Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Lions Links for Wednesday 1-15-25

Articles:

NOTEBOOK: Arnold a full participant in Lions practice:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-arnold-a-full-participant-in-lions-practice

Lions vs. Commanders practice report: Jan. 15:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-vs-commanders-practice-report-jan-15-montgomery-zeitler-arnold

10 takeaways from Glenn, Johnson & Fipp:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/10-takeaways-from-glenn-johnson-fipp-montgomery-gibbs-stbrown

NOTEBOOK: Montgomery confident in return after missing last three games:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-montgomery-confident-in-return-after-missing-last-three-games

Lions' ST coordinator doesn't want to be head coach. But he knows what good one looks like:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/15/detroit-lions-dave-fipp-special-teams-coordinator/77725544007/




Here's what Ben Johnson said about his coaching interviews this past weekend:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/01/15/detroit-lions-ben-johnson-coaching-interviews-update/77721037007/



Lions open the divisional round as the current betting favorites to win the Super Bowl:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2025/01/15/detroit-lions-super-bowl-odds-favorites-nfl-divisional-round/

Jeff Daniels goes on The Tonight Show singing about breaking the Lions' curse:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2025/01/15/jeff-daniels-tonight-show-lions-curse-of-bobby-layne-appearance/

Lions draft class rookie grades for 2024-25 regular season:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2025/01/15/lions-draft-class-rookie-grades-terrion-rakestraw-wingo-mahogany-vaki-manu/

Notebook: Why Lions Should Pay Attention to Mike Sainristil:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/notebook-why-lions-should-pay-attention-to-mike-sainristil

Williams Embraces Lions Fans: 'I Treat Them Like Family':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/williams-embraces-lions-fans-treat-them-like-family

Rumor: Ben Johnson Being Hired by Raiders Building Momentum:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/rumor-ben-johnson-being-hired-raiders-building-momentum

Aaron Glenn Is More Than Defensive Coach, Wants to Leave Impact:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/glenn-more-than-defensive-coach-wants-to-leave-impact

Film Review: How Lions Have Fared Against Mobile Quarterbacks:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/film-review-how-lions-have-fared-against-mobile-quarterbacks

Detroit Lions will not play in Germany in 2025 NFL season.:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/detroit-lions-will-not-play-in-germany-2025

Alex Anzalone Will Pay 'Huge Dividends' in Super Bowl Run:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/alex-anzalone-will-pay-huge-dividends-in-super-bowl-run

Jared Goff: Lions Defense Must Make Jayden Daniels 'Uncomfortable':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jared-goff-defense-must-make-jayden-daniels-uncomfortable

Amon-Ra St. Brown: 'It's Exciting Times in Detroit':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/amon-ra-st-brown-exciting-times-in-detroit






Tom Brady recruiting Ben Johnson to Raiders as he prepares to call Lions-Commanders:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-tom-brady-recruiting-ben-johnson-to-raiders

Aaron Glenn true to himself in head coaching interviews: "Either you like it or you don't.":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-aaron-glenn-true-to-himself-in-hc-interviews

David Montgomery ready to bring Super Bowl dreams to life: "I know we're gonna be there":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-david-montgomery-can-bring-his-dreams-to-life


A Magic Man, 2 Dans, and a spot in the NFC title game: Lions, Commanders have a lot in common:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2025/01/15/a-magic-man-2-dans-and-a-spot-in-the-nfc-title-game-lions-commanders-have-a-lot-in-common/

Could two key Lions coordinators leave Detroit for head coaching jobs?:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/sports/could-two-key-lions-coordinators-leave-detroit-head-coaching-jobs

