Lions News

[Iron Lion]

Normally I’d agree with you but I’m having a hard time seeing us making a run this year and retaining Ben Johnson next year. It’s a miracle he even came back.

It’s not game over if he leaves but it’s a major knock

And who discovered Ben Johnson? HCMCDC. Coordinators are almost always home-grown, and good HCs got a whole garden going that blossoms into a HC tree.

Don't get me wrong. I'd rather keep Ben than not. But were the openings he turned down that bad? If he wasn't turning down teams for being dysfunctional, maybe what he said was the truth and that he wants to finish what he started. Winning a playoff game isn't finishing it.

Or maybe it was just coach speak and he wants a better opportunity. Lol. Who knows.

[whatever_gong82]

Lions wary of Packers wanting primetime payback: ‘They’re gonna come out firing’


Nolan Bianchi
The Detroit News



Allen Park — Before and after last season’s finale against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field the Detroit Lions went on and on about disrespect.

It’s not entirely fair to say the shoe’s on the other foot now, but the Lions are favored in Green Bay (-1.5), and enter Thursday night’s contest at Lambeau certain they are the better team, with recent history to back it up. The Lions have won three straight in the series dating to the 2021 season finale.

“I feel like we’re usually the team that’s on that side, so it kind of feels different being on (this) side,” wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said.


All told, there’s been a ton of change since the end of last season. Running back Jamaal Williams and safety DeShon Elliott, two of the loudest voices against the naysayers, are gone, as is the target of their complaints: Former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who joined the New York Jets via trade before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 1.


Still, the Lions are wary of the Packers wanting payback.

“I know their coach is probably telling them they didn’t like the way their season ended last year,” St. Brown said.

“It’s a division game, so it means that much more, but definitely, if I’m them, and I was on that team last year, I’m probably excited to play us again on primetime, like we did the last game of the season. I know they’re gonna come out ready, firing, so we gotta be ready, too.”



Lions quarterback Jared Goff said he didn’t give much thought to the idea of payback, but did note the amplified intensity of a division game, especially between two teams who think they can win the division.

“It’s a road division game. That’s, for us, why it’s big,” Goff said. “It’s Week 4 and they all matter the same, I think is really what we always say, but yeah, it’s our road division game, which means a little bit more for us and it will for them too, so it’ll be fun.”


Goff said his team feels particularly equipped to play in the spotlight. In the last two seasons, the Lions have won their only primetime games: At Lambeau in Week 18 last season, and at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 of this season.

“We’ve had them all on the road, it seems like, and it’s kind of the us-versus-everybody mentality and going in there with our backs against the wall…and trying to come out with a ‘W,’” Goff said.


Lions finding offensive success, but hungry for more


According to nearly everybody involved, the Lions were hoping to achieve even greater offensive heights in 2023 than they did the year prior.

Three games in — they haven’t hit them quite yet, relative to the rest of the league. The 2-1 Lions rank 13th in the league with 72 points (24 per game) and eighth in total offense (381.3 yards per game).


On its face, is it an issue that the Lions aren’t top-five in those categories? Not really. The team is more built to play complementary football than it was when it was last season, and what’s interesting is that it’s actually out-pacing the total offense in 2022 (380.0), when the Lions ranked third in that category.

“I think Atlanta was a good defense. Certainly, we missed some opportunities there, but they did a good job defending us, and yeah, we had plenty of possessions to score more points, but sometimes the game dictates it that way, our defense playing the way they were,” Goff said.

“I think (there’s) plenty of stuff to work on and I think we’ve got three sample sizes. One of them we scored 31 and the other two we scored 20, so yeah, hopefully this week we can even it back out and be somewhere towards the top.”


nbianchi@detroitnews.com Twitter/X: @nolanbianchi

[Iron Lion]

3 hours on the nose to GB without any major traffic. Don't have anybody to roll with me though.

I stopped off in Green Bay in August this year on my way up to the UP to check out Lambeau for the first time. It was right when the Packers were wrapping up their training camp practice for the day, and people were lining up to see the players. I waited about 20 minutes because I wanted to let Love know that Hutch was coming, but ended up hitting the road before they came out.

Go. We will all be with you.

[whatever_gong82]

Lions rule out three, list four starters as questionable for Thursday's game in Green Bay


Justin Rogers
The Detroit News


Green Bay, Wis. — The Detroit Lions are ruling out just three players due to injury for Thursday night's game against the Green Bay Packers, while several key starters are listed as questionable for the contest.

