Morning Lions Links for Monday 9-30-19

Articles:

NOTEBOOK: Diggs, Hockenson leave game with injuries:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-diggs-hockenson-leave-game-with-injuries

FOUR DOWNS: Stafford, Lions show toughness in loss to Chiefs:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/four-downs-stafford-lions-show-toughness-in-loss-to-chiefs

Marvin Jones was knocked to the ground on a Hail Mary. The NFL didn’t review it.:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/marvin-jones-was-shoved-to-the-ground-on-a-hail-mary-the-nfl-elected-not-to-review-it.html

What happened on that bizarre goal-line fumble by Kerryon Johnson?:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/what-happened-on-that-bizarre-goal-line-fumble-by-kerryon-johnson.html

Inside the locker room: Lions taking the good with the bad in 34-30 loss to Chiefs:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/inside-the-locker-room-lions-taking-the-good-with-the-bad-in-34-30-loss-to-chiefs.html

Lions T.J. Hockenson in good spirits after exiting loss with brain injury:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/lions-tj-hockenson-in-good-spirits-after-exiting-loss-with-brain-injury.html

Lions fans very upbeat after close loss to Super Bowl favorite Chiefs:  https://www.mlive.com/sports/g66l-2019/09/b02e86ad7d6131/lions-fans-very-upbeat-after-close-loss-to-super-bowl-favorite-chiefs.html

What they’re saying nationally after Lions lose 34-30 in final minute to Chiefs:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/what-theyre-saying-nationally-after-lions-lose-34-30-in-final-minute-to-chiefs.html

Patrick Mahomes fails to throw touchdown, beats Lions with pair of clutch runs instead:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/patrick-mahomes-fails-to-throw-touchdown-beats-lions-with-pair-of-clutch-runs-instead.html

Mitch Albom: Detroit Lions' loss to Chiefs nothing to be happy about:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/30/mitch-albom-detroit-lions-kansas-city-chiefs/3815378002/

Lions stock watch: Turnover drills pay off, but 3 players trending down:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/29/detroit-lions-football-stock-watch-turnover-drills-paying-off/3812505002/

Lions take little solace in loss to Chiefs, even as they look legit:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/29/detroit-lions-game-kansas-city-chiefs/3812498002/

Detroit Lions notes: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/29/detroit-lions-hockenson-concussion-football-fall/3815947002/

Kerryon Johnson: 'I just thought I was down':   https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/29/detroit-lions-kerryon-johnson-fumble/3814952002/

Lions' Stafford: Latest injury unrelated to last year's back ailment:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/29/matthew-stafford-hip-injury-detroit-lions/3815048002/

Lions make Patrick Mahomes look human — until crunch time:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/jeff-seidel/2019/09/29/detroit-lions-patrick-mahomes-kansas-city-chiefs/3812888002/

Wojo: Lions gain credibility in crushing defeat to Chiefs:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-wojnowski/2019/09/29/wojo-detroit-lions-gain-credibility-crushing-defeat-kansas-city-chiefs/3811728002/

Niyo: Behind Matthew Stafford's lead, Lions show they won't back down:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/john-niyo/2019/09/29/niyo-behind-matthew-staffords-lead-detroit-lions-show-they-wont-back-down/3811729002/

Lions' banged-up secondary rises to occasion against Chiefs' high-flying attack:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/29/lions-banged-up-secondary-rises-occasion-against-chiefs-high-flying-attack/3815827002/

Five things to know about Detroit Lions’ 34-30 loss to Kansas City Chiefs:  https://lionslowdown.com/2019/09/29/five-things-to-know-about-detroit-lions-34-30-loss-to-kansas-city-chiefs/

Week 4 NFL takeaways: Patriots, Chiefs stay unbeaten ... barely (Lions - It ended with a loss, but Detroit made a statement on Sunday. The Lions may not like the result, but the defense held Mahomes without a touchdown, the offense moved the ball well on the ground and in the air, and with a minute left in the game, Detroit was leading. It'll live on as a loss, but on Sunday, the Lions showed they can play with any team in the NFL. "We showed a lot as a team," cornerback Mike Ford said. "Being able to show that we're tough. That we don't give up." -- Michael Rothstein):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/nfl_32for3292919/week-4-nfl-takeaways-patriots-chiefs-stay-unbeaten-barely

Week 4 Player of the Game: Kenny Golladay:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/09/29/week-4-player-of-the-game-kenny-golladay/

OnePride Twitter reactions to Lions 34-30 loss to the Chiefs:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/09/29/onepride-twitter-reactions-to-lions-34-30-loss-to-the-chiefs/

Why the Chiefs' winning touchdown against the Lions shouldn't have counted:  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2019/09/29/why-the-chiefs-winning-touchdown-against-the-lions-shouldnt-have-counted/

