Watch: Jared Goff sharp at Pro Bowl, Amon-Ra St. Brown flips into pool for catch
The Pro Bowl is out, the Pro Bowl Games are in, and it was interesting if nothing else. All four Detroit Lions Pro Bowlers participated in the first day of festivities on Thursday night, with quarterback Jared Goff up first in the precision passing drill. Goff hasn’t thrown much since the Lions wrapped up their season in Green Bay last month, not that it showed in Las Vegas. Only Las Vegas’ Derek Carr (31 points) and Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley (21 points) had more. He teamed up with former NFL quarterback Jimmy Clausen to catch two footballs in the Blu Pool at the Horseshoe Las Vegas, the deepest pool in Sin City.
mlive.comLions’ Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown headed to Pro Bowl
ALLEN PARK -- Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown both turned into significant building blocks in Year 1. Sewell and St. Brown were named first alternates for the festivities, then officially were called up after the Philadelphia Eagles advanced to the Super Bowl over the weekend. Brown are now ineligible to participate in the Pro Bowl, opening the door for Sewell and St. Brown. That’s a hard act to follow, although St. Brown figured out how to do that too. Little things like that that typically you can’t teach, and he has it.”Sewell, St. Brown and Ragnow will participate in a revamped Pro Bowl.
mlive.comDetroit Lions 2022 review: Amon-Ra St. Brown leads formidable passing attack
Of course, it helps when that slot receiver turned out to be the amazing Amon-Ra St. Brown. St Brown racked up more than 100 catches for more than 1,000 yards this past season, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to his each of those marks. St. Brown led the league in percentage of third-down routes that moved the chains. Little things like that that typically you can’t teach, and he has it.”Needless to say, St. Brown was the biggest steal in the 2021 draft. After missing so much of his rookie season, Williams has so much to learn before he’s a finished product.
mlive.comYear-end Lions grades: Offense shines, young defense shows reason for optimism
His completion percentage rose to 66.99%.And most importantly, Goff tossed 15 touchdowns and no interceptions over his last 312 attempts. The Lions averaged 4.5 yards per attempt, finishing in the league’s top half for the second consecutive year. The Lions ranked 25th in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate (36%), not to mention 26th in run-stop win rate (28%). And for all that’s said about Justin Jackson’s lack of explosion in the return phase, the Lions ranked third with a 26.1-yard average. But the Lions ranked second with 13.2 yards per attempt.
mlive.comThe fearlessness of Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions
It’s just time to go.”When was the last time ever you ever heard a Lions player talk like that? This is our time now.”Keep playing like this, keep talking like that, and the Lions aren’t going to sneak up on anyone anymore. But even as the Lions started playing meaningful football this past season, Campbell never wavered from that approach. It was perfect.”The way they’re going, that was no end at all. Their season might be over, but it was just the beginning for these fearless Lions.
mlive.comAfter playoff hopes crushed, Lions fans still proud as Detroit beats Green Bay Packers
It was a bittersweet Sunday for Detroit Lions fans, but at least it ended on the sweeter side of things. Also, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown added a mind-boggling catch on the Lions’ game-deciding drive. REACTING TO LIONS WIN@Ercoman: This is my favorite Lions season ever. It was a great season and I can’t wait to see the GRIT we come back with next season @Lions #OnePride____@ole_jay: The @Lions finished 5-1 in the division. #OnePride____@WMDubitsky: I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the 2022 Detroit Lions.
mlive.comThe Detroit Lions are still alive, with a future that looks brighter than ever
Josh Paschal chipped in two sacks, becoming the Lions’ third rookie with a multi-sack game this season. Amon-Ra St. Brown became the youngest Lions receiver ever with a 100-catch season, just one week after he became the youngest Lions receiver ever with a 1,000-yard season. With that, these remarkable Detroit Lions pounded the Chicago Bears 41-10 for their seventh win in nine games, and will take their improbable playoff chase into a monumental finale against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. That team is screaming toward the finale too, and is guaranteed a playoff spot with a win against Detroit. The Lions have the youngest defense in the whole league, yet just held Justin Fields to 30 passing yards.
mlive.comInstant observations: Lions crush Bears to take improbable playoff bid into finale
After pounding the Chicago Bears 41-10 on Sunday, these Detroit Lions have a chance to become the next to come back from the dead. Even if the Seahawks win that game, the Lions will still take their unlikely playoff bid to the final week of the season. No matter what happens around the league, the Lions are now headed for a do-or-die finale against the Packers in the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field. The Lions will roll into that game with one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league. D’Andre Swift chipped in two touchdowns and Jamaal Williams added another, running the Lions’ season total to 433 points.
mlive.comAmon-Ra St. Brown becomes youngest Lions receiver ever with 1,000-yard season
St. Brown opened Saturday’s game against Carolina with 974 receiving yards on the season, leaving him just 26 shy of becoming the youngest receiver in franchise history with a 1,000-yard season. At just 23 years, 61 days old, St. Brown has broken the club record for youngest receiver with a 1,000-yard season. Calvin Johnson -- again: surprise, surprise -- held the previous mark at 23 years, 69 days old. A fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft, St. Brown has become the biggest draft-day steal in his class. Now he’s become the 14th Lions player with a 1,000-yard receiving season in the Super Bowl era.