Offensive tackle Taylor Decker, guard Jonah Jackson, running back David Montgomery, safety Kerby Joseph and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley all drew the questionable tag. On Tuesday, Lions coach Dan Campbell expressed a higher level of optimism regarding Decker and Montgomery's status after both players were sidelined last Sunday against Atlanta.

Decker, who said at the start of the week he intended to play against Green Bay, has been out since the season opener, when he suffered a high-ankle sprain and bone bruise. As for Jackson, he suffered a thigh injury against the Falcons, but played every offensive snap in the game. He's also expected to suit up Thursday.


Joseph and Moseley figure to be game-time decisions. Joseph is still dealing with a hip injury suffered on the opening drive of the team's Week 2 game against Seattle. If he can't go, Ifeatu Melifonwu will start in his place for the second week in a row. And with Moseley, Campbell expressed reluctance with pushing the veteran corner into his 2023 debut without a traditional week of practice, given the team only conducted walkthroughs leading into the Packers matchup.

In addition to those five players, the Lions ruled out fullback Jason Cabinda (knee) and offensive linemen Matt Nelson (ankle) and Halapoulivaati Vaitai.



Requiring surgery, Nelson eventually will be placed on injured reserve in the coming days. As for Vaitai, it will be the second consecutive week he'll be held out. He'll be replaced in the lineup by veteran Graham Glasgow.


jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter/X: @Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers: Dave Birkett's scouting report, prediction


Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press




Detroit Lions (2-1) at Green Bay Packers (2-1)

The coaches: Lions — Dan Campbell (19-29-1 overall, 14-22-1 with Lions); Packers — Matt LaFleur (49-20 overall, 49-20 with Packers).

Last game: Lions beat the Atlanta Falcons, 20-6; Packers beat the New Orleans Saints, 18-17.

Last meeting: Jan. 8, 2023: Lions won, 20-16.

Key matchups

Packers OLB Rashan Gary vs. Lions RT Penei Sewell: Sewell should be back at right tackle this week after two fill-in starts at left tackle for Taylor Decker, and that means he’ll square off plenty with Green Bay’s best edge rusher. Gary, the former Michigan football standout, tore his ACL in a loss to the Lions last November. He’s yet to play more than 23 snaps in a game, and he probably won’t exceed that on short rest this week. But he did have three sacks against the Saints and he does have 2.5 sacks against the Lions in his career. Sewell is an All-Pro caliber player, so this should be a fun game within the game to watch.

Lions TE Sam LaPorta vs. Packers LB Quay Walker: LaPorta has had a record start to his NFL career with 18 catches through three games, the most ever by a rookie tight end. He’s racked up yards after the catch (76) and made big plays in late-game situations to earn Jared Goff’s trust, but he won’t be catching defenses by surprise anymore. Walker never comes off the field for the Packers. He leads the team in tackles (28) and returned an interception for a touchdown in a Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears. He’s not a tight end stopper, yet. But this should be the first of many good battles between two of the better young players in the NFC North.


Scouting report

Lions run offense vs. Packers run defense

The Lions haven’t been great running the football this year, but they’ve been pretty good when it’s mattered most. They used their four-minute offense to salt away their Week 1 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, and they kept the ball on the ground for most of their game-clinching touchdown drive last week against Atlanta.


David Montgomery is expected back from a thigh bruise after sitting out against the Falcons. If he’s not on a snap count, he should resume his role as the Lions’ lead back. Montgomery has six broken tackles on 37 carries, according to Pro Football Reference, and is averaging a career-best 2.5 yards before contact. Jahmyr Gibbs is a nice compliment to Montgomery in the backfield, though his biggest contributions so far have come in the pass game.

The Packers rank near the bottom of the NFL at 136.7 rushing yards allowed per game through three weeks, a number that’s skewed by Atlanta’s 211-yard rushing day in Week 2. Walker and De’Vondre Campbell patrol the middle of the linebacking corps, and Kenny Clark is the best player on a front that could give the Lions’ revolving door of an offensive line fits with its changing looks. The Lions should get Decker back at left tackle, but right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai remains out with a knee injury. Edge: Lions



Lions pass offense vs. Packers pass defense


The Lions are averaging more yards per pass (7.9) than every NFL team but the 70-point-scoring Miami Dolphins, but they don’t feel quite as explosive as last year. LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown account for 54% of their catches and 56% of their receiving yards, and last week Jared Goff targeted just four players — LaPorta, St. Brown, Gibbs and Kalif Raymond — on passes.


