Pre-Game Lions Links for Sunday 12-8-19

Articles:

INACTIVES: Lions at Vikings:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/inactives-lions-at-vikings-x0372

5 things to watch: Lions at Vikings:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/5-things-to-watch-lions-at-vikings-x5009

O’HARA’S FINAL THOUGHTS: More catches possible for James:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-s-final-thoughts-more-catches-possible-for-james

What should the Lions do with rookie Amani Oruwariye now that Melvin is back:   https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/12/what-should-the-lions-do-with-rookie-amani-oruwariye-now-that-rashaan-melvin-is-back.html

Return man Jamal Agnew to miss third straight game for Detroit Lions:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/12/08/jamal-agnew-detroit-lions-inactives-minnesota-vikings/4373951002/

Five things to watch: Lions at Vikings:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/12/07/five-things-watch-lions-vikings/4370130002/

Why the Lions being fined for deceptive injury reporting is important:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/08/why-the-lions-being-fined-for-deceptive-injury-reporting-is-important/

Lions Week 14 comprehensive depth chart:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/08/detroit-lions-week-14-comprehensive-depth-chart/

Updating Vegas Watch: Vikings favored by 12.5 points over the Lions in Week 14:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/08/betmgm-detroit-lions-minnesota-vikings-week-14/

Week 14 Preview: Why Brissett Is the Colts’ Future (2. If there’s one constant in the NFL this season, it’s that whatever quarterback faces the Detroit Lions is going to be billed as an MVP candidate by the time the game is over. In six of the past seven games against Matt Patricia’s defense, the opposing QB has put up an approximately career-best performance. Here's a quick look at this run, with yards, passer rating and team points scored against the Lions (with 2019 season averages for each QB in parenthesis).  Kirk Cousins: 338 yards, 141.5 passer rating, 42 points (244.9, 108.7, 25.2).  Daniel Jones: 322 yards, 124.2 passer rating, 26 points (226.1, 78.9, 19.2).  Derek Carr: 289 yards, 116.2 passer rating, 31 points (232.2, 97.0, 18.7).  Mitchell Trubisky, two-game average: 255.5 yards, 124.4 passer rating, 22.0 points (192.9, 85.0, 17.8).  Dak Prescott: 444 yards, 116.6 passer rating, 35 points (306.5, 96.3, 24.9).  They did shut down Dwayne Haskins though. Dwayne Haskins: 156 yards, 47.5 passer rating, 19.0 points (168.3, 78.6, 18.3).  So preemptive congratulations to Kirk Cousins, who by Sunday night will join Russell Wilson in the category of guys who objectively can’t be considered MVP over Lamar Jackson but will have their names mentioned as MVP candidates anyway because there's a news hole to fill.  Two seasons probably isn’t long enough to pull the plug on a coach (Bill Beilchick, who took over a team that hadn’t had a losing record the previous four seasons before he arrived, was 5-13 with the Patriots at one point). But time is a factor for the Lions. Matthew Stafford is an MVP-caliber quarterback, and his broken back is a reminder that he won’t play forever. The defense is objectively trending the wrong way under Patricia, and the roster quality continues to objectively trend the wrong way under the man who brought Patricia in, GM Bob Quinn, whose monstrous investment in the offensive line has resulted in a middling group, and who is doing things like giving away good players for reasons unknown (Seattle once again thanks you for Quandre Diggs).  In 2020, the Stafford window will still be open (especially if offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is still there after the tremendous first season he's had in Detroit). The defense is the question mark, and it's time to at least consider whether or not they have the right coach in place. Because Quinn has made the roster worse, but not that much worse. Look at what Matt Eberflus has done with an underwhelming cast of defensive players in Indianapolis. Now imagine Matt Eberflus running this Lions defense. (And now imagine running from a lion that has the body of a lion and the head of Matt Eberflus. That was a dream I had the other night. It was terrifying.)):   https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/12/08/nfl-week-14-preview-analysis

2020 NFL Draft:

Joe Burrow shines as LSU routs Georgia for SEC title:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/12/07/sec-championship-joe-burrow-lsu-heisman-trophy-nfl-draft/

Jalen Hurts' wild football journey continues with Big 12 title:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/12/07/jalen-hurts-wild-football-journey-continues-with-big-12-title/