Friday, January 10, 2025

Lions Links for Thursday 1-9-25

Articles:

After 'frustrating' start to season, Melifonwu looking to finish strong:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/after-frustrating-start-to-season-melifonwu-looking-to-finish-strong



Seahawks request to interview Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley for OC position:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2025/01/09/seahawks-request-to-interview-lions-offensive-line-coach-hank-fraley-for-oc-position/



Jake Bates Has Visions of Glory Ahead of NFL Playoffs:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jake-bates-has-visions-of-glory-ahead-of-playoffs

Ifeatu Melifonwu Needed Surgery to Address Dislocated Finger:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/ifeatu-melifonwu-needed-surgery-dislocated-finger

Lions’ Offense Set Numerous Franchise Records in 2024:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-offense-set-numerous-franchise-records-2024


Burning Question: Would Lions Receive Draft Picks If Glenn Leaves?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/would-lions-receive-draft-picks-if-glenn-leaves



Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs highlight December/January Players of the Month:  https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-month-december-january-2024-joe-burrow-jahmyr-gibbs

Weighing fifth-year options for 2022 NFL Draft's first-round selections (2. Aidan Hutchinson - Exercise the option? Yes. Hutchinson has been everything you want in a pass rusher. He averaged 10.5 sacks over his first two seasons (earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023) and was on pace to shatter that figure in 2024 before a broken tibia ended his regular season after just five games. Despite missing 12 games, Hutchinson still led Detroit in sacks (7.5) and QB hits (17), and there’s a chance he returns to play in the Super Bowl if the Lions make it that far. What a great storyline that would be. Looking ahead to the offseason, presuming Hutchinson's recovery continues on track, the Lions will no doubt make him one of the highest-paid defenders in the NFL, now that he's eligible for an extension. He’s earned it. In the meantime, exercising the fifth-year option is an automatic move to make.12. Jameson Williams - Exercise the option? Yes. Williams has had his fair share of off-the-field issues (see: gambling and PED suspensions), and his career got off to a slow start while he recovered from a knee injury sustained in college. But the team’s patience and willingness to help him reach his full potential appears to have paid off. The Alabama product has become the dynamic element for the Lions offense that we all envisioned, opening up the field for the rest of his teammates and gaining plenty of yards after the catch. Reaching 1,000 receiving yards in Week 18 was a nice button on the 2024 regular season for Williams.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/weighing-fifth-year-options-for-2022-nfl-draft-s-first-round-selections

One reason why each 2025 playoff team can win SB LIX(1. Detroit Lions: History-making quartet . Detroit's top-ranked scoring offense includes some history-makers in running backs David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The quartet became the first teammates in NFL history to each record over 1,000 all-purpose yards in a season. Montgomery is slated to return for the divisional round after suffering an MCL injury back in Week 15.  The Lions' offense has been humming all season, but injuries led to some struggles defensively during the back half of the season. Detroit's defense is coming off of an inspiring performance against the Vikings. The Lions allowed just nine points that was largely the result of blanketing coverage of Minnesota's wideouts.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-playoffs-one-reason-why-each-postseason-team-can-win-super-bowl-lix-including-steelers-packers/

2025 NFL playoffs: Ranking 10 most important non-QBs (4. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions:  No one was better at finding the end zone in 2024 than Detroit Lions second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs: His 20 scrimmage touchdowns led the entire NFL and broke a franchise record while his 16 rushing touchdowns co-led the league along with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry and Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. Any time he touches the football, he could take it to the house.  Gibbs' 6.4 yards-per-scrimmage touch were the second best in a single season in the 21st Century, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk's 6.6 yards-per-scrimmage touch average in his 2000 NFL MVP season. He's also on a Barry Sanders-like heater: Gibbs is the first Lion with 150 or more scrimmage yards in three consecutive games since Sanders in 1991, per CBS Sports Research. Those three games have come in Detroit's final three regular-season games in which fellow running back David Montgomery has been sidelined with a knee injury. Gibbs is playing his best when the Lions have needed him to do so.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-playoffs-ranking-10-most-important-non-quarterbacks-including-saquon-barkley-justin-jefferson/