Goff is playing Pro Bowl-caliber football. He’s completing nearly 70% of his passes and limiting mistakes, though he has thrown interceptions each of the past two weeks. The Lions didn’t do a great job protecting Goff against the Falcons, but Decker’s return should help.

Jaire Alexander is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, but his status for Thursday is in question because of a back injury. If he plays, he’ll spend a lot of time on St. Brown. If he doesn’t, could be down to their fourth cornerback as rookie Carrington Valentine is dealing with a biceps injury. The Packers rank 10th in pass defense (199.7 ypg) and 11th in sack percentage (8.7%). Edge: Packers


Packers run offense vs. Lions run defense


The Packers want to be a run-first team, but things haven’t come easy on the ground this season. Green Bay is averaging 90.3 yards rushing per game, tied for 23rd in the league, and they were without their top running back (Aaron Jones) and two of their best linemen (David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins) last week because of injuries.


Jones was listed a limited participant on the Packers’ injury report Monday and Tuesday, so he could play this week. His backup, AJ Dillon, is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry through three games. “(Jones is) one of those special backs,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “He’s got the ability to take it on the perimeter, he has home run ability, he’s an inside runner, he’s a gadget guy, he’s pretty good out of the backfield as a receiver. It’s just, there’s just really nothing that he doesn’t do well.”


The Lions haven’t allowed 100 yards rushing in a game this season and shut down two of the league’s best rushing offenses, Seattle and Atlanta, the past two weeks. Alim McNeill is coming off one of his best games as a Lion, and Brian Branch has been excellent in run support as a slot cornerback. Edge: Lions


Packers pass offense vs. Lions pass defense

Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone said new Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love has a similar playing style to the four-time MVP he replaced, Aaron Rodgers. Love throws well on the move, has the ability to extend or make plays with his feet and has done a good job protecting the ball this season, though his 53.1% completion percentage is well below the NFL average.


Wide receiver Christian Watson said he plans to play Thursday after missing the first three games with a hamstring injury. He’s a viable deep threat when healthy. Romeo Doubs and rookie tight end Luke Musgrave have been Love’s favorite targets so far, and Jones is a capable receiver out of the backfield.

The Lions sold out to stop the run and dared the Falcons to beat them with the pass last week, and they could take a similar approach Thursday. Jerry Jacobs has been vulnerable to penalties (three) and big pass plays, and the Lions likely will start backups Tracy Walker and Ifeatu Melifonwu at safety again. But if that helps the pass rush stay hot and makes the Packers one dimensional, that’s the ticket to a win. Edge: Lions


Special teams

Dan Campbell said on 97.1-WXYT FM this week that his one regret from the Falcons game was he was too passive with some of his decisions. The Lions punted on a couple fourth-and-shorts near midfield, so maybe Jack Fox doesn’t get as much work this week. The Lions continue to have one of the best all-around special teams units in the league. They rank top-10 in both kick- and punt-return defense, and kicker Riley Patterson is a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, though he’s yet to attempt a kick longer than 38 yards.


The Packers gave up a 76-yard punt return touchdown last week, though their special teams showed improvement last season under new coordinator Rich Bisaccia. Rookie kicker Anders Carlson is 3 of 3 on field goals with a long of 52 yards and dangerous return man Keisean Nixon had a 105-yard kick-return touchdown last year. Edge: Lions


Prediction

These are the two best teams in the NFC North, and frankly I don’t think the Packers are as good as the Lions. Love has been so-so in his first season as starter, and the Packers aren’t in a great spot when it comes to injuries. But Green Bay does have a talented defense, and playing a revenge game, at home, on Thursday night football, the intangibles seem to be in the Packers’ favor. The Lions won’t be intimidated by the environment, but they need to take better care of the football and they need their offense to play well on the road, which it hasn’t always done in recent years. Division games tend to be low-scoring, and I don’t think this will be any different. In a game that I think comes down to the final possession, I’m leaning Packers. The pick: Packers 21, Lions 20.


Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

[whatever_gong82]

Taylor Decker, David Montgomery, Emmanuel Moseley among 5 Lions questionable vs. Packers


Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press


Emmanuel Moseley’s Detroit Lions debut is coming soon.

Moseley was one of five players the Lions listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers, along with left tackle Taylor Decker, running back David Montgomery, left guard Jonah Jackson and safety Kerby Joseph.

