Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Lions Links for Wednesday 11-27-24

Articles:


Lions update injury status on Montgomery, St. Brown for Bears game:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/11/27/lions-injury-report-david-montgomery-amon-ra-st-brown-thanksgiving-bears-game/76626166007/


What is sticking out Brian Branch's Lions helmet? A good luck charm:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/11/27/brian-branch-mouthpiece-helmet-lions-nfl/76590659007/

Film Room: What's been going on with Lions TE Sam LaPorta this season:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/27/detroit-lions-film-room-sam-laporta-breakdown-second-year-slump/


NFC North watch: Ex-Giants QB Daniel Jones signs with the Vikings:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/27/nfc-north-vikings-sign-daniel-jones-lions-rumors/

Giving thanks for the Detroit Lions on this Thanksgiving:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/27/giving-thanks-detroit-lions-thanksgiving-family/

Lions reveal their Thanksgiving uniforms won't be leftovers:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/27/lions-bears-thanksgiving-nfl-uniform-choices-week-13/

Lions Sign LB David Long, WR Maurice Alexander to Active Roster:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-sign-david-long-maurice-alexander-to-roster


NFC North Roundtable: Lions' Player to Be Thankful For, Key to Win:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/nfc-north-roundtable-lions-player-to-be-thankful-for

'Wait, No Throwbacks?': Lions Fans Have Mixed Uniform Reactions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-fans-have-mixed-thanksgiving-uniform-reactions


Jared Goff 'Thankful' Dan Campbell Did Not Turn Back on Him:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jared-goff-thankful-lions-support


How Lions Have Fared in Last 10 Thanksgiving Games:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/how-lions-have-fared-last-ten-thanksgiving-games








Detroit Lions aim to break holiday losing streak against familiar foe on Thanksgiving:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2024/11/27/detroit-lions-aim-to-break-holiday-losing-streak-against-familiar-foe-on-thanksgiving/


Sonic and Knuckles crash Jared Goff's press conference. Goff on Gibbs: "He's my son":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/lions-rbs-david-montgomery-jahmyr-gibbs-prank-jared-goff

For Jameson Williams, Lions evoke memories of growing up with St. Louis Rams:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-remind-jameson-williams-of-st-louis-rams



32 NFL observations after Week 12: Travis Kelce thrives in contested situations while Jonathan Greenard ramps up the pressure (Detroit Lions - Malcolm Rodriguez has missed a tackle on 14.3% of all tackles he's attempted. That is the highest percentage of all defenders.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-32-nfl-observations-after-week-12-travis-kelce-thrives-in-contested-situations-while-jonathan-greenard-ramps-up-the-pressure

2024 NFL Season, Week 13: Eight things to watch for during Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday games (Bears at Lions:  1. Bears hope to add silver lining amid a rough stretch. Losing five straight is tough enough. Trying to end that streak in Detroit is even harder. The Bears have been in a funk since losing the Hail Mary game at Washington, but at least an offensive coordinator change has borne some fruit. Thomas Brown has helped bring out a better version of QB Caleb Williams the past two games, with Chicago’s offense showing far more balance and potency. The Bears have plenty of weapons to tax a Lions defense that has been hit with injuries at all three levels recently. The quicker Williams gets rid of the ball, in general, the better he is. How healthy will Detroit’s secondary be for this one? Terrion Arnold missed Sunday with a groin injury, and his fellow rookie Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring) is on IR. The Lions’ top corner, Carlton Davis, also left Sunday’s game against the Colts. The Bears have plenty of weapons to stress this group.  2. Will Lions have their 1-2 RB punch? David Montgomery left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, although Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed optimism this week that Montgomery should be able to go at least partially on Thursday. He makes up one half of the league’s best running back combo, along with Jahmyr Gibbs, giving the Lions a top-five rushing attack. The two also have combined for 50 catches for 503 yards, stressing defenses in multiple ways. Montgomery, the former Bear, averaged 6.5 yards per carry in his two games vs. Chicago last season. The Bears have struggled to stop the run of late, allowing 4.8 yards per carry, and Detroit features one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. The Lions have run for at least 105 yards in every game; over the past five games, the Bears have allowed an average of 151. It’s hard enough slowing down Jared Goff and the Lions’ passing game, but when they also chew up yards on the ground, they’re nearly impossible to stop.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-season-week-13-eight-things-to-watch-for-thanksgiving-day-black-friday

Thanksgiving preview: What is the main course among the 3 Thanksgiving games? (Turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes: Bears at Lions - For years, there was a steady drumbeat for the Lions to get kicked out of their annual Thanksgiving spot. Detroit was terrible. Why have one of the three (or, for many years, two) games on Thanksgiving ruined by a terrible team.  That has changed in a big way.  This is the main course of the day because you get a chance to see the best team in football. Yes, that's the Lions. Seriously, the Lions are the best team in the NFL. Once again: The Detroit Lions are the top team in the National Football League. That's the first time we can say that in our lifetimes, unless you were born before 1957. That's the last time the Lions won a championship. They are capable of winning a Super Bowl this season. They've never been to a Super Bowl in their history.  Will this be a great game? Probably not, but we did see the Packers upset the Lions on Thanksgiving last season. The Bears aren't a great team but they're interesting to watch because they have No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Williams has had an up-and-down rookie season but he's still compelling. The Bears can at least give us a good show to start off the day. Hopefully, because if we don't get a good game to start the day ...):  https://sports.yahoo.com/thanksgiving-preview-what-is-the-main-course-among-the-3-thanksgiving-games-140257186.html



Comparing NFL teams to top Thanksgiving foods (Mashed potatoes: Lions.  A staple of Thanksgiving, never to be missed on the actual holiday, they used to be beaten and battered, whipped up by superior NFC foes. They've come out buttery smooth on the other side, boasting one of the tastiest offenses in all of the league, led by a coach who could be anyone's fiery uncle at the holiday table.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-thanksgiving-comparing-nfl-teams-to-popular-holiday-foods-including-chiefs-eagles-lions/

Thanksgiving predictions: Holiday OT for Bears-Lions (Thursday's slate:  Bears at Lions - Time: 12:30 p.m. ET | TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here).  Caleb Williams stuns Motown, takes Lions to overtime. Bears fans desperate for big-picture change might be circling this matchup as a potential last stand for coach Matt Eberflus, considering Chicago would have extra time before Week 14 to install an interim. But Williams, Chicago's rookie quarterback, could just as easily nix any such scenario. Fresh off a surprisingly poised outing against Brian Flores' Minnesota Vikings defense, the No. 1 overall pick will be up against a bottom-10 pass defense in Detroit, where the vaunted Lions suffered a turnover-laden Thanksgiving Day defeat in 2023. Throw in injuries to starting cover men Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis, and Williams could be ripe for another strong day through the air, even if the Bears' late-game woes don't guarantee him the ultimate victory.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-thanksgiving-bold-predictions-caleb-williams-stuns-lions-packers-freeze-dolphins/

