AMON-RA ST. BROWN

ALLEN PARK -- Amon-Ra St. Brown was one of the top offensive rookies in the NFL last season. St. Brown had at least 10 targets in six consecutive games to end the year. I really do,” St. Brown said Wednesday afternoon from the team’s practice facility. He’s expected back after missing the season’s final five games, so it’ll be interesting to see how Hockenson meshes with the ultra-involved St. Brown. “I think we’re a very diverse group and can do a lot of different things,” St. Brown said.

This is the first of a nine-part series previewing the Detroit Lions’ positional needs and priorities heading into the NFL draft, which is scheduled for April 28-30 in Las Vegas. “I told (my guys), ‘I’m trying to draft two and bring in one,’” Randle El said a few weeks ago. That’s a pretty good combination, and it helped propel Chark to a 1,000-yard season just two years ago. This is a historically good receiver class, with historically good speed by the way, and there are a whole bunch of guys ticketed for the back half of the first round. “I can play outside receiver, inside receiver and running back,” Burks said.

Each saw action, with Sewell, McNeill, St. Brown and Barnes seeing the most work from last year’s class. Original pick: Round 2, Pick 41: Levi Onwuzurike, DL, WashingtonRedraft: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame (Original: Round 2, Pick 52)Levi Onwuzurike didn’t offer much production. Original pick: Round 3, Pick 101: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, SyracuseRedraft: Nate Hobbs, CB, Illinois (Original: Round 5, Pick 167)Ifeatu Melifonwu comes with desirable physical traits and could develop into a solid matchup piece on Detroit’s defense. Original pick: Round 4, Pick 112: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USCRedraft: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USCThere is no reason to change this selection. Original pick: Round 4, Pick 113: Derrick Barnes, LB, PurdueRedraft: Caden Sterns, S, Texas (Round 5, Pick 152)It was more than tempting to grab Derrick Barnes here, without question, for the record.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Dan Campbell Experience is about to go national. HBO has picked the Detroit Lions to star on this year’s edition of “Hard Knocks,” the award-winning series that peels back the curtains on an NFL training camp every season. I have zero problem with it.”That’s Dan Campbell. A 30-person NFL Films crew will shoot more than 1,750 hours worth of footage from the Lions’ training camp in Allen Park. “As ‘Hard Knocks’ enters its third decade inside NFL training camps, we are both thrilled and thankful for the opportunity to feature a historic franchise like the Lions,” said Ken Rodgers, NFL Films vice president and senior coordinating producer.

INDIANAPOLIS -- It seems like it’s been about a year since I arrived at the NFL Scouting Combine and had lunch with Detroit Lions brass. The great debate for the Detroit Lions is whether they prefer Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux with the second overall pick. Amon-Ra St. Brown did work as a rookie, but the Lions know he is at his best in the short and intermediate field. But there were whispers at the combine about Robinson, a Detroit native, and his possible interest in coming home. I know Detroit loved working with Willis at the Senior Bowl, but I just don’t know if he’s a Dan Campbell type.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Detroit Lions picked a bad year to need a quarterback, but boy did they ever pick the right year to need a receiver. That’s what Lions receivers coach Antwaan Randle El wants. Just ask the man, because he’ll tell anyone within earshot that he wants three more receivers to help protect Amon-Ra St. Brown. Only John Ross (4.22 seconds in 2017), Dri Archer (4.26), Marquise Goodwin (4.27) and Henry Ruggs III (4.27 seconds) were faster. In the fastest combine in NFL history for receivers, that time ranked sixth best.

One of those people used to be Dan Campbell, who grew up on his folks’ ranch somewhere outside town. So was Amon-Ra St. Brown for that matter. St. Brown was known more for his blocking than anything else coming out of USC, which is why he fell to the final day of the draft. And if Burks isn’t a Dan Campbell type, I don’t know who is. (Then you have to stick a knife) right behind the front arm, front shoulder.”Is that not a Dan Campbell type or what?

Because at 6-foot-5, London is one of the biggest receivers in this year’s NFL draft. “He’s a beast,” St. Brown said. As the Lions search for the right fit to complement the extraordinary things St. Brown did out of the slot as a rookie, it’s worth considering St. Brown has already played with one of the year’s best big-play threats. The Lions can also see on tape what pairing St. Brown with London would look like. “(Playing with St. Brown again) would be a cool.

