Saturday, October 10, 2026

2027 NFL Mock Draft Round Up #1

AtoZ Sports DeLeone and Roberts (24. Detroit Lions: CB Kelley Jones, Mississippi State:  Detroit has needed a new first-round corner since losing Terrion Arnold. Jones can be a lockdown, physical corner on the outside.  Jones brings the kind of physicality the Lions like on defense while also having the coverage ability to survive on an island. This is a relatively clean fit between player, team, and need.) (10-9-26):  https://atozsports.com/nfl-draft/2027-nfl-mock-draft-multiple-quarterbacks-vault-arch-manning-fast-rising-defensive-lineman-cj-carr-drew-mestemaker-austin-simmons/

Athlonsports (15. Detroit Lions - Ashton Hampton | CB | Clemson:  After moving on from a recent first-round pick in Terrion Arnold, the Lions’ needs at corner have gone from simply depth issues to an immediate need for high-quality starting material. Thankfully for them, this class should have some solid options in this range, and Hampton would be the ideal candidate. With his combination of size (6-2, 205), athleticism, technique and competitiveness, he could immediately be the best corner on this roster.):  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/2027-nfl-mock-draft-updated-first-round-darian-mensah-arch-manning-cj-carr

Fox sports Rang (15. Detroit Lions: Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson - Compelled to release former first-round pick Terrion Arnold following an offseason arrest, the Lions have since struggled in coverage and acknowledged they were in on Joey Porter Jr. trade talks. With Porter now in Dallas, Detroit may have little choice but to wait until next year to patch the position. Hampton has the size and agility to project as a future star in the NFL.) (10-8-26):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2027-nfl-mock-draft-arch-manning-first-qb-selected-jeremiah-smith-no-1-overall

Yahoo Tice (15. Detroit Lions — Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State:  As the late Owen Hart would say, "enough is enough and it's time for a change." The Lions desperately could use two things: A center (Minnesota's Greg Johnson came to mind) or a cornerback. They choose to improve one of the biggest holes in the NFL right now, even with three cornerbacks off the board. Jones has been a more consistent player to start this season and can fit in both zone or man schemes. His Inspector Gadget arms head up north to Detroit.) (10-8-26):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/2027-nfl-mock-draft-first-version-includes-a-huge-trade-that-powers-arch-manning-to-no-1-spot-170653524.html

Walter Football Charlie (18. Detroit Lions: Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State - The Lions' terrible cornerback play is a result of Brad Holmes decisions like drafting Hendon Hooker instead of Tyrique Stevenson, selecting Terrion Arnold over Nate Wiggins or Kamari Lassiter, and signing D.J. Reed instead of re-signing Carlton Davis. Detroit badly needs cornerback talent.  Jones (6-3, 196) is a big cornerback with impressive cover skills. In 2026, Jones has 17 tackles with seven passes broken up. Jones is long, physical, and has speed. On top of coverage skills, Jones is a willing tackler and run defender. In 2025, Jones had 34 tackles with two interceptions and 11 passes broken up. He had 28 tackles as a freshman.) (10-8-26):  https://walterfootball.com/draft2027charlie.php?rbBot

Yahoo (15. Detroit Lions — Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina:  Figuring out where Stewart fits in this class now — or whether he might stay in college — is trickier than it was a month ago. Stewart's suspension has raised some character questions, although it appears he's back on a track to return to playing. Stewart's production has also been somewhat underwhelming considering his rare gifts. If he can find a way to display those skills, this might be too tempting for Detroit to pass on. The Lions badly need a rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson.) (10-8-26):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/2027-nfl-mock-draft-10-5-quarterbacks-land-in-round-1-but-wr-jeremiah-smith-lands-at-no-1-154904997.html

Athletic Baumgartner (19. Detroit Lions: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia - Detroit’s situation in the secondary is a mess right now, and few teams are as light at corner. Robinson is a bit undersized, at 6-0, 180, but he is very long and extremely fluid athletically. This could be about the first-round floor for the former five-star prospect.) (10-7-26):  https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7665591/2026/10/07/nfl-mock-draft-2027-smith-carr/


Walter Football Walt (18. Detroit Lions Boubacar Traore, 3-4OLB, Notre Dame:  The Lions really like Keldric Faulk, but will have to pass on him for a tackle. Here's another bookend for Aidan Hutchinson.  Boubacar Traore is extremely talented and has loads of potential. He still needs to fill out his frame.) (10-6-26):  https://walterfootball.com/draft2027_1.php

CBS Wilson (25. Ty Benefield S - PROSPECT RNK:  57th.  POSITION RNK:  4th.  The Lions have two of the best safeties in football ... when they're healthy. Benefield is a tackling machine coming downhill, but he's been good in coverage, too.) (10-5-26):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2027-nfl-mock-draft-arch-manning-first-round-quarterback/

Draftwire Banks (16. Detroit, Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama:  The OnePride really needs to improve pass defense.) (10-5-26):  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2026/10/05/time-for-a-full-nfl-mock-draft-update-with-more-player-descriptions/92105596007/ 

OnSI Melo (21. Detroit Lions: Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State - The Detroit Lions were allowing a league-high 299.3 passing yards per game prior to Sunday Night Football. The Terrion Arnold situation did not help. Cornerback will be high on Brad Holmes' offseason to-do list. Mississippi State's Kelley Jones has carried over the momentum from his breakout 2025 season to 2026, having already recorded six pass breakups.) (10-5-26):  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/news/2027-nfl-mock-draft-trinidad-chambliss-crashes-the-qb1-race

Tankathon (16. DET Ashton Hampton
CB | Clemson) (10-4-26):  https://www.tankathon.com/nfl/mock-draft

Round 1 (10 CB, 2 DE, 1 S):

5 CB Kelley Jones
3 CB Ashton Hampton 
1 DE Dylan Stewart
1 CB Zabien Brown
1 CB Ellis Robinson IV
1 S Ty Benefield 
1 DE Boubacar Traore

