Thursday, November 2, 2023

Morning Lions Links for Friday 11-3-23

Articles:

TWENTYMAN: 5 numbers to improve:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-5-numbers-to-improve


Jahmyr Gibbs' touchdown vs. Raiders made the (almost) impossible happen:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/11/02/jahmyr-gibbs-touchdown-vs-raiders-made-the-almost-impossible-happen/

Where the Lions rank in PFF season grades at the bye week:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/lists/detroit-lions-rank-pff-season-grades-at-the-bye-week/

Colin Cowherd: Lions Will Win NFC North For Foreseeable Future:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/colin-cowherd-praises-detroit-lions-alignment

'All Good': Lions Not Afraid of Road Playoff Game:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-not-afraid-of-road-playoff-game

Film Review: How Jahmyr Gibbs Destroyed Raiders' Defense:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/film-review-jahmyr-gibbs-raiders-defense



NFL playoff picture: Detroit Lions could lose grasp on No. 2 seed this week:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/11/2/23943218/nfl-playoff-picture-detroit-lions-2-seed-seattle-seahawks

How former Detroit Lions performed in the first half of 2023 season:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/11/2/23943417/former-detroit-lions-performed-first-half-2023-season


It’s not crazy to say Detroit Lions could be No. 1 seed in NFC playoff bracket:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2023/11/02/its-not-crazy-to-say-detroit-lions-could-be-no-1-seed-in-nfc-playoff-bracket/

NFL win-total projections, NFC: Seahawks narrowly win NFC West; Falcons best Saints in NFC South (11.9 - Detroit Lions:  NFC NORTH CHAMPIONS · 6-2, Over/under Wins: N/A,, Make Playoffs: -4500, Win Division: -1450, Win Conference: +650, Win Super Bowl: +1400. The Lions are favored in all but one of their remaining games in my models (at Dallas, Week 17). Their 2023 draft class has played a big part in their success this season, with Sam LaPorta's contributions, in particular, standing out. No rookie tight end has earned a higher win share through eight games in my 10-season sample.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-win-total-projections-nfc-2023-season-post-trade-deadline

Ranking all 32 backup QBs halfway through 2023 season (4. Teddy Bridgewater (Lions):  The one-time Vikings starter is too conservative and injury-prone to warrant a full-time gig anymore, but he's flashed as a capable mid-term fill-in for playoff-caliber lineups, most notably going 5-0 for the Saints back in 2019. With Nate Sudfeld and rookie Hendon Hooker both sidelined with injuries of their own, he's locked in as the emergency man behind Jared Goff.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-backup-qb-rankings-panthers-49ers-lions-among-teams-with-top-insurance-options/

Teams best positioned to make a Super Bowl run (4. Detroit Lions:  Of the teams within these rankings, no club has an easier remaining schedule than the Lions. Detroit's remaining opponents have a combined win percentage of .420, which ranks 29th in the entire NFL. With Dan Campbell's team sitting just a game behind the Eagles in the conference standings, there's a very easy path to earning the No. 1 seed. In the division, they own a two-game lead and the team directly behind them (the Vikings) just lost their quarterback for the season, so there's no real threat lurking in the NFC North.   As for the team itself, there's a lot to like about the roster that Brad Holmes has constructed. The offense ranks second in the league in total yards per game (390.6) and could be even better down the stretch with the emergence of rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs along with the looming return of David Montgomery. Defensively, they can pressure the quarterback and are tremendous at getting off the field, ranking third in the league on third down (32.5% conversion rate). That ability to get opposing offenses off the field in a hurry and grind out games on the ground is a great recipe for postseason success.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-2024-super-bowl-contenders-eagles-dolphins-among-teams-best-positioned-to-make-a-run-to-las-vegas/

NFL midseason All-Rookie team: Best first-year players (TE Sam LaPorta:  I'll admit I dislike pace statistics. Once you're at the halfway point of a season, they have some credence. Keith Jackson currently holds the all-time rookie tight end record with 81 catches for the Eagles in 1988. LaPorta's on pace for 91 grabs. Mike Ditka's 1,076 yards has long been the rookie tight end receiving-yard record. LaPorta's on pace for 922 yards. He's been a focal point of Detroit's springy offense and rocked individually, winning on 7-of-10 contested-catch opportunities and forcing five missed tackles. The George Kittle comparisons look legit.  Lions rookie Jahmyr Gibbs is becoming the player Detroit dreamed he could be.  LB Jack Campbell:  The Lions have brought Campbell along slowly -- which, frankly, has been rather weird -- and although the former Iowa star hasn't been tremendous in coverage, he's yet to miss a tackle in the NFL and has accumulated 34 tackles on just 266 snaps through eight games.  CB Brian Branch:  A safety by title during draft time, Branch has manned the increasingly important slot defender role in Detroit like he's playing the "star" position at Alabama. He's been ubiquitous for the Lions, with 33 tackles, four of them going for a loss, an interception, and four pass breakups as the marquee playmaker on the backend.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/jahmyr-gibbs-is-the-player-detroit-thought-he-was

2023 NFL Trade Deadline Winners and Losers: 49ers One-Up Seahawks (Losers - Lions and Cowboys:  The Lions and Cowboys might have lost ground in the NFC after the moves the 49ers, Seahawks and Eagles made before the trade deadline.  Detroit, however, wasn’t quiet after acquiring wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones from the Browns, who required only a 2025 sixth-round selection.  The Lions have the offensive line to take shots downfield with Peoples-Jones, Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown against the stout defensive lines of Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas. But Detroit probably should have prioritized the defensive side, especially the secondary. The Lions could have also used another edge rusher to help Aidan Hutchinson.  The Cowboys have played well defensively after a few rough weeks adjusting without cornerback Trevon Diggs, who tore his ACL earlier this season. But the Cowboys are in need of offensive line help and another running back to complement Tony Pollard.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/10/31/2023-nfl-trade-deadline-winners-and-losers-49ers-commanders

Best EDGEs in the NFL 2023: Arden Key and Will Anderson Jr. Surge Onto the List While Bradley Chubb Fades Away (15. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions:  The 2022 NFL Draft’s second-overall pick is going to be a very solid player for a really long time. To make this list as a rookie is incredibly impressive, given how many talented edge defenders are in the league.  Detroit’s turnaround to being one of the top teams in football has been excellent to see. Hutchinson has been a main catalyst for the change and could be a future defensive player of the year award winner.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/best-edges-nfl-rankings/

NFL Head Coach Rankings 2023: Where Do Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, Matt Eberflus, and Others Land? (19. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions - Regular-season record: 23-30-1 (.435).  Some football coaches are leaders of men. Tomlin is the first coach to come to mind in that category. Dan Campbell is the second. Campbell has the facade of an old-school knuckle-dragger, but he is aggressive in all the right ways, and his players legitimately appear to love and fight for him.  The “rah-rah” coaches are often present as insincere. But Campbell is a man secure enough to sit at a podium and openly weep after a loss because he legitimately feels for his players.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/best-head-coaches-nfl-rankings/

Remaining NFL Strength of Schedule 2023: Ranking the Easiest and Hardest NFL Schedules for All 32 Teams (29.  Detroit Lions:  Detroit should briskly walk away with the NFC North. A game against the Cowboys is the only one remaining that should be seen as a 50/50 matchup. Detroit should be heavily favored in the rest of their contests.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-strength-of-schedule-2023/

Grades:


Podcast:


Video:

Posted by LionsFan at 6:52 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

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