Monday, December 4, 2023

Morning Lions Links for Monday 12-4-23

Articles:

NOTEBOOK: Lions hopeful Ragnow (knee) avoided major injury:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-lions-hopeful-ragnow-knee-avoided-major-injury

FOUR DOWNS: LaPorta has career day in Lions' win over Saints:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/four-downs-laporta-has-career-day-in-lions-win-over-saints

Saints All-Pro safety predicts Lions’ Sam LaPorta will be a ‘good player for a long time’:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/12/saints-all-pro-safety-predicts-lions-sam-laporta-will-be-a-good-player-for-a-long-time.html

Lions get instant production from their newest pass rusher. Yes, really!:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/12/lions-get-instant-production-from-their-newest-pass-rusher-yes-really.html

Inside the locker room: Dan Campbell savors Superdome win as fans invade another city:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/12/inside-the-locker-room-dan-campbell-savors-superdome-win-as-fans-invade-another-city.html

After fearing the worst, the Lions are hopeful Frank Ragnow avoided major injury:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/12/after-fearing-the-worst-the-lions-are-hopeful-frank-ragnow-avoided-major-injury.html










Lions Fans Worried Aaron Glenn, Defense Is Major Red Flag:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-fans-worried-aaron-glenn-defense-red-flag




Best, worst of NFL Week 13: 49ers roll over Eagles, Texans defense shines, Lions back on track (Detroit 33, New Orleans 28.  Lions - Are the Lions' in-game lapses a cause for concern? Detroit jumped out to a 21-0 lead but allowed the Saints to get within a score in the second half. The Lions have won three of their past four games, but also blew an early lead against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10 and haven't been able to consistently sustain leads over this four-game stretch. Their goal is to be playing their best football in December, per coach Dan Campbell, but they still have work to do.  Stock up after the win: TE Sam LaPorta. No stage appears to be too big for the rookie tight end after another standout performance. He finished with a team-high nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown and now has seven games with at least five receptions, which is tied for the second-most by a rookie tight end in NFL history.  Stock down after the win: Defense. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said he would address some of the unit's needs, which included getting more pressure off the edge and limiting explosive plays in the secondary. But on Sunday, they gave up 113 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while allowing 249 combined passing yards to three quarterbacks in Derek Carr, Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston. -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39034600/nfl-week-13-2023-questions-risers-fallers-takeaways-lessons-stats

2023 NFL season, Week 13: What We Learned from Sunday's games (Lions at Saints.  Kevin Patra's takeaways:  1. Lions blast off to early lead, hold on late in New Orleans. In a blink of an eye, Detroit sprinted to a 21-0 lead, generated by big plays on offense and a Brian Branch interception. Jared Goff diced up the Saints defense, threading surgical passes. Sam LaPorta was uncoverable. It looked like the early-season Lions destroying opponents. Then, the lulls that cropped up in recent weeks reared their heads. The Lions went three-and-out three times in their next five possessions and failed to punch it in in the red zone, allowing the Saints to get back into the contest. But Detroit didn’t wilt. After New Orleans made it a five-point game, the Lions ground out two first downs to ice the contest. With the game on the line, Detroit put the ball in Goff’s hands. The QB rifled a pass on third-and-7 to LaPorta. Two runs later, the Lions faced another third-and-long. Goff stepped through pressure and found Josh Reynolds for the game-sealing first down. Those are the types of big plays winning teams make in crunch time.  2.  Miscues haunt Saints yet again. New Orleans was sleepwalking early. A trove of missed tackles plagued the defense. Juwan Johnson dropped a pass that turned into an INT. Derek Carr missed passes, and the ground game couldn’t churn yards. It was 21-0, with the Saints generating negative-6 yards of offense on their first three possessions. Then, the comeback began. Carr sliced up the Lions D. Chris Olave played spectacularly, making circus catches. The Saints cut a seemingly insurmountable deficit to three before the fourth quarter. Alas, the miscues returned. The D left LaPorta wide open. Carr had the ball popped out of his hand for a fumble, allowing Detroit to rebuild a double-digit lead. For the third time this season, Carr (concussion/back/shoulder) exited after a crushing blow. Jameis Winston took over but couldn’t complete the comeback, missing several passes in big spots. Dennis Allen’s crew played inspired to make a game of it, but the same issues that have troubled the Saints all season were on display again, leading to their third straight defeat.  3.  Lions D makes key plays but continues to struggle to get off the field. Detroit’s defense earned two turnovers on the day and generated a key fourth-down stop in the first quarter. The turnovers were massive in a close game, but they were more the product of offensive errors than forced by the defense. The interception should have been a caught pass, and the fumble was self-inflicted by the Saints. Credit Detroit for taking advantage on Sunday -- not having linebacker Alex Anzalone (hand) also hurt. But Dan Campbell’s D continues to give up massive yards (362 in Week 13), including big plays on third downs. For a 9-3 team to bat with the big boys in January, Detroit must find a pass rush and stiffen up down the stretch.  Next Gen stat of the game: Lions TE Sam LaPorta gained more than 100 receiving yards for the first time in his career, catching all nine of his targets for 140 yards and a touchdown with plus-55 receiving yards over expected.  NFL Research: Sam LaPorta had a career-high 140 receiving yards in Week 13 (nine receptions, TD), the most by a Detroit rookie tight end in franchise history. LaPorta became the second rookie TE since 1970 to have 140-plus receiving yards and a receiving TD in a game. He joins Jacksonville's Pete Mitchell (161 yards, TD) in Week 12, 1995.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-season-week-13-what-we-learned-from-sunday-s-games

