Monday, October 21, 2024

Lions Links for Monday 10-21-24

Articles:

TWENTYMAN: Week 7 observations:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-week-7-observations-gibbs-goff-paschal




Lions snap count notes vs. Vikings: How Detroit replaced Aidan Hutchinson in Week 7:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/10/21/lions-snap-count-notes-vs-vikings-how-detroit-replaced-aidan-hutchinson-in-week-7/




Brian Branch Is Highest PFF-Graded Lion Against Vikings:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/brian-branch-pff-grades-lions-vikings

Lions Offense Achieving 'Incomprehensible' Milestones:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-offense-achieving-incomprehensible-milestones

Jahmyr Gibbs Can Take Lions' Offense to Next Level:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jahmyr-gibbs-can-take-lions-offense-next-level

Detroit Lions Are Massive 11.5-Point Favorites Against Titans:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-massive-betting-favorite-titans-2024

Lions vs. Vikings stock report: 8 risers, 5 fallers from win over Vikings:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/10/21/24275633/lions-vikings-stock-report-winners-losers-jared-goff-week-7



Week 8 opening odds: Detroit Lions opening line highest in 7 years:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/10/21/24274963/week-8-opening-odds-detroit-lions-tennesssee-titans-nfl




Statistical Review of NFL Week 7: NFC North continues to be a juggernaut:  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-statistical-review-nfl-week-7-2024

The First Read: Five biggest statements from Week 7, Week 8's most intriguing game and MVP rankings (1. The Lions have the league's best offense. Detroit's 31-29 win over Minnesota was easily the best game of the weekend. It also told us the Lions are good enough to win a Super Bowl even with the loss of star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (who has a chance to return if Detroit does represent the NFC in that game). The reason for that? An offense that becomes more electric with each passing week. The Lions scored a combined 89 points in their two previous games, but Sunday's effort was next level. Facing a Minnesota defense that had been frustrating teams all year, Detroit still found a way to generate more than 30 points (only one other opponent, Green Bay, had surpassed the 20-point mark against the Vikings). Jared Goff continued his hot play, completing 22 of 25 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 116 yards, while Amon-Ra St. Brown produced eight receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. Yes, the Lions started slowly, but they eventually scored touchdowns on four straight drives. If you've followed the defense that Brian Flores has been coordinating in Minnesota, then you'll know how crazy that sounds. The Lions now have a share of first place in the NFC North and, more importantly, a leg up in the tiebreaker scenarios if it comes down to that for playoff seeding. We knew that offense was loaded, as it also includes running back David Montgomery, wide receiver Jameson Williams, tight end Sam LaPorta and an exceptional offensive line. Now we have a better understanding of how dominant it can be.  THREE UP - 2. Brian Branch:  The Lions have a budding star in this second-year safety. He followed up a monster game in a Week 6 win against Dallas (six tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble) with an interception and four tackles in Sunday’s win over Minnesota. Branch also had a fumble-six called back against the Vikings (the ball-carrier was out of bounds when the ball came out), but you get the point. He’s turning into a major playmaker for a defense that certainly needs more of those in the wake of Aidan Hutchinson's injury.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/the-first-read-five-biggest-statements-from-week-7-week-8-s-most-intriguing-game-and-mvp-rankings

NFL stats and records, Week 7: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley gets revenge vs. Giants; Raiders TE Brock Bowers continues historic start (2. Goff's historic streak continues in win over Vikings - You want to talk about an all-time heater, you have to start with Jared Goff's last three games. Three wins, a completion percentage over 85, seven touchdowns to zero interceptions and a 153.1 passer rating.  The former Rams No. 1 overall pick became just the fourth quarterback with a passer rating of 140-plus in three consecutive games, joining Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971). Rodgers and Warner both won NFL MVP that season, while Staubach finished second in MVP voting. (Don't worry, Staubach "saved" that season by winning Super Bowl MVP.)  Goff's 83.5 completion percentage over his last four games is the highest since at least 1950 among quarterbacks with 90-plus pass attempts in a four-game span.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-stats-and-records-week-7-eagles-rb-saquon-barkley-gets-revenge-vs-giants-raiders-te-brock-bowers-continues-historic-start