And then there’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, who just caught more passes for more yards than any rookie -- regardless of position -- in franchise history. Needless to say, the Detroit Lions are loaded with guys who can catch passes. But at 6-foot, St. Brown is at his best in the short and intermediate fields. He also played two seasons alongside St. Brown, providing the Lions with an opportunity to further vet the pick. “He’s a beast,” St. Brown said.

This is the first of an eight-part series previewing the Detroit Lions’ interests heading into the 2022 NFL combine, which kicks off next week. But you can’t play the games with just one receiver, and there are question marks everywhere around him. More than anything else on that side of the ball, the Lions need a top-shelf receiver to help stretch the field. So, yeah, expect the Lions to have a keen eye on the top wideouts when the NFL Scouting Combine gets rolling next week. He was voted the best receiver on the American team -- a team that was coached by the Detroit Lions, by the way.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Nobody caught more passes than Amon-Ra St. Brown in the final month of the season. No one had more catches than Amon-Ra St. Brown in the final month of the season, period. The Lions still lack a true playmaker, a field-stretcher, a guy that can hurt defenses no matter what they try to do to him. And receivers coach Antwaan Randle El has been plain about that with his guys, because reinforcements are on their way. They know it and that’s part of the game.”The Lions are expected to target an edge rusher with the No.

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Detroit Lions have formally spoken with tight ends coach Ben Johnson about their offensive coordinator position. Lions head coach Dan Campbell is also interviewing multiple external candidates this week, but Johnson is expected to be very much in the running to replace Anthony Lynn. “Coach Campbell and I have sat down and we’ve talked at length on a couple different of occasions,” Johnson said before practice on Thursday at the Senior Bowl. “I’ll be honest with you, it’s really his vision for it, and having his back with that vision,” Johnson said. The NFL, everyone watches each other, everybody steals plays, there aren’t that many new plays that we’re seeing week to week.

But when the conversation turned to Detroit’s search for a new offensive coordinator, or whether head coach Dan Campbell had decided if he wants to continue calling plays, Holmes didn’t have much to report. The Lions are looking to replace Anthony Lynn, who was fired after one season as offensive coordinator. If he does elect to continue calling plays, Ben Johnson could become a leading candidate to be named the next offensive coordinator. We love it all.”Johnson has been elevated to offensive coordinator for the Senior Bowl this week, which gives him something of an audition for the job. Assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley will serve as the head coach, while defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant will be the defensive coordinator.

ALLEN PARK -- Ben Johnson is believed to be one of the leading contenders to become Detroit’s next offensive coordinator. That was especially true with rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown is a vicious blocker, after all, and the Cardinals wouldn’t think twice about it. “We love the creativity,” St. Brown said. Now it seems the Lions are at least toying with the idea of making the change in offensive leadership permanent.

But nothing helped quite like the emergence of Amon-Ra St. Brown. General manager Brad Holmes went into the final day of the draft with St. Brown at the top of his wish list. Through the first half of the season, St. Brown was as-advertised. Dan Campbell also turned that defensive attention against Green Bay, dialing up a series of trick plays that hinged on St. Brown. Throw in a fourth-down touchdown catch, and it was quite the exclamation point on a historic rookie season.

There seems to be a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel Detroit sports fans have been stuck in for the better part of a decade.

Dan Campbell leaned into a lectern and gripped it with both hands, looking and sounding slightly somber.

The 2021 Detroit Lions season is over, and it wasn’t great. But that doesn’t mean we can’t hope for better things.

And it all hinged on Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit’s rookie sensation. St. Brown finished his rookie season with 90 catches for 912 yards, both club records for a rookie, and accounted for six touchdowns. But the book on St. Brown is he’s just as good without the football in his hands. Some more Week 18 trickeration 😉#GBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/MciiuMEugO — Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 9, 2022Not every day you see a reverse flea-flicker to the blocking tight end, you know? You’re gonna get the best of the best of us, we ain’t holding nothing back, and we’re going to play ball.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions (3-13-1) put the bow on their season with an entertaining 37-30 win against the Green Bay Packers (13-4) in Week 18 action from Ford Field. Lions quarterback Jared Goff played clean football in his return under center, completing 21 of 30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Detroit’s offense excelled through the passing attack and its handful of trick plays to keep the Packers on their toes. In the final four weeks of the season, Detroit beat two NFC playoff teams, going 3-5-1 after starting the year 0-8. See below from headlines from around the country after Detroit’s 37-30 win to end the year:Packers give regulars plenty of rest, fall to Lions 37-30 in playoff tuneup -- Green Bay Press-GazetteHow do you think the Packers played?