Agent's Take: Ultimate end-of-season, 53-man roster (WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions ($4,868,930) -- 2021 fourth round:  St. Brown had 115 catches, 1,263 yards receiving and a career-high 12 touchdown receptions. He was one of four players to rank in the NFL's top 10 in each of these categories. St. Brown will spend considerable time operating out of the slot. According to Pro Football Focus, 51.2% of St. Brown's passing snaps were in the slot this season.  FS: Kerby Joseph, Lions ($1,385,333) -- 2022 third round:  Joseph led the NFL with nine interceptions. Xavier McKinney, who was second in the NFL with eight interceptions, was a possibility. His cap number being nearly six times of Joseph's factored into the equation. Joseph also easily had the best season of any 2022 third-round pick.  SS: Brian Branch, Lions - ($1,830,683) -- 2023 second round:  Branch joins his teammate Joseph at safety. The two are arguably the NFL's best safety tandem. Derwin James, who had a bounce-back 2024 season, was too cost prohibitive with his $19,158,241 cap hit.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-ultimate-2024-end-of-season-53-man-roster-thats-the-best-team-money-can-buy/

Ranking every team's kicker entering playoffs (7. Jake Bates, Lions - 2024 season: 26/29 (90%) on FG, 6/8 (75%) from 50+, 64/67 (96%) on XP.  Can you see "From Brick Salesman to Super Bowl Hero" as the next blockbuster movie? Maybe not, but the story could play out in real life. Bates' college career went from soccer player at Central Arkansas to kickoff specialist at Texas State and Arkansas. He never kicked a college field goal. Then he went to the USFL, where he made three field goals from 60+, including a league-record 64-yarder.  Now we're here. Bates came through in multiple game-winning situations, including the game-tying and game-winning kicks from 50+ in one quarter against the Texans. The leg strength is outstanding, and we can't hold his low field goal total against him considering Dan Campbell's fourth-down aggression. Still, Bates has never kicked in the playoffs. Even the slowest heart rates rise in the postseason. Bates making this portion of the list as a rookie is impressive, and he can add to his legend in the weeks to come.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-playoffs-ranking-every-teams-kicker-with-a-clear-no-1-and-a-major-slide-for-justin-tucker/

Ranking five most important non-QBs in NFC playoffs (5. Kerby Joseph, Lions:  Joseph has emerged as one of the best safeties in football this year and should be in consideration for an All-Pro selection. Joseph led the NFL with nine interceptions as a turnover machine on the Lions defense. Opposing quarterbacks targeting Joseph had a 44.4 passer rating against him, throwing only two touchdowns.  Joseph also had 83 tackles and 12 passes defended in playing all 17 games. Of all the injuries on the Lions defense, Joseph was the mainstay. He demonstrated his impact late in the season, only being targeted as the primary defender once and allowing 8 yards.  The Lions defense has a chance with Joseph on the field, even with all the injuries to that unit. 2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions:  The Lions have so many impactful players on offense, any one of their playmakers could be mentioned. St. Brown is the consistent threat on the unit, as he's coming off his third straight 100-catch, 1,000-yard season in Detroit. Jared Goff's most trusted target ended up with a career-high catch rate of 81.6% en route to 115 catches for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns. St. Brown doesn't have the game-breaking speed of Jahmyr Gibbs or big-play touchdown ability of Jameson Williams, yet he's the one Goff looks for on third and fourth down to move the chains. He's arguably the best slot receiver in football and always finds a way to get open. If the Lions need a play, St. Brown is there to make one. Goff had a 136.8 passer rating targeting St. Brown this season, showcasing how important he is to the Lions offense. If Detroit makes the Super Bowl, St. Brown will play a huge role in the Lions getting there):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-5-most-important-non-qbs-in-nfc-playoffs-saquon-barkley-amon-ra-st-brown-vital-in-postseason-run/

