Sunday, September 13, 2020

Morning Lions Links for Monday 9-14-20

Articles:

NOTEBOOK: Injuries pile up in loss to Bears:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-injuries-pile-up-in-loss-to-bears-trufant-coleman

FOUR DOWNS: Lions struggle in fourth quarter in loss to Bears:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/four-downs-lions-struggle-in-fourth-quarter-in-loss-to-bears

Ouch: Lions lose 3 of their top cornerbacks to hamstring injuries heading into Packers week:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/ouch-lions-lose-3-of-their-top-cornerbacks-to-hamstring-injuries-heading-into-packers-week.html

Inside the locker room: Lions in familiar spot trying to explain big blown fourth-quarter lead:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/inside-the-locker-room-lions-in-familiar-spot-trying-to-explain-big-blown-fourth-quarter-lead.html

What they’re saying nationally after Mitchell Trubisky leads Bears to fourth-quarter comeback over Lions:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/what-theyre-saying-nationally-after-mitchell-trubisky-leads-bears-to-fourth-quarter-comeback-over-lions.html

Q and A with the referee who threw out Lions LB Jamie Collins:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/09/qa-with-the-referee-who-threw-out-lions-lb-jamie-collins.html






Despite Lions red zone troubles, Peterson's Detroit debut impresses:  https://www.wxyz.com/sports/despite-lions-red-zone-troubles-petersons-strong-debut-impresses

Peterson Says D'Andre Swift Is 'Pretty Upset' over Dropped Pass:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/adrian-peterson-consoles-dandre-swift


Breaking down the call: Did Jamie Collins Sr. deserve to get ejected?:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2020/9/13/21435439/jamie-collins-ejection-official-interview-rulebook


NFL Week 1 takeaways: Huge 2020 debuts for Jackson, Rodgers, Wilson (Chicago Bears 27, Detroit Lions 23 (Standout performer: Mitchell Trubisky. 20-of-26 for 242 yards, three TDs, no INT):  The Nick Foles debate will have to wait for another week. Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears flipped the script in the final 15 minutes (with help from the Lions, who absolutely self-destructed) to avoid a full-blown quarterback controversy over Chicago's starting quarterback. Trubisky's feel-good story read more like pure fiction until the former second overall pick tossed three late touchdown passes to lead Chicago to a 27-23 comeback win over the beleaguered Lions. Few of the improvements -- footwork, accuracy and leadership -- Trubisky showed in August carried over to the first three quarters as the Lions built a sizable lead. But three fourth-quarter TD passes -- to Jimmy Graham, Javon Wims and Anthony Miller -- were the difference. -- Jeff Dickerson.  New season, same results for the Detroit Lions. A year after blowing an 18-point fourth-quarter lead leading to a tie against Arizona, Detroit blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead in a 27-23 loss to Chicago on Sunday. It continues a trend under Matt Patricia -- the Lions blew seven fourth-quarter leads last year, including the tie against Arizona -- that has followed his tenure. Sunday might have been the most brutal because these weren't the Chiefs they were playing (one of the blown leads last year), but a Bears team that had Mitchell Trubisky complete 40.8% of his throws in the first half. Asked after the game if coaching was part of the issue for the fourth-quarter problems, Matt Patricia pointed to his success with New England in the fourth quarter. "I've got one of the biggest plays in the fourth quarter in the history of the NFL where I think I did a pretty good job. So I don't think it's that," Patricia said. "Look, no excuses. Give the Bears credit. They did what they did and they executed and they scored and they won and we didn't. I'm not looking back. We're looking forward and we're trying to make sure that this team that we're building on understands these situations and we have to come through better than we did before." -- Michael Rothstein):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29852976/nfl-week-1-takeaways-stat-leaders-lamar-jackson-aaron-rodgers-russell-wilson-huge-2020-debuts#chidet

What we learned from Sunday's Week 1 early games (Chicago Bears 27, Detroit Lions 23 - 1) Mitchell Trubisky took Bears fans on a wild roller-coaster ride Sunday. Luckily, the incumbent quarterback ended the game on a massive upswing. Trubisky helped dig the Bears out of a 23-6 fourth-quarter hole by leading three touchdown drives, including a picture-perfect arcing dime to Anthony Miller for the game-winning score. It was far from a perfect day for Trubisky, who came out of the gate wobbly, missing passes high and wide, and couldn't get into a rhythm. Luckily, the ground game kept the Chicago offense moving until Trubisky hit a groove. If Trubisky is to keep Nick Foles on the bench, he'll have to be more consistent throughout the course of 60 minutes against better opponents.  2) It helped that Trubisky faced a Lions team that continues a trend of collapsing under Matt Patricia. After seven fourth-quarter leads surrendered last season, the Lions opened with another implosion. Losing two starting corners in Justin Coleman and Desmond Trufant hurt, and allowed Trubisky to go off late. But good teams don't lose 17-point fourth-quarter leads. A combo of poorly timed calls, forced passes, missed blocks, bad defense, no pass rush, and boneheaded penalties allowed the Bears back into the game. From attempting a 55-yeard field goal to help set up a Bears score, to a forced pass from Stafford (who looked good otherwise in his return from a back injury) that was intercepted, the Lions did everything to give Trubisky his opening. The most brutal play came on a DeAndre Swift drop of a TD pass with six seconds remaining that would have given Detroit a win. It was the Same Old Lions in Detroit Sunday. Credit Trubisky for taking advantage to open the year.  3) The Bears used David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen and Cordarrelle Patterson in a committee to great effect, combining for 124 rushing yards. The trio gashed the Lions interior in a good game called by Matt Nagy. For Detroit, Adrian Peterson is the clear top back as the ageless wonder hit the hole for 93 yards on 14 carries. The inability to get a first down with three minutes left to milk the clock, however, was another struggle Detroit brought with it from 2019. --Kevin Patra):  https://www.nfl.com/news/what-we-learned-from-sunday-s-week-1-games