The Dan Campbell Effect: How Lions went from laughingstock to juggernaut:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/dan-campbell-effect-lions-from-laughingstock-juggernaut

Jared Goff would be MVP (if the Lions didn't make things so easy), Tua Tagovailoa has a (slight) case and Week 13 QB ranks:  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-quarterback-ranks-week-13-jared-goff-tua-tagovailoa

2024 NFL Defense Rankings: Insights on the Roaring Lions and the Recovering Cowboys (2. Detroit Lions:  This season, the Lions have reaped the rewards of their defensive rebuild under head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. When they took over in 2021, they inherited the worst defense in football. It took them a couple of years, but last season, we saw Detroit improve from near the bottom of the pile to the middle of the pack. This year, they’ve completed that development.  They have fully capitalized on a soft-ish run of games, finishing inside the top three defensively against the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Indianapolis Colts over the past three weeks.  After a mediocre start to the season, they have now been in the top 10 in five of their 11-game weeks. However, those strong performances all came against below-average offenses, so it will be intriguing to see how they fare against some higher-caliber units in the coming weeks.  The biggest improvements this season have come in their passing defense, which has gone from being below-average to above-average. As a result, they are forcing more turnovers, performing better on third down, and improving their red-zone efficiency.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-defense-rankings/

Week 13 NFL Offense Rankings: Ravens Remain Elite, Buccaneers Trending Up, and More (2. Detroit Lions - Grade: A.  The favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl have appeared unstoppable for the majority of the season, and it’s only getting better with time — just ask the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, the Detroit Lions have the third-best rushing offense by EPA, something that was expected to some degree entering 2024. Jared Goff’s excellence, sans the Week 10 outlier against the Texans (five interceptions), has been the surprising component of this group and has them pacing the league in points scored per drive through 12 weeks.  Amon-Ra St. Brown is on the shortlist for the best receiver in the NFL, and that elevates the floor of this offense. If Sam LaPorta, when healthy, can regain his 2023 form or Jameson Williams can develop into a consistent target earner, Detroit’s offense has the potential to give this starved fan base the postseason run they desire.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/week-13-nfl-offense-rankings-ravens-remain-elite-buccaneers-trending-up/

Bears Media:





Ben Johnson's Future and Other Lions Issues Impacting Bears:  https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/ben-johnson-s-future-and-other-lions-issues-impacting-bears

Three Keys to a Chicago Bears Thanksgiving Upset of Lions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/three-keys-to-a-chicago-bears-thanksgiving-upset-of-lions

Caleb Williams Admits Short Week Already Has Been Taxing:  https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/caleb-williams-admits-short-week-already-has-been-testing

Lions Who Should Worry Bears the Most on Thanksgiving:  https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/lions-who-should-worry-bears-most

Podcast:

Twentyman in the Huddle: Lions-Bears Thanksgiving Day Classic preview:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-in-the-huddle-lions-bears-thanksgiving-day-classic-preview

Detroit Lions Podcast: Bisch and Brown preview the Lions and Bears on Thanksgiving:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/27/detroit-lions-podcast-bisch-and-brown-preview-lions-bears-thanksgiving/

Video:

Chadiha: One thing teams should be thankful for | 'The Insiders' (Ben Johnson is still coaching the offense):  https://www.nfl.com/videos/chadiha-one-thing-teams-should-be-thankful-for-the-insiders
Posted by LionsFan at 7:49 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Lions Links for Tuesday 11-26-24

Articles:


NOTEBOOK: Lions preparing for Thanksgiving Day Classic vs. division opponent:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-lions-preparing-for-thanksgiving-day-classic-vs-division-opponent

Week 13 opponent: What the Bears are saying:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/week-13-opponent-what-the-bears-are-saying-moore-johnson-williams

Lions like Hendon Hooker's progression, won't rule out signing Daniel Jones:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/11/26/daniel-jones-lions-nfl-hendon-hooker/76598025007/





Top takeaways from film review of the Lions Week 12 win over the Colts:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/lists/detroit-lions-film-review-week-12-top-takeaways-vs-colts/

Amon-Ra St. Brown won't be the Lions punt returner on Thanksgiving:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/26/amon-ra-st-brown-lions-punt-return-kalif-raymond-injury/

'I Got the Good News': Williams Finding Groove After Suspension:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jameson-williams-finding-groove-lions-offense

Lions 'Haven't Really Talked About' Adding Daniel Jones:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-have-not-seriously-discussed-adding-daniel-jones

Cowherd: Lions Are Most Dominant Team Since 2007 Patriots:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/cowherd-lions-most-dominant-team-since-2007-patriots

'No Excuses': Jack Campbell Part of Deep Linebackers Unit:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/no-excuses-jack-campbell-part-of-deep-linebackers-unit

Aaron Glenn's Latest Masterpiece Fuels Lions Victory:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/podcasts/aaron-glenn-masterpiece-fuels-lions-victory



Lions 'Not Afraid' to Play Moseley All Over Secondary:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-not-afraid-to-play-moseley-all-over-secondary

5 Qs Lions vs. Bears preview: How Chicago’s new OC brought rhythm back to the offense:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/26/24306480/lions-bears-preview-thanksgiving-caleb-williams-thomas-brown

Dan Campbell appears to throw shade at NFL for celebration hypocrisy:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/26/24306359/dan-campbell-throw-shade-at-nfl-for-celebration-hypocrisy



Injuries could be issue as Lions look to snap Thanksgiving losing streak:  https://lionslowdown.com/2024/11/26/injuries-could-be-issue-as-lions-look-to-snap-thanksgiving-losing-streak/

‘If I could remove them, I would’: Sportsbooks wish they could stop Detroit Lions Super Bowl bets:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2024/11/26/if-i-could-remove-them-i-would-sportsbooks-wish-they-could-stop-detroit-lions-super-bowl-bets/

When is soonest Detroit Lions can clinch playoff spot, and what needs to happen?:  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2024/11/26/when-is-soonest-detroit-lions-can-clinch-playoff-spot-what-needs-to-happen/