mlive.comDetroit Lions surprised by Pro Bowl snub for Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker
Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had a good case, along with left tackle Taylor Decker and especially right tackle Penei Sewell. A year later, Sewell has been among the best offensive tackles, period. Still, he couldn’t beat out Trent Williams, Lane Johnson and Tristan Wirfs among NFC offensive tackles. I think if he’s not the best, he’s up there among the best tackles in the league. He’s growing in the game.”Sewell finished as first alternate among NFC offensive tackles, while Taylor Decker was fifth, much to the chagrin of Taylor Decker.
mlive.comDetroit Lions at Carolina Panthers: Fantasy guide and key matchups for Week 16
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions (7-7) are on the road for the holidays, with a chance to strengthen their playoff hopes against the Carolina Panthers (5-9) in Week 16. DJ Chark caught one ball on two targets for 18 yards last week, while Josh Reynolds and Jameson Williams were blanked. MATCHUPS TO WATCHLions C Frank Ragnow vs. Panthers DT Derrick BrownWe’re not getting cute this week. He’s allowed five sacks and 22 pressures across 825 snaps. So, (it) makes my life a lot easier.”2022 TEAM STATSDVOA overall ranking: Lions 9th | Panthers 28thDVOA offensive ranking: Lions 6th | Panthers 29thDVOA defensive ranking: Lions 23rd | Panthers 20thNet yards gained per passing attempt: Lions 6.9 (5th) | Panthers 5.8 (23rd)Rushing yards per attempt: Lions 4.4 (15th) | Panthers 4.4 (16th)Points per game: Lions 26.4 (4th) | Panthers 19.7 (30th)Points allowed per game: Lions 26 (31st) | Panthers 22.4 (16th)Net yards allowed per passing attempt: Lions 7.1 (31st) | Panthers 6.0 (12th)Rushing yards allowed per attempt: Lions 4.9 (26th) | Panthers 4.4 (18th)Takeaways: Lions 18 | Panthers 14SERIES HISTORYThe Panthers lead the all-time series 7-3, blanking the Lions 20-0 in the last meeting between these two back in 2020.
mlive.comKalif Raymond becomes 5th Lions player to win weekly award, team high since 1997
He’s the fifth Lions player to win a weekly award this season, joining receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, safety Kerby Joseph and kicker Michael Badgley. The Jets defense is so good -- perhaps the best Detroit has seen this year -- and Sauce Gardner just might be the best cornerback in the league. He is selfless, he’s disciplined, he’s a hard worker, he’s smart, he’s productive, he endears himself to his teammates and he’s versatile. I know he’s been waiting for this punt return his whole life. “He said, you know, that’s all he really wants is to score on a punt return.
mlive.com3 things we learned: Amon-Ra St. Brown on verge of another Lions receiving record
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Detroit Lions came back to stun the New York Jets 20-17 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, their sixth win in seven weeks. Amon-Ra St. Brown is on the verge of yet another Lions receiving record. He already broke Calvin Johnson’s rookie receiving record last year, and just became the only Lions player with back-to-back 900-yard seasons to open his career. -- holds the record at 23 years, 69 days old. St. Brown would beat the record by eight days if he gets there on Saturday against the Carolina Panthers.
mlive.comLions grades: Defense erases Jets’ rushing attack, wreaks havoc in close win
The Jets brought a top-five defense into this one, and while they were missing star Quinnen Williams, this is a legit group. Grade: BDefensive line: The defensive line helped stifle the Jets and their rushing attack while creating pressure and getting home for a handful of sacks. The Jets were held to only 50 yards on 22 attempts, with a long rush of 6 yards on the day. Raymond opened the game with a 46-yard punt-return touchdown, which would carry the Lions through most of this one. But they’ve ridden the Jamaal Williams touchdown train all season to much success, so it’s hard to fault them there.
mlive.comLions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown embracing big-time showdown with tough Jets defense
It’s going to be two good, and like I said, high-powered offense against a high-powered defense,” St. Brown said from the locker room Wednesday. St. Brown has been targeted 50 times through the last five games, catching a ridiculous 43 of those passes for 499 yards and three touchdowns. And that could bring the Lions to force the ball to St. Brown in the slot more, with Gardner staying outside. St. Brown had 35 snaps inside and 24 wide last week, with 44 inside and only 17 outside the previous game. “You see what happens if you try to take away me,” St. Brown said.
mlive.comLions WR Jameson Williams’ first catch was NFL’s fastest reception in Week 14
ALLEN PARK -- It didn’t take long for Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams to put the NFL on notice with his blazing-fast wheels. Williams hit 20.33 mph on the first catch of his career, which happened to be a 41-yard touchdown, not to mention the league’s fastest reception in Week 14. The first-round rookie receiver clocked the ninth-fastest speed among all ball carriers for the week. I mean, I think there can’t be a better feeling.”Related: Jameson Williams feeling the love in Detroit after first catch goes for scoreRelated: Oh my! Jameson Williams scores 41-yard TD on first NFL catchWelcome to the show Jameson Williams.
mlive.comLions grades: Offense stays hot, defensive line comes up big in latest win
DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions (6-7) kept their hot streak rolling, beating the Minnesota Vikings (10-3) 34-23 in Week 14. The Lions quarterback hasn’t lost a fumble since losing to the Cowboys in late October. Goff has passed for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games for the first time since joining the Lions. Grade: B+Offensive line: The offensive line stabilized after a shