Let the Big Cats Eat. Gameday Thread Jaguars at Lions 11/17/24

[El Axe]

A little push from your friend

On David Montgomery’s second touchdown run, a 6-yard effort in the second quarter, he was pushed the final one or two yards across the goal line by right tackle Penei Sewell.

I joking asked Sewell if he gets half-credit for the score. The response wasn’t nearly as playful.


“Oh, no, that was all him,” Sewell said. “I was doing my job, being there.”

Sewell was likely still locked in, even though the game had ended 15-20 minutes earlier. He was coming off a down performance against Houston the previous week and was a man on a mission Sunday.


“I took this one kind of personally,” Sewell said. “…I kind of had a mindset coming into this game of what I wanted to do and what I wanted to show the coaches, the team and everybody in the organization. I've got to watch the film, but I think I did that.”

The assist on the score wasn’t lost on Montgomery.


“It means everything, knowing the kind of guy he is,” Montgomery said. “He's already an elite player, but for him to be the guy giving his all, all the time, it shows he's elite beyond his physical abilities. It's a blessing to be able to run behind a guy like that.

“But I did feel that hit.”

If you get a chance to see the replay on that play, you'll see that Sewell blocked TWO seperate potential tacklers on that play before pushing DMo across the line. The dude just plays on another level.

[whatever_gong82]

It seems like a decade ago that the Lions were getting criticized for their 2023 Draft for lack of positional value.

PFF to this day it seems to me that they still won't admit that the Detroit Lions hit it out of the ballpark with their 2023 NFL Draft, which makes them silly in the process.

Ironic, since their product is actually decent.

[El Axe]

It seems like a decade ago that the Lions were getting criticized for their 2023 Draft for lack of positional value.

Watching the Chargers-Bengals last night, I realized that the Chargers chose to follow the Lions drafting blueprint and not the Bengals. Bengals used the tradiitional thinking to draft WR Chase over Sewell. The Chargers -- even though they have an all-pro left tackle -- chose to draft a potentially great tackle in Alt and MOVED HIM TO Right Tackle instead of drafting Nabers, a Chase-like prospect.

[Mainevent]

I think I’m still taking Joey Porter Jr over Jack Campbell, but Jack definitely stepped his game way up in year 2 and he keeps on this trend upward, he can certainly change my mind. He’s been really, really good.

[Cody_Russell]

Nah, all of the “draft experts” would talk down on you about Porter Jr’s stiffness/ lack of change in direction. So many other CBs like Banks from Maryland were fluid like liquid. Porter Jr. dominated on tape and didn’t botch his 40 like Tabor? Pfffff.

It’s great to see Campbell take off. We’re finally starting to see the best LB from college in 2022.

[froot loops]

Joey Porter Jr. Is good but Campbell's PFF grade is much higher this year. Campbell has been good to great this year.

[Iron Lion]

When that #7 got that long sideline catch, for a moment I'm thinking, "Ok, it's 49-6, the dude got hurt on the play, are we really gonna challenge that or just let him have it? Oh... right... one ass cheek and three toes."

[whatever_gong82]

Three and Out: In build and in attitude, these Lions are the modern day Bad Boys

Justin Rogers
Nov 18



Allen Park — Here are three observations after a second viewing and a night to ponder the Detroit Lions’ 52-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.


Bad Boys in build and in spirit


For the better part of two years, I’ve been comparing these Lions to another iconic team around these parts, the Bad Boys-era Detroit Pistons.


The reference has been tied to the Lions' linear build around a stable foundation. It’s something rarely seen in modern professional sports with the evolution of the salary cap and free agency, plus shorter leashes for coaches, leading to more frequent schematic and personnel overhauls.

Back to the Bad Boys. Part of what made them so endearing locally was that we took the ride with the individuals as they made incremental steps to reach the top of the mountain. We saw the first-round exit in 1986, falling short in the conference finals in 1987, and not being good enough to topple the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers in the 1988 Finals before finally getting over the hump the next two years.


Seeing photos of a champagne-soaked Isiah Thomas, smiling, clutching the championship trophy in the locker room carries added nostalgia because we watched the captain, that team’s heart and soul, fall short multiple times and keep coming back a little more driven the next season.

Lions fans are getting to experience something similar with this group. They saw the foundation laid in 2021 with the acquisition of quarterback Jared Goff via trade and the selections of Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown in the draft. They’ve witnessed the build from threatening to go winless that first year to the midseason turnaround in 2022 to last year’s run to the NFC Championship.


When the Pistons finally won their title, they left little doubt it was their time, winning the first eight games of the season on the way to a league-best 63-19 record. In 2024, it’s the Lions sitting atop the NFL’s standings.