One move each NFC team wishes it had made prior to the 2024 NFL season (Detroit Lions: Add another edge rusher - The Lions could never have foreseen a season-ending injury to Aidan Hutchinson. At the same time, the team’s depth at edge rusher was already thin: Detroit was banking on Marcus Davenport, who had played 500-plus snaps just once in his career, to have a resurgent year. However, he played only 89 snaps before suffering another season-ending injury.  Detroit is in a decent spot after adding Za’Darius Smith, but the Lions may never have had to make the move if they had drafted someone like Jonah Elliss (14 pressures on 176 pass-rushing snaps) or signed someone like Calais Campbell or Chase Young (39 pressures).):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-one-move-each-nfc-team-prior-to-2024-season

Why your NFL team won, lost in Week 12 (Why the Lions won: The Lions dominated the time of possession, and ran 23 more offensive plays than the Colts. They just kept finding ways to move the ball, and it started with the run game. Jahmyr Gibbs carried the load with 90 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, earning a 78.9 grade. Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 127 yards, three touchdowns and eight missed tackles forced between them.):  https://www.pff.com/news/why-your-nfl-team-won-lost-in-week-12


One rookie for which every NFL team should be thankful (Lions: CB Terrion Arnold (Round 1, No. 24 overall): Detroit's defense has been more formidable this season because of additions in the secondary, including Arnold. The rookie has been a bit handsy in coverage but teams are targeting him at a high rate because of Carlton Davis opposite him.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jayden-daniels-caleb-williams-and-other-rookies-for-which-each-nfl-team-should-be-thankful/

NFL Week 12: Five things we liked and didn't like (2. Jahmyr Gibbs makes something out of nothing:  Here are images from Jahmyr Gibbs' two touchdown runs in Week 12.  This is "make grown men look like kids" silly. This season, Gibbs ranks fourth in rushing yards over expected per carry, and it's plays like these they show why.  Gibbs and David Montgomery's "Sonic and Knuckles" duo alternates drives. They've been excellent all season, and they both fit the Lions' run game despite different running styles. But Gibbs certainly has a little extra juice, and he has gone over 100 yards from scrimmage in four of his last six games.  What I especially like about Gibbs is that while he has the quickness and elusiveness to bounce things outside, he's also willing to pound the middle: His 6.7 yards per carry on runs up the middle is first among NFL running backs by a wide margin. What a fun player.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-12-five-things-we-liked-and-didnt-like-including-caleb-williams-improvising-dolphins-new-twist/

QB Room, Thanksgiving edition: 1 thing we like about every NFC team’s quarterback outlook (Detroit Lions:  I’m thankful that when Sean McVay gave up on Jared Goff, the Los Angeles Rams sent Goff to a front office and general manager in Brad Holmes that built a monster around him. Consider the 2024 offensive pieces that were all added in the months or years after the Lions traded for Goff in March of 2021: offensive tackle Penei Sewell and offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, and tight end Sam LaPorta. That’s seven high-level performers on offense. It’s no wonder Holmes swept the Pro Football Writers’ Association and Sporting News Executive of the Year honors in 2023.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/qb-room-thanksgiving-edition-1-thing-we-like-about-every-nfc-teams-quarterback-outlook-052255447.html

Schrager's Cheat Sheet: Eagles' favorable stretch run; Tua's cold-weather blues (Can Anyone Kick Anymore?  One of the curious stories of the season has been the absolute unpredictability of special teams. I would joke that there's some sort of gunk in the liquid of whatever every kicker is drinking this year, but it might be true. I have no other explanation for the incredible whiffs we've seen of late. And it's league-wide. Justin Tucker seems to be a mere mortal and missed two gimmes against the Steelers in Week 11; the typically reliable Austin Seibert missed not one, but two extra points on Sunday; all-world Cowboys leg Brandon Aubrey had one blocked and missed another in the same game; and the unflappable Younghoe Koo missed three field goals in a winnable game against New Orleans two weeks ago. Jake Elliot was awful versus Washington a few weeks back and Rams rookie kicker Josh Karty has missed a kick in three straight games. You add in whatever happened to Greg Zurlein this year with the Jets and the head-scratching finish to Houston's loss to Tennessee in Week 12, where Ka'imi Fairbarn, on a day he broke all sorts of Texans records, missed a chippy that cost Houston the game. We've also had blocked field goals at the end of regulation. So, who is actually kicking well? Chris Boswell is still nails in Pittsburgh, but my All-Pro kicker is still Jake Bates, the brick salesman out of Detroit. If Bates is a first-team All-Pro, it is a potential Hollywood movie in the making.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/peter-schrager-cheat-sheet-eagles-favorable-stretch

Can Eagles' Saquon Barkley become first running back to win MVP since 2012? (4. Jared Goff, Lions  - Current MVP Odds: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total).  The leader of the most explosive offense in the league, Goff is carving up single-high-safety looks this season. According to Next Gen Stats, Goff has totaled league highs in completion percentage (74.5%) and yards (1,809) against single-high-safety coverage, while ranking second in yards per attempt (9.4).  On Thursday, the Cal product takes on a Chicago defense that has used single-high-safety coverage at the fifth-highest rate this season (60.5%), allowing the 10th-most yards per attempt (7.8), per Next Gen Stats.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/can-eagles-saquon-barkley-become-first-running-back-win-mvp-since-2012 

Pro Football Network’s Week 12 Game Balls: Saquon Barkley, Mike McCarthy Among Those Recognized (Detroit Lions | Aaron Glenn, DC - When Aaron Glenn sits for head coach openings in a couple of months, he doesn’t need to bring a résumé. He simply needs to cue up the All-11 from the Detroit Lions’ 24-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.  Literally half the Lions’ starting defense was hurt (including Carlton Davis, who left the game with a groin injury), and yet Glenn’s unit still held the Colts to 268 yards, 11 first downs, 3 of 12 third-down conversions, and completions on just 39.3% of their pass attempts.  Certainly, Anthony Richardson has long had accuracy issues, but Glenn’s scheme forced him to regress significantly after a strong game last week.  In all, the Lions had the second-best defensive performance of Week 12 through Sunday’s games, per DEF+ (86.5). And they did so without a sack or a turnover and just one tackle for loss.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-week-12-game-balls-2024-saquon-barkley-mike-mccarthy/

QB Rankings:

QB Stock Market Week 13: Time to sell C.J. Stroud? Buy Bryce Young? (7. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/qb-stock-market-week-13-time-sell-c-j-stroud-buy-bryce-young

Power Rankings:


Video:





Lions getting ready for Thanksgiving matchup with Bears:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1553833
Posted by LionsFan at 7:24 PM 0 comments

