Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Lions Links for Tuesday 12-23-25

Articles:


NOTEBOOK: Hutchinson wants to see defense get back to having fun:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-hutchinson-wants-to-see-defense-get-back-to-having-fun









David Montgomery Is Turning Heads With Social Media Posts


Lions Rookie DT Among Lowest PFF-Graded Players Against Steelers:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/news/lions-rookie-dt-lowest-pff-graded-players-steelers

Hutchinson Reveals Key to Lions' Hopes for Defensive Turnaround:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/news/hutchinson-reveals-key-lions-hopes-defensive-turnaround

Lions Snap Counts Against Steelers Reveal Multiple Personnel Changes:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/news/lions-snap-counts-steelers-reveal-personnel-changes



What has gone wrong for four teams trying to make the playoffs? Solak on the Lions, Bucs, Ravens, Colts:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47381380/2025-nfl-week-16-lessons-lions-buccaneers-ravens-colts-bears-playoff-races

‘Tidy whities’: Dan Campbell shares holiday humor while preparing Detroit Lions for Christmas kickoff:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2025/12/23/tidy-whities-dan-campbell-shares-holiday-humor-while-preparing-detroit-lions-for-christmas-kickoff/

Let's Debate: Jared Goff, Tee Higgins & the Other Top Pro Bowl Snubs (Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions:  We're not just leading with this because it's a quarterback. Goff has 32 touchdown passes against five interceptions this season. If that were to hold up over the next two weeks, how many times in NFL history has a player had 30-plus touchdown passes and five or fewer interceptions and missed the Pro Bowl? As it turns out, this would be the first.  Matthew Stafford is a no-brainer for the NFC, and at least Sam Darnold has been prolific for a strong playoff contender — 13 interceptions is a lot, mind you. We'll focus on Goff being more deserving than Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who has worse numbers on a worse team. Prescott has 28 touchdown passes — four fewer than Goff — and 10 interceptions -- twice as many as Goff. Goff also has a better completion percentage and higher yards per attempt. There's a decent chance Stafford or Darnold bail after/during extended playoff runs and Goff gets in as an alternate. But it shouldn't come to that.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/lets-debate-jared-goff-tee-higgins-other-top-pro-bowl-snubs

Biggest 2026 Pro Bowl snubs: Jared Goff, Jordan Love among deserving NFL stars overlooked:  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/biggest-2026-pro-bowl-snubs-jared-goff-jordan-love-among-deserving-nfl-stars-overlooked-234428851.html

Five Biggest Snubs From the NFL’s 2026 Pro Bowl Games (QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions - Key stat: Despite the Lions’ 8–7 record in 2025, quarterback Jared Goff has kept the offense moving to the tune of 30.1 points—the second-most in the NFL. Goff is currently second in the league in touchdown passes (32), passer rating (109.4), and third in passing yards (4,036).):  https://www.si.com/nfl/five-biggest-snubs-from-the-nfl-2026-pro-bowl-games

NFL Week 16 Takeaways from the NFC North (Lions:  Detroit Can’t Stop Pittsburgh’s Run Game.  The Lions’ playoff hopes are fading fast, and Sunday’s loss was the last thing the team needed. Detroit had offensive issues, but its demise came from the inability to stop Pittsburgh’s rushing attack. The Steelers finished the game with 27 rushes, 230 yards (8.5 average), and two rushing touchdowns. The Steelers’ successful ground game allowed them to move the football with ease.  Detroit Fails on Last Play of Game.  Detroit played from behind throughout the second half of Sunday’s game. The Lions’ offense never clicked, but they had a chance to go ahead during their final possession of the game. The offense had a touchdown called back on an offensive pass interference call, leaving the team with one final chance to secure a victory. Unfortunately, a second OPI occurred, and the game was over.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/nfl-takeaways-from-week-16-in-the-nfc-north/

NFL on Christmas Day: Comparing the 3 lackluster games to gifts you'll receive this holiday (Re-gifted bread maker: Lions at Vikings - That bread maker might be unexciting, but at least you might use it once or twice. That’s how Lions at Vikings feels. The Lions have some interest, though their 7% chance of making the playoffs (via NFL.com) is not the easiest sell. At least there are some exciting players like Jahmyr Gibbs on that side. The Vikings have a superstar too in Justin Jefferson, but he has been a non-factor most of the season due to a miserable Vikings quarterback situation. The QB situation will be even worse on Christmas since J.J. McCarthy will be out due to a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand. That will give undrafted rookie Max Brosmer another start. Brosmer threw four interceptions and had a 32.8 passer rating in his only other NFL start.  There are a few disappointing teams in the NFL this season, but these two are near the top of the list. And, incredibly, because the two teams are hovering around .500, it’s the best matchup of the three Christmas games.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-on-christmas-day-comparing-the-3-lackluster-games-to-gifts-youll-receive-this-holiday-221410825.html