Amusingly, the Lions are going about it with a little bit of a Bad Boys attitude, as well. Let's not kid ourselves: The Lions are bullies. They pulled down the Jaguars' pants and stuck their heads in a toilet Sunday. Even as they got ahead four scores, they continued to blitz on defense and throw downfield on offense.


They embody what Dan Campbell talked about the day he arrived.

“We’re going to kick you in the teeth, all right," Campbell said in what continues to be his most famous sound byte. "And when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you. And when you knock us down, we’re going to get up. And, on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off.”


The Jaguars never really punched back after getting kicked in the teeth on Sunday, but the Lions took their kneecaps any way. And you better believe they smiled while doing it.

Bill Laimbeer would be proud.



Fundamentally sound


That was one of the more unique defensive performances I remember watching.


Typically, when an opponent scores just six points, the defensive stat sheet is stuffed with hallmarks of playmaking. That was hardly the case against Jacksonville.

Yes, there was Kerby Joseph’s league-leading seventh interception that ended a scoring threat late in the third quarter. And newcomer Za’Darius Smith sliced through the interior of Jacksonville’s offensive line as part of a third-down blitz in the fourth frame, splitting a sack with linebacker Jack Campbell.


But what else?

That was the only sack and turnover of the game for the Lions. Additionally, the defense only hit Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones one other time and the unit didn't record another pass breakup until a replay review overturned a deep throw to Brian Thomas down the sideline midway through the fourth quarter, giving backup safety Brandon Joseph credit for a pass defended.


What this means is the Lions played with exceptional fundamentals throughout the contest. Gaps were filled, coverage was sticky and defenders flew to the ball at every turn.

The pristine execution is highlighted in some of the more obvious numbers, such as the Jaguars’ inability to get anything going on the ground. Travis Etienne was already having a difficult year coming into the contest and the Lions weren’t about to let his fortunes flip at Ford Field, holding the third-year dual-threat to 27 yards on 12 carries (and just 6 more yards on three catches).


But the number that stood out, after some manual tabulation this morning, was yards after the catch. The Jacksonville passing attack centered around quick throws, further negating Detroit’s pass rush. But on 17 completions, the Jaguars mustered just 71 yards after the catch.

For context, NFL teams are averaging 112 yards this season. The cherry on top is the Lions missed a season-low two tackles.


Obviously, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will unearth plenty to correct in the unending pursuit of perfection, but this game should ultimately serve as teach tape for effort and execution.

Although the hunt for big plays never stops, the Lions didn’t need them Sunday because all 11 players consistently did their jobs within the scheme. It might not be as exciting as seven sacks or four turnovers, but it further highlights how far Detroit’s defense has come this season.



Next man up, again


Alex Anzalone's injury is a gut punch, but how can you not be inspired by his positivity in the hours after learning he'll likely miss most, if not the remainder of the regular season?


“As an athlete, a lot of times you think, ‘Why did this have to happen?’” Anzalone posted to social media. “But I like to think about all the countless reps something bad didn’t happen. I’m beyond blessed! I’ll be back in no time, fresh legs and all.”

Anzalone is no stranger to injury. Shoulder issues gave him all kinds of issues in college and early in his pro career, costing him most of his first and third seasons in the NFL.


In Detroit, he’s largely put those durability issues behind him. He missed the end of the 2021 campaign with a shoulder issue, but just two contests the past two-and-a-half seasons, including one earlier this year with a concussion where he had been cleared, but the team opted to proceed with an abundance of caution.

The immediate drive to get back is something we’ve seen with some of the roster's other players who have suffered what would be season-ending injuries under normal circumstances. Guys like Aidan Hutchinson and Derrick Barnes are attacking their rehab with maximum effort in hopes of rejoining the team in what’s lining up to be a magical run.


But what shouldn’t be ignored is how well the Lions have absorbed this string of body blows. Remarkably, they haven’t lost since they lost Hutchinson — a legitimate contender for Defensive Player of the Year — went down. Whether they've had to turn to inexperienced depth or plug in a practice squad promotion, they've kept chugging.

The Lions will have to patchwork another solution at linebacker. At least the team's depth is a little more reliable at that position. Jack Campbell was drafted in the first round last year for this kind of role. Malcolm Rodriguez started 15 games in 2022 and is nearing 1,000 defensive snaps in his career. And that’s half of the reps Ben Niemann has played. He figures to round out the initial rotation sans Anzalone.


Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Pride of Detroit Direct
by Jeremy Reisman

Let’s kick off the newsletter with a huge announcement. The PODcast is going LIVE! That’s right, to close out Movember, we are doing our first ever live podcast recording. On Wednesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. ET, we’re recording a live episode of the PODcast the night before the Lions’ big matchup against the Green Bay Packers at the historic Majestic Theater downtown in the Magic Stick room. We’ll have special guests, prize giveaways, a Q&A session, and a whole bunch of Lions talk. Part of the proceeds will go to support our Movember cause: The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.