Week 13 Power Rankings

SN (1. Detroit Lions 10-1 (previous ranking: 2):  The Lions raced past the Colts, but more injury concerns popped up in Indy. Health seems to be the only thing that can derail the NFC title run now.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-eagles-vikings-commanders-49ers/1c9fbf1d7164e0a7bc459097

Walter football (1. Detroit Lions (10-1) – Previously: 1.  The Lions were in a poor spot entering this week. They were coming off a huge win and had a Thanksgiving game in just four days. However, they took care of business, beating Indianapolis by 18 points. There’s no doubt that Detroit is the best team in the NFL.  If you haven’t visited the site in a while, you may have noticed the new look. Yes, after nearly two decades, we’ve finally re-designed our site to be more modern. This was not done on a whim, but rather out of necessity because of what occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. Our site crashed during the entire first day of the draft, which was disastrous for our revenue stream because we make more money during the draft than any other time. The site crashed because a line of code conflicted with the old format of the site, so we had to transition to this new look. Because we lost so much money during the draft, I want to point out that you can really help support the site by paying for the ad-free version of it. It’s $7.99 per month, but you’ll get a super-fast site with no ads. My developer will be adding new features to paid subscribers as well, so look for that in the near future. If you don’t want to pay, please spread the word about the site through word of mouth. That would also be a big help!):  https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

Fox sports Brooks (1. Detroit Lions - Last week: 1.  Dan Campbell's squad is playing like a team on a mission. The Lions are bludgeoning opponents on both sides of the ball with their superior trench talent and perimeter players imposing their will. Though the Lions have a few heavyweights remaining on the schedule, the scrappy bunch from Motown is closing in on a No. 1 seed and a slate of home playoff games that would make it hard for any other team to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-top-10-rankings-week-12-lions-bills-eagles-chiefs-vikings-packers

Yahoo (1. Lions:  The Lions’ defense with Aidan Hutchinson: 5 games, 18.2 points allowed per game, 329.4 yards allowed per game. Without Hutchinson: 6 games, 15.3 points allowed per game, 316 yards allowed per game. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will be a hot name next offseason.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-power-rankings-entering-week-13-how-can-saquon-barkley-break-qb-lock-on-mvp-042329615.html

CBS (1. Lions:  They are a brutish, power team that can knock you off the ball and yet still hit shots off of that. The defense played well against the Colts.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-13-power-rankings-surging-broncos-may-be-sean-paytons-best-coaching-job-yet-steelers-out-of-top-5/

ESPN (1. Lions: Offense ranking:  2. Defense ranking: 2.  Special teams ranking: 1. The Lions' FPI rankings reflect this team as arguably the best overall across the league. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has the offense humming with 20 or more points in nine consecutive games, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn hasn't allowed a touchdown through 10 straight quarters despite losing Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (tibia/fibula) in Week 6. Detroit has used a well-balanced team to get off to its best start in 90 years. -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42607806/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-poll-2024-plus-fpi-offense-defense-special-teams

Fox sports (1. Lions:  Only a special class of team could go on the road, beat a playoff hopeful by 18 points and classify it as a ho-hum performance. That's where the Lions are this season. They make dominance look routine.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2024-power-rankings

NFL.com (1. Lions:  That's now 10 straight quarters in which the Lions have not allowed a touchdown. The defense had a few shaky moments defending some deep passes against the Colts -- and more accurate throws might have hit home. But overall, Detroit has proven doubters wrong by continuing its defensive success in spite of some key injuries. Offensively, the approach was death by a hundred butter knives. The David Montgomery-Jahmyr Gibbs duo remains the NFL's best 1-2 RB punch, assuming Montgomery's shoulder is OK, as he indicated is the case after the game. The Lions' next three games are at Ford Field, where they've only played twice since September. The run starts with the Bears on Thanksgiving and a little mini-bye before a huge matchup with the Packers in Week 14. After that, a possible Super Bowl preview against the next team listed here ...):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-2024-nfl-season

PFT’s Week 13 2024 NFL power rankings (1. Lions (last week No. 1; 10-1): They still have the Vikings and Packers hot on their heels, which should only keep them going.):  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-13-2024-nfl-power-rankings

SI (1. Lions:  The Lions—12 games into the season by the way—have become the first team in NFL history to have a running back tandem score 10-plus touchdowns apiece in back-to-back seasons. I said this on The Athletic Football Show the other week and it drew some criticism which I’m ready to take on: In my 14 years of covering the NFL, this is the best football team I have seen. The most complete. The most pristine vibes. The most ways they can defeat a team. I’m not saying anything Detroit doesn’t know. It’s Super Bowl or nothing now.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-power-rankings-eagles-soar-saquon-barkley-chiefs-out-of-top-three

USA Today (1. Detroit Lions (1): In their 95-season existence, they'd never had double-digit wins in back-to-back years … until now. Currently the NFC's top seed, the Lions are on their way to consecutive 12-win campaigns – an effort that should be made easier given they don't play on the road again until Dec. 22.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2024/11/26/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-ravens-chargers-eagles/76579369007/

FTW (1. Lions - Last week’s rank: 1.  Detroit’s offense gets most of the love, but it’s time to give this defense its flowers. The Lions have allowed more than 14 points only once since their Week 5 bye. They haven’t allowed a touchdown since November 10. They outscored the entirety of the AFC South 154-49. This team is terrifying right now. — CD):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-broncos-seahawks-eagles

PFN (1. Detroit Lions - Record: 10-1.  Offense+ Rank: 2.  Defense+ Rank: 2.  Special Teams Rank: 8.  SOS Rank Through Week 12: 16.  If you stopped the fight right now, it would be hard not to award the bout to the Detroit Lions, who continue to be thoroughly dominant in this middle portion of the season. Granted, the competition has not been that fierce in recent weeks, but while other teams have stumbled at times against middling opposition, Detroit has swatted them away like flies. The Lions face a gauntlet in the remainder of the season, with three top-10 teams in our rankings among their next six games. Even the games against the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers will not be simple for them, with the former showing they are not going to roll over for anyone in the last couple of weeks.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-insights-2024/

The Athletic (Power ranking: 1st.  Previous ranking: 1st.  The Lions last won a championship in 1957. It was not the Super Bowl because that was still a decade away from being invented. This team absolutely can break that drought. Detroit leads the league in scoring (32.7 ppg) and point differential (plus-177) and is second in points allowed (16.6) after dismissing the Colts. Barry Sanders’ statue outside of Ford Field is eight feet tall. How tall would Dan Campbell’s be?):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/power-rankings-lions-are-historic-nfl-team