Right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee), swing tackle Matt Nelson (ankle) and fullback Jason Cabinda (knee) are out.

One of the Lions’ top free agent signings of the offseason, Moseley has not played this season. He missed all of training camp while rehabbing from the torn ACL he suffered last fall with the San Francisco 49ers, then pulled a hamstring when he returned to practice earlier this month.



Moseley was listed as a limited participant every day on the Lions’ estimated practice report this week, but Lions coach Dan Campbell said the team is hesitant to play him given his lack of practice reps.

The Lions had only walkthroughs in practice this week.


“That’ll be the plan is work him in and I think more than anything it’ll probably be by series, certainly give him a couple in a row there where he gets a good feel, and I think probably most of it’ll be, we’ll put a governor on his reps so that we’re smart about that as he comes back,” Campbell said. “And then really from there it’s just about, man, how does he feel, what’s his body saying and then it’s just about getting in conditioning like the rest of guys have done.”

Moseley is expected to eventually replace Jerry Jacobs as the Lions’ No. 2 cornerback.



While Lions could wait till next week’s game against the Carolina Panthers to get Moseley his first playing time of the season, Decker and Montgomery said this week they plan to play against the Packers.

Joseph remains a game day decision because of a hip injury he suffered in the Lions’ Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.


If he can’t play, Tracy Walker and Ifeatu Melifonwu will start at safety for the second straight week.


Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

[chemiclord]

No disrespect meant for Hutch, but I'd argue he wasn't even the best defensive player on the field last Sunday playing for the Lions.

Branch was fucking EVERYWHERE on Sunday.

[Mainevent]

My favorite Branch sequence was when he missed a tackle on Allgeir along the sideline because he came in high and kind of whiffed and I think it was the very next play where he knifed into the backfield and wrapped him up with about the most picture perfect text book tackle you’re ever going to see.

[CGVT]

No disrespect meant for Hutch, but I'd argue he wasn't even the best defensive player on the field last Sunday playing for the Lions.

Branch was fucking EVERYWHERE on Sunday.

Yep. I thought the same thing when I saw that Hutch was chosen.

[whatever_gong82]

Finally, Lions' path to division crown no longer runs through Hall of Fame QB in Green Bay


Justin Rogers
The Detroit News


Allen Park — It's been 30 years — three brutal decades — since the Detroit Lions have won their division and hosted a playoff game. And it's hardly a coincidence the Green Bay Packers have been quarterbacked by two of the greatest to ever play that position the entirety of that time.

For as long as the NFC North has existed, following the league's re-alignment in 2002, the road to its crown has traveled through Lambeau Field. The Packers have impressively won the division 13 times during that stretch riding the arms and playmaking abilities of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.


Not to be dismissive of the cultural changes and roster improvements in Detroit under coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes — because both are critical to the franchise's current and future success — but Green Bay's offseason decision to move on from Rodgers, and turn the keys over to the unproven and untested Jordan Love, plays a not-to-be understated role in the optimism this will be the year the Lions snap their skid.


That's not to say Love isn't talented in his own right. A first-round pick in 2020, he's following in Rodgers' footsteps in more ways than one. Like his predecessor, Love had to patiently serve as a backup for three seasons before taking the reins in Green Bay. But he's off to a strong start as the starter, winning two of his first three games, including last week's 17-point, second-half comeback against the New Orleans Saints. Plus, he's having success with some of Rodgers' trademark abilities: Using his feet to make plays when the pocket breaks down and the avoidance of costly turnovers.

Rodgers long has been a master of protecting the football. He had an 11-year stretch as the Packers starter where he never threw more than eight interceptions in a season. Love, meanwhile, has done a similarly effective job avoiding game-changing blunders to open the 2023 campaign, tossing a single pick and not losing a fumble.



"I just think he’s running the ship pretty good over there right now," Campbell said. "He certainly knows the system, he understands what (Packers) coach (Matt) LaFleur wants him to do. I think that makes him pretty tough."

But there are also massive differences between Love's current level of play and what the Lions had to contend with every time they faced off against a Rodgers-led Packers squad. First and foremost, there's a glaring discrepancy in accuracy. Arguably the most efficient to ever play the quarterback position, Rodgers completed 65.3% of his passes during his 18 years in Green Bay. Love sits at an underwhelming 53.1% through three games, one of the worst completion percentages in the league. Only Zach Wilson, coincidentally filling in for an injured Rodgers with the New York Jets, is completing a lower percentage of his passes.