2025 NFL playoffs: Ranking all 14 coaching staffs (Tier 1: The Elite - 3. Kansas City Chiefs: HC Andy Reid, OC Matt Nagy, DC Steve Spagnuolo.  2. Baltimore Ravens: HC John Harbaugh, OC Todd Monken, DC Zach Orr.  1. Detroit Lions: HC Dan Campbell, OC Ben Johnson, DC Aaron Glenn.  We know all about these three coaching staffs. You can take your pick between Reid, Harbaugh and Campbell as the NFL's best coach, and very few people would tell you that you're wrong. These teams land in this order only because the Chiefs have the weakest individual link (OC Matt Nagy, the only coordinator among the three teams who does not call plays) and Orr is in his first year as the defensive coordinator. Johnson and Glenn have been in place under Campbell for several years and have become arguably the most and second most sought-after coaches on the market when it comes to head coaching interviews. That's how good they are.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-the-14-coaching-staffs-in-2025-nfl-playoffs-lions-claim-top-spot-texans-fall-down-the-list/

Tom Brady's 3 Stars of Week 18, including Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs - Week 18 stats: 23 carries, 139 rushing yards, 6.0 yards per carry, three rushing touchdowns, five receptions, 31 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown in 31-9 win vs. Minnesota Vikings. Brady's thoughts: "My first star of the week goes to Jahmyr Gibbs. He balled out with 170 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. Jahmyr, he was the first Lion to lead the league in touchdowns since Barry Sanders. That's incredible. What a season for Gibbs and the Lions! They locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Way to go!" ):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/tom-brady-3-stars-week-18-including-lions-jahmyr-gibbs

What could go wrong? Lions defense among the 6 most-flawed units in playoffs (Detroit Lions defense:  Injuries decimated Detroit's defense during the regular season, hurting a team that was a Super Bowl favorite entering the season. Superstar edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, standout defensive tackle Alim McNeill and cornerback Carlton Davis are among the players who were ruled out for the regular season (though Hutchinson, who broke the fibula and tibia in his left leg in Week 6, has left the door ajar for a possible Super Bowl return, should Detroit get there).  While defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has done an impressive job with who he has available — the Lions held the Vikings to nine points in Week 18, helping Detroit secure the NFC North title and a first-round bye — the personnel deficiencies could be too much to overcome in the playoffs.  The Lions were forced to blitz a lot late in the year to generate pressure — their 37.1% blitz rate for the season overall was second in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. Their pass defense suffered as a result. Detroit ranked 30th in total pass defense (244.0 passing yards allowed per game) in 2024.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/most-flawed-units-nfl-playoffs-lions-bills-texans-steelers-commanders-vikings

QB Rankings:

Ranking each team's primary starting QB in 2024: Who finished at No. 1? (4. Jared Goff - 2024 stats: 17 games | 72.4 pct | 4,629 pass yds | 8.6 ypa | 37 pass TD | 12 INT | 56 rush yds | 0 rush TD | 6 fumbles. Goff has owned this spot for several weeks now because he's been consistently excellent. Behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines, and operating within a Ben Johnson offense perfectly tailored to his strengths, Goff has flourished, guiding the Lions to their first No. 1 seed in franchise history. Playing with peak-level confidence, he's feasted on the middle of the field and flawlessly executed his coordinator's evil genius designs. Detroit has an abundance of talent, obviously, but the team wouldn't be resting on Wild Card Weekend if Goff wasn't doing his part. He's sharp, confident, trusts his staff and plays free from worry, enabling the Lions to be one of the most explosive -- and intimidating -- teams in the NFL.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/ranking-each-nfl-team-s-primary-starting-quarterback-from-the-2024-regular-season

Which QBs do you trust in the playoffs? Ranking all 14 starters (6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions:  Goff is living proof of how cruel the postseason is, because he’s appeared in nine playoff games, and I’d argue the only time he truly played poorly was the biggest game of all: Super Bowl LIII versus the Patriots. That said, my concern with Goff is that there’s a pretty clear blueprint with his game. His relative lack of mobility doesn’t give him much room to improvise against top-tier defenses. He has only been pressured on 33% of his dropbacks this season, but he has thrown half of his interceptions in those circumstances. The Lions are good enough that getting to Goff is hard to do, but if you can, it can be problematic for him.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/which-qbs-do-you-trust-playoffs-ranking-all-14-starters