For more information on the show–including how to purchase tickets–stay tuned to the newsletter this week. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask by replying to this email!


Now, let’s get into the Jaguars beatdown talk.




The Lions are going to eat you until there’s nothing left
It was 10 months ago the Detroit Lions walked off Levi’s Stadium dejected for blowing their chance at a Super Bowl after blowing a 17-point halftime lead. In the immediate aftermath of the game, Lions coach Dan Campbell glumly noted that they may not get to that point ever again, and if they do, it’s going to take more than they’ve ever given.


It’d be inaccurate to say that the Lions learned something about taking their foot off the pedal that night. Since Campbell has taken over, Detroit has played with a relentless attitude throughout all four quarters. In fact, it was that relentlessness that drew criticism from the loss. Campbell knew the 49ers comeback could happen, so they tried to keep their foot on the gas by attempting to score touchdowns instead of settling for field goals. It’s funny how that aggressiveness looks great when it works and bad when it doesn’t.




But that is the DNA of this team now, for all of its triumphs and all of its faults. If this team is out there on the field, they are giving 100%. Doesn’t matter if they’re down 16 points to the Houston Texans at halftime or up 29 points in the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They’re still going to pass the football, they’re still going to come at the quarterback. They’re going to run hook-and-ladders, go for it on fourth down, and challenge plays that the refs got wrong.


This is a long-engrained attitude that starts on the practice field. It’s the standard that’s set in training camp and in the weight room. If you’re going to even make this roster, you’re going to have to match the efforts of guys like Penei Sewel, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, Frank Ragnow, Jack Campbell and a dozen other players on the roster.




And unfortunately for the Chris Christies of the world, that is not a switch that can be flipped off. The players in that locker room are incapable of going 75 percent. They understand that the game of football is fleeting and can be taken away from them in an instant, so they are going to cherish every waking moment they’re out there on the field.


“Every game is important to me,” Taylor Decker said prior to the Jaguars game after missing last week. “We only get to play 17, and, you know, all things are pointing to us being in the playoffs, of course. I have had plenty of seasons where we don't get to (play in the playoffs), so every game is important to me.




“Like I said, the biggest thing when you're used to being out there with your teammates and guys you've played a lot of football with, when you're not out there, it's just a shitty feeling. It doesn't feel good. You want to be out there whether it's Week 10 and you're mathematically eliminated or it's Week 10 and you're rolling. That doesn't change my desire to be out there and play.”


Decker is far from the only player in the locker room who feels that way.




Of course, this culture is very much a top-down approach. It all stems from Dan Campbell. While the entire NFL was busy mocking his kneecaps comments, he also dropped this warning in his opening press conference.


“We’re going to play fast. We’re going to play violent. We’re going to attack. We’re going to have an attacking mentality,” Campbell said back in 2021. “You’re not going to know where it’s coming from. We’ll have multiple personnel groups, offensively, defensively. I know this is much more of a sub game than it ever used to be, particularly most offenses. But this will be something to where I feel like there’s an attitude, there’s a pride in where you live and where you play.”




Now you see similar comments permeate through the entire roster.


“If people have a problem with what we’re doing or complaining about it, then they can just come out here and play better football,” cornerback Carlton Davis said after Sunday’s win.




“The reality was that they’re a team who has less wins than us and we could have played down to our competition in some ways, and – not to disrespect them, they’re a hell of a squad – but, we wanted to play to our standard – nameless, faceless opponent,” Jared Goff said. “That’s not just them, that’s every week. I think we wanted to come out and stay on the gas the whole game, no matter what happened.”


So what’s the difference between the 2024 Lions and the Lions team that allowed the 49ers to waltz their way to the Super Bowl in the final two quarters? Simply put: they’re better. The offense is operating on historic levels, and the defense–despite the multitudes of injuries–is playing the best football Detroit has seen in a decade. Combine talent with this ruthless attitude and you’ve got yourself the best team in football.




Lions annihilate Jaguars in record-setting performance
By Brett Whitefield, owner and COO of Fantasy Points
*Before we dive in, remember that all data cited in this section is provided exclusively by Fantasy Points Data Suite - right now you can get 25% off of a Data Suite subscription by using our exclusive promo code POD25.


We are at the stage in the Lions evolution in which they break multiple records every single week, both NFL and franchise. This week was no different, as the Lions cruised to probably their most dominant performance in my lifetime–a sentence I have now said for the third time this season. Here is a fun list of milestones hit against the Jacksonville Jaguars.