Week 1 Takeaways: Cam Runs, Russ Cooks, Lions Drop One (Regrets - Lions Can’t Close Out a Game: There’s no moral victory, even in a game where they were missing their second-best offensive player (Kenny Golladay), their potentially best defensive player (Jeff Okudah) and watched as their most important addition to the front seven got ejected early (Jamie Collins). Coffee’s for closers. Put that coffee down.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/09/13/week-1-takeaways-analysis-cam-debut-seahawks-new-look-offense

Mitchell Trubisky rallies Bears to stunning comeback over Lions in potential job-saving effort:  https://sports.yahoo.com/mitchell-trubisky-rallies-bears-to-huge-comeback-over-lions-in-potential-jobsaving-effort-203811368.html

Lions gonna Lions: D'Andre Swift drops a sure game-winning TD as Bears come back to win:  https://sports.yahoo.com/lions-gonna-lions-d-andre-swift-drops-a-sure-gamewinning-td-for-detroit-as-bears-come-back-to-win-202718928.html

Lions fans shocked as D'Andre Swift drops game-winning touchdown vs. Bears:  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/lions-dandre-swift-touchdown-vs-bears/13ev57t5c2rmj18zu94pni9n9d


Week 1 updates: Trubisky lifts Bears in big comeback (Mitch Trubisky finds Miller to take the lead - The Bears were trailing for three full quarters before the Lions went into collapse mode. Still, even after providing the Bears with an opportunity to make a wild comeback and grab the lead, Trubisky needed to deliver and that's exactly what he did. Trubisky saved his best pass of the day for last when he dropped a ball into Anthony Miller's arms for a go-ahead touchdown. Miller stayed in-bounds and Chicago took the lead. The Bears trailed 23-6 in the fourth quarter before Trubisky fired off three fourth-quarter touchdowns.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-1-scores-highlights-updates-schedule-tom-brady-rushing-td-caps-off-buccaneers-scoring-drive/

Lamar somehow even better; notes (Dome team defenses struggle without fans
For what it's worth, keep an eye on dome teams, now with no fans, having their defenses struggle mightily. There were notable collapses by the defenses of the Lions, Vikings and Falcons in the early games. Now, part of it might be that all three defenses stink (two probably do and the Vikings continue to decline rapidly from where they were a few years ago), but they combined to give up 108 points, with opposing QBs having no concerns about crowd noise or hand signals or silent counts.  Frankly, it was ugly. Even Mitchell Trubisky got off under these circumstances, leading a wild fourth quarter comeback that will have the hot seat under Matt Patricia cranking again (wasn't buying the Lions as a playoff team narrative before this game; definitely ain't now). Might be a trend worth tracking after Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Trubisky combined to go 83 of 115 (72 percent) for 928 yards, 11 TDs and no interceptions. Wow ...):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-insider-notes-lamar-jackson-somehow-looks-even-better-cam-newtons-pats-not-about-style-points-and-more/

Jamie Collins' Agent Freaks Out on Twitter Over Collins' Headbutting Ejection:  https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/jamie-collins-agent-freaks-out-on-twitter-over-collins-headbutting-ejection-01ej494a5ssh

NFL Recap: The Bears are stuck with Doctor Jekyll and Mitch Trubisky:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/many-faces-of-bears-qb-mitch-trubisky/

Grades:


CBS Grades (Lions - D:  Matt Patricia might not want to sit down this week, because he's going to have one of the hottest seats in the NFL after watching his team blow a gigantic Week 1 lead for the second year in a row. Last year, the Lions led 24-6 in a game where they ended up tying the Cardinals. This year, the Lions led 23-6 through three quarters before absolutely falling apart down the stretch. The fourth quarter couldn't have been any uglier for the Lions: Matthew Stafford threw his only interception of the game, Matt Prater missed a field goal and D'Andre Swift dropped what will likely go down as the easiest potential game-winning TD pass of his life. The only silver lining for the Lions is that they might have found a running back as Adrian Peterson rushed for 93 yards on just 14 carries.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-1-grades-seahawks-get-an-a-for-letting-russell-wilson-cook-browns-get-an-f-for-flopping/

Posted by LionsFan at 9:52 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
.main-inner .sidebar .Poll { background-color: #AD966C; padding: 15px; }