This has been a long, hard season for the Detroit Lions. Amon-Ra St. Brown just turned in the greatest season ever by a Lions rookie wide receiver. -- Rookie offensive tackle Penei Sewell did not play while dealing with a thumb injury and illness, ending his rookie season one game short. But my oh my, what a rookie season it was. That set up another Lions touchdown -- this one the double-reverse flea-flicker to Brock Wright -- that extended their lead to 24-13.

A pair of long trick-plays and a late touchdown drive helped Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions finish the season with a victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Tom Kennedy, a receiver, threw the longest touchdown pass by any wideout in the NFL since 1992. Amon-Ra St. Brown, also a receiver, lined up at quarterback for a direct snap. But St. Brown hasn’t quit his day job either, catching another touchdown pass -- because of course he did -- to help the Lions build a surprising 17-13 halftime lead while emptying out their playbook on Sunday against Green Bay at Ford Field. And his breakout rookie rewarded him with a huge touchdown catch, giving Detroit a 14-7 lead late in the half. There has never been a more productive rookie receiver in the history of this franchise.

Amon-Ra St. Brown has officially become the greatest rookie wide receiver in Detroit Lions history. St. Brown already broke the catches record weeks ago. No rookie wide receiver had ever done that in the history of the league. St. Brown, taken two days after that, has proven to be one of the great steals in this year’s draft. And now he’s officially the greatest rookie receiver in the history of this franchise.

The Detroit Lions (2-13-1) have one game left on the schedule, drawing the Green Bay Packers (13-3) in Week 18 action from Ford Field. He drew 56% of the defensive work in last week’s loss in Seattle, notching five tackles while seeing the third-most work of his rookie season. Lions CB Ifeatu Melifonwu vs. Packers WR Davante AdamsIfeatu Melifonwu suffered the quad strain that took most of his rookie season while chasing Davante Adams downfield back in Week 2. Lions C Evan Brown vs. Packers DL Kenny ClarkEvan Brown has been rock-solid in relief of Frank Ragnow this season. Kenny Clark is one heck of a challenge to end the season on, with 15 pressures across his last three games.

Aaron Rodgers knows the Green Bay Packers have clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed and can’t improve their playoff positioning with a win over the lowly Detroit Lions.

Aaron Rodgers knows the Green Bay Packers, who have clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed, can't improve their playoff positioning with a win over the lowly Detroit Lions. The reigning NFL MVP still wants to play Sunday at Ford Field, even though that would increase his chances of getting injured. “There’s risk every time you take the field," Rodgers said.

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions activated Kalif Raymond from the COVID list, getting the team their second starting wide receiver back in as many days heading into the season finale. Raymond missed last week’s blowout loss in Seattle, his first missed game of the season. Detroit added offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker to the COVID reserve list to open the week. The Lions also placed defensive lineman Joel Heath on the COVID reserve list. Related headlines:Dan Campbell feeling encouraged, not discouraged, by QB Tim Boyle’s third start for Detroit LionsPenei Sewell’s monster rookie season derailed by trip to COVID list; Taylor Decker lost tooLions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown knows the 16 teams that took a receiver before him.

D’Andre Swift was back in the lineup for the first time since Thanksgiving, and while leading the Detroit Lions running backs in snaps, he didn’t see many touches. Swift ran four times for 32 yards, catching two of three targets for only 7 yards in his return. Williams had the most touches out of the backfield, running 11 times for 22 yards and one touchdown, catching all three targets for 22 yards. -- Amon-Ra St. Brown led the depleted receiver room as expected, with KhaDarel Hodge and Trinity Benson next in line. St. Brown had himself another big day, catching eight balls for a career-high 111 yards and one touchdown, adding a 26-yard score on the ground.

SEATTLE -- Amon-Ra St. Brown had to hear 111 names before his on draft night. That just keeps me going,” St. Brown said after the 51-29 loss on Sunday in Seattle. Amon-Ra St. Brown? He’s accounted for more than that in every game since Thanksgiving, one of the great tears by a rookie receiver in the history of the NFL. Just one: Amon-Ra Julian Heru J. St. Brown.