-Notched their third win with at least a 38 point margin this season alone. Previous to this season the Lions only had three such games in the last 40 years!


-Their 138 passing yards allowed to Mac Jones is the sixth fewest they have allowed to a QB over the past 40 years.




-They averaged 8.49 yards per play on offense, the highest mark in the last 40 years.


-38 first downs, a new franchise record.


-645 net yards on offense, a new franchise record.


-Allowed just 3.6 yards per play on defense, the lowest game average in 40 years.




-Amon-Ra St. Brown scored a receiving touchdown in his eighth consecutive game which is a franchise record and only one game off tying the NFL record in a single season.


-David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs became the first RB duo to each notch at least eight rushing TDs in 10 games since 1971.




One of the most brought up talking points regarding the NFL is the parity in the league, and how even the worst teams can beat the best teams on the right day. Vegas spreads in the NFL don't often eclipse 10 points and reaching 13 points is even more rare. Most NFL games wind up being competitive, at least for a half. Garbage time covers are a real thing, too–where games look way closer on the scoreboard at the end than they really were (the recent game vs. the Packers is a great example).


I say all that to say, for the Lions to be absolutely bludgeoning teams as badly as they are–as frequently as they are–is insanely rare. Like, hasn’t happened since the 1999 “Greatest Show On Turf” Rams team rare (25 years ago).



I want everyone to have a firm grasp on what they are watching. This is greatness. You are watching the league's best offense, a historically good one at that, paired with elite special teams play and a defense that's probably twice as good as they were a year ago, even while missing their best player (Aidan Hutchinson). But then again, maybe Brian Branch is actually their best player.


For wins like this to come about, a LOT has to go right. Let's dive into what I think are the Lions two best units.



The secondary




Here is a strong take. The Lions secondary is the most improved unit year over year in the NFL. I am ready to call them a top-10 secondary across the board and I am pretty close to top-five. The tape and the data bear this out, especially if you look past some early season woes from first-round rookie Terrion Arnold and focus on how they are playing right now. Add the struggling pass-rush to the mix and it's pretty clear this unit is absolutely balling. They finally have a group of corners (and Branch) who can line up and play tight man coverage. The stickiness of coverage allows this unit to challenge every throw, and I mean that quite literally. This puts a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks to be near perfect with ball location against them, and the philosophy for the Lions is that eventually they will make a mistake when it matters.


Against the Jaguars, for example, we charted the Lions with “tight” coverage on 18 of 29 pass attempts. Some of the ones that weren’t charted as “tight” were throws underneath coverage near the LOS or a hole in zone in the short part of the field.





The last four games have been incredibly impressive. They have held all four opposing QBs they have played under 60% completion percentage. Over that stretch they rank:


-Fourth in adjusted net yards per pass attempt (4.29).


-First in forced incompletions (incompletions caused by a coverage defender)




-First in passer rating allowed (64.7)


-Fourth in completion % allowed (58.3%)


On the season they rank:


-Fourth in forced incompletions


-Second in interceptions


-Third in limiting “open” targets (48.1%)


-First in passer rating allowed (73.6)


-Second in adjusted net yards per pass attempt (4.63)



The offensive line


The Lions OL is arguably the top unit on any team in the entire NFL. The fruit speaks for itself but let's get into this game specifically.


The pass-protection was outstanding. Jared Goff was pressured on just 18% of dropbacks and wasn’t sacked a single time. Goff averaged a robust 2.86 second snap to throw per dropback. When Jacksonville did get pressure, it came very late in the play. On average, it took 2.93 seconds to get to Goff. The league average is around 2.5 seconds, while the Lions averaged 2.62 coming into this week’s game. In the run game, the Lions OL generated 3.05 adjusted yards before contact per carry (league average around 1.75). The Lions OL blew the Jaguars DL off the ball, which unlocks both of their backs' super powers, Gibbs’ speed and Monty’s strength.



On the season the Lions OL ranks:


-Third in pressure rate allowed over expectation (-6.92%).


-Third in adjusted yards before contact per carry (2.69).


They are the only offensive line that ranks top-10 in both categories.




VIDEO: Jeremy and Erik break down the Jaguars massacre

[froot loops]

Justin Rogers mentioned what I had been thinking about with the Bad Boys. Anybody who was around during the Bad Boys era knows that you were certain that they were winning the title in 1989. They had some real unfortunate plays and luck that denied them the title in the 1987 ECF and the 1988 Finals. The 88-89 Pistons were in a mission and they destroyed teams in the playoffs. I was never more sure in my life that they were winning it.

Football is different with one game eliminations, some of the great teams in the NFL have lost in the playoffs. But I hope in 35 years this team will be talked about in the same way people talk about the Bad Boys.

[whatever_gong82]