NFL Week 4 PFF ReFocused: Kansas City Chiefs 34, Detroit Lions 30:  https://www.pff.com/news/pro-nfl-week-4-pff-refocused-kansas-city-chiefs-34-detroit-lions-30

Chiefs come back for last-minute win in Detroit:  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/09/29/chiefs-come-back-for-last-minute-win-in-detroit/

Turning point for Matt Patricia and Lions? Detroit looked competent even in defeat:  https://sports.yahoo.com/turning-point-for-matt-patricia-and-lions-detroit-looked-competent-even-in-defeat-010540740.html

Chiefs and Lions lose five fumbles in wild, sloppy game that came down to final possession:  https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-and-lions-lose-five-fumbles-in-wild-sloppy-game-that-came-down-to-final-possession-203930800.html

Lions fight back, but 3rd-quarter fumbles cost them:  https://sports.yahoo.com/lions-fight-back-3rd-quarter-fumbles-cost-them-231000337--nfl.html

Play to the whistle: Chiefs run back fumble as Lions stand still:  https://sports.yahoo.com/play-to-the-whistle-chiefs-run-back-fumble-as-lions-stand-still-192949030.html

Lions' T.J. Hockenson knocked out of game after trying to hurdle Chiefs defender:  https://sports.yahoo.com/lions-tj-hockenson-slammed-hard-on-turf-after-trying-to-leap-chiefs-defender-193912309.html

Even in defeat, Lions believe they are a team capable of big things:  https://montrealgazette.com/sports/football/nfl/detroit-lions/even-in-defeat-lions-believe-they-are-a-team-capable-of-big-things/wcm/ccbfdbc4-b23b-4706-b0e7-78c5b4f33f90

NFL Winners and Losers: After a week of angst, the Browns are tied for first place (Winners - The winning-ugly Kansas City Chiefs: How many games would you expect the Chiefs to win with Patrick Mahomes throwing zero touchdowns? “Not many” is an acceptable answer.  The Chiefs showed they don’t need Mahomes to be a superhero every week, and they can win games without their “A” game. Kansas City didn’t play particularly well, but got a late 34-30 over the Detroit Lions to remain undefeated. Mahomes still was good, throwing 315 yards and picking up a huge fourth-down conversion on a run to extend the Chiefs’ game-winning drive.  It wasn’t a vintage performance. And the Chiefs still won. On the road. Against a Lions team that was 2-0-1.  Mahomes will have plenty of enormous games as he looks like the early favorite to win a second straight MVP award. But the Chiefs can also win when he’s not his dominant best.):   https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-winners-and-losers-after-a-week-of-angst-the-browns-are-tied-for-first-place-203716702.html

What we learned from Sunday's Week 4 games (Kansas City Chiefs 34, Detroit Lions 30:  1. Even when Patrick Mahomes doesn't have his best day, the gunslinger always gives the Chiefs a chance to win. The reigning NFL MVP led a game-winning drive on the road, silencing a raucous Detroit crowd. Mahomes used his legs to pick up several huge first downs late, and found soft holes in the Lions defense, which was only rushing two and three defenders much of the final drive. In his first-ever NFL start in a dome, Mahomes was just a tad off on his deep shots all afternoon, missing a bevy of bombs by a hair. The normally dive-bombing signal-caller generated no completions of 20-plus-air yards on the day. Mahomes came in with 14 straight games with two or more passing TDs. Matt Patricia's defense held him out of the end zone, but Mahomes made enough plays between the 20s and K.C. ran for three TDs, including Darrel Williams' game-winning score. Sunday was a reminder that even when the Chiefs (4-0) don't have their best day, and can't hit the deep shots, Mahomes can still find a way to get a W.  2. The third quarter was a fumble-palooza. The teams combined for five fumbles in the stanza, the most in a single quarter since 1991, per the FOX broadcast. K.C. committed three of the botches, opening the quarter with a kickoff fumble and coughing up the ball on each of its next two possessions. The Lions, however, couldn't capitalize on the miscues. Matthew Stafford fumbled inside the 5-yard-line, a play after a touchdown pass to Kenny Golladay was overturned. Following the Chiefs' next fumble, Kerryon Johnson had the ball knocked out trying to stretch out for a score at the goal line. Chiefs defensive back Bashaud Breeland scooped up the ball and ran 100 yards for a score. Referees -- the same crew that blew a call dead against New Orleans two weeks ago -- let the play go as Detroit players thought Johnson was down. The touchdown stood upon review giving K.C. a massive score -- and its first lead of the tilt -- in a tight game.  3. Moral victories are for the birds. The Lions (2-1-1) will be kicking themselves for not taking advantage of Chiefs miscues. Four times on its first seven possessions, Detroit had the ball inside the K.C. 8-yard-line. The Lions scored just 10 points in those drives. Coming into the tilt, there were questions about whether Detroit was real after beating two banged-up teams. The loss hurt, but Patricia's team showed it isn't a fluke through four weeks. The Lions D caused turnovers and didn't give up big plays. Corner Justin Coleman was a monster on the back end. Kerryon Johnson ran well, gashing the Chiefs for 125 yards on the ground. Stafford threw with conviction and launched several lasers to Golladay and Marvin Jones. For large chunks of the game, Stafford (three touchdown passes) outplayed Mahomes. In the end, however, Detroit once again came up short. -- Kevin Patra):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001060156/article/what-we-learned-from-sundays-week-4-games