10 takeaways from Sunday's blockbuster NFL slate: Lions atop NFC North; Chiefs last undefeated team (Detroit Lions 31, Minnesota Vikings 29 - 1. A heavyweight match for NFC supremacy lived up to expectations, toppled the Vikings from the undefeated ranks, and boded well for both teams’ fortunes because of the resiliency they both demonstrated. The Lions trailed by 10 points after a sluggish first quarter -- their first double-digit deficit of the season -- but then roared back with 21 unanswered points in the second quarter. That sent the Vikings into halftime with their first deficit since Week 1. The Vikings defense regrouped, forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and kept the Lions scoreless in the final frame until the winning field goal. Jared Goff led a two-minute drill to put the Lions into field-goal range that included a 14-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. This was not a laughable blowout of the Cowboys. This victory showed the Lions have the requisite grit and ability to adjust that champions need. They are the class of the NFC, but the Vikings are not far behind. This game featured two well-balanced teams playing excellent football with few mistakes (each team had one turnover). The Lions took over first place in the NFC North with the win, but there will almost certainly be plenty on the line when the rematch takes place on the final day of the regular season.  2. For the third time this season, Goff didn’t have an incompletion in the first half (12-of -12 passing), and it’s time to put him in the MVP conversation. His first incompletion did not come until midway through the third quarter. That is especially impressive considering he was facing a Vikings defense that specializes in confusing quarterbacks with a variety of blitzes. In the second quarter, with the Vikings crowding the line for a blitz, Goff threw down the deep middle to hit St. Brown for a 35-yard touchdown. Goff finished the game 22-of-25 passing for 280 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions with a quarterback rating of 140.0. His completion percentage was 88.0, marking the fourth time in six games he has completed at least 72 percent of his passes.  3. The Lions sacked Sam Darnold four times, including on the final play of the game, but they still missed Aidan Hutchinson. There were stretches during the game when Darnold had plenty of time to throw. The Lions were blitzing, with only some success. They have games against the Titans and Packers before the trade deadline on Nov. 5 -- will they make a move to help their pass rush in what could be a special season?):  https://www.nfl.com/news/takeaways-from-nfl-week-7-s-blockbuster-slate-lions-atop-nfc-north-chiefs-undefeated


13 wild stats from Week 7 of NFL season (1. Jared Goff joins elite company. The Lions QB became just the fourth quarterback in NFL history with a QB rating of 140 or more in three straight games. The previous three quarterbacks to pull that off -- Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971) -- either won MVP or the Super Bowl (or both). Goff's average passer rating of 153.1 over the past three games is the highest by any QB since 1970. 2. Goff's accuracy is off the charts. The Lions QB went 12 of 12 in the first half marking the third time in his career that he's started a half 12-for-12 or better. Since 1991, there have been only 16 other instances of a QB going 12 of 12 or better in a first half with Peyton Manning being the only other QB to do it more than once and he only did it twice (via the Associated Press).):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chiefs-trying-to-pull-off-super-feat-no-team-has-accomplished-in-18-years-plus-12-more-wild-stats-from-week-7/

Week 7 overreactions: Allen NFL's best QB in 2024? (The NFC North will get three playoff teams 
Overreaction or reality: Reality  After watching the Lions and Vikings duke it out for four quarters, followed by a statement win by the Packers over the Texans -- the NFC North appears destined to get three teams into the playoffs. The Lions and Vikings are both 5-1 and on top of the division, while the Packers sit at 5-2 -- a half-game out of first place. Let's not forget the Bears, who were on the bye, but sit at 4-2 and are currently the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff race. That's four NFC North teams in the playoffs, as the season nears its midway point. Even with the division games starting to take shape, the NFC North clearly has three teams good enough to play in January. With how the NFC West and NFC South are shaping up, there's a good chance the NFC North gets three teams in based on how the early portion of the season has played out.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/week-7-overreactions-for-2024-nfl-season-deshaun-watson-last-game-with-browns-josh-allen-best-qb-this-year/