Posted by LionsFan at 2:46 PM 0 comments

Friday, October 9, 2026

Lions Links for Friday 10-9-26

Articles:

Lions at Cardinals injury report: Oct. 9:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-at-cardinals-injury-report-oct-9-branch-mays-williams

NOTEBOOK: Williams working to be more consistent for Lions' offense:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-jameson-williams-working-to-be-more-consistent-branch-mays

Twentyman's Mailbag: How can Branch help Lions' defense when he returns to game action?:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-mailbag-brian-branch-defense-abney-gibbs

Spot the Ball: 10 Thoughts Ahead of Lions Matchup Against Cardinals:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/10-thoughts-ahead-of-lions-matchup-against-cardinals

Behind Enemy Lines: Can Lions Contain Cardinals Rookie Running Back?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/behind-enemy-lines-can-lions-contain-cardinals-rookie-running-back

Detroit Lions Injury Updates: Will Brian Branch Play This Week?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-injury-updates-will-brian-branch-play-this-week

Kelvin Sheppard Needs to Clean Up His Act On and Off Field:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/kelvin-sheppard-needs-to-clean-up-his-act-on-and-off-field

Detroit Lions Jameson Williams Currently Leads NFL in Drops:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-jameson-williams-currently-leads-nfl-in-drops








Lions projected depth chart: Detroit could make 3 notable defensive changes against the Cardinals:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/lions-projected-depth-chart-detroit-could-make-3-notable-defensive-changes-against-the-cardinals/

Dan Campbell reveals when the Lions hope to have Brian Branch and Cade Mays back in the lineup, and it’s not against the Cardinals:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/dan-campbell-reveals-when-the-lions-hope-to-have-brian-branch-and-cade-mays-back-in-the-lineup-and-its-not-against-the-cardinals/

Lions Linked to Eagles CB as Detroit Tries to Fix the NFL’s Worst Pass Defense:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/lions-trade-rumors-kelee-ringo

Jameson Williams Takes Accountability After 4 Detroit Lions Games:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/jameson-williams-accountability-detroit-lions-drop-issues

Dan Campbell Won’t Discuss Firing Kelvin Sheppard, but NFL Analyst Predicts a Bye-Week Change:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/dan-campbell-kelvin-sheppard-lions

D.J. Reed isn't ducking his poor start to season:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/d-j-reed-lions

Jack Campbell on Lions' defense: "Right now it’s terrible ... It’s not gonna win football games":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/jack-campbell-lions

Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard Gives Passionate Message To Struggling Defense:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/kelvin-sheppard-message-lions-defense-stats



Cardinals Media:

LaFleur's Michael Wilson History, And Friday Before The Lions:  https://www.azcardinals.com/news/mike-lafleur-s-michael-wilson-history-and-friday-before-the-lions







Podcast:

Lions at Cardinals Week 5 preview | The Official Detroit Lions Podcast:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-at-cardinals-week-5-preview-the-official-detroit-lions-podcast-scruggs

Video:






Was Dan Campbell Fired Up Or Desperate When He Talked To Us Tuesday? | Costa and Jansen:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/video/was-dan-campbell-fired-up-or-desperate-when-he-talked-to-us-tuesday-costa-and-jansen-xbkcjlq



Posted by LionsFan at 10:03 PM 0 comments

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Lions Links for Thursday 10-8-26

Articles:





Detroit Lions Sign Former Washington Commanders DT to Practice Squad:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-sign-former-washington-commanders-dt-to-practice-squad

Pros and Cons of Lions Trading for Kansas City Chiefs Cornerback:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/pros-cons-of-lions-trading-for-chiefs-cornerback-kristian-fulton

Detroit Lions Week 5 Thursday Injury Report: DT Returns to Practice:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-week-five-thursday-injury-report-dt-returns-to-practice

Detroit Lions Receivers Coach Calls Out Jameson Williams:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-receivers-coach-calls-out-jameson-williams


Detroit Lions Official Against Cardinals Presents Concerning Challenge:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-official-against-cardinals-presents-concerning-challenge






Kelvin Sheppard just put several Lions defenders on notice, and Detroit’s defense could look very different Sunday:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/kelvin-sheppard-just-put-several-lions-defenders-on-notice-and-detroits-defense-could-look-very-different-sunday/

4 most likely Lions cornerback trade targets to watch before the NFL trade deadline, one of these guys is probably a Lion in Novmeber:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/4-most-likely-lions-cornerback-trade-targets-to-watch-before-the-nfl-trade-deadline-one-of-these-guys-is-probably-a-lion-in-novmeber/

Jameson Williams: "Probably one of my worst starts to my career":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/jameson-williams-lions

Kelvin Sheppard: "We're banging on this wall. There's going to be a group of men that bust this MFer down":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/kelvin-sheppard-lions-2678058221

Lions' defense hungry for help. Brian Branch is "starving.":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/brian-branch-lions

LaPorta on contract talks with Lions: "There's certainly a stalemate right now":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/sam-laporta-lions-extension


Upset Alert: Why these five favorites could fall in Week 5 (Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals (+5.5):  The Detroit Lions simply cannot be trusted as a road favorite with their current defense. They just let Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers torch them for 32 points and 329 passing yards, despite it largely just being a two-man show between Young and wideout Tetairoa McMillan (14 catches, 192 yards, and two touchdowns). Detroit's secondary is giving up a league-worst 423.8 total yards per game, and their 31.8 points per game allowed is the second-worst in the NFL.  While the Cardinals won't be mistaken for a Super Bowl contender, they have enough playmakers on offense to take advantage of the Lions' poor defense. Jacoby Brissett is coming off his worst statistical game of the season, tossing three interceptions against the Giants, but he is capable of bouncing back and throwing it around the yard, especially with the likes of Trey McBride and Michael Wilson at his disposal.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-5-upset-alert-why-five-favorites-could-lose-patriots/

