Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Lions Links for Wednesday 1-1-25

Articles:

KEY QUESTIONS: What is Anzalone's status heading into Week 18 matchup vs. Vikings?:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/key-questions-what-is-anzalone-s-status-heading-into-week-18-matchup-vs-vikings






Who will Lions face in playoffs? Predicting bracket matchups, path to Super Bowl:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/01/lions-nfl-playoffs-bracket-predictions-super-bowl-2025/77360649007/

Lions vs Vikings: Initial injury report and medical analysis for Week 18:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2025/01/01/lions-vs-vikings-initial-injury-report-and-medical-analysis-for-week-18/

The Lions offense is Detroit's best defensive weapon to use against the Vikings:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2025/01/01/detroit-lions-offense-best-defense-vs-vikings-offensive-pressure-week-18/


Lions DB Jamal Adams Released From Practice Squad:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jamal-adams-released-from-lions-practice-squad

Detroit Lions Are 2.5-Point Favorite Against Minnesota Vikings:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-are-betting-favorite-against-vikings-week-eighteen

Film Review: Lions' Offense Sizzling Ahead of Regular Season Finale:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/film-review-lions-offense-sizzles-against-49ers

Look: Aidan Hutchinson 'Making Strides' During Rehabilitation:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/aidan-hutchinson-making-strides-pool-workout






Lions vs. 49ers stock report: 6 risers, 3 fallers after west coast win:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025/1/1/24333344/lions-49ers-stock-report-week-17-2024


32 NFL observations after Week 17: Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are dueling for MVP honors (Detroit Lions:  Of all tight ends this year, Sam LaPorta has the most catches on balls thrown at least 20 yards in the air with seven.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-32-nfl-observations-after-week-17-lamar-jackson-and-josh-allen-are-dueling-for-mvp-honors

RB Index, Week 18: Five teams that need to upgrade their running back rooms this offseason (4. Jahmyr Gibbs - 2024 stats: 16 games | 227 att | 1,273 rush yds | 5.6 ypc | 13 rush TDs | 47 rec | 486 rec yds | 3 rec TD | 1 fumble lost.  Gibbs has started the last two games for Detroit with David Montgomery sidelined by a knee injury. In those two games (both wins), the second-year back has combined for 228 rush yards and a pair of touchdowns on 41 carries. Sure, Detroit's backfield is better when both players are healthy, with their skill sets complementing each other nicely in Ben Johnson's scheme, but Gibbs more than fits the bill as an RB1. The Lions' rushing attack should be just fine if Montgomery can't return for the postseason.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/rb-index-week-18-five-teams-that-need-to-upgrade-their-running-back-rooms-this-offseason

Ranking backup QB situations for playoff contenders (6. Teddy Bridgewater Detroit Lions QB:  Second-year reserve Hendon Hooker is technically the No. 2 in Detroit, but the Lions wouldn't have lured the 32-year-old Bridgewater out of retirement if they weren't prepared to use him in case of emergency. He's a conservative arm, but his experience (65 career starts) is invaluable, and he's also got premium playmakers at his disposal, not to mention one of the NFL's best fronts.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/backup-qb-rankings-for-nfl-playoff-teams-chiefs-carson-wentz-headlines-emergency-options-for-postseason/

New Year's Day: Top five juiciest NFL stories for 2025, from NFC North race to unpredictable coaching cycle (Which NFC North contenders will show up for real?  No division has had more firepower this year. The Detroit Lions are a juggernaut darling. The Green Bay Packers are an 11-win team for the fourth time under Matt LaFleur. The Minnesota Vikings are quietly dominant, boasting an elite version of Sam Darnold. But who's actually primed to make good on their promise? Detroit has the best offense when everything is clicking. The Vikings could swipe the NFC's No. 1 seed with a Week 18 win. And the Packers still have maybe the most gifted quarterback.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/new-years-day-top-five-juiciest-nfl-stories-for-2025-from-nfc-north-race-to-unpredictable-coaching-cycle/