What We Learned in NFL Week 7: Patrick Mahomes, Jared Goff Make MVP Statements (Goff’s MVP campaign takes off with signature win in Minnesota  - If Jared Goff is searching for an MVP slogan, he should consider “Impeccable 2024” because of his near-perfect performances the past three games.  Goff wasn’t quite perfect in Detroit’s 31–29 signature victory over the Vikings, but he played the quarterback position to the highest standard—or the definition of impeccable. Goff started the game 15-of-15, but more importantly, finished with critical completions to set up Jake Bates’s game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired.  The Lions (5–1) surpassed the Vikings (5–1) for first place in the NFC North and now control the No. 1 seed in the conference. Detroit might have the best team in football and the hottest quarterback in the league as we head to the halfway point of the season. Some might not agree with Goff being the frontrunner for MVP because he has plenty of help in Detroit, including offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who called the right plays against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. But Goff didn’t panic when the team fell behind 10–0 and maintained his composure after David Montgomery’s fumble led to Ivan Pace Jr.’s scoop-and-score touchdown, giving the Vikings a 29–28 advantage with 5:50 in the fourth quarter. Goff delivered whenever the Lions needed to score in a hurry, evident by the three touchdown drives in the second quarter, and whenever the Lions needed a completion to control the time of possession. (Seven players caught a pass from Goff on Sunday.) As for another reason why Goff is a frontrunner for MVP—Brock Purdy, C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones all struggled against the Flores-led defense earlier this season. And here are more reasons why the near-perfect Goff is a strong MVP candidate. Detroit should also start a campaign for Brian Branch being a first-team All-Pro for the safety position. The Lions got it right when they made the decision to move the 2023 second-round pick from slot cornerback to safety because they wanted him to stay on the field at all times. Branch’s fingerprints were all over Sunday’s victory in Minnesota, with passes defended, exceptional coverage and a momentum-changing interception in the first half.Here are Goff’s stat lines from the past three games: 22-of-25, 280 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, 140.0 passer rating vs. Vikings; 18-of-25, 315 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, 153.8 passer rating vs. Cowboys; 18-of-18, 292 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, 155.8 passer rating vs. Seahawks. The Lions had many defensive players step up during their first game without star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who sustained a season-ending leg injury last week. The Lions sacked Sam Darnold four times to cool off the explosive Vikings’ offense.  It wasn’t the Vikings’ day, but they proved they can hang with established contenders and rally from double-digit deficits. The NFC North race is far from over with four teams over .500 in the division.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-week-7-what-we-learned-patrick-mahomes-jared-goff-mvp-cases