And while both Love and Rodgers bring dual-threat ability to the table, what always made Rodgers truly dangerous was his elite ability to execute in a scramble drill, when he could bail from the pocket but still be able to make things happen downfield because of his curated relationships with his veteran receivers, guys like Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams.

Love doesn't have anything close to that chemistry with his receiving options, at least not yet, because like him, they haven't had the time on task to develop those skills and bonds. The team's primary receiver options, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs, are all developing talents taken in the 2022 draft, while Love's top tight end is rookie Luke Musgrave.



All of them are talented, and project to have lengthy, productive NFL careers, but it takes time to develop the shared vision and processing Rodgers had with his receivers that made defending the Packers' passing game a nightmare for defensive backfields.

"I feel like there's a lot more, I guess, system if you will, more than probably alternatives, audibles, checks at the line," Campbell said. "...They're going to get in the right play, but I think there's a little bit more it's this or that and here we go, here's the look and let's run it. That way he can play fast and do what they do well."



Obviously, Love is good enough to hurt defenses, both with his willingness to attack downfield or take off running. Bottling up mobile quarterbacks has been an ongoing issue for the Lions in recent years. But ultimately, the team's points of emphasis against the Falcons a week ago offer a similar blueprint to success against what the Packers do well right now. That means keeping Love contained to the pocket and slowing Green Bay's ground game tandem of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.


Who knows? Maybe Love ends up becoming the next great Packers quarterback. At the very least, he's off to a better start than Favre, who was traded following a forgettable rookie season in Atlanta and fumbled six times in his first three appearances with the Packers.

We're probably a long time from finding out what the current Green Bay quarterback's ceiling can be. We only know what he is right now, and that's inexperienced with limitations. That's why the iron is hot and ready for Detroit to strike, to grab an early lead in the division standings, with aspirations of exorcising some ghosts and halting their title-less drought.


jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter/X: @Justin_Rogers

[Topweasel]

Yep. I thought the same thing when I saw that Hutch was chosen.

It's always about the splash plays. The sacks, the turnover, those outweigh steady production to most people. Though one could question why Branchs TFL's weren't treated higher. Also the sack and turn-over was a dagger play that basically ended the game for Atlanta. That grabs peoples attentions.

I am in agreeance here though. Hutch played really well. Set the edge almost perfectly. Got good pressure and was about time he got home. That said Branch was playing balls to wall way over his experience all game. Should have been the winner.

[chemiclord]

It's a bit astounding how well all of the Lions first four picks in that "awful" draft have been playing. All of them have had an impact in all three games; and LaPorta and Branch especially have not been playing like rookies at positions that are normally extremely difficult for rookies to pick up and play at a high level.

It's not just "splashy" stuff, either. These guys are also doing the "little things" that don't pop off the film right away. LaPorta has been surprisingly good in run blocking, for example, or improvising on routes when Goff is under pressure. Branch is identifying and hitting the correct gaps to force running plays out of cadence, even if he doesn't get the tackle. Things that rookies normally don't do very well, if they do them at all.

[jaadam4]

It's a bit astounding how well all of the Lions first four picks in that "awful" draft have been playing. All of them have had an impact in all three games; and LaPorta and Branch especially have not been playing like rookies at positions that are normally extremely difficult for rookies to pick up and play at a high level.

It's not just "splashy" stuff, either. These guys are also doing the "little things" that don't pop off the film right away. LaPorta has been surprisingly good in run blocking, for example, or improvising on routes when Goff is under pressure. Branch is identifying and hitting the correct gaps to force running plays out of cadence, even if he doesn't get the tackle. Things that rookies normally don't do very well, if they do them at all.

Completely agreed. Branch is playing like Sauce Gardner did as a rookie. It’s crazy how good they are right now

[Iron Lion]

The last time this organization actually hit on a 2nd rounder, we gave the guy away to Philly (Slay, not Swift). Now we somehow double dip in round 2. Before Slay we hadn't had an actually good pick since friggen Jason Hanson.

[LightninBoy]

No disrespect meant for Hutch, but I'd argue he wasn't even the best defensive player on the field last Sunday playing for the Lions.

Branch was fucking EVERYWHERE on Sunday.

I had the exact same thought. But hell, its a pretty good problem to have if my only gripe on who was chosen as the defensive player of the week is that it should've been the *other* Detroit player who had a monster game.