Fox news (1. Lions:  There’s no offense better than the Lions. And while the old adage says defense wins championships, there are no signs of slowing this team down. If Jared Goff isn’t throwing for 400 yards, the Lions will just kill you in the running game. And if Sam LaPorta ever gets going, look out.  Last week: 1):  https://www.foxnews.com/sports/fox-news-digital-sports-nfl-power-rankings-after-week-12-2024-nfl-season

PFF (2. Lions:  Make it nine wins in a row for the Lions as they became the first team in the NFC to reach 10 wins following a 24-6 victory over the Colts. The Lions are rolling and look like the most dominant team in the NFL, and arguably one of the most talented teams we’ve seen in a long time. They’ve got a 21% chance of winning the Super Bowl — the highest in the NFL — and are second in EPA per play on offense.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-13-power-rankings-the-green-bay-packers-rise

Average Power Ranking (17/16):  1
Posted by LionsFan at 7:23 PM 0 comments

Monday, November 25, 2024

Lions Links for Monday 11-25-24

Articles:

KEY QUESTIONS: What are the injury updates from Sunday's game?:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/key-questions-what-are-the-injury-updates-from-sunday-s-game

TWENTYMAN: Week 12 observations:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-week-12-observations-campbell-rodriguez-goff


Winners and losers: Aaron Glenn bolsters case for head coaching job as Lions defense rolls:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/11/25/aaron-glenn-bolsters-case-for-head-coaching-job-as-lions-defense-rolls/76545802007/


'They're a complete football team': ESPN's Rex Ryan says Lions are NFC favorite':  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/11/25/espns-ryan-on-lions-theyre-a-complete-football-team/76565643007/





Terrion Arnold back at Lions practice but several starters sidelined:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/25/terrion-arnold-lions-injury-update-decker-davis-reader-kalif/

Amon-Ra St. Brown Appears on Monday Estimated Injury Report:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/amon-ra-st-brown-monday-injury-report-week-thirteen

Updated NFC Playoff Standings: Lions Being Challenged by Eagles:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-being-challenged-by-eagles-playoff-chase

Smith Highest, Vildor Lowest PFF-Graded Lions Against Colts:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/smith-highest-vildor-lowest-pff-graded-lions-week-twelve

What They're Saying: Lions 'Love' Fans Taking Over Stadiums:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/lions-love-fans-taking-over-stadiums



Lions-Colts key stats: Defenders play integral role in Detroit’s 9th straight victory:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/25/24305676/lions-colts-key-stats-defenders-play-integral-role-in-detroits-9th-straight-victory



Lions vs. Colts stock report: 8 risers, 2 fallers from win in Indy:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/25/24305387/lions-colts-stock-report-2024



Week 13 opening odds: Detroit Lions huge favorites over Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/24/24304418/week-13-opening-odds-detroit-lions-huge-favorites-over-chicago-bears-thanksgiving


Prosecutor says no charges will be filed against Lions' Jameson Williams following October traffic stop:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/no-charges-will-be-filed-against-lions-jameson-williams

Jack Fox, 'the best holder in the league,' challenging history as Lions punter:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/jack-fox-challenging-history-as-detroit-lions-punter

Montgomery looking forward to potential fine from NFL after celebration with Jamo:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-david-montgomery-excited-for-potential-fine


Welcome to Thanksgiving in the NFL: Everything you need to know about the history, records, moments and..:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32646037/nfl-thanksgiving-day-games-history-lions-cowboys-play-every-year-moments-traditions-records


For First Time Ever, Lions Go Into Thanksgiving Game As Super Bowl Favorites:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/thanksgiving-day-super-bowl-lix-favorites


NFL Week 12: PFF Team of the Week & Player Awards (P: Jack Fox, Detroit Lions):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-12-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards-2

Statistical Review of NFL Week 12: NFC North keeps winning:  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-statistical-review-nfl-week-12-2024

One thing each NFL team has to be thankful for entering Week 13; Eagles boast two MVP candidates (Detroit Lions 10-1:  Ben Johnson. The Lions offensive coordinator could’ve easily been a head coach by now. That’s how hot of a candidate he was last offseason. Instead, he opted to stay with Detroit and help this team continue its pursuit of a championship, which seems very much within reach for this bunch. Johnson is lording over an offense that leads the league in scoring and ranks among the top 10 in both rushing and passing. The Lions have scored at least 40 points four times and hit 52 twice. There may be some teams that can slow this group down in the coming weeks -- when it’ll see contenders like Green Bay, Buffalo and Minnesota -- but it won’t be easy. Johnson has too much talent to work with and too much creativity in his play-calling.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/first-read-one-thing-each-nfl-team-has-to-be-thankful-for-entering-week-13-2024-season

NFL stats and records, Week 12: Saquon Barkley sets new Eagles record with 255 rushing yards on Sunday (2. Lions RB duo approaches history with pair of rushing TDs.  Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have now scored rushing touchdowns in the same game nine times as teammates, tied for the third-most such games by any running back duo in NFL history.  The only duos with more such games are pairs of Hall of Famers from the 1950s and 1960s: Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung had 10 such games while playing for Vince Lombardi's Packers, and Joe Perry and Hugh McElhenny also had 10 such games with the 49ers.  The Lions have now scored a rushing touchdown in 25 consecutive games including playoffs, the first team to do so in league history.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-stats-and-records-week-12-saquon-barkley-s-255-rush-yards-on-sunday-night-sets-new-eagles-record

Lions continue road dominance in win over Colts, off to best season start since 1934:  https://www.nfl.com/news/lions-continue-road-dominance-in-win-over-colts-off-to-best-season-start-since-1934

Five things you may have missed from NFL Week 12 (Lions running backs continue to make history.  Once again, the Lions are putting themselves in the history books. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have each scored a rushing touchdown in the same game for the ninth time, which is tied for third-most by teammates in league history.  They are also the first RB duo in NFL history to each record 10-plus touchdowns on the ground in consecutive seasons.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/five-things-you-may-have-missed-from-week-12-exciting-endings-an-overtime-win-saquons-mvp-case-and-more/

Sorting Sunday Pile: Saquon Barkley, Bo Nix thriving (Are the Lions the best team in football? Yup, they sure are. And now, your weekly Dan Campbell motivational speech.  Give me a Lions-Bills Super Bowl for all the long-suffering marbles.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-12-sorting-the-sunday-pile-saquon-barkleys-mvp-case-bo-nix-surges-niners-in-big-trouble/