It wouldn't shock me IF ... NFL Week 5: Nick Sirianni's seat heats up, Sean Payton takes back playcalling (Jacoby Brissett throws for 350 yards vs. Lions - The Lions defense is unquestionably the worst in the NFL right now. Their secondary is coming off a Week 4 showing where they were demolished by Bryce Young, who threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Detroit is giving up the second-most points per game in the NFL (31.8) and the most total yards (423.8) per game this season. The Lions' 1,216 total passing yards allowed are also the most in the league, while their 110.4 passer rating allowed is the fourth-highest. No matter which way you slice it, it's putrid. That should be music to Jacoby Brissett's ears as he's eager to rebound from a three-interception performance against the Giants last week. Judging by the opponent he's facing, he's primed to throw it all over the yard.   So far this season, Brissett's high in passing yards is 280, which came back in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers. However, if you go back to last season when he became the starter in Arizona, he's had several eye-popping yardage totals. Brissett went over 300 yards four times and even had a 452-yard passing game thrown in there as well. I believe we get an aerial avalanche from Brissett, which gets him to 350 passing yards on Sunday.  Arizona has the weapons for Brissett to pile up yardage, particularly Trey McBride and Michael Wilson. McBride could go berserk as the Lions are giving up the most receptions and receiving touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season, and the second-most receiving yards. Meanwhile, Michael Wilson could follow in Tetairoa McMillan's shoes, who torched the Lions last Sunday to the tune of 14 catches, 192 yards and two touchdowns.  Because the Cardinals are the fourth-worst scoring defense (29.3 points per game allowed) in the NFL this season, Brissett could be forced even more into a pass-heavy game script.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/it-wouldnt-shock-me-if-nfl-week-5-nick-siriannis-sean-payton/

Ranking all 32 NFL teams into tiers: 49ers among the elite (Tier 3: Probably About Average - Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles.  The Lions have an explosive offense and a decrepit defense. It's hard to know what to do with them because they simply can't get consistent stops, but most teams can't stop them, either.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-all-32-nfl-teams-into-tiers-49ers-rams-miami/

NFL trade deadline: 10 candidates who could be on the move and teams that could be buyers, sellers (Buyers and sellers - Buyer: Detroit Lions
The Lions have to do something about their defense, and firing Kelvin Sheppard probably isn't the answer. This unit has allowed 31.8 points per game, which ranks worst in the NFL, and allowed Bryce Young to look like prime Peyton Manning on Sunday night. I mean, Carolina shouldn't be dropping 445 total yards and 32 points on a team that expects to be a contender. The Lions also struggled to beat the Jets at home, and of course, were eviscerated by Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. One or two additions won't completely save this Lions defense, but they need to try.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-trade-deadline-10-candidates-marvin-harrison-cardinals-chargers/

The Biggest Question for Every NFL Game in Week 5 (Lions (2–2) at Cardinals (1–3): Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET - Can the Lions’ secondary slow down the Cardinals?  As Tetairoa McMillan displayed on Sunday night, the Lions’ banged-up secondary is a major concern. The Lions rank last in the league in passing yards allowed (304 per game), and every team they’ve played has diced them up. The Cardinals are not one of the league’s best teams, but they have a talented trio of pass catchers in Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Will the Lions be able to hold them off, or can Arizona take advantage of this porous secondary to pull off the upset?):  https://www.si.com/nfl/biggest-question-every-game-week-5

NFL Week 5 Schedule 2026: Ranking Every Game From Worst to Best (12. Lions (2–2) at Cardinals (1–3) - The long-awaited Drew Petzing Bowl has finally arrived (insert sarcasm here). After three seasons as the Cardinals’ play-caller from 2023 to ’25, Petzing was hired by the Lions this offseason—replacing John Morton after just one year—and has the offense rolling to the tune of 29.8 points per game. Unfortunately for the Lions, their defense has been among the worst in the NFL, as they’ve allowed a league-high 1,695 yards through four weeks while opponents have scored 31.8 points per game—the second-most in the league. This could turn into a shootout, as the Cardinals have scored 24-plus points in three out of four games with veteran Jacoby Brissett under center.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-week-5-schedule-2026-ranking-every-game-worst-to-best

Kelvin Sheppard Calls It ‘Ultra Disrespectful’ to Say the Lions Offense Must Carry His Defense:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-defense-kelvin-sheppard-comments

Jahmyr Gibbs Is Down Nearly a Yard per Carry, and the Lions' Heavy Usage May Be to Blame:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/jahmyr-gibbs-is-down-nearly-a-yard-per-carry-and-the-lions-heavy-usage-may-be-to-blame

Lance Zierlein Says Lions Found Penei Sewell’s Bookend in Blake Miller After Just Three Games:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/blake-miller-lions-penei-sewell-offensive-line

Lions Need D.J. Reed to Play Like a No. 1 Cornerback Before It's Too Late:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/lions-need-d-j-reed-to-play-like-a-no-1-cornerback-before-its-too-late

‘A Really Bad Look,’ ‘He’s Not the Guy’ — NFL Fans Rip Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard for Defending Decisions in 32–26 Loss to Panthers:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/lions-kelvin-sheppard-decisions-panthers/

Lions, Cardinals both trying to shake early season problems when they meet in the desert:  https://apnews.com/article/detroit-lions-arizona-cardinals-preview-c5b2274b59b3fe81486ca89d2fb66be3

Cardinals Media:


Nick Rallis Preps For Lions With Familiarity Of Drew Petzing:  https://www.azcardinals.com/news/nick-rallis-preps-for-lions-with-familiarity-of-drew-petzing





Podcast:


Video:









Lions vs. Cardinals Week 5 Preview | NFL Daily:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/lions-vs-cardinals-week-5-preview-nfl-daily

The Lions MUST Stop This One Player To Beat The Cardinals...:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/lions-must-stop-one-player-211713146.html


Will Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard lose his job?:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/detroit-lions-defensive-coordinator-kelvin-201310952.html

Detroit Lions Super Bowl Window May Be Starting to Close:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/detroit-lions-super-bowl-window-105602855.html