NFL Panic Meter: Buccaneers have been miserable for weeks and it cost them 1st place in the NFC South? (Is the Lions’ dream dead?  The Detroit Lions need a near-miracle to make the playoffs this season after falling to 8-7 with a loss to the Steelers. So this season is practically done. A rebound next season isn’t guaranteed.  The Lions have ended up missing coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, and they’ll have to make decisions about what to do at those spots next offseason. A lot of the Lions’ big contracts will start to affect their cap soon too, and 2023 draftees like running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch. are eligible for huge extensions next offseason. That will make the cap challenges, and trying to add any talent via free agency, even tougher.  The Lions still have plenty of talent. But with every year that passes, making the first Super Bowl in franchise history becomes tougher.  Panic meter: There should be some worry that the Lions’ best chance at a Super Bowl has already come and gone):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-panic-meter-buccaneers-have-been-miserable-for-weeks-and-it-cost-them-1st-place-in-the-nfc-south-142227179.html

Vikings will start Brosmer at QB vs. Lions with hairline fracture found on McCarthy’s throwing hand:  https://apnews.com/article/vikings-jj-mccarthy-injury-15eed01e125c1ecfdbdb8d130e232a68


QB Rankings:

QB Stock Market Week 17: Caleb Williams Defies Logic; Justin Herbert Rises (4. Jared Goff - Previously ranked: 5.  Detroit Lions - It has been another stellar year from Goff.  The QB nerds are allergic to counting stats, but with Goff, you’ve got to give them a look. In 15 games, he has 4,036 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 68.6 completion percentage. In short, he’s played wonderfully.  It’s like this with him year after year now. He is the sixth quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. Also on that list: Drew Brees, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning and Dan Marino.  But again, if counting stats aren’t your thing, let’s look at some advanced stats. In terms of EPA per dropback this year, Goff sits at .15 — tied with Allen (an MVP candidate) for fourth in the NFL among QBs with at least 100 dropbacks. The only guys above Goff? More MVP candidates: Matthew Stafford (.2), Jordan Love (.2) and Drake Maye (.2).  This is all to say that the Lions are likely to miss the playoffs largely because of everyone else — and not Goff. And the Lions lost this past Sunday to the Steelers largely because of everyone else — and not Goff. No, Goff put together an impressive performance, even with his characteristic struggles against the blitz. He nearly had the comeback win, too. If not for a pair of offensive pass interference calls (one more legit than the other), the Lions might still be in the playoff hunt.  I don’t think the 31-year-old Goff is polarizing anymore. But if you don’t think he’s among the league’s best, you’re not watching. This season continued to erase questions about Goff.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/qb-stock-market-week-17-caleb-williams-keeps-defying-qb-logic

2025 NFL QB Rankings: Brock Purdy Takes the Top Spot, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence Rise Up the Board (8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions - 2025 PFSN QBi Grade: 82.3 (B-).  Last Week’s Ranking: 7.  In a big matchup with their playoff hopes in the balance, the Detroit Lions relied heavily on Jared Goff to spark their offense. They lost to the Steelers, but it wasn’t because Goff played poorly. He finished Sunday with 364 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.  Among other statistics, Goff ranks third with 4,036 passing yards, second with 32 passing touchdowns, fifth with a 68.6% completion percentage, and second with a 109.4 passer rating. His 0.46 EPA per dropback in a clean pocket is also the fourth-best average among quarterbacks.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-qb-rankings-week-17-2025/

Power Rankings:


Vikings Media:

Max Brosmer Aims to Carry Chill Approach into Vikings Winter Whiteout vs. Lions:  https://www.vikings.com/news/max-brosmer-starting-quarterback-approach-christmas-winter-whiteout-lions

Podcast:


Video:






Lions playoff chances crushed after controversial loss to the Steelers:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/fmc-gk0ntv4lhv2mv778

Posted by LionsFan at 5:12 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

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