The Detroit Lions (2-13-1) lost 51-29 to the Seattle Seahawks (6-10) in Week 17 action, with the sloppy offense taking too long to wake up and the defense getting absolutely rolled. The Lions were two-of-six on third down, not even sniffing the red zone while trailing 31-7. Boyle then opened the second half with an interception on the first snap after kickoff, with the Seahawks extending their lead to 38-7 two plays later. After that, he cleaned some things up, looking downfield as the Lions threw caution to the wind, but still finished with consecutive interceptions on consecutive snaps late in the fourth quarter. Boyle completed 22 of 37 passes for 262 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

With the blow out loss to Seattle on Sunday, the Lions have locked in a top-two pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Amon-Ra St. Brown was the lone standout for Detroit on an otherwise forgettable day as the Lions lost 51-29 at Seattle.

Amon-Ra St. Brown kept track of all the wide receivers who were taken in the NFL draft last spring before he was finally selected with the 112th pick by the Detroit Lions.

Rashaad Penny rushed for a career-high 170 yards and two touchdowns, Russell Wilson threw three of his four TD passes to DK Metcalf, and the Seattle Seahawks routed the Detroit Lions 51-29.

SEATTLE -- Amon St. Brown accounted for two more touchdowns, while Taylor Decker added one of his own -- yes, left tackle Tayler Decker -- and the Detroit Lions secured a top-two pick in this year’s NFL draft. Other than that, there wasn’t much to feel good about in a 51-29 bloodletting on Sunday afternoon against the Seattle Seahawks. No matter what happens in that game, the Lions are assured of picking no later than second in the draft. He’s the first Lions wide receiver to run for a score since Calvin Johnson’s rookie season in 2007. That’s a Lions record by an offensive lineman, and it cut Seattle’s lead to 38-22 late in the third quarter.

Detroit rookie wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has continued his second-half surge by catching more passes (four) for more yards (49) than the rest of the team combined. Taken with the 112th pick, St. Brown has proven to be one of the year’s biggest draft-day steals. Now with backups all over the offense in Seattle -- including at quarterback, where Tim Boyle started for Jared Goff (knee) -- St. Brown has continued to pace Detroit’s passing attack. After St. Brown got the Lions back into Seahawks territory with a 16-yard catch in the second quarter, he lined up in the backfield. St. Brown is the first Lions wide receiver to run for a touchdown since, you guessed it, Calvin Johnson in 2007.

ALLEN PARK -- There are only three wide receivers with more yards than Amon-Ra St. Brown in the month of December. St. Brown racked up 35 catches in the month of December, which was topped by only Kupp. On the very first day the pads came on in training camp, St. Brown picked a fight with defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu. St. Brown, the 112th overall pick in this year’s draft, isn’t afraid to mix it up with anyone. “I tell people all the time, he reminds me a lot of Hines Ward,” Randle El said.

He led the Detroit Lions to two wins in his last three games, and if you’ve seen the Detroit Lions play football this season, you understand the accomplishment. I still don’t think he’s the sort of quarterback you build a championship team around -- there’s a reason the Rams were begging Detroit to take him, you know? -- but if the Lions are boxed into the Goff thing for the foreseeable future, they might be able to make it work. But I also think it’s important the Lions don’t burn a pick on a quarterback just because they need one. Make no mistake, the season he’s having has been terrific.

Amon-Ra St. Brown happened. But just in case there remained any doubt about the emergence of one of the biggest Day 3 steals in the entire league, St. Brown was somehow better on Sunday in Atlanta. And there was nobody Boyle leaned on more heavily than St. Brown. He became the first Lions rookie to rack up eight catches in four straight games since, well, ever. Like I said, there’s not enough you can say about St. Brown and we are very, very lucky to have him on this team.

Safety Dean Marlowe pounced on the ball at Atlanta’s 37-yard line, giving Detroit outstanding field position around the 2-minute warning. And three plays later, Boyle connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown on a 20-yard touchdown pass that gave Detroit a 10-7 lead. Including two in a row after Detroit had first-and-10 from Atlanta’s 13-yard line late in the third quarter. -- So, we also got to talk about Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown went two days after that -- and now he’s producing better than 15 of the 16 wideouts taken before him.