How Badly Missing Out on CB Joey Porter Jr. Will Hurt Detroit Lions:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/badly-missing-cb-joey-porter-222729184.html







Thursday Touchdown | What Is Brad Holmes' Biggest Mistake? | Costa and Jansen:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/video/thursday-touchdown-what-is-brad-holmes-biggest-mistake-costa-and-jansen-xbjvn4a


Posted by LionsFan at 7:08 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Lions Links for Wednesday 10-7-26

Articles:

NOTEBOOK: Branch & Mays return to practice:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-brian-branch-cade-mays-return-to-practice-abney



Burning Question: Can Brian Branch Save Detroit Lions Defense?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/burning-question-can-brian-branch-save-detroit-lions-defense

2 Defensive Changes Lions Must Make After First Quarter of Season:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/defensive-changes-lions-must-make-after-first-quarter-of-season-2026

Why I Don't Trust Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes To Sign Good Cornerbacks:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/brad-holmes-stinks-cornerback-evaluations-draft-free-agency

Cardinals Have Talent, But Lions Can Exploit These Holes:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/cardinals-have-talent-but-lions-can-exploit-these-holes

Darius Slay Analyzes Detroit Lions Biggest Mistake: They Can't Cover:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/darius-slay-analyzes-detroit-lions-biggest-mistake

Lions Are Demanding Even More From Offense: How Greatness Is Determined:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/lions-are-demanding-even-more-from-offense-how-greatness-is-determined







The first thing the Lions need to know about Arizona: The Cardinals can expose the exact problems Detroit hasn’t fixed:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/the-first-thing-the-lions-need-to-know-about-arizona-the-cardinals-can-expose-the-exact-problems-detroit-hasnt-fixed/

There’s something Lions fans need to know about a potential Jalen Ramsey trade — and it doesn’t kill the idea:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/theres-something-lions-fans-need-to-know-about-a-potential-jalen-ramsey-trade-and-it-doesnt-kill-the-idea/

Detroit Lions Mailbag: What Lions trade is worth mortgaging the future, why is D.J. Reed still CB1, and can Dan Campbell fix the defense?:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/detroit-lions-mailbag-what-lions-trade-is-worth-mortgaging-the-future-why-is-d-j-reed-still-cb1-and-can-dan-campbell-fix-the-defense/

4 veteran defensive coaches the Lions could bring in to help Kelvin Sheppard, including a former NFL head coach:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/4-veteran-defensive-coaches-the-lions-could-bring-in-to-help-kelvin-sheppard-including-a-former-nfl-head-coach/

Jeremy Fowler Says Lions Must Trade for a Cornerback and Floats Jalen Ramsey as an Option:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/lions-steelers-jalen-ramsey-trade

Dan Campbell’s Appearance on a Hot-Seat List Hands the Lions a Jolt They Never Expected to Feel:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/nfl-hot-seat-coaches-dan-campbell-lions

Dan Campbell Challenges Lions Defense to Step Up Against Cardinals Star Trey McBride:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/dan-campbell-challenges-lions-defense-to-step-up-against-cardinals-star-trey-mcbride

NFL Week 5 latest intel, buzz questions, news, fantasy tips: What we're hearing (Which team most needs to make a trade -- and at what position? (Fowler: The Lions should make a move for a cornerback. They were in on Joey Porter Jr. before Pittsburgh traded him to Dallas. Detroit's secondary is swimming right now, and though safety Brian Branch is close to a return and safety Kerby Joseph should eventually be back, the Lions don't have enough corner help to run the coverages they want. This team has elite players on both sides of the ball and must embrace its window of contention, whether it's slipping away or not.  One potential option is Kansas City's Kristian Fulton, who is in and out of the Chiefs' lineup. He is owed real money -- $5 million of his $9.75 million base salary is guaranteed -- but perhaps the Chiefs and Lions could split the bill to facilitate a deal. Is it worth calling Pittsburgh for Jalen Ramsey? Not sure he's available, but the Lions' defense seems far from settled.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50116787/week-5-buzz-fantasy-predictions-graziano-fowler-2026

2026 NFL First-Quarter All-Pro Team: Lamar Jackson leads the team at QB, Will Anderson Jr. headlines defense (EDGE: Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-all-pro-team-2026

2026 NFL offensive line rankings: Lions rise, Eagles fall without Lane Johnson (4. Detroit Lions (up 12) - The Lions came into 2026 with a lot of question marks on the offensive line, but every one has been answered positively so far. Left tackle Penei Sewell has steadied himself after some early struggles after his switch to the left side of the line, and rookie right tackle Blake Miller hasn’t looked out of place in the NFL — permitting just eight pressures from 132 pass-blocking snaps. Left guard Christian Mahogany looks to have taken a big step forward in his third year in the NFL, producing a 91.5 PFF grade on 144 snaps so far this season.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-offensive-line-rankings-2026

NFL offensive rookie rankings at quarter mark of 2026 season: Denzel Boston, Jeremiyah Love top list (5. Blake Miller - DRAFTED: Round 1, No. 17 overall.  Miller set the Clemson record for a non-specialist with 54 consecutive starts during his college career. With game experience like that, it shouldn’t be all that surprising to see Miller is off to such a strong start at right tackle (one sack allowed on 130 pass blocks, per Next Gen Stats). He’s good at using his length to run rushers past the top of the pocket and can find his anchor when bull-rushed. He strains as a run blocker but still shows room for improvement with hand placement and usage. It’s early, but the Lions appear to have found their bookend for Penei Sewell.): https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-offensive-rookie-rankings-at-quarter-mark-of-2026-season-denzel-boston-jeremiyah-love-top-list



Grades:

