Monday, December 23, 2024

Lions Links for Monday 12-23-24

Articles:

KEY QUESTIONS: What did Campbell think of Robertson's move to outside cornerback?:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/key-questions-what-did-campbell-think-of-robertson-s-move-to-outside-cornerback


Lions won't rest starters no matter how Vikings fare: 'Going out to play and win':  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/12/23/detroit-lions-rest-starters-san-francisco-49ers/77180977007/







Lions 'Bringing Everything We've Got' Against 49ers:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-not-resting-players-againt-49ers


Commanders' Game-Winner Installed by Former Lions QB:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/commanders-game-winner-installed-by-david-blough

Jameson Williams Among Highest PFF-Graded Lions Against Bears:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/williams-among-highest-pff-graded-lions-against-bears


Locker Room Buzz: Lions React to Bears Win, Cheer Eagles Loss:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/lions-react-to-bears-win-cheer-eagles-loss


Grades: Lions Offense Finds Groove, Trick Play Dazzles:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/grades-offense-finds-groove-trick-play-dazzles-bears



Lions-Bears snap counts: Detroit deploys 3 safety sets in Ifeatu Melifonwu’s return:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/12/23/24328099/lions-bears-snap-counts-detroit-deploys-3-safety-sets-in-ifeatu-melifonwus-return


Ben Johnson is ‘intrigued’ and ‘expected to interview’ for Bears coaching job:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/12/23/24327694/ben-johnson-is-intrigued-and-expected-to-interview-for-bears-coaching-job



Here’s every way Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings can get No. 1 seed in NFC:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2024/12/23/heres-every-way-detroit-lions-philadelphia-eagles-minnesota-vikings-can-get-no-1-seed-in-nfc/

Detroit Lions only need 1 more win to get No. 1 seed -- we just don’t know which game yet:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2024/12/23/detroit-lions-only-need-1-more-win-to-get-no-1-seed-we-just-dont-know-which-game-yet/

Why Detroit Lions game might not matter next week, and why it could mean everything:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2024/12/23/why-detroit-lions-game-might-not-matter-next-week-and-why-it-could-mean-everything/

NFL Week 16: PFF Team of the Week & Player Awards (WR: Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions.  C: Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-16-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards-2024

Buy/sell on 19 NFL teams still in playoff hunt: Which contenders are legit? Who's suspect? (NFC CONTENDERS: BUY - Detroit Lions.  For all the concerns about Detroit and its injury woes, the Lions still control their destiny in the pursuit of the NFC’s top seed after Sunday’s win over Chicago. The Lions finish with a road trip to San Francisco and a home game against Minnesota (a contest that also could decide who wins the NFC North). It’s true the Lions have so many players on injured reserve that it’s probably not worth keeping count anymore (the number is now at 16). You know what else Detroit has? An offense that leads the league in scoring and remains capable of winning any shootout it winds up in during the postseason. It also has a head coach in Dan Campbell who’s not going to make excuses and is willing to try anything to give his squad a chance to win a football game. In a year where there isn’t a truly dominant team left standing at this point in the season, those reasons might just be enough to get the Lions their first Super Bowl win.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/buy-sell-19-nfl-teams-still-in-playoff-hunt-which-contenders-are-legit-who-s-suspect

2024 NFL Christmas wish list: Perfect gift for teams (Detroit Lions: An Aaron Glenn superstar performance - The Lions have the offense to beat anybody. In the playoffs, they'll need their defense to pull the same weight. With so many key contributors out, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn might need to go on the heater to end all heaters.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-christmas-wish-list-heres-the-perfect-gift-for-all-32-teams-this-holiday-season/

Five things you may have missed from Week 16 (4. Lions fake out - The Detroit Lions always keep things interesting, and Sunday was no exception. This is one of their most unique trick plays to date, when Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs acted like the QB fumbled the snap. The trick worked and the play resulted in a touchdown to a wide-open Sam LaPorta.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/five-things-you-may-have-missed-from-nfl-week-16-running-backs-go-wild-joe-burrow-defies-gravity-more/

Ranking 5 teams best equipped to end Chiefs' SB reign (4. Detroit Lions - The Lions went into Arrowhead Stadium and stunned the Chiefs to begin the 2023 season, and that's before we realized Jared Goff was an exquisite fit in Ben Johnson's offense with the Lions.  Starting with that win, Detroit has gone 27-9 with 19 games in which it has scored 30 or more points. And it can score in a variety of ways, which is vital when facing a Steve Spagnuolo defense that often limits your most effective method of moving the football. The Lions are third in rush EPA per play in non-garbage time scenarios entering Week 17 and sixth in dropback EPA per play.  Their injury-ravaged defense is probably not incredibly equipped to limit Mahomes and Co. in the playoffs, but the Lions are seemingly at peace with playing in high-scoring affairs, and if they make the Super Bowl, they'll likely be healthier defensively than they are now -- linebacker Alex Anzalone should be back on the field, and Aidan Hutchinson has even mentioned the Super Bowl is the goal for his return.   Despite the recent downturn in the Lions' defensive reputation, this is still a unit fifth in EPA per play allowed outside of garbage time and ninth in the NFL with 22 interceptions.   And this is one offense that, conceivably, could go toe-to-toe with the Chiefs in the playoffs, if necessary.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-5-teams-most-equipped-to-end-chiefs-super-bowl-reign-ravens-left-out-plus-a-surprise-at-no-1/