MLive’s Lions beat discussed receivers at length in this week’s “Dungeon of Doom” podcast and in the written mailbag. His 9.3 yards after the catch per reception ranks ninth nationally, with his 15 forced missed tackles cracking the top 30. Burks caught 67 balls for 1,123 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 112 rushing yards and one touchdown on 14 attempts. The 6-foot-2 receiver is underrated after the catch, forcing a whopping 25 missed tackles while hanging with the best on looks downfield. Other names to watch: Ohio State WR Chris Olave, Alabama WR Jameson Williams, Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce, Northern Iowa WR Isaiah Weston

ALLEN PARK -- It’s not just that Amon-Ra St. Brown is a good blocker. What really separates the Detroit Lions rookie receiver is his appetite for hitting people. Now as he starts to heat up, St. Brown is drawing comparisons to another wideout known for mixing it up. St. Brown slipped to the final day of the draft because he’s not that big (6-foot) and not that fast. St. Brown isn’t that.

St. Brown pretended like he was going to block, before leaking behind the Cardinals’ zone along the left boundary. -- Ron AllieA: Amon-Ra St. Brown and Golden Tate are built similarly and play the same position. “I just want to keep working on yards after the catch,” St. Brown said just last week. So that’s something that I just want to keep working on.”On the other hand, St. Brown is definitely more physical than Tate. St. Brown also might be the better route runner, or certainly will be once he has more experience.

“I don’t think he was expecting to get the ball, then he rolled out and I kinda just baited it. They came out and played really hard and played well.”Cardinals QB Kyler Murray on his feelings after this one: “Different, obviously, in a game where you feel like you come in and win. He’s really starting to learn. He played today at left guard. So hopefully we can continue to do that because I don’t think as a line, we’ve played our best game.

DETROIT -- A few minutes after Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a walk-off touchdown pass against Minnesota, Jared Goff was asked about his rookie wide receiver. St. Brown continued his late-season surge by catching a team-high eight passes for 90 yards and one touchdown in the Detroit Lions’ 30-12 rout of the Arizona Cardinals. Then when the zone coverage got sucked in other directions, St. Brown took off toward the left boundary. St. Brown was certainly among the most productive receivers in camp, and there is no doubt he set the physical tone Dan Campbell was looking for too. And perhaps it’s no coincidence that since the rise of St. Brown and the emergence of new deep threat Josh Reynolds, the Lions are 2-1 in their last games.

The Detroit Lions were among the worst teams in the league at full strength. One play later, Goff connected with Reynolds on a nifty post route for a 22-yard touchdown just 19 seconds before halftime. -- Unlike last week, when the Igwebuike fumble led to an avalanche that put away Detroit for good, the Lions responded. Just one play later, Jared Goff threw a touchdown pass to fullback Jason Cabinda to stretch Detroit’s lead to 24-3. But Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn saw something in him, and the Lions signed him for nearly the league minimum.

DETROIT -- No rookie has ever caught more passes for the Lions than Amon-Ra St. Brown. That set up another touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds with 19 seconds left, and opened up a stunning 17-0 lead against the Cardinals. Once St. Brown hauled in his touchdown pass, Detroit had a quick 10-0 lead. Then St. Brown helped the Lions pad their lead in the waning moments of the first half, catching a 6-yard pass on fourth-and-1. St. Brown has seven catches for 79 yards overall, just days after he said one of his biggest goals was having a 100-yard game.

St. Brown has seen 12 targets in consecutive games, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to log seven-plus catches in back-to-back outings. It’s nice to get a lot of targets, but the goal at the end of the game is to win the game,” St. Brown said. St. Brown caught 10 passes for 86 yards and the last-second touchdown in Week 13, then secured eight balls for 73 yards in Denver. While he remains focused on wins, St. Brown admitted he’d like to notch a 100-yard game before the end of the season, not to mention improving his production after the catch. St. Brown said he learned of Hockenson’s season-ending surgery only when asked about it after practice.

ALLEN PARK -- T.J. Hockenson’s season is reportedly over, with the third-year tight end undergoing thumb surgery Thursday morning per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He’s been the top target for the Detroit Lions this year, catching 61 passes for 583 yards and four touchdowns. Hockenson’s season started with a bang, posting 16 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns through the first two games. Much like the rest of the passing attack, though, there were quiet stretches where the talented tight end didn’t see the ball much. He had 13 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns through his last four games of the season.

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have struggled to get the ball to their wide receivers this season, with tight end T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift leading the passing attack. Hockenson has been dealing with a hand injury, missing his first game of the season last week. Swift has missed the team’s previous two games, making way for receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond to have more of a role. Hockenson and Swift missed the first practice of the week, with the team taking it day-by-day with their best offensive weapons. Raymond has remained involved, with the speedy wideout securing four looks for 31 yards and a touchdown in Week 14.