Grades for all 32 teams a month into 2026 NFL season: Raiders, Chiefs, 49ers and Jags tops in league. Meanwhile, an F- for the Chargers? (Detroit Lions (2-2):  This Lions' offense can match firepower with just about anyone. But the state of Detroit's defense is far less encouraging, allowing a league-worst 3.0 points per drive. They've been outscored on the season and are fortunate to be 2-2. They easily could have lost at home to the Saints in Week 1 and needed late plays to hold off the Jets in Detroit. This isn't a winning formula; it's a get-by-and-survive one. The Lions have an early bye after heading to Arizona this weekend, and they clearly must find solutions on the defensive side to be taken seriously as contenders. They can still win the North, but the intimidation factor with facing this team has dissipated. Opponents know they can score against them early and often.  Grade: C):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/grades-for-all-32-teams-a-month-into-2026-nfl-season-raiders-chiefs-49ers-and-jags-tops-in-league-meanwhile-an-f--for-the-chargers-140638568.html

NFC team grades: 49ers top of class through four games (Detroit Lions (2-2): C-.  The Lions' defense ranks dead last in EPA per play and explosive play rate. It's hard to be much worse than that, right? Everyone is frustrated, Dan Campbell is fielding questions about defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and the talent in the secondary simply isn't up to par. The eventual return of Brian Branch will help, but he can't fix everything — and he shouldn't be expected to — especially coming off an Achilles tear. The offense is generally very good: second in EPA per play and third in success rate and points per drive. But there's so much pressure for Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and co. to score a touchdown every time they touch the ball. Week 4's loss to the Panthers was a prime example: Detroit scored on six of its 10 drives and lost.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfc-team-grades-through-week-4-49ers-rams-eagles/

QB Rankings:

NFL QB rankings, Week 5: C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young vault into top 10 (6.  Jared Goff DET - 2026 stats: 4 games | 67.3 pct | 1114 pass yds | 7.6 ypa | 8 pass TDs | 0 INT | 15 rush yds | 0 rush TD | 3 fumbles. Outside of Detroit’s inability to cash in late against the Panthers, Jared Goff is quietly putting together an excellent season. Lamar Jackson is, too, although his ankle injury leaves me concerned about the Ravens’ immediate outlook, especially after he’d found plenty of success with Zay Flowers over the last two weeks.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-qb-rankings-week-5-2026-nfl-season

QB rankings: Brock Purdy stays No. 1, Drake Maye moves up (7. Jared Goff
Detroit Lions QB:  Jared Goff is the fourth quarterback in NFL history with 1,200-plus passing yards (1,214, the second most in the NFL) and no turnovers through the first four games of a season. The other three are Aaron Rodgers (2020), Patrick Mahomes (2018) and Drew Brees (2018). Goff is the only one of the four without a winning record (2-2) in those games, but that's in large part because the Lions have the NFL's second-worst scoring defense (31.8 points allowed per game). His efficiency has been fantastic, ranking fourth in EPA per dropback (0.26) and fifth in passer rating (108.6). (No change)):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2026-nfl-qb-power-rankings-week-5-brock-purdy-drake-maye/

NFL quarterback rankings: Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts fall after Week 4 (10. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (up 5):  Goff continued his robust start to the 2026 season with another big performance in the Lions’ loss to the Carolina Panthers. At 31 years old, he is on track for a career-best PFF grade, currently leading all qualified quarterbacks with an 86.4 PFF passing grade.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-quarterback-rankings

NFL running back power rankings entering Week 5 (1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions:  That’s it, the sky is falling. I didn’t want to overreact and shift Gibbs out of the number one spot, but the competition is fierce. The problem, though, is that we just aren’t used to seeing Gibbs with a bad game: 15 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown with four catches for 31 yards. You know that’s changing this week.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/nfl-running-back-power-rankings-entering-week-5/

Cardinals Media:



Video:










Diagnosing Just How Poor Detroit Lions 2026 Defense Really Is:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/diagnosing-just-poor-detroit-lions-174035342.html

How can Campbell and Lions stop being ‘mediocre?':  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/campbell-lions-stop-being-mediocre-125509829.html


Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes Did Not Know Secondary Was Subpar:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/detroit-lions-gm-brad-holmes-001413503.html

Posted by LionsFan at 8:48 PM 0 comments

Week 5 Power Rankings

Walter Football (12. Detroit Lions (2-2)Team Hub - Previously: 9.  The Lions rebounded nicely from their blowout loss to Buffalo on Thursday night against the Jets, but their defense looked pathetic at Carolina. The good news is that they may get one of their starting safeties back from injury soon.):  https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

The Athletic (Power ranking: 12th - Previous ranking: 6th.  "This season, the Lions were supposed to be good enough to take advantage of an easy schedule. Instead, they’re coming off a loss because they couldn’t slow down Bryce Young, who threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns, and the vaunted(?) Panthers offense. The secondary is going to have nightmares about Tetairoa McMillan (14 receptions, 192 yards and two touchdowns)."):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-power-rankings-after-bad-loss-mediocre-defense-exposed


USA Today (15. Detroit Lions (10): They're certainly leaning on their stars, RB Jahmyr Gibbs with the most touches (102) in the league and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (46) with the most targets. Gonna be hard to deviate from that formula given how bad the league's most permissive defense has been … a state of affairs that seems unlikely to change any time soon.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2026/10/06/nfl-power-rankings-week-5-bills-49ers-chiefs-vikings/92114142007/

TheBigLead (15. Detroit Lions: The Lions are very similar to the Bengals. They have worlds of talent, yet they find a way to underwhelm. They each have a dynamic WR, and they each have a QB who has gone to a Super Bowl…but there is always something missing. Maybe it’s as simple as the two franchises are just historically cursed. Neither has won a Super Bowl, and the Lions have never even been to one. Maybe it’s time to smudge sage throughout their stadiums.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/nfl-power-rankings-entering-week-5-2026/

ESPN (16. Detroit Lions (2-2) - Week 4 result: Lost to the Panthers 32-26.  Week 4 ranking: 13.  Four words to describe the first four weeks: "Are you not entertained?"  Like the famous line from the 2000 film "Gladiator," you're guaranteed some level of entertainment with this 2026 Lions team. Detroit scored at least 31 points in three of four games while also allowing 30 or more points in each. After their Week 3 win over the Jets, even coach Dan Campbell had to jokingly admit the Lions are worth the price of admission. "Tell you what, you're coming to our games? You're loving this now," Campbell said. "I mean, these are exciting games. ... Nobody's leaving early. And that was the point. We're not going to let anybody leave early this year." -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50109845/nfl-power-rankings-week-5-teams-first-month-recap