NFL Year in Review: Top 10 storylines of 2024, headlined by Chiefs' title, Lions' rise (2. The Motown Miracle: Dan Campbell turns Lions into a title contender. When Dan Campbell was hired in Detroit and promised to build a team willing to "bite a kneecap off" to win, few around the NFL thought either the biting or winning would happen — certainly not so soon. And while its unclear if any kneecaps have actually been bitten, the winning sure did arrive in Detroit this year.  Campbell not only took them to their first playoff game in seven years back in January, but he led them to their first NFC Championship Game since 1991. They even led that game 24-7 at the half before falling to the 49ers 34-31.  This season they have looked like a Team of Destiny and arguably the most dangerous team in the NFL. They are 13-2 and battling for the NFC's top seed. They are one of the favorites to reach their first Super Bowl ever and their first NFL championship game of any kind since they last won it all, 67 years ago.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-year-review-top-storylines-2024-chiefs-lions

NFL Fact or Fiction: Vikings Need Home-Field Advantage More Than Lions (Vikings need home-field advantage more than Lions  - Manzano’s view: Fact.  This is a tough one for multiple reasons. Both teams have two of the best home-field advantages in the NFL and both have been road warriors this season.  The Lions posted an 8–0 record after defeating the San Francisco 49ers Monday night, the longest road winning streak in franchise history. The Vikings are 6–1 and still have one road game left this season, the massive winner-take-all Week 18 matchup in Detroit.  If the Vikings win in Detroit, then maybe that’s our answer for this debate. Minnesota has a complete roster and depth at various positions to win in different ways. But regardless of the outcome of the NFC North showdown, the Lions get the edge because you can’t simulate postseason experience.  Detroit lost in heartbreaking fashion in San Francisco during last season’s NFC title game. Coach Dan Campbell and his Lions players can now turn their mistakes from last year’s playoff run into learning lessons for this year’s quest to the Super Bowl.  The Vikings recently played in a playoff game in the 2022 campaign, coach Kevin O’Connell’s first season, but that was a home loss against the New York Giants during the wild-card round. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and many other key players have never experienced a road playoff game. Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ breakout quarterback, has never started a playoff game in his career.  All this is nitpicking, but because I’m twisting my own arm, I’m siding with the well-seasoned Lions for this one.   Dan Campbell was wrong to play his starters vs. 49ers - Manzano’s view: Fiction.  ESPN analyst Troy Aikman couldn’t understand why Campbell played his starters against the 49ers, calling the Lions “a tired team” because they had their bye week way back in Week 5.  Initially, I agreed with Aikman’s take because the Lions also have a handful of injured players on the defensive side and some rest could have benefited them before the Sunday night battle with the Vikings. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the Lions had plenty to play for in Santa Clara despite that game not having any playoff implications. For starters, the Lions gained a positive psyche by beating the 49ers and getting some revenge for last season’s NFL title game. Yes, these 49ers aren’t the same team—the reigning NFC champions couldn’t overcome injuries and fatigue—but they still had plenty of star players on the field who were willing to test the Lions before the postseason.  The Lions’ elite offense dropped 40 points against the 49ers and now appears ready to go against the Vikings’ stout defense. Also, it didn’t hurt that the Lions’ backup defenders filling in for starters gained more playing experience before the massive divisional showdown. It’s not like rest would have brought back edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill and running back David Montgomery. Hutchinson and Montgomery still have a chance of returning, but that’s not a possibility for another few weeks. Also, are we surprised that Campbell didn’t step off the gas pedal? He rarely takes the safe approach and his players love him for it. Campbell told his players they could rest once they clinched the No. 1 seed. Now that’s how you motivate as a coach.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-fact-or-fiction-vikings-need-home-field-advantage-more-than-lions




In dominant NFC North, a 14-win team will be a wild card in playoffs:  https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/dominant-season-for-nfc-north-vikings-lions-wild-card/

Video:


Schrager claims that Sam Darnold and Jared Goff are 'two of the best quarterbacks in the entire league' | 'GMFB': https://www.nfl.com/videos/schrager-claims-that-sam-darnold-and-jared-goff-are-two-of-the-best-quarterbacks-in-the-entire-league-gmfb
Posted by LionsFan at 7:51 PM

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