 113 yards and a touchdown. Golladay's 19-yard score came with just 5:13 left in the game and proved to be the game-winning touchdown for the Lions. Kerryon Johnson also had his way with the Panthers defense, averaging 5.8 yards per carry on 15 touches. In a game where specialists played a key role, punter Sam Martin came up big for the Lions by the pinning the Panthers inside their own 10-yard with three of his six punts.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-11-grades-colts-get-an-a-for-blowout-steelers-get-a-c-for-sloppy-win/

Grading the Lions for Week 11 win over Panthers:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ContentGallery/Lions-grades-Week-11-Panthers-win-124964999/

Video:

Every catch from Kenny Golladay's 113-yard day | Week 11:  http://www.nfl.com/videos/detroit-lions/0ap3000000989490/Every-catch-from-Kenny-Golladay-s-113-yard-day-Week-11

Patricia on victory over Panthers:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/patricia-on-victory-over-panthers

Stafford on team performance against Panthers:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/stafford-on-team-performance-against-panthers

Golladay on playing a bigger role:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/golladay-on-playing-a-bigger-role

Decker on getting back on track:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/decker-on-getting-back-on-track

Davis on 20-19 win over Carolina:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/davis-on-20-19-win-over-carolina

Quin on win over Carolina:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/quin-on-win-over-carolina

Slay on big two point conversion stop:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/slay-on-big-two-point-conversion-stop

Jean Francois on fan support:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/jean-francois-on-fan-support-x5537

Lions pick up much-needed win over Panthers:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/lions-pick-up-much-needed-win-over-panthers

Dissecting Lions RB situation & more after win:  https://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/19/dissecting-detroit-lions-rb-situation-and-more-after-win-over-carolina-panthers/2051735002/

Wojo, Rogers, Niyo break down Lions' victory over Panthers:  https://www.detroitnews.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2018/11/19/wojo-rogers-niyo-break-down-lions-victory-over-panthers/2051400002/

The Lions got their first win in almost a month. Still, there has to be concern over one thing — the health of Kerryon Johnson:  http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-41044699-4