Insider notes: Buyin' Lions despite L:  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/insider-notes-lions-prove-theyre-legit-despite-loss-time-isnt-now-for-dwayne-haskins-and-more-from-week-4/

Chiefs win thriller with last-minute touchdown:  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chiefs-vs-lions-live-updates-live-updates-game-stats-highlights-for-week-4-matchup-in-detroit/

Week 4 Takeaways: Browns Hype Train Rolls Again in Baltimore, Too Much Time for Mahomes in Detroit (Lions Left Too Much Time for Mahomes: Detroit’s defense made him work for it, as Mahomes had to scramble to convert a fourth-and-8, but ultimately the Chiefs had little trouble driving for a game-winning TD in 146 seconds.  Lions With Goal-to-Go: They had five goal-to-go series that resulted in: field goal, lost fumble (after an apparent touchdown was overturned), lost fumble returned for a touchdown, touchdown, touchdown. So, basically, on those five series they only outscored the Chiefs 17-7, which is how you shatter your tender heart in a 34-30 loss.  You All Just Keep Disrespecting the Lions: Make no mistake, this is a playoff-caliber team led by a superstar quarterback. If not for two lost fumbles around the goal line (the second one returned from the three-inch line for a touchdown), they would have handled the Chiefs and been in full control of the NFC North.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/09/29/week-4-games-breakdown-analysis-takeaways

NFL scores: What we learned from every game in Week 4 (What we learned: The Chiefs aren’t going to have it as easy as we thought — and the Lions are far more legit than we expected. Detroit exposed Kansas City’s troubles holding onto the ball as well as its porous defense, but ultimately Patrick Mahomes was good when it mattered. He’d barely faced any push back this year so Sunday’s game-winning drive was important.  The Lions are clear playoff contender, especially if they can clean up their own fumbling issues, and it certainly appears that Patricia could become the Belichick disciple who successfully replicates his game-planning brilliance: Mahomes had thrown for 10 TDs in his first three games but had none against the Lions and looked bewildered for much of the day by what he saw when he looked downfield.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/nfl-scores-week-4-results-analysis-what-we-learned

Andy Reid was a bit too excited after beating Lions: ‘Not all of Mozart’s paintings were perfect!’:  https://sports.yahoo.com/kansas-city-chiefs-coach-andy-reid-hilarious-mistake-mozart-painter-232038068.html

Grades:

Lions grades: Patricia and his staff deserve credit for near upset:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/29/detroit-lions-game-matt-patricia-kansas-city-chiefs/3812500002/

Justin Rogers' Lions grades: High marks dinged slightly by costly mistakes:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/29/justin-rogers-detroit-lions-grades-high-marks-dinged-slightly-costly-mistakes/3812476002/

CBS Grades (Lions (Grade:  A-):  It certainly didn't feel like the Lions lost on Sunday. They proved to the rest of the NFL world that they are for real. While Detroit has gutted out some tough wins over average teams, the fact that they hung around with a Super Bowl favorite was very telling. Matt Stafford out-dueled Mahomes, the Lions crushed it when it came to running the ball and the defense did a good job at slowing down the reigning NFL MVP. It all came down to that final drive, however, and the Lions just couldn't stop the Chiefs.):   https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-4-grades-titans-get-an-a-for-crushing-falcons-redskins-get-an-f-and-times-run-out-for-jay-gruden/

Video:

Patricia on taking positives from loss to Kansas City:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/patricia-on-taking-positives-from-loss-to-kansas-city

Golladay on teams finish Sunday:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/golladay-on-teams-finish-sunday

Johnson on third quarter turnovers:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/johnson-on-third-quarter-turnovers

Hall on continuing to fight:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/hall-on-continuing-to-fight

Flowers on keeping Mahomes in the pocket.:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/flowers-on-keeping-mahomes-in-the-pocket

Walker on team’s hard work:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/walker-on-team-s-hard-work

Kennard forward to the rest of the season:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/kennard-forward-to-the-rest-of-the-season

Debate: Lions look like playoff contender vs. Chiefs, but can't finish:  https://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/30/detroit-lions-game-kansas-city-chiefs/3815538002/