The divisional round is set! What to know about all four matchups, plus how every team could win ((6) Washington Commanders at (1) Detroit Lions:  When: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Fox).  FPI projection: DET, 73.0%.  Opening line: DET -8.5 (54.5).  Matchup background: The Lions and Commanders last faced off in Week 2 of the 2022 season. Quarterback Jared Goff helped Detroit earn a 36-27 win by throwing for 256 yards and four touchdowns. The last time Washington and Detroit met in the postseason was on Jan. 8, 2000 -- before Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was born. Washington took that one 27-13. - ESPN.  Stat to know: Daniels will face the Lions, who went 15-2 this season, tied with the Chiefs for the best record in the NFL. This will be the sixth time in the Super Bowl era that a rookie QB will face a team that had at least a share of the best record in the league. Only one of the previous five rookies won: Joe Flacco and the Ravens in 2008 against the 13-3 Tennessee Titans. -- ESPN Research.  Lions injury update: The Lions are expecting running back David Montgomery (knee), who missed the past three games, to return for the divisional round. Guard Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (foot) were both injured in their Week 18 home win over the Vikings, and Detroit coach Dan Campbell said he couldn't guarantee that either will be playing. However, Campbell acknowledged, "It's much better than it appeared to be when the injuries happened. So, it's positive news." -- Eric Woodyard.  What we learned about the Commanders in the wild-card round: Washington will be a tough out in the postseason because it has a young quarterback in Daniels who does not cave to pressure. Daniels has delivered all season in leading five game-winning drives. His poise and playmaking ability will scare any defense. Another key for Washington on Sunday was its defense, which limited Tampa Bay to 284 total yards and only 101 on the ground -- 36 fewer than its average allowed. That must continue. -- John Keim.  Why the Lions will win: Overwhelming offensive force. The Lions enter the divisional round as clear favorites -- as they should be, given the way this team can score points. Detroit ranked second in both EPA per play (0.17) and per drive (0.96) this season. And there's no reason to think that success won't continue. The Lions' offense is healthy and rested after the team's bye week.  Plus, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has shown his creativity with lateral plays, receiver passes, offensive lineman receptions and everything in between all season long. Can you imagine what he has been saving for the playoffs?  The question now is whether the Lions' injury-marred defense can hold up. But the Lions have linebacker Alex Anzalone back, and the last time we saw their defense, it shut down Sam Darnold and the Vikings en route to an NFC North title in Week 18. -- Walder
  Why the Commanders will win: Daniels can beat the blitz, which gives the Commanders a prayer. The Lions' defense had its best game of the season in the finale against the Vikings, and it achieved that success via the blitz, bringing extra heat on 56% of Minnesota's dropbacks to help make up for all the defensive injuries. But a similar game plan could backfire against the Commanders.  As good of a rookie season as Daniels had, he was even better against the blitz with a 90.3 QBR (third best). The blitz increased the rate of deep shots Daniels took and allowed him to gain more yards on his scrambles. That could create the high-variance type of game the Commanders would like to play as heavy underdogs. Detroit could take a different tack, but that might expose its injury-induced weaknesses. Daniels' excellence against extra rushers gives the Commanders an outside chance here. -- Walder. ):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43386930/2024-nfl-playoffs-bracket-reset-divisional-round-schedule-afc-nfc

One rookie X-factor for each remaining playoff team (Detroit Lions: CB Terrion Arnold:  With all the injuries the Lions have dealt with on defense, Terrion Arnold was thrown into the fire a little sooner than the team may have hoped. While he has endured his struggles this season, as opponents have completed more than 60% of their passes into his coverage for 728 yards and four touchdowns, Arnold had by far his best performance of the season with the division and a first-round bye on the line. He put up a 74.1 PFF overall grade with a 71.8 PFF coverage grade in Week 18 against the Vikings, all while not allowing a reception into his coverage on four targets.  He was also stout against the run, as his 74.4 PFF run-defense grade can attest to, leading the Lions’ defense in keeping the Vikings out of the end zone as they secured the NFC North and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Lions will need to see more of that version of Arnold if they hope to reach the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-one-rookie-x-factor-playoff-teams-2024

Biggest questions facing NFL's remaining playoff teams (Detroit Lions: Can anyone stop them on their turf?  The Lions are an all-star powerhouse on offense, and an overachieving group on defense. An NFC title-game loss in 2023 didn't break them; it made them stronger. Which begs the question: Is any conference foe capable of seizing Ford Field for itself? Jayden Daniels will be the next dynamic playmaker to try.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/biggest-questions-facing-nfls-remaining-playoff-teams-are-lions-unbeatable-will-bills-get-over-the-hump/