Week 7 NFL Takeaways: Jared Goff Is an MVP Candidate (Detroit Lions - Jared Goff is an MVP candidate. And to try to illustrate my feelings on that, I reminded Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell of something he said to me about his quarterback a couple of years ago—on why, when everyone saw Goff as a salary dump in the Matthew Stafford trade, he saw something else.  As the story goes, Campbell was the New Orleans Saints’ tight ends coach and assistant head coach in 2018, when Goff was the Los Angeles Rams’ rising second-year quarterback. The two teams played in the NFC title game that winter, in January ’19. One of Campbell’s most vivid memories from it was how, in maybe the loudest, most intense environment he’d ever been in, the other team’s quarterback was so calm and level, as he coolly ended Campbell’s season.Campbell filed it away, drew on it as the Lions negotiated the trade of Stafford, and benefited from it once again Sunday in Minneapolis. That quality Goff showed on that afternoon in January 2019 loomed large when Detroit stumbled out of the gate on this Sunday in October ’24.  Simply put, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. A fake punt on the Lions’ first series failed. The Vikings scored two plays later, with Aaron Jones bouncing an inside run to the outside and running 33 yards to paydirt. Goff then took a sack on third-and-3, Sam Darnold hit a big one to Justin Jefferson and it was 10–0 before you could blink. Which is exactly where the never-blink aspect to Goff’s makeup came into play.  “It’s what you don’t see,” Campbell told me after the game. “It’s what you can’t see with your eyes. That’s the most important thing for any player that’s in this league, that wants to be a player you can count on. That’s what he’s got in his brain and what he’s got in his heart. The guy’s a competitor. He doesn’t get frazzled. He’s tough. He’s durable. That’s what makes him dangerous. That’s what makes him a winner.  “That’s what makes him the type of guy that when the chips are down and things have not gone your way, he’s going to find a way to move the ball for us and make a big throw and help us win. That’s what I don’t second guess or worry about at all. He’s that type of player. That is a rare trait in this league. When you’ve got talent, and he’s got talent, but it’s the other thing. How many times have we seen these quarterbacks, and they’ve got all the gifts, but when you need them, they crumble? This guy doesn’t.”  It was clear from the underneath throws to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs on the drive that straddled the first and second quarter, which set up a 45-yard burst from Gibbs (with some Vikings’ ankles broken in the process) for the team’s first touchdown. It was seen again in how he stood in against a six-man pressure to throw a dime to the post to St. Brown for a 35-yard score on the team’s next possession.  Then, there were throws he made to Gibbs and St. Brown on the final possession, with the Lions down 29–28, and down to their last shot to win the game.  “We’re sitting there with under two minutes, a minute and a half, and we hit the pass to Saint across the middle that really puts us in position for [rookie Jake] Bates to kick the game-winner,” Campbell says. “Believe me, he had more than that, but those are the ones I think of.”  Thing is, some people will look at it, and think that Goff’s success is a product of what’s around him. To a degree, that’s true. But that’s true of a lot of quarterbacks who’ve won MVP awards in the past.  This is also true: Goff’s passer rating Sunday was a sparkling 140.0, and had it been 10 points higher, he’d have become the first quarterback ever to hit 150 in three consecutive weeks. He’s sixth in the NFL in passing yards and touchdown passes, second in completion percentage, and first among starting QBs in yards per attempt and passer rating. But, again, this is about more than all of that. It’s about the belief, too, that the Lions have when faced with the kind of adversity that hit Sunday. And that’s no surprise for Detroit anymore, to the point where Campbell, on purpose this time, didn’t give him a game ball.  “I didn’t give him one,” Campbell says. “He may get one. Why not? But what about Gibbs and St. Brown? I always give [more] out on Wednesday. We love the guy. I know exactly who he is.”  And as for the idea he could win MVP?  “You’re not going to hear me disagree with that,” Campbell says. “I’m not going to fight you.”  Yup, Campbell knows what he’s got—just what he hoped he was trading for three years ago. Even if this is a little better than even he might’ve expected.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/week-7-nfl-takeaways-jared-goff-mvp-candidate


NFL Week 7 winners, losers: Leader emerges in most cutthroat division (Winners - Jared Goff, Ben Johnson and the Lions take control of the NFC North:  Coordinator Brian Flores and the Vikings entered Sunday with one of the fiercest defenses in the NFL, one that had confounded passers like C.J. Stroud and Brock Purdy. All Lions quarterback Jared Goff did was complete 22 of 25 throws for 280 yards and a pair of scores in a massive 31-29 win.  Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, sure to become a head coach in the next hiring cycle if he finds an opportunity to his liking, leaned on his dominant offensive line to bore running lanes, which only unlocked the play-action passing game. This is where Goff is most comfortable. It also mitigated the Minnesota pass rush and the misdirection and disguises Flores uses to generate pressure. Coach Dan Campbell, even after a disastrous fumble return gave Minnesota (5-1) a one-point lead, managed the clock perfectly inside two minutes. And so now the Lions (5-1) have claimed an early edge in the division.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/10/21/nfl-winners-losers-week-7-lions-chiefs/75768771007/

