Category: Detroit lions news

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Message

Submit

CNN — In a rematch of the 2023 NFC Championship game, the Detroit Lions, an offensive powerhouse, continued to cruise by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 40-34 on Monday.

The Lions’ victory puts them back atop the NFC standings going into the last week of the regular season, but Detroit’s matchup on Monday night was anything from easy.

With touchdowns on their first three possessions of the game, the 49ers got off to a fast start and led 21–13 at the half by eight points.

The game was tied at 21 when the Lions opened the second half with a touchdown drive and two-point conversion, but the Niners quickly responded with another touchdown to take the lead again.

The tide shifted decisively in Detroit’s favor after two interceptions by Lions safety Kirby Joseph, and the team’s potent offense continued to rack up points as they won their 14th game of the year. With nine interceptions this season, Joseph is currently ahead of the next closest player in the NFL.

In addition to throwing three touchdown passes to set a new career best of 33 this season, Lions quarterback Jared Goff recorded his sixth 300-yard passing performance of the year.

With a season-high 117 rushing yards, Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs put the game out of the Lions’ grasp with a 30-yard touchdown run that demonstrated his lightning-fast pace.

The Lions may have scored an NFL-best 533 points on the season, but the team’s injury-plagued defense has been abused in recent games.

Over the last five games, Detroit’s opponents have scored 30 points per game on average. On Monday, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy passed for a career-high 377 yards, and the 49ers’ offense easily moved the ball up and down the field, outscoring Detroit in the process.

The Minnesota Vikings represent the other elephant in the room. Detroit still hasn’t secured their division even though they have already won more games in a season than any other Lions club.

The Vikings have a record of 14-2. The two teams will play each other in Week 18, with the winner receiving homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, a bye week, and the NFC North title.

The team that loses Sunday’s game will be the fifth seed in the NFC and will have to travel to begin the playoffs.

The loser will also create dubious history by becoming the NFL’s first-ever 14-win wild card squad.

Jake Bates’ field goal with 15 seconds left in October gave the Lions their first setback of the season, and recent history favored them.

The NFL revealed on Sunday that the crucial Week 18 match will take place in primetime, much to the pleasure of football enthusiasts.

 

The Detroit Lions defeated the Houston Texans 26-23 on Sunday, their sixth consecutive victory, thanks to a 52-yard field goal by Jake Bates as time ran out.

After falling behind 23-7 at the half, the Lions scored the game’s last 19 points.

In the victory, quarterback Jared Goff threw five interceptions, but Detroit overcame his wild performance.

Goff is only the third quarterback to throw five interceptions and win a game since 1990.

C.J. Stroud was fired four times and had two interceptions of his own for the Texans.

The Lions’ first drive ended with Goff being picked off, and eight plays later, Houston replied with a touchdown.

The Texans increased their lead with a field goal following a Detroit three-and-out.

The Lions’ 11-play, 70-yard drive to narrow the score to 10-7 gave the impression that they were finally settling into an offensive rhythm.

However, their last four drives of the first half consisted of a three-and-out, an interception, another interception on a Hail Mary try, and another three-and-out.

Houston added a touchdown and two more field goals during that period.

John Metchie’s 15-yard reception, his first of his career, was the Texans’ last touchdown.

The quarterbacks exchanged interceptions to begin the second half. Detroit eventually worked down the field for a touchdown after a Houston punt, bringing the score down to 23–13. The game suddenly came to a stop.

Before the offenses combined for three consecutive punts, the quarterbacks exchanged interceptions a second time.

With a seven-play, 64-yard drive for a touchdown to make the score 23–20, the Lions finally put everything back in order.

Houston had a late chance to win after Detroit tied the score with another seven-play drive.

Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 58-yard field goal that would have put Houston ahead, but Stroud guided the Texans to the 40-yard line.

 

 

The Detroit Lions must sort through more than 30 restricted, unrestricted, and exclusive rights free agents this offseason.

Cornerback Carlton Davis, who was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is at or near the top of the list.

Davis had one of his best seasons with the Lions, helping to stabilize one of the boundary cornerback spots while also acting as Terrion Arnold’s mentor and leader.

However, as has been the case throughout his career, Davis was unable to maintain his health, and his season ended early due to a fractured jaw sustained in Week 15. Davis has been in the NFL for seven years, but he has never participated in more than 14 games in a single season.

If the Lions want to get Davis back, they will face competition for his services because he will be among the best cornerbacks available on the free-agent market.

DETROIT — As the club gets ready for their game against the Detroit Pistons, the Dallas Mavericks have made Danté Exum accessible for the first time this season, which is a positive development.

After recovering from surgery on his right wrist, Exum will be limited to 15 minutes as he gradually resumes competition.

After they manage his workload, the Mavericks will assess how his time on the court went.

Jason Kidd, the head coach of the Mavericks, stated that he would be subject to a minute restriction. “We’ll observe his stints.”

The return of Exum to the starting lineup is crucial for the Mavericks, who have been dealing with a number of injuries for months.