Each NFL team's most improved player in 2024 (Detroit Lions: S Kerby Joseph:  Whoever leads the NFL in interceptions will always get appropriate airtime, and this year, the honor went to Lion’s safety Kerby Joseph, who led the league with nine interceptions. But even aside from the interceptions, Joseph was an excellent asset on one of the best defenses in the NFL.  Joseph’s 91.0 grade led all safeties, and his 91.9 coverage grade is the highest for a safety since Eddie Jackson in 2018. On top of his excellent coverage abilities, Joseph has been one of the soundest tacklers at the position all season, missing just 5.6% of his tackles in 2024. Having such a reliable defender who can do it all on the backend makes life much easier for defensive coordinators.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-each-nfl-teams-most-improved-player-in-2024

2025 NFL playoffs: Ranking top remaining eight teams (2. Lions:  Despite being hit with the injury bug late in the season, the Lions still managed to earn the No. 1 seed after closing out the regular season with three straight wins. The Lions' final regular-season win was a decisive 31-9 win over the Vikings that saw Dan Campbell's team play exceptionally well on both sides of the ball.  Specifically, Detroit's secondary blanketed Minnesota's receivers, thus making it nearly impossible for Sam Darnold to have success. It'll be extremely difficult to beat the Lions if their pass defense (which was ranked 30th during the regular season in passing yards allowed) continues to play like that in the postseason.  The Lions' recent defensive performances have been encouraging, but the engine driving Detroit's hopeful Super Bowl run is still the offense, led by Jared Goff, wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, who is on track to return for Saturday's game against Washington. The Lions are holding out hope that pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson can come back from his injury to play in the Super Bowl if Detroit is able to get there. Detroit was my pick to come out of the NFC prior to Week 1, and it remains my pick now. But their defense is a legitimate question mark.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-playoff-bracket-divisional-round-ranking-eight-remaining-teams-as-ravens-lions-battle-for-top-spot/

NFL Fact or Fiction: San Francisco Should Bring Back Sam DarnoldFavorites will dominate in divisional round (Manzano’s view: Fiction - Five of the six wild-card games turned into blowouts, but let’s not forget that three underdogs advanced to the divisional round.  I would not be shocked if one or more upsets occur this weekend. The Detroit Lions didn’t get to face Jayden Daniels and his Commanders in the regular season, possibly making the unknown challenging, especially for a shorthanded defense. As mentioned above, the Rams have the defense to push the Eagles. Also, Matthew Stafford gets the edge over Jalen Hurts. Then again, the Rams don’t have Saquon Barkley, who gashed L.A. for 255 rushing yards earlier this season. It’s harder to see the Houston Texans upsetting the Chiefs, but it’s tough to doubt them, too, after the whooping they put on the Los Angeles Chargers last week. And there’s a strong chance we get a playoff classic between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.  Here’s hoping for four close games this weekend.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-fact-or-fiction-san-francisco-should-bring-back-sam-darnold


Detroit Lions Star: 'We're a Better Team Than We Were Last Year':  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-jahmyr-gibbs-better-than-last-year

New York Jets are First Choice for Detroit Lions Coordinator:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-aaron-glen-prefers-new-york-jets







Jared Goff: Jayden Daniels is “extremely impressive” to do what he’s doing so young:  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jared-goff-jayden-daniels-is-extremely-impressive-to-do-what-hes-doing-so-young


Lions' investments in running game paying off for top-seeded team:  https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/lions-investments-in-running-game-paying-off/

Ben Johnson Didn’t Get Commanders’ HC Job Because He Wanted Journeyman QB Over Jayden Daniels?:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/ben-johnson-wanted-journeyman-qb-over-jayden-daniels/

2025 NFL Draft:


Video:







WATCH - Woody reports from Allen Park where the Lions are preparing for a gameplan to stop Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1577404
Posted by LionsFan at 9:37 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
.main-inner .sidebar .Poll { background-color: #AD966C; padding: 15px; }