Week 13 winners and losers: Tyreek Hill steals the show (Winner: The Lions' schedule.  Dan Campbell deserves credit for his late-game aggressiveness to seal a win over the Saints, but Detroit's "D" should be thankful it got to go up against Derek Carr and Jameis Winston. The 9-3 record isn't an accident, but the playoffs will bring next-level tests.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-week-13-winners-and-losers-tyreek-hill-shane-steichen-steal-the-show-while-jets-steelers-flop/

Saints vs. Lions score, takeaways: Detroit thwarts New Orleans' comeback bid to move to 9-3:  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/saints-vs-lions-score-takeaways-detroit-thwarts-new-orleans-comeback-bid-to-move-to-9-3/live/

Lions beat Saints, improve to 9-3 — but defense appears to be a major issue:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/lions-beat-saints-improve-to-9-3-but-defense-appears-to-be-a-major-issue

NFL Winners and Losers: Texans' grand slam hire of DeMeco Ryans changed everything (Winners - Sam LaPorta: Rookie tight ends are not supposed to make an immediate impact. LaPorta is a big exception. What a draft steal LaPorta has been. The team's second-round pick had 140 yards, a Lions tight end record for a single game, and was a big factor in Detroit holding off the New Orleans Saints 33-28. The Lions took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and while it's not ideal they had to hold on for dear life at the end, they did. LaPorta kept making big plays as the Saints were charging.  The Lions didn't look good in back-to-back games, losing one of them on Thanksgiving to the Green Bay Packers. They needed a win Sunday and got it. And it's not the last time their new star tight end will be a huge factor in a win.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-winners-and-losers-texans-grand-slam-hire-of-demeco-ryans-changed-everything-211159030.html

NFL Week 13 Recap: Brock Purdy, Niners Close the Gap on Eagles, top seed (Lions 33, Saints 28
What it means for Lions: After two hideous performances against the NFC North, the Lions (9–3) went on the road and showed their mettle in the Superdome. New Orleans was outmatched from the start, trailing 14–0. The Lions’ run game was great, accounting for 142 yards on 4.7 yards per carry. Detroit is once again in firm control of its division and could challenge for multiple home games come the postseason, this after not having a single playoff game in Detroit since 1993.  What it means for Saints: New Orleans (5–7) has to accept reality. The Saints aren’t good, and they aren’t positioned to be good. It’s time for general manager Mickey Loomis to face the proverbial music with his disastrous cap situation, which sees his team a projected $71.4 million over the 2024 threshold. The Saints then must live with Derek Carr for one more season and then cut bait, and start rebuilding through the draft (and through trades which acquire draft picks). Finally, New Orleans also needs a new head coach, with Dennis Allen sporting a 20–45 record.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/12/03/2023-nfl-recap-week-13-tyreek-hill-pacing-for-2000-receiving-yards

Detroit Lions’ 2023 NFL Draft Class Shines in Week 13, as Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs Make Plays:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/detroit-lions-2023-nfl-draft-class-shines-in-week-13-as-sam-laporta-jahmyr-gibbs-make-plays/

Detroit Lions Playoff-Clinching Scenarios: What Win Against Saints Does for NFC North Title Chances:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/detroit-lions-playoff-clinching-scenarios-what-win-against-saints-does-for-nfc-north-title-chances-nfl-2023/

Chain crew member dislocated his knee during Lions-Saints game:  https://apnews.com/article/chain-crew-injury-saints-lions-a960299f60cd6087f6d15661f7d25b1a

Grades:

NFL Week 13 grades: Steelers fail, Pats get 'D-' (Grades: B.  Detroit jumped out to a 21-0 lead before the Saints had even picked up a first down, but the defense then allowed a 21-3 run, which made things interesting in the end. The Lions offense looks dynamite, but questions still remain with the defense. Either way, the Lions pulled out a close victory to get to 9-3, which is their best start to a season in the Super Bowl era.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-13-grades-patriots-earn-d-for-ugly-loss-to-chargers-steelers-get-f-for-upset-to-cardinals/

Video:





LaPorta on playing every play like it will be a big play:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/laporta-on-playing-every-play-like-it-will-be-a-big-play







Posted by LionsFan at 5:02 AM

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