Cowboys make history, plus 11 other wild Week 12 stats (4. Lions also hit 10 wins. With their 10th win, the Lions have now hit double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history. At 10-1, they're also off to their best 11-game start since 1934.  5. Sonic and Knuckles make history. Those are the nicknames for David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, who combined to make history by becoming the first pair of running back teammates in NFL history to each hit 10 rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons in NFL history.  6. NFC North dominance. With the Packers getting to eight wins on Sunday, the 2024 NFC North becomes the first division since divisional realignment in 2002 to have three teams all win at least eight games in the first 12 weeks of a season.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-pull-off-rare-feat-thats-never-been-seen-before-in-nfl-history-plus-11-more-wild-stats-from-week-12/

2024 NFL MVP race, odds: Saquon Barkley surges up the board (Jared Goff:  The media seems to really like Goff, or perhaps it’s his awesome story of redemption — kicked to the curb by the Rams, and then gets to within 3 points of a Super Bowl with the "lowly Lions".  Goff may not be a top-3 player for the Lions, but if Detroit wins 12 to 13 games, he’ll certainly be in the discussion.  PICK: Jared Goff to win 2024 NFL MVP (+2000)):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2024-25-nfl-odds-mvp-favorites

Dan Campbell Highlighted Two Impressive Stats in Postgame Speech After Win vs. Colts:  https://www.si.com/nfl/dan-campbell-postgame-speech-lions-colts

32 things we learned in NFL Week 12: Missteps could cost contenders (8. Number of consecutive games Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had a TD reception, a streak that ended Sunday in a 24-6 victory over the Colts.  9. On a day when Detroit’s top-ranked scoring attack was held in check to some degree, the defense continued picking up momentum of its own – allowing just six points for the second straight week, tied for the club’s season low.  10(+). After combining for three scores Sunday, Lions RBs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are the first teammates to have at least 10 rushing TDs in multiple seasons – and also managed to do it in consecutive years. 10a. However Montgomery (shoulder) was one of several Detroit players who got banged up in Indy, WR/PR Kalif Raymond, LT Taylor Decker and CB Carlton Davis II also on that list. The Lions seem to be widely regarded as the league’s best team … yet they can hardly afford to let up – and must hit the field again on Thanksgiving – with the Philadelphia Eagles nipping at their heels.  25. The number of consecutive games (including playoffs) Detroit has scored on the ground, a league record.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2024/11/24/nfl-week-12-takeaways-playoff-contenders-texans-commanders/76556635007/

Headlines from Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season (10-1:  The Detroit Lions made history with their 10th win of the season. For the first time ever, the franchise has won 10 or more games in back-to-back seasons. Get used to it, Lions fans. You have a great team on your hands.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/headlines-from-week-12-of-the-2024-nfl-season

NFL Offensive Line Rankings 2024: Stacking All 32 OLs Entering Week 13 (1. Detroit Lions - Starting five: LT Taylor Decker, LG Graham Glasgow, C Frank Ragnow, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Penei Sewell.  All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell spearheads Detroit’s dominant offensive line. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has figured out how to weaponize the former first-round pick in the run game, getting him into space and letting him go to work. Sewell even received a lateral on a hook-and-ladder play against the Cowboys in Week 6.  Frank Ragnow might be the NFL’s best center now that Jason Kelce is retired. He missed one game with a pectoral injury but has since returned to offer his usual standout play.  Left tackle Taylor Decker didn’t play in the Lions’ Week 10 comeback victory over the Texans, forcing Dan Skipper to fill on on the blindside. Fortunately, Decker returned in Week 11.  Jared Goff has myriad offensive weapons to work with, but the Lions’ offensive line is their weekly identity. No team ranks better than Detroit in FTN‘s adjusted line yards (5.13), suggesting the Lions’ front five regularly overpowers its opponents in the run game.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/best-offensive-lines-nfl-rankings/

Grades:



Video:



Jared Goff talks Lions 9th straight win:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1553142

Lions win 10 for second straight season, first time in team history:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1553010

Lions run wild on Indy as Gibbs, Montgomery each score:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1553009

Biggest takeaways from NFC North after Week 12 | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/biggest-takeaways-from-nfc-north-after-week-12-gmfb
Posted by LionsFan at 8:15 PM 0 comments

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Post-Game Lions Links for Sunday 11-24-24

Articles:

NOTEBOOK: Lions embracing road warrior mentality:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/notebook-lions-embracing-road-warrior-mentality

FOUR DOWNS: Lions go back-to-back games without allowing a touchdown:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/four-downs-lions-go-back-to-back-games-without-allowing-a-touchdown

RECAP: Lions at Colts:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/recap-lions-at-colts-gibbs-montgomery-goff



David Montgomery injury update: Lions RB returns to sideline after walking to locker room:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/11/24/david-montgomery-injury-update-lions-nfl-colts/76550514007/

Kalif Raymond injury update: Detroit Lions stud returner limps off vs Colts:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/11/24/kalif-raymond-injury-update-lions-colts-nfl/76037309007/





Taylor Decker gives an optimistic update on his injured leg after the Lions win:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/24/taylor-decker-lions-leg-injury-update-its-not-major/


Lions vs. Colts: Everything we know about Detroit's impressive 24-6 road win in Week 12: https://lionswire.usatoday.com/lists/lions-vs-colts-everything-we-know-week-12-game-recap-stats-stars-takeaways/



Everything Dan Campbell Said After Lions Beat Colts:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/everything-dan-campbell-said-lions-win-colts-2024

Studs and Duds: McNeill, Campbell Anchor Defensive Masterpiece:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/studs-duds-alim-mcneill-jack-campbell-colts-win


5 takeaways from the Detroit Lions’ victory over the Indianapolis Colts:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/24/24304822/5-takeaways-detroit-lions-week-12-indianapolis-colts-win





Five reasons the Lions continued their win streak by dropping Colts, 24-6:  https://lionslowdown.com/2024/11/24/five-reasons-the-lions-continued-their-win-streak-by-dropping-colts-24-6/


Lions remain unbeaten on the road, dominate Colts to win 9th straight game:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/sports/lions-remain-unbeaten-road-dominate-colts-win-9th-straight-game