Dan Campbell had been waiting for 2,160 days to celebrate another win as an NFL coach.

DETROIT -- Lions linebacker Josh Woods has been a special teams staple since landing in Detroit but had drawn only four defensive snaps leading into week 13. Reeves-Maybin and rookie Derrick Barnes had split most of the work behind Alex Anzalone to this point, so it was interesting to see Woods jump ahead of the fourth-round rookie. Pro Football Focus docked Woods for his work against the pass while ranking him 12th among linebackers on the ground. -- Alim McNeill was right there with his fellow rookie on the defensive line, drawing a career-high 43 snaps. -- Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds dominated the snaps out wide, both seeing more than 60 snaps in the win.

The Detroit Lions have finally won, ekeing past the Minnesota Vikings 29-27 on a walk-off touchdown pass to rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on Sunday at Ford Field. That helps the Lions dodge history as the first team to go winless in a 17-game season, but also loosens their grip on the No. At 1-10-1, the Lions still sit atop the NFL draft order. But after big losses from Jacksonville (2-10) and Houston (2-10) on Sunday, their lead is down to just a half-game with five weeks left. As things stand today, the Lions also would pick 24th because of the extra first-rounder they picked up in the Matthew Stafford trade.

It’s a shame the Detroit Lions don’t win more often, because they have one of the great play-by-play men in the game on their mic. And Dan Miller delivered another classic victory call on Sunday after Jared Goff ripped a walk-off touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown that sent Detroit to a 29-27 win against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown, his first career touchdown, and how big is that? Moments after Miller’s call on Sunday, head coach Dan Campbell celebrated his first NFL win in the locker room with a group of players that has continued to fight for him despite the losses. That includes by owner Sheila Ford Hamp, whom he lifted about a foot off the ground in a bearhug after the game.

Jared Goff dropped back, looked left, and let the football loose that Amon-Ra St. Brown squeezed tight as he sat in the end zone.

The Detroit Lions fourth-round rookie receiver caught 10 of 12 targets for 86 yards and that buzzer-beating touchdown in their 29-27 win against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13. St. Brown got open on fourth-and-2 with four seconds on the clock, securing the catch past the goal line before the sideline swarmed him in the corner of the end zone. Minnesota’s defense sagged in coverage on that fateful play, with St. Brown not holding back when asked about his feelings toward having that much space in the game’s final moments. St. Brown led the way while Josh Reynolds added four catches for 69 yards. “I mean, my first NFL touchdown, first NFL win, I’m going to remember this day for a long time,” St. Brown said.

The Pittsburgh Steelers say they're taking nothing for granted when they face winless Detroit.

A new era of Detroit Lions football kicks off Friday at Ford Field. There’s another new GM and head coach, and Matthew Stafford won’t be starting at quarterback.

Southern California wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, right, catches a touchdown over Washington State defensive back Armani Marsh during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)LOS ANGELES – Kedon Slovis and Amon-Ra St. Brown kept grinding in practice while No. When the Trojans and Washington State finally got the green light Sunday night, Slovis and St. Brown roared right through it for a record-setting start to a blowout win. St. Brown caught four touchdown passes from Slovis in a spectacular first quarter, and unbeaten USC cruised to a 38-13 victory over the Cougars. “We don’t like being away from football for so long, but I think the days away helped us get our legs back underneath us,” St. Brown said.

BERKELEY, Calif. USC clinched bowl game eligibility last weekend with a hold-your-breath, 31-26 victory at Arizona State that turned down the heat slightly on head coach Clay Helton's future. The Trojans, who still have their sights set on a possible Pac-12 South title, play their final road game of the season Saturday night when they travel to California. 9 Utah by a half-game in the South Division but holds the head-to-head tiebreaker by virtue of a 30-23 victory over the Utes. Senior linebacker Evan Weaver continued his stellar season with 10 tackles and leads the nation with an average of 15.2 tackles per game. PREDICTION: USC 27, Cal 17

NOTRE DAME, Ind. LINE: Notre Dame -11Irish senior quarterback Ian Book hopes to match last year's meeting when he threw for 352 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 24-17 victory while the Notre Dame defense bent, but didn't break, against USC's three talented receivers. "You just have to stay disciplined," Slovis, who has completed 77.9 percent of his passes for 732 yards, told the Los Angeles Times. Notre Dame senior DL Julian Okwara has four sacks combined in the last two games after being shut out the first three. PREDICTION: Notre Dame 34, USC 24More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.