Fox sports (16. Detroit Lions - Previous ranking: 13.  Super Bowl odds: +2400.  Next game: @ Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET).  The Lions never had a great defensive outfit in the Dan Campbell era, but they were at least decent for a while. Now? Despite 15 sacks — second in the NFL — they’re giving up an NFL-worst 31.8 points per game. You know who they are? They are the Dallas Cowboys. They play like they have to win games 38-35. Even mediocre defensive play would make this team a Super Bowl contender.  Stat To Know: The Lions defense is allowing 31.8 points per game through the first four games of the season. If that number holds, that would be the third-worst defense in NFL history trailing only the 2020 Lions and 2008 Lions.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-power-rankings-week-5

NFL.com (16.  Detroit Lions:  We saw on Sunday night that the key to beating the Lions is doing everything possible to bottle up Jahmyr Gibbs. A less effective Gibbs meant Jared Goff was forced to look elsewhere, leading to a couple of fruitless drives in the fourth quarter of a winnable game that ended in a loss. Detroit’s defense couldn’t limit Bryce Young, and its offense encountered a collection of potholes in crunch time.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-5-2026-nfl-season

SN (18. Detroit Lions 2-2 (11):  The Lions' defense has been terrible for most of the season, save for Aidan Hutchinson. That's putting too much on Jared Goff when Jahmyr Gibbs gets contained, like he was at Carolina.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-5/bcdbc8dfa5349061230758d7

SI (18. Detroit Lions (2–2) - Last week’s ranking: No. 14.  Last week’s result: lost to Panthers, 32–26.  This week: at Cardinals.  A tip for Amon-Ra St. Brown: if you would like the quarterback of the Detroit Lions to come back on your podcast, you can’t blow him up for being a distant teammate on the first visit!):  https://www.si.com/nfl/conor-orr-week-5-nfl-power-rankings-jaguars-seahawks-cowboys

FTW (18. Detroit Lions - Last week: 11.  If you're reading this, there's a decent chance you might play defensive back for the Lions this season. That is a joke, but it does describe the miserable state of things on defense in Detroit. After getting diced up by Bryce Young on Sunday night, the Lions are now firmly at or near the bottom of most relevant defensive metrics. It doesn't matter how productive the talented offense can be (which seems to curiously sputter at the worst times) if the sport's worst defense can't even be bothered to somewhat hold its water. — RZ):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/10/06/nfl-power-rankings-week-5-bears-raiders-49ers/92106545007/

Yahoo (19. Detroit Lions (2-2, LW: 13):  Detroit's defense isn't good enough to make the Lions scary to anyone. Detroit is allowing 423.8 yards per game, and no other NFL team is giving up more than 392.3. Detroit has allowed 127 points, most in the NFL. On Sunday against the Panthers, Tetairoa McMillan torched the secondary for 192 yards and two touchdowns on 14 catches.  It's bad enough that head coach Dan Campbell was asked afterward if defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard could be relieved of his duties.  "I'm not talking about all that," Campbell told the media after Sunday's loss.  "I'm talking about getting better right now, with what we've got, and that's what we're going to do. We're going to find a way to get better with what we've got."  Campbell might not want to talk about it, but the Lions aren't going anywhere with a defense this bad):  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/lions-window-nfl-success-closed-130331433.html


CBS (20.  Lions:  The defense is horrible. Even their good offense can't overcome how bad they are right now.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/priscos-nfl-week-5-power-rankings-chargers-and-texans-a-disaster-browns-climb-up-nine-spots/

PFN (20. Detroit Lions - Last Week’s Ranking: 12.  Offense Rank: 4.  Defense Rank: 32.  Playoff Odds: 51.50%.  We didn’t really learn too many new things about the Detroit Lions in Week 4. Their loss to the Panthers confirmed what we already knew: their offense is one of the best in the NFL, while their defense might be the worst. In the end, the Lions’ offense had a good outing, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the team’s defensive struggles.  Now sitting at 2-2 for the 2026-27 NFL regular season, the Lions find themselves tied with the Packers for last place in the NFC North. They’re still positioned well to compete for a playoff spot, and their offense can stack up well against just about anybody in the league. That said, it’s starting to feel like there’s a firm ceiling on Detroit with how weak its defense has been this season.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/week-5-nfl-power-rankings-2026/

Fansided Jason La Canfora (21. Lions - Last Rank: 18.  I guess their super power is running behind an extra lineman as much as anyone and trying to run the ball down your throat under center as much as possible. I feel like there is limited high upside in that. The defense, even when they get healthy, is probably not going to be nearly as good as they would like. They just give up big plays like crazy..):  https://fansided.com/nfl/nfl-power-rankings-chiefs-stay-atop-browns-make-massive-leap-in-week-4

PFT (21. Lions (No. 14; 2-2): The Super Bowl window sure seems closed.):  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-5-2026-nfl-power-rankings

Average Power Ranking (288/17):  17
Posted by LionsFan at 7:26 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Lions Links for Tuesday 10-6-26

Articles:

NFC NORTH: Where all four teams stand heading into Week 5:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/nfc-north-where-all-four-teams-stand-heading-into-week-5

KEY QUESTIONS: What was Campbell's biggest takeaway from Sunday night's film?:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/key-questions-what-was-campbell-s-biggest-takeaway-from-sunday-night-s-film





After Six Years, Dan Campbell Has Been "Lionized":  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/after-six-years-dan-campbell-has-been-lionized

Injured Detroit Lions OL Could Return to Practice This Week:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/cade-mays-could-return-to-practice-this-week








