Morning Lions Links for Monday 9-16-19

Articles:

FOUR DOWNS: Lions make winning plays late:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/four-downs-lions-make-winning-plays-late

NOTEBOOK: Patricia explains Agnew decision:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-patricia-explains-agnew-decision

Lions’ defense bends, doesn’t break against Chargers:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/lions-defense-bends-doesnt-break-against-chargers.html

Lions bench return man Jamal Agnew in win against Chargers:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/lions-bench-return-man-jamal-agnew-in-win-against-chargers.html

Getting aggressive, Matthew Stafford makes 3 key throws in Lions’ comeback win:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/getting-aggressive-matthew-stafford-makes-3-key-throws-in-lions-comeback-win.html

Quandre Diggs tells Melvin Gordon after jab at Lions kicker: ‘Nice doing business!’:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/quandre-diggs-tells-melvin-gordon-after-jab-at-lions-kicker-nice-doing-business.html

Darius Slay on game-winning pick: ‘Oh, this (expletive) mine’:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/darius-slay-on-game-winning-pick-oh-this-expletive-mine.html

Mitch Albom: Detroit Lions saved a game on Sunday — and maybe a season:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/mitch-albom/2019/09/16/mitch-albom-detroit-lions-score/2338038001/

Detroit Lions love Darrell Bevell's aggressive play call to seal win:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-offense-matthew-stafford/2338184001/

That's right, the resilient Detroit Lions bounce back for crucial win over Chargers:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-chargers/2334162001/

Stafford's trust in Golladay pays off in Lions' first win of season:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/jeff-seidel/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-matthew-stafford-trust-kenny-golladay/2337615001/

Kerryon Johnson on bobbled-ball TD: ‘I better catch it’:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-kerryon-johnson-bobbled-touchdown-chargers/2337523001/

Darius Slay made the final 'big play' for Lions to beat Chargers:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-darius-slay-big-play-los-angeles-chargers/2337332001/

Wojo: Trust is a must, and Matthew Stafford delivers for Lions:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-wojnowski/2019/09/15/wojo-trust-must-and-matthew-stafford-delivers-detroit-lions/2335802001/

Lions' win brings relief for Matt Prater after rare off-day:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-win-brings-relief-matt-prater-after-rare-off-day/2335811001/

'We needed it': Stafford-Golladay connection comes through in the clutch for Lions:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/matthew-stafford-kenny-golladay-connection-comes-through-clutch-lions/2337909001/

Chargers holdout Gordon posts ill-advised tweet about Lions' Prater:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/chargers-holdout-melvin-gordon-posts-ill-advised-tweet-lions-matt-prater/2337797001/

Detroit Lions CB Darius Slay’s huge interception seals win over Chargers:  https://lionslowdown.com/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-cb-darius-slays-huge-interception-seals-win-over-chargers/

Briggs: Here's to your undefeated Detroit Lions:  https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/lions/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-undefeated-season-win-los-angles-chargers/stories/20190915153

Week 2 NFL takeaways: Huge days for Patriots, 49ers, Cowboys (Detroit Lions 13, Los Angeles Chargers 10:  How the Lions got back on track. It was a performance many Lions players said was not their best, but after a tie last week against the Cardinals in which they squandered an 18-point lead, Detroit will take this win. Offensively, there was a flow to things for the Lions. Receiver Marvin Jones said formations they saw from the Chargers on Sunday were worked on during the week, giving them comfort in situations when they have to have it. "It's like that through the whole week," Jones said. -- Michael Rothstein):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/nfl_32for3291519/week-2-nfl-takeaways-huge-days-patriots-49ers-cowboys

NFL Week 2 PFF ReFocused: Detroit Lions 13, Los Angeles Chargers 10:  https://www.pff.com/news/pro-nfl-week-2-pff-refocused-detroit-lions-13-los-angeles-chargers-10