Week 12 takeaways: Five wild endings, huge upsets and division-race shakeups (Lions - Are Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery the NFL's top rushing duo? Nicknamed "Sonic & Knuckles," Gibbs and Montgomery combined for three rushing touchdowns against the Colts, becoming the first duo in NFL history with 10 rushing touchdowns each in consecutive seasons. Sunday's game also marked the 11th time the duo has each scored a touchdown in the same game -- including the playoffs -- which is the most such games by an RB duo in NFL history, per ESPN Research. At this point, it's not a question of whether they're the best in the league; the production speaks for itself. It's now time to decide their place in league history if they can keep it up.  Biggest hole in the game plan: Defending the deep ball. Dealing with a groin injury, rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold was ruled out for Sunday's game and didn't travel with the team. His absence was felt. Detroit's defense allowed Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson to connect with Michael Pittman Jr. for a 30-yard pass and another 39-yard bomb to Alec Pierce.  Most surprising performance: Lions wideout Tim Patrick. In Detroit's previous four games, Patrick logged five receptions for 38 yards, but he found a groove against the Colts. He grabbed four receptions for 55 yards, including a 27-yard catch at the end of the first quarter, which helped the Lions offense find an early rhythm. -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42583997/nfl-week-12-2024-questions-takeaways-lessons-stats-recap-every-game


Lions rush for 3 scores and use stingy defense to beat Colts 24-6 for 9th straight win:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401671866

2024 NFL season, Week 12: What We Learned from Sunday's games (Eric Edholm's takeaways:  1. Lions smother Colts, run TD-less streak to 10 quarters. It was not the most prolific game for the Lions offensively, even while crossing midfield on seven of their 10 possessions, but they comfortably put away the Colts on the road. Detroit went up, 14-6, at the half and turned the ball over on downs on its first possession of the second half, giving the Colts some life. But the Lions’ defense got a quick stop, allowing a total of 28 yards on the Colts’ first four series of the second half. They also played good red-zone defense in the first half, keeping the Colts out of the end zone and running the Lions’ streak to 10 straight quarters without allowing a TD, dating back to the second half of the Houston game. The Lions ran for three TDs, and seven receivers caught at least two passes from Jared Goff, but this one was about Detroit’s defense clamping down again. Alim McNeill was dominant inside, with a forced fumble and drawing a holding flag on back-to-back plays.   2. Colts, Richardson commit too many self-inflicted mistakes. Is it the Colts or Anthony Richardson? That’s the question many have asked amid the second-year quarterback’s inconsistencies, which carried on in Sunday’s loss. Can’t it be both? That certainly was the case against the Lions. Richardson made completions of 39, 30 and 24 yards and had runs of 17, 17 and 10 yards. But too often he missed big throws, including big would-be plays to Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Kylen Granson. Ashton Dulin also couldn’t haul in what would have been a 45-yard play at least, unable to get his second foot inbounds. A few plays later, Richardson nearly took a safety and almost threw a pick, which was his seventh straight incompletion. His biggest problems seem to happen when he’s under duress. A-Rich was 2-of-14 passing versus pressure, per Next Gen Stats. The Colts also committed several crushing penalties on offense. Five flags in particular not only wiped out 97 yards' worth of offensive gains but also set them back 49 additional yards. The Colts have to build in more high-percentage passes to get Richardson going, but they also need to stop killing themselves with painful flags and red-zone failures.  3. Injuries starting to add up for Detroit. The Lions are already down two key defenders with Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone alone out long term, and they were a bit more beat up Sunday. First, the good news: Left tackle Taylor Decker left the game with knee and ankle injuries but later returned to the action. But several other Lions were hurt and didn’t come back; whether they could have played in a close game isn’t clear. Running back David Montgomery (shoulder) left late in the third quarter and never came back in. Receiver/returner Kalif Raymond went into the locker room early with a foot injury and was ruled out. On defense, cornerback Carlton Davis suffered a knee injury late and never came back. Again, the severity of these latter three injuries were not clear immediately after the game, but the Lions’ depth is being tested – and they have a Thanksgiving game on tap in a few days. They also played Sunday with first-round pick CB Terrion Arnold (groin) inactive.  Next Gen Stats Insight for Lions-Colts (via NFL Pro): Jared Goff completed 15 of 16 passes for 185 yards when targeting the middle third of the field, producing a +16.0% completion percentage over expected on those passes. He went 11 of 17 for 84 yards (-3.2% completion percentage over expected) when throwing toward the left or right areas. The Colts utilized zone coverage on 39 of his 40 dropbacks (97.5%), the highest rate by any team in a game this season.  NFL Research: This was the ninth game where both David Montgomery (one) and Jahmyr Gibbs (two) scored rushing touchdowns, which is tied for third all time for a pair of teammates.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-season-week-12-what-we-learned-from-sunday-s-games


Lions show why they're made for playoffs, and what else we're learning in Week 12:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/week-12-takeaways-lions-chiefs-cowboys-commanders-49ers-packers-eagles

NFL Winners and Losers: The Giants are horrendous, and probably will be for a while (Winner - Detroit Lions' defense: When Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken leg in Week 6, there was a concern the Lions' defense would crater. It's amazing that the Lions haven't looked any worse without an NFL Defensive Player of the Year favorite in the lineup.  Detroit's defense had another big day Sunday. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson got off to a good start but the Lions put the clamps on, and was especially good in the second half. Detroit held Indianapolis to 11 first downs and no touchdowns as the Lions won 24-6 and improved to 10-1.  The Lions have the best offense in football, and it was decent on Sunday. But Detroit was never in danger because the Colts rarely moved the ball. The difference between the Lions being a good team and the Super Bowl favorite is the defense, which has been among the NFL's 10 best all season. There's a reason Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will be in high demand for head-coaching interviews next offseason.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-winners-and-losers-the-giants-are-horrendous-and-probably-will-be-for-a-while-212826586.html