What if the Lions eliminated their mistakes against Carolina? We simulated Dan Campbell’s ‘little things’ argument:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/what-if-the-lions-eliminated-their-mistakes-against-carolina-we-simulated-dan-campbells-little-things-argument/

Lions Film Study: Why the Lions’ defense slipped into the seventh circle of hell on third down against the Panthers:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/lions-film-study-why-the-lions-defense-slipped-into-the-seventh-circle-of-hell-on-third-down-against-the-panthers/

Kelvin Sheppard’s Defense Does Something Unseen Since 2008 and Gives the Lions a Shudder:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/kelvin-sheppards-defense-does-something-unseen-since-2008-and-gives-the-lions-a-shudder

The Lions Are Not Changing Coaches — So What Can Fix This Defense?:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/lions-defensive-coordinator-kelvin-sheppard-dan-campbell-defense

Detroit’s Defense Ranks Dead Last, and 3 Other Takeaways From Lions’ Loss to Panthers:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/lions-takeaways-week-4-panthers

Dan Campbell issues challenge to Lions' linebackers and DBs:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/dan-campbell-lions-tight-ends

Dan Campbell: "We’re not going to be mediocre. I don’t accept that.":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/dan-campbell-kelvin-sheppard

Lions' Campbell: 'A lot of our games are going to be this way':  https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/lions-campbell-a-lot-our-games-going-be-way

The Lions have the NFL's worst defense and coach Dan Campbell has no quick fixes:  https://www.wxyz.com/sports/the-lions-have-the-nfls-worst-defense-and-coach-dan-campbell-has-no-quick-fixes

Seven things Solak thinks: Jags are the AFC's best team? Ben Johnson for COTY? C.J. Stroud is back? (I think ... the Lions' defense has no immediate solution.  There's no way to watch a performance like the Lions' defensive outing Sunday night and not demand an explanation. Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan waltzed his way to career bests in receptions (14) and yardage (192) on 16 targets. No matter where the Panthers lined him up, he was open right away -- and even when quarterback Bryce Young went elsewhere with the football, the Lions' secondary offered little resistance. Young went 29-of-41 for 329 yards and two scores. By success rate, it was the third-best game of his career; by total EPA, it was second.  The one-sentence explanation of the Lions' defense under Kelvin Sheppard is their belief that pressure will hide their coverage deficiencies. Since the start of last season, the Lions are seventh in team pressure rate as a defense by Next Gen Stats' model -- and remember they were thin on the defensive line in 2025 with Al-Quadin Muhammad as the second edge rusher and Alim McNeill injured for much of the season. This season, the pass rush was supposed to be deeper and more effective. The Lions pressured Young on 40% of his dropbacks, which sounds good.  There are 1,063 games in the Next Gen Stats database (since 2016) in which a quarterback was pressured on at least 40% of his dropbacks. Young's game against the Lions, by dropback EPA, is the ninth-best game in that sample.  There simply is no accounting for this much air in the secondary. You could line up Lawrence Taylor opposite Aidan Hutchinson with Aaron Donald in the middle. Blitz Luke Kuechly and kick J.J. Watt inside as a defensive tackle. On pressured dropbacks, the Lions are still surrendering 0.08 EPA per dropback and 109.3 net passing yards per game. That 109.3 number is particularly terrifying -- it's twice as bad as any other team in the league through four weeks.  This is why I say there is no immediate solution. There will be some positive regression -- opposing quarterbacks have a completion percentage on pressured dropbacks 12.8 percentage points above expectation, and that number will fall as the Lions play more games. But with this much personnel deficiency in the defensive backfield, the return of Brian Branch (Achilles) off the physically unable to perform list will be like plugging a leak in a cheese grater. There's more holes on the other side.  It's easy to say that Sheppard should down turn the blitz rate. The Lions are at the league average in blitz rate, but sending additional rushers dramatically improves their sack rate (6.5% to 11.6%) and pressure rate (28.4% to 47.4%). Because the coverage is so poor, only free runners are quick enough to get to the quarterback before the ball comes out. The Lions don't blitz because they trust their five or six remaining defenders in coverage -- they blitz to try to force the ball out hot, so the quarterback doesn't have time to exploit those defenders.  It didn't work, of course -- Young has a super-quick release and throws easily from bad platforms. The Lions could try to get up at the line of scrimmage and challenge more receivers with physicality to delay the time to throw ... in fact, they did multiple times against the Panthers! (It didn't matter.)  Don't get me wrong, the Lions have major coaching problems. They lost to the same RPO several times on the night -- before and after they benched rookie LB Jimmy Rolder, who was being targeted on the concept. They want to run more match coverages (cornerback D.J. Reed publicly advocated for more match defense after the loss), but they bust on match principles all the time. There's nothing about this pass defense that doesn't stink.  A fully healthy Branch, plus a decided leap in sack rate on all of these pressures, alongside another midseason defensive back acquisition (Broncos CB Riley Moss?) and the continued health of the defensive line ... and I could see the Lions' passing defense getting to average by the end of the season. That's with several things breaking right and no guarantee the Lions have remained in playoff contention over that time. Detroit is blessed with a generally light schedule that's particularly manageable over the next few weeks (at Arizona, bye week, vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Dolphins).  I've seen public musing that someone else besides Sheppard could be calling plays once we get out of the bye -- head coach Dan Campbell has never had an issue switching coordinators midseason. My response is: sure. A new voice probably would create a one- or two-week jolt of fresh ideas and renewed vigor. Then the cold reality of starting cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and safety Chuck Clark would set in again.  There isn't one fix here.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50110488/week-5-seven-things-solak-thinks-afc-nfc

QB Accuracy Report: NFL Week 5 (9.  Jared Goff - PFF grade:  86.4):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-qb-accuracy-report