It is anticipated that his ability to manage the ball, create open shots, and play defense will help.

Before sustaining his injury during training camp, he was supposed to be the starting backup guard.

Kidd described him as a team player who can push the ball, set the table, play defense, and make open shots.

“We are glad to have him back because we really missed him.”

 

According to reports, the New York Jets have hired the tight ends coach from the Detroit Lions to serve under Aaron Glenn, their new head coach.

The Jets have reached an agreement with Steve Heiden to take over as their offensive line coach, according to the NFL Network.

Tanner Engstrand, the coordinator of passing games, is still seen as the front-runner to be the Jets’ next offensive line coach. John Morton is praised by Jon Gruden.

The Lions gave John Morton the keys to one of the league’s most successful attacks for the previous three seasons when they signed him as their new offensive coordinator.

Morton had previously worked with the Lions in 2022, and he assisted in putting many of the scheme’s components into place while former coordinator Ben Johnson was in charge.

As a seasoned coach, Morton draws inspiration from Jim Harbaugh, Sean Payton, and Jon Gruden.

The Lions’ new coordinator was praised by Gruden, who won a Super Bowl while coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at a recent

When Gruden remarked, “I hope Detroit gets him,” “I’m aware that other clubs are vying for his services and that Denver doesn’t want to lose him.

However, adding Johnny Morton would be a great excuse to go drink the nicest glass of cabernet you have.

Gruden and Morton collaborated with the Raiders in Oakland and Las Vegas.

Gruden hired Morton to coach the Raiders for the first time in 1998.

 

The two collaborated until Gruden was traded before the 2002 season.

When Gruden rejoined the Raiders as head coach in 2019, they would reconnect and stay together until Gruden’s resignation in 2021.

 

 

In the upcoming summer, general manager Brad Holmes will try to strengthen a roster that lost to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Lions should still try to acquire some new players in free agency this summer, even if their roster is strong and full with dependable veterans and exciting talent.

According to Over the Cap, the team is expected to have about $46 million in cap space, but if Detroit decides to make some cuts, that amount might increase.

Kalif Raymond, a wide receiver and special team player, is one of the Lions’ probable cap casualties, according to Pride of Detroit’s John Whiticar.

“Almost unthinkable a year ago, Raymond’s contract and production puts him in a tough spot for the Lions,” Whiticar stated. “During his time with the Lions, the two-time All-Pro has excelled as an offensive contributor in addition to a returner.

But offensively, 2024 was by far his poorest season in Detroit.

“Raymond had the most punt return yards of his career (413 yards, which led the league) and added a punt return touchdown as well,” Whiticar stated.

“The question is not his return ability, but whether the Lions want to pay over $6 million for a returner with a lessening impact on offense.” Raymond joined the Lions in 2021 and has since been a prolific returner and sporadic offensive threat.

After spending the majority of his career as a journeyman, the 30-year-old has settled in Detroit and found a position that suits him.

Despite not being a reliable offensive playmaker and missing five games in 2024 due to injury, Raymond, a former undrafted free agent, was selected to the second team All-Pro this season and is still.

 

 

One of the most anticipated events in the offseason pre-draft process is the Senior Bowl, where the league travels to Mobile, Alabama, to watch many of the best players in this year’s draft class.

The Detroit Lions’ offseason has begun, and there is increased excitement about who the team might sign to help them contend for the Super Bowl in 2025.

The prospects will practice Tuesday through Thursday before playing on Saturday.

The Detroit Lions’ offseason has begun, and there is increased interest in who the team might sign to help them contend for the 2025 Super Bowl.

The Senior Bowl, where the league travels to Mobile, Alabama, to watch several of the best players in this year’s draft class, is one of the most anticipated events in the offseason pre-draft process.

The prospects will play a game on Saturday after practicing from Tuesday through Thursday.

Skattebo, one of the class’ top running backs and a dynamic player, was the catalyst for Arizona State’s journey to the College Football Playoffs. He can help as a pass-catcher and is a strong, athletic runner.

With David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit possesses a strong backfield, making this one of the less important positions. But the do-it-all running back is the best option if the Lions want to add even more firepower at the position.

A former linebacker for LSU football is becoming a more senior coach. Ian Rapport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network have reported that Kelvin Sheppard will take over as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.

Aaron Glenn, who left to pursue the head coaching position with the New York Jets, will be replaced by him. Sheppard, the team’s former linebackers coach, takes over as head coach of a squad that finished in the top 10 in most defensive statistics, including red zone defense and scoring, ranking No. 7 and No. 5 versus the rush.

During the regular season, the Lions had the greatest third-down defense in the NFL. Sheppard served as LSU’s director of player development for a year before joining head coach Dan Campbell’s staff in 2021 as the outside linebackers coach.

Sheppard wore the purple and gold under Les Miles from 2007 to 2010. Over four seasons, he recorded 311 tackles in total.

He forced two fumbles and recorded four sacks in his senior year.

In the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Sheppard was chosen by the Buffalo Bills. Prior to becoming a coach, he played professionally for eight years.