Naughty or Nice: Sorting NFL's projected playoff teams (Detroit Lions (13-2) - The scariest thing about these Lions isn't their cadre of all-star playmakers, who've enabled Jared Goff to be an elite old-school pocket passer. It's their steady smirk in the face of adversity. Neither a 2023 NFC title-game defeat nor major injuries to key starters has rattled their confidence.  Verdict: Nice):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/naughty-or-nice-sorting-nfls-projected-2024-playoff-teams-ahead-of-christmas-day/

Sorting Sunday Pile, Week 16: Penix sneaky good debut (Let them eat moldy bread - The Lions suffered another slew of injuries in Week 15, leading to an epic, expletive-laden rant from Dan Campbell about eating "moldy bread" after a loss and moving forward with the healthy guys on their roster. Man, Detroit did just that Sunday against the Bears, thumping Chicago 34-17 on the road to strengthen its hold on the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Campbell's interview felt like a message the Lions might lean into needing to win in shootouts, and that appeared to be exactly the case early on against Chicago. Jared Goff was slinging it early and finished with an outstanding outing, going 23 for 32 for 336 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. That included a bomb to speedster Jameson Williams and a ridiculous fake-fumble (!), play-action touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is a literal psychopath for drawing that up. He's not crazy, however, for feeding Jahymr Gibbs, who looks like he's going to be a fantasy league winner for a lot of people given his usage with David Montgomery out. The Lions coaching staff didn't flinch when it came to Gibbs, giving him exactly the kind of full workload you'd expect with Montgomery missing. Gibbs was as advertised, too, running between the tackles in a physical fashion while carrying the ball 23 times for 109 yards and a score on the ground. No one wrote the Lions off before this week, but it felt like the injuries might be too much to overcome in terms of their pursuing a Super Bowl. Given how explosive the offense remains, I'm not sure anyone should count them out.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/sorting-the-sunday-pile-nfl-week-16-michael-penix-jr-has-sneaky-sparkling-debut-lions-munch-on-moldy-bread/

Top surprise Christmas gifts of the 2024 NFL season(S: Brian Branch - A Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate in 2023, Branch has gone from promising to imposing at the back end of Detroit's defense, making his presence felt as both a ballhawk and hard hitter.Team: Detroit Lions - The Lions were the darlings of the NFL in 2023, surging all the way to the NFC title game. Somehow they're even more creative, feisty and explosive this time around, with Dan Campbell still at the helm.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/top-surprise-christmas-gifts-of-2024-nfl-season-sam-darnold-for-vikings-saquon-barkley-for-eagles-and-more/

Who are the 10 greatest kickers of all time? (10. Jason Hanson:  A Lions legend, Jason Hanson spent 21 seasons in Detroit and played in 327 games from 1992 to 2012. He ranks fourth all-time in points (2,150) and field goals made (495), and is still the only kicker ever to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America group.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/who-are-10-greatest-kickers-all-time

NFL Heat Index (Who's Hot - Ben Johnson, OC, Lions - Johnson was in his bag again. His latest trick play design included a fake fumble by quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, getting Chicago's secondary to suck up to the line of scrimmage while tight end Sam LaPorta snuck by for a 21-yard TD reception.  Called the "Stumble Bum" play, the creative play design was the latest successful trick play by Detroit's offensive coordinator.  "Our coaches do a great job seeing tendencies," LaPorta told reporters after the game. "I believe a couple weeks ago they noticed on film the defense reacted very heavily to a fumble by the offense, so we kind of used that to our advantage today." ):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-heat-index-week-16-jayden-daniels-jonathan-taylor-justin-jefferson-kyler-murray-geno-smith




Week 16 NFL Takeaways: Commanders Have Built Program for Jayden Daniels to Succeed (Dan Campbell’s Lions winning 13 games is a franchise first. So, too, is Kevin O’Connell’s second 13-win season as Vikings coach. Both are reasons (Matt LaFleur’s in this category as well) why the NFC North looks like it’s going to be a war for the foreseeable future.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/week-16-nfl-takeaways-commanders-jayden-daniels-program-succeed

Amon-Ra St. Brown Recalls 'Horror Movie' Ahead of Lions-49ers NFC Championship Rematch:  https://www.si.com/nfl/amon-ra-st-brown-recalls-horror-movie-ahead-lions-49ers-nfc-championship-rematch




Dan Campbell was interrupted by Lions players loudly celebrating the Commanders’ win:  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2024/12/dan-campbell-lions-celebrate-commanders-nfc-top-seed-video

32 things we learned in NFL Week 16: Second-guessing narratives (3. As for the Lions? Just when you thought they might have suffered one key injury too many, they literally toy with their food while steamrolling the Chicago Bears. Detroit very much remains in the driver's seat for the No. 1 seed and certainly benefited from the Philadelphia Eagles' loss Sunday.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2024/12/22/nfl-week-16-takeaways-jalen-hurts-injury-eagles/77158138007/

Aiming for top seed, Lions play 49ers on road before closing regular season at home against Vikings:  https://apnews.com/article/lions-analysis-jared-goff-e6603ddc0c2d1993e061fc5c0990e358

Dan Campbell Goes on Viral Coffee Run With Two Furry Friends:  https://athlonsports.com/entertainment/dan-campbell-viral-coffee-run-with-two-furry-friends

Video:


Jameson Williams reacts to Antwaan Randle El's reaction to his TD 'GMFB':  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/jameson-williams-reacts-to-antwaan-randle-el-s-reaction-to-his-td-gmfb


WATCH - Dan Miller reports from Allen Park where Lions head coach Dan Campbell reflects on the victory over the Bears:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1566698

WATCH - Dan Miller talks with Lions quarterback Jared Goff about the win over Chicago:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1566696


Which players are on the naughty list? | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/which-players-are-on-the-naughty-list-gmfb

Posted by LionsFan at 7:57 PM

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