QB confidence meter for 2025 NFL playoffs (Confidence level: Can hoist a Lombardi Trophy  Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills.  Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens.  Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles.  Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams.  Jared Goff, Detroit Lions. This collection of quarterbacks shouldn't feel snubbed by landing in this second tier. Every one of them is capable of flexing their immense talent and dragging their teams to a championship. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are MVP frontrunners who, yes, have some playoff questions, but both have brought their teams to the AFC Championships in the past. The question of whether or not they can win a title, in my eyes, is more nitpicking than it is anything of true substance. They can, and one of them might even do it this year. If either Allen or Jackson was my quarterback as I embarked into the playoffs, I'd feel great about my chances.  The same can be said for Jalen Hurts, who, unlike Allen and Jackson, has actually taken his team to a Super Bowl appearance. It's been a little bit of an odd year for Philadelphia's offense as it has had some inside-the-locker room drama, but that doesn't take away from Hurts being an elite talent at the quarterback position who has won at a high clip since coming into the league. You might be surprised to see Matthew Stafford land in this group, but he's only one of three quarterbacks in these playoffs who have won a Super Bowl before. And it wouldn't shock me if he leads the Rams on a little bit of a run. On top of having championship experience, Stafford is playing some good ball coming into the playoffs. He's thrown 11 touchdowns and just one interception in his last seven games played. If he continues at that clip, Los Angeles is sneaky dangerous. Finally, Jared Goff sneaks in to round out this group. Some might consider him to be the most unproven of this bunch, but let's not forget that he did play in a Super Bowl and he's only improved since then. Now with Detroit, Goff is driving the bus of a high-octane offense that he's been the main piece of. He won't be the reason Detroit fails to live up to its potential.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/qb-confidence-meter-for-2025-nfl-playoffs-patrick-mahomes-in-tier-of-his-own-rookies-offer-big-questions/

Playoff QB rankings: Mahomes enters postseason at No. 1 (4. Jared Goff
Detroit Lions QB:  The skittish Goff of the quarterback's final days with the Los Angeles Rams is long gone. Boosted by belief from the Lions' bold staff, as well as a world-class line and skill group, he's simply excelled as a traditional pocket passer, as evidenced by elite marks in both completion rate (72.4%) and yards per attempt (8.9). In short, he gets the ball where it needs to be, more often than almost anyone. Also overlooked: He's already aiming for his third career NFC title-game appearance.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-playoffs-qb-rankings-chiefs-patrick-mahomes-opens-postseason-at-no-1-lions-jared-goff-in-top-five/

Why all 14 NFL playoff teams can win Super Bowl 59 (even you, Texans) (Detroit Lions - These Lions are just the seventh team ever to finish in the top five in DVOA efficiency on offense, defense, and special teams. This fact won’t matter with the NFC’s No. 1 seed, but they also finished undefeated on the road for the first time in franchise history, showing an uncanny mettle in hostile environments. Between Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, they have the NFL’s best offensive and defensive coordinator pairing by a country mile. Dan Campbell has the pulse of his Detroit roster like perhaps no other head coach in pro football and knows exactly what button to press when he has to. Even with a rash of injuries on defense, a deep playoff run could facilitate the eventual return of game-changing pass-rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, which would completely flip the dynamic of the entire playoff field on its head. The Lions have a wealth of depth, are talented, are extremely well-coached, and are brimming with confidence like a team that expects to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. It’s rote and a bit cliche, but they have a team of destiny vibe to them.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-playoffs-how-all-14-teams-win-super-bowl-59

‘He Balled Out in the Biggest Game of the Year’ – Tom Brady Anoints 20-TD RB As ‘Star of the Week’ After Historic Week:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/tom-brady-anoints-20-td-rb-star-of-the-week-after-week-18-outing/

Video:



Throwdown Thursday: Does Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh or Lions HC Dan Campbell have better soundbites? | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/throwdown-thursday-does-chargers-hc-jim-harbaugh-or-lions-hc-dan-campbell-have-better-soundbites-gmfb
Posted by LionsFan at 10:23 AM

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