What we learned from Sunday's Week 2 games (Detroit Lions 13, Los Angeles Chargers 10 - 1. One week after an overtime win at home, the Chargers (1-1) weren't so lucky in their first road game of the season. Sloppy play and miscues plagued the Chargers in all facets of the game against the Lions. Bolts punter Ty Long assumed kicking duties for the second consecutive week as Michael Badgley was sidelined again with a groin injury. Long missed back-to-back field goals, which proved to be costly in the end for the Chargers. Kicking woes are nothing new for the Chargers and Bolts faithful. For several seasons, the team has failed to establish consistency at the position or have been faced with subpar stand-ins due to injury.  2. The Lions' defense was fueled by the stout performances of Darius Slay, Tracy Walker, Jahlani Tavai and Devon Kennard that kept the Chargers out of the end zone Sunday. In the third quarter, Tavai forced an Ekeler goal-line fumble (which was recovered by Kennard). Slay had five tackles on the day and picked off Rivers in the end zone to seal the victory for Detroit (1-0-1). Offensively, the Lions took to the air against a thin Chargers secondary. Matthew Stafford threw for 245 yards and two touchdown passes with a pair of INTs. Detroit rushed for just 94 yards, splitting the workload between Kerryon Johnson and Ty Johnson.  3. Chargers receiver Mike Williams, who was a game-time decision, had three catches for 83 yards versus the Lions. This week, Williams sat out of practice due to a knee injury. The oft-injured Williams has proved to be a game changer for L.A., when healthy, but the third-year wideout hasn't gone a full season without some ailment. Philip Rivers went 21 for 36, totaling 287 yards and one interception. While Rivers spread the ball around between Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, the offense failed to get a rhythm going. The Chargers' offense certainly missed tight end Hunter Henry today, who is out for a while with a knee fracture.  -- Andie Hagemann):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001055124/article/what-we-learned-from-sundays-week-2-games

Week 2 Takeaways: Josh Allen Owns NY, Big Ben Down (Things that make me giddy - Chargers Charging Into Halftime: Facing third-and-8 from their own 5 with only 25 seconds left in the first half, Philip Rivers hit Keenan Allen twice and Mike Williams to set up a 39-yard field goal for Ty Long as time expired.  Lions Are Better Than You Think: I’m letting you know that, but still, try to look surprised as the season goes on. They were gutsy in a come-from-behind victory over the Chargers.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/09/15/week-2-breakdown-analysis-josh-allen-giants-cowboys-dominate-big-ben-roethlisberger-injury

32 things we learned from Week 2 of NFL season (14. Lions QB Matthew Stafford engineered his 28th fourth-quarter comeback, most in the NFL over the past decade. Naturally, helps when your team so often trails entering the final period ...):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/09/15/nfl-week-2-32-things-we-learned-2019/2336008001/

Lions win thriller over Chargers:  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chargers-vs-lions-final-score-lions-take-advantage-of-chargers-miscues-to-win-thriller/

Chargers' Anthony Lynn avoids the looming kicker question: 'We have to make our damn kicks':  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chargers-anthony-lynn-avoids-the-looming-kicker-question-we-have-to-make-our-damn-kicks/

Lions’ defense stands strong in win over Chargers:  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/09/15/lions-defense-stands-strong-in-win-over-chargers/

Los Angeles Chargers cannot overcome injuries, absences in Week 2 loss to Detroit Lions:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/chargers/2019/09/15/nfl-los-angeles-chargers-detroit-lions-philip-rivers/2335694001/

Too many mistakes for short-handed Chargers in loss to Lions:  https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/too-many-mistakes-for-short-handed-chargers-in-loss-to-lions-091519

Grades:

Lions grades: OL shines without Decker, special teams do not:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-grades-los-angeles-chargers/2334165001/

Justin Rogers' Lions grades: Stafford gets passing mark despite interceptions:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/justin-rogers-lions-grades-stafford-gets-passing-mark-despite-interceptions/2334796001/

CBS Grades (Lions: B-.  The Lions had their share of mistakes in this one as well, but the Chargers made more mistakes that Detroit was able to take advantage of. Matthew Stafford and the Lions took the lead for good on a Stafford 31-yard pass to Kenny Golladay with 7:29 left and Darius Slay had the end zone interception off Philip Rivers with 1:03 left to get Detroit its first win of the year. The defense allowed 424 yards and 6.8 yards per play, but forced two critical turnovers deep in their own territory. Stafford threw two interceptions, but was 5 for 5 on the game-winning drive and completed a third-and-6 pass to Jesse James for seven yards to seal the win. Matt Prater missed an extra point and 40-yard field goal, but this was a resilient win for the Lions, who could easily be 2-0.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-2-grades-49ers-get-an-a-for-blowout-win-floundering-dolphins-get-an-f/

2020 Draft:

College Football Week 3 Eckrich Team of the Week:  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-3-eckrich-team-of-the-week

College Football Week 3 Eckrich GameDay MVP: QB Dillon Gabriel, UCF:  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-3-eckrich-gameday-mvp-qb-dillon-gabriel-ucf

Video:

Best plays from Lions vs. Chargers:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/best-plays-from-lions-vs-chargers

Lions vs. Chargers: Locker Room Celebration:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/lions-vs-chargers-locker-room-celebration

Debate: Lions dodge bullet vs. Chargers; has season outlook changed?:  https://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/detroit-lions-analysis-los-angeles-chargers/2337802001/

Rogers, Niyo and Wojo break down Lions' win over Chargers:  https://www.detroitnews.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/15/rogers-niyo-and-wojo-break-down-lions-win-over-chargers/2338089001/