Week 12 NFL Takeaways: Lions’ Defense Looks As Good As Their Offense (Detroit Lions - Don’t look now, but the Detroit Lions’ defense looks as dominant as their offense. And it’s another reason why this once sad-sack franchise has emerged as the NFL’s very clear No. 1 team as we approach the team’s annual Thanksgiving game—with no complaining anymore that the Lions are sitting in that national television window.  Somehow, this is what the aftermath of losing Aidan Hutchinson looks like for Detroit. Out goes the Lions’ best defensive player and in comes the team’s defensive breakthrough.  After Sunday’s workmanlike 24–6 deconstruction of the Indianapolis Colts, the Lions will carry a streak of 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown into Thursday’s game against the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who are six games behind Detroit in the standings. Over that time, Aaron Glenn’s defense has allowed just four field goals. And in the six games since losing Hutchinson, the defense has allowed 316.0 yards per game and 15.3 points per game, which is actually less than the unit allowed over the first five games (329.4 and 18.2, respectively).  “We can’t replace Hutch,” veteran corner Amik Robertson told me postgame. “But we can continue playing together. We know Hutch causes havoc every time he’s out there, but the next guy has to step up. We got to play as a whole. The D-line helps the secondary and the secondary helps the D-line. We got to do it for him because we know if he was out there, he’d be playing 100%, so that’s what we do.”  It’s also happened because, as has seemed to be the case with virtually everything since Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes arrived in 2021, the Lions have had answers, post-Hutch.  On Sunday, two guys registered multiple hits/hurries on Anthony Richardson—D.J. Reader and Za’Darius Smith. The former is the havoc-wreaking defensive tackle that Detroit gambled on in March, signing Reader as a free agent while he was rehabbing a torn quad, knowing it’d take patience to get the most from him. A trade for the latter was the result of Holmes staying after the Cleveland Browns about a deal for weeks, leading up to the Nov. 5 deadline.  But those additions were just part of a much larger picture that’s come together over four years, after the Lions consciously decided in 2021 to address the offense first, since, at that point, it was closer to being competitive than the defense. It’s why, in large part, the Lions had the NFL’s 29th-ranked defense in ’21 and the league’s worst defense the year after that. Slowly, but surely, Glenn’s shared vision with Campbell for a versatile, deep unit with position flexibility all over the place came together.  In came pieces such as Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Brian Branch, Jack Campbell and, this year, Terrion Arnold that fit that vision. And all along, Glenn kept the guys believing in the vision, even when it looked bleak, with the backing of the head coach, who never backed down from it, even as he made big changes on offense.  “It’s their will,” says Robertson, who jumped aboard the moving train this offseason, coming over from the Las Vegas Raiders. “We got some great coaches. Our leader, Coach Campbell, A.G., they know what it should look like. When you buy into it, you play for the guy next to you. You have no choice but to go out there and play Lions football.”  Robertson then added, on Glenn, “His passion—he cares. He cares about his players. When you got a guy that backs you up and cares about the players and what’s good for the players, you got no choice but to run through a wall for him. I’m glad I was able to come here and be able to get coached by a coach and individual like A.G.”  Lots of guys are, clearly. And based on the way this has been going, the best could still be ahead for the Lions’ defense.  That, by the way, could also include Hutchinson. Because the break in his leg was so clean—there was no artery, ligament or nerve damage—the team is optimistic that he’d be able to play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 in New Orleans, which is where Detroit plucked both Campbell and Glenn from.  Increasingly, it looks like the Lions will be there to give Hutchinson that chance. And this time, it certainly wouldn’t be in spite of the defense he’d be rejoining.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/week-12-nfl-takeaways-lions-defense-deshaun-watson-robert-kraft

Lions' David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs Living Up to Their Fun Duo Nickname After TDs:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions-david-montgomery-jahmyr-gibbs-living-up-to-their-fun-duo-nickname-after-tds

Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs Flagged for Lame Taunting Penalty During TD Run vs. Colts:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions-jahmyr-gibbs-flagged-lame-taunting-penalty-td-run-colts



Lions lead Colts 14-6 at halftime:  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/lions-lead-colts-14-6-at-halftime

Jahmyr Gibbs 1-yard touchdown gives Lions 7-3 lead over Colts:  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jahmyr-gibbs-1-yard-touchdown-gives-lions-7-3-lead-over-colts

NFC North Standings: Lions in Control, Vikings Escape Bears in OT, and Packers Are Still Alive:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfc-north-standings-detroit-lions-minnesota-vikings-green-bay-packers-week-12-2024/

Grades:

CBS Grades (Lions Grade:  A-.  The Lions can beat you in a lot of different ways, and this week, their defense bullied the Colts, holding Indy to just six points, which is tied for the fewest points the Lions have given up all season. This game was tight at halftime, but the defense took over after that, holding Indy to just 94 yards over the final two quarter. The Colts only had one drive in the entire second half that reached Detroit territory. As for the Lions' offense, it continued to roll. Jared Goff got everyone involved on a day where six different receivers caught at least three passes. Jahmyr Gibbs also came up big for Detroit with 90 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Lions didn't play a perfect game, but that tells you how good they are: They're beating teams by more than two touchdowns even when they don't play perfect football.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-12-grades-cowboys-earn-high-mark-for-shocking-win-over-commanders-giants-get-an-f-after-ugly-loss/

Video:





RB Jahmyr Gibbs speaks the media on how easy the offensive line makes his job.:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/gibbs-on-being-thankful-for-the-offensive-line



Jahmyr Gibbs' best plays from 2-TD game vs. Colts Week 12:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/jahmyr-gibbs-best-plays-from-2-td-game-vs-colts-week-12


HIGHLIGHT: Montgomery efforts his way into end zone for 6-yard TD:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-montgomery-efforts-his-way-into-end-zone-for-6-yard-td

Jahmyr Gibbs' ninth TD run of 2024 gets Lions on scoreboard vs. Colts:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-gibbs-takes-it-in-for-td-from-1-yard-out


Jahmyr Gibbs' jump cut shifty run goes for 15 yards:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/jahmyr-gibbs-jump-cut-shifty-run-goes-for-15-yards

Brock Wright works upfield for 16 yards off screen-pass:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/brock-wright-works-upfield-for-16-yards-off-screen-pass

Gibbs hits the turbo on a 16-yard burst up the middle:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/gibbs-hits-the-turbo-on-a-16-yard-burst-up-the-middle

David Montgomery showcases contact balance on 14-yard reception:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/david-montgomery-showcases-contact-balance-on-14-yard-reception

Jameson Williams takes screen pass for 15 yards:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/jameson-williams-takes-screen-pass-for-15-yards

Montgomery collects Goff's outlet pass for 16 yards:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/montgomery-collects-goff-s-outlet-pass-for-16-yards

David Montgomery takes Colts to the weight room on powerful 13-yard burst:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/david-montgomery-takes-colts-to-the-weight-room-on-powerful-13-yard-burst

Jameson Williams darts over the middle on 21-yard sprint:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/jameson-williams-darts-over-the-middle-on-21-yard-sprint

Gibbs chops a run upfield for a 17-yard gain:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/gibbs-chops-a-run-upfield-for-a-17-yard-gain

Goff's 27-yard connection with Tim Patrick gets Lions into Colts' territory:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-goff-s-27-yard-connection-with-patrick-gets-lions-into-colts-territory

Goff to St. Brown execute a perfect PA pass for 15 yards:  https://www.nfl.com/videos/goff-to-st-brown-execute-a-perfect-pa-pass-for-15-yards
Posted by LionsFan at 9:06 PM 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
.main-inner .sidebar .Poll { background-color: #AD966C; padding: 15px; }