Monday, January 8, 2024

Morning Lions Links for Monday 1-8-24

Articles:

NOTEBOOK: LaPorta leaves game with knee injury:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-laporta-leaves-game-with-knee-injury

Lions to host Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams in first round of playoffs:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/lions-to-host-matthew-stafford-los-angeles-rams-in-first-round-of-playoffs.html

Vikings HC breaks down busted coverage on TD catch by Lions’ St. Brown:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/vikings-hc-breaks-down-busted-coverage-on-td-catch-by-lions-st-brown.html

Inside the locker room: Returning defenders provide boost and Lions WR hits incentive:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/inside-the-locker-room-returning-defenders-provide-boost-and-wr-hits-incentive.html

Ford Field gives Dan Skipper standing ovation, refs make jokes about eligibility:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/ford-field-gives-dan-skipper-standing-ovation-refs-make-jokes-about-eligibility.html

What’s being said nationally as Detroit Lions head into playoffs with 12 wins:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/whats-being-said-nationally-as-detroit-lions-head-into-playoffs-with-12-wins.html


Lions do right by Josh Reynolds at the end of Week 18 win over the Vikings:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/07/lions-josh-reynolds-incentive-bonus-dan-campbell-reward-players/

Dan Skipper catches a pass and Lions nation loves it:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/lists/dan-skipper-catches-pass-lions-fan-reaction/

Campbell on LaPorta: 'Not as Bad as It Looked, But It's Not Good News':   https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-sam-laporta-injury-update

Five reasons why Lions bounced back with 30-20 win over Vikings:  https://lionslowdown.com/2024/01/07/five-reasons-why-lions-bounced-back-with-30-20-win-over-vikings/


C.J. Gardner-Johnson vows more banners after return to Lions: "We're gonna be a f***ing problem":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-c-j-gardner-johnson-vows-two-more-banners

Lions tie franchise record with 12th win of season; LaPorta carted off with knee injury:   https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-tie-franchise-record-with-12th-win-of-season

2023 NFL season, Week 18: What We Learned from Sunday's games (Kevin Patra's takeaways:  1. Lions wrap up 12-win campaign, but all eyes on Sam LaPorta's injury. With a sliver of hope to snag the No. 2 seed, Dan Campbell played his starters for the duration. The Lions offense continued to generate big plays and gobble up points. Jared Goff played well against the blitz-happy Vikings' defense, getting the ball out quickly, finding zones in Minnesota's defense and avoiding pressure to make plays. Goff generated 320 passing yards, with two touchdowns, including a 70-yarder to Amon-Ra St. Brown. From that perspective, Detroit enters the postseason in a groove. On the flip side, injuries could prove big. The most notable was sensational rookie Sam LaPorta, who went down in the first half with a hyperextended knee. The tight end has been massive for the Lions. He ended the season with 86 receptions, setting a new rookie TE record. With 10 TDs, he became just the third rookie to hit double-digits. His 889 yards are the fourth-most by a first-year tight end. LaPorta's injury is likely to cause him to miss some time, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.  2. Vikings drop fourth straight to close the season. As in the previous meeting against the Lions, Nick Mullens made some big plays, but the turnovers late sank Minnesota's chances to keep its postseason prayers alive. Mullens splashed strikes to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and repeatedly found tight ends for chunk gains. Jefferson ate up the Lions secondary, going for 192 yards and a TD on 12 catches. After a sluggish first half, Minnesota kept it a game into the final stanza. But the defense couldn't get fourth-quarter stops. Mullens then tossed back-to-back interceptions to end the game in a double-digit loss. The Vikes played admirably after Kirk Cousins' season-ending injury, but eventually, the inconsistencies at quarterback doomed Kevin O'Connell's club. The biggest question heading into the offseason in Minnesota is what direction the club heads under center.  3. Lions keep hope alive for No. 2 seed; Vikes eliminated. Detroit earned the second 12-win season in franchise history, joining the 1991 club -- the last time the Lions advanced past the wild-card round. The victory gives Detroit an outside chance at the second seed, but it'll need Dallas to lose to Washington and Philly to lose to New York. Regardless, the Lions will host their first home playoff game since 1993. For Minnesota, the loss ends their season at 7-10.  Next Gen stat of the game: Aidan Hutchinson generated seven pressures and two sacks on 44 pass rushes (15.9% pressure rate), averaging 2.53 seconds time to pressure.  NFL Research: The Lions had four different players score 10-plus scrimmage TDs in 2023, the second-most by any team in a single season in NFL History, behind only the 2013 Denver Broncos (five players). David Montgomery (13), Jahmyr Gibbs (11), Sam LaPorta (10), Amon-Ra St. Brown (10) each hit double-digit scores after Sunday.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-season-week-18-what-we-learned-from-sunday-s-games

Dan Campbell turned Lions' fortunes by being aggressive, and he isn't changing — even if it cost him Sam LaPorta:  https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-campbell-turned-lions-fortunes-by-being-aggressive-and-he-isnt-changing--even-if-it-cost-him-sam-laporta-231212546.html

NFL Week 18 Recap: Buccaneers, Texans Win NFC, AFC South Division Titles (Lions 30, Vikings 20:  What it means for Vikings: Minnesota (7–10) fell short of a playoff berth, losing its past two games to the Packers and Lions. Going into the offseason, the Vikings must figure out whether to re-sign Kirk Cousins, who is slated for free agency. The same is true of Danielle Hunter, who finished the season with a team-best 16.5 sacks. Minnesota has the bones of a contender considering the talent on offense and improved defense under coordinator Brian Flores. But the departure of Cousins would signal a soft rebuild.  What it means for Lions: While Dan Campbell is an excellent coach, he helped cost the Lions a potential win (12–5) in Week 17 by being reckless and going for a two-point conversion from the 7-yard line. Then, eight days later, Campbell played his starters despite needing a miracle to become the No. 2 seed, and Sam LaPorta injured his knee before being carted off. That’s a crushing loss if LaPorta is out for the playoffs.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/01/07/nfl-week-18-recap-playoffs-draft-implications-for-every-team


Dan Campbell Facing Backlash for Playing Starters in Week 18 Game:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/dan-campbell-facing-backlash-for-playing-starters-in-week-18-game

Dan Campbell Faces Criticism for Playing Starters After Sam LaPorta and Kalif Raymond Injuries:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/dan-campbell-faces-criticism-for-playing-starters-after-sam-laporta-and-kalif-raymond-injuries-nfl-week-18-2024/


Video:





Video recap: Detroit Lions turn attention to playoffs after beating Vikings:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/video-recap-detroit-lions-turn-attention-to-playoffs-after-beating-vikings.html

Posted by LionsFan at 5:01 AM

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