Ten NFL coaches who may be on the hot seat (6. Dan Campbell 
Seat temp. -- Room.  There's no denying Detroit's downward spiral since the departure of coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. The Lions are 11-10 since the start of the 2025 season.  Ironically, the Lions' offense has continued to perform at a high level since Johnson left town. The issue has been Detroit's defense, or lack thereof. No team has allowed more points this season than the Lions, who are also 32nd in the league in passing yards allowed, third-down efficiency and red zone efficiency.  Campbell did a masterful job restoring the roar in Detroit, but it's safe to wonder if they'll be able to get back to that point under his watch.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-head-coach-hot-seat-rankings-jim-harbaugh-todd-bowles/

Which NFL Coaches Are on the Hot Seat and Why More Jobs May Open Than You Expect (Again) (TIER IV: If the floor totally collapses, we may have a conversation on our hands - 11. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions:  I don’t think Campbell will ever reap the proper amount of credit he deserves for reviving the Lions after the end of the Matt Patricia era. I think Campbell is one of the NFL’s “culture-first” CEO-type head coaches who actually has a track record of buy-in and an ability to generate a certain style of play and recognize when that standard has dropped off. He entered the season with the friendliest strength of schedule in the NFL, which was supposed to provide the foundation for a major turnaround. Now, his big test will be what happens in the wake of Sunday night’s loss to the Panthers, where Tetairoa McMillan demolished a beaten-down Lions secondary, which barely managed to steal the headline from a dominant rushing performance from the Panthers as well.  Help is on the way for Detroit, but this is Campbell’s moment to both break away from the growing optical heaviness of his record without Ben Johnson and to prove he has his finger on the pulse of the locker room. What we saw on Sunday, the disaffected faces of stars Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, can be infectious if not addressed. So far, Campbell has taken two separate opportunities to double down on his support of DC Kelvin Sheppard—a move that could either solidify his popularity in an alpha-heavy locker room, or, perhaps, show its limitations.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/coaches-hot-seat-more-jobs-open

How to fix the six biggest team-specific problems in the NFL right now (Detroit Lions (2-2) - The problem: Defense.  The Lions are last in total defense, now giving up on average 423.8 yards per game. They are the worst vs. the pass, giving up 304 yards per game. They are down to No. 21 against the run, giving up just shy of 120 yards per game. That's adding up to giving up a league-worst 31.8 points per game.  Aidan Hutchinson is playing at a high level all-around. But the other 10 guys starting, including linebacker Jack Campbell and cornerback D.J. Reed, have been awful. The few stops the Lions do get are often caused by a Hutchinson pressure or run stop.  Coach Dan Campbell has been right to point out that defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard isn't the problem when the personnel is a mixed bag of journeymen and youngsters. The talent is lacking, which comes with paying a ton to Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Penei Sewell and Jameson Williams as the offensive cornerstones.  The solution: Bring back Jim Schwartz  Sheppard has been dealt a bad hand. His previous work replacing Aaron Glenn says he can produce better defensive results. But the Lions need some help in trying to maximize Hutchinson and some underachieving personal.  It would make sense to reach out to Schwartz, the former Lions head coach, for at least some defensive consulting work if the intention is to retain Sheppard.That situation has worked for the Broncos' defense, who brought back Vance Joseph as the straight-up defensive coordinator. Schwartz did great work with Myles Garrett and the Browns and at 60, he should be back in the NFL somewhere. Detroit needs a helping hand from an old friend and they are fortunate to field the necessary base 4-3 front to make it happen.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/chargers-offense-lions-defense-nfl-teams-biggest-problems/b1ab50262e97a10f1420e1ca


NFC power rankings for NFL Week 5: Big changes in NFC South (9. Detroit Lions (Prev: 6) - Last week: at Carolina Panthers, L 32-26.  Next week: at Arizona, Sun., Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET.  Jared Goff threw for 412 yards, but Detroit lost because its defense couldn’t get off the field. Carolina scored on six straight possessions. The Lions have now allowed at least 30 points in three of four games, and they’re giving up a league-worst 31.8 points per game.  Head coach Dan Campbell shut down questions about defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s job. “I’m not talking about all that,” Campbell said. “I’m talking about getting better right now with what we’ve got.” He also pointed to a defense that forced no turnovers. “We got no takeaways. We have to get takeaways,” Campbell said.  Detroit drops three spots. Jahmyr Gibbs scored his seventh touchdown of the season, and Arizona’s defense has allowed 30 or more points in three straight games.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/nfc-power-rankings-nfl-week-5-big-changes-nfc-south-falcons-panthers-saints/

Report card grades for all 16 NFC teams in NFL Week 4 (Detroit Lions: B-.  The Lions just can’t seem to win the big game under the bright lights. A big game against the Panthers, and with all of these weapons, the team can’t get it done. Is it a coaching issue? The NFC North is shaping up to be a two-headed race with the Vikings and Bears. Jared Goff struggles in the big moment as they fall in Carolina.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/report-card-grades-nfc-teams-nfl-week-4-2026/

Dan Campbell’s latest coaching blunder is just one of many:  https://www.thebiglead.com/campbell-coaching-blunder-one-of-many/

The numbers behind every NFL quarterback-receiver partnership:  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-qb-receiver-partnerships

QB Rankings:

QB Stock Market Week 5: Brock Purdy Doesn't Have An MVP Moment — And Doesn't Need One (10. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions - Previous ranking: 8) (10-6-26):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/qb-stock-market-week-5-brock-purdy-doesnt-have-mvp-moment-doesnt-need-one

Power Rankings:


Cardinals Media:

Hunter Long, Paris Johnson Jr. Placed On Injured Reserve:  https://www.azcardinals.com/news/hunter-long-paris-johnson-jr-placed-on-injured-reserve

After Paris Johnson Injury, Cardinals Sign Veteran Jedrick Wills:  https://www.azcardinals.com/news/after-paris-johnson-injury-cardinals-sign-veteran-jedrick-wills


Video:

Will a CB trade even be enough to fix the Lions defense?:  https://sports.yahoo.com/videos/cb-trade-even-enough-fix-202351786.html




Posted by LionsFan at 8:51 PM 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
.main-inner .sidebar .Poll { background-color: #AD966C; padding: 15px; }