32 things we learned in NFL Week 7: Big statements from top contenders (4. The number of quarterbacks to post a passer rating of at least 140.0 in three consecutive games, Jared Goff joining their ranks Sunday in the Detroit Lions’ statement-making 31-29 defeat of the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The Lions moved into first place atop the hypercompetitive NFC North by handing the Vikes their first loss of the season.  4a. The number of sacks – by four different players – the Lions had in their first game without injured DE Aidan Hutchinson. And Detroit might have to replace its injured superstar in a “by committee” approach after New York Jets LB Haason Reddick ended his holdout Sunday morning and – presumably – his stint on the trade block.  4b. The number of NFC North teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today (it doesn’t). The Lions would be the conference’s No. 1 seed, with the Vikings, Packers and Chicago Bears all in wild-card slots. Every team in the division but the idle Bears has five wins.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2024/10/20/nfl-week-7-takeaways-learned-games/75771454007/

NFL Game Recaps: Week 7 (Lions 31, Vikings 29:  The Vikings looked like they were going to win this battle for first place in the NFC North in blowout fashion. Detroit stalled on the opening drive, prompting Dan Campbell to attempt a fake punt. Minnesota shut the play down and then scored easily via an Aaron Jones touchdown run. The Vikings then added another field goal after an ensuing Detroit drive was ruined by a David Montgomery injury. Montgomery couldn’t put any pressure on one of his legs as he was helped off the field.  The Lions, however, never quit. Jared Goff completed all 12 of his passes in the opening half, while Jahmyr Gibbs hit some big plays. He scored on a 44-yard touchdown in which he broke the ankles of Camryn Bynum. Even Montgomery returned from injury to have some nice runs. The Lions answered Minnesota’s 10-0 start with 21 unanswered to lead by double digits entering halftime.  The Vikings trailed by double digits on two separate occasions in this game, but they didn’t give up either. Sam Darnold hit a 51-yard bomb to Jordan Addison from his own end zone to set up a score. Minnesota’s defense stood up after that with a strip of Montgomery. Ivan Pace scooped and scored to give Minnesota a 29-28 lead.  Detroit, however, was able to force a Minnesota stop when the Vikings couldn’t quite pick up a first down. This gave the Lions one more chance, and they took full advantage of it. Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown made big plays to move into field goal range, setting up a game-winning field goal by Jake Bates, who drilled the kick from 44 yards to give Detroit the win and control of first place in the division.  The Lions were able to shake off their slow start to this season and now look like the best team in the NFC despite the absence of Aidan Hutchinson. Goff should be considered an MVP candidate. He went 18-of-18 in a recent Monday night game, and he was 22-of-25 in this contest. The Vikings lost their first game of the year, but they shouldn’t be ashamed of how they performed. They had the lead in the final minute, so they easily could have won. However, we still haven’t seen Darnold put the team on his back and win a close game. The Vikings have prevailed in tight margins, but all of those scores were the result of the opposition mounting a comeback from a huge deficit.):  https://walterfootball.com/nflreview.php


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97.1 FM's Will Burchfield talks Lions thrilling win over Minnesota:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1535136


'GMFB' reacts to Lions thrilling Week 7 win vs. Vikings:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/gmfb-reacts-to-lions-thrilling-week-7-win-vs-vikings

'GMFB' awards Week 7 game balls (Schrager picks Bates):  https://www.nfl.com/videos/gmfb-awards-week-7-game-balls-x7571
Posted by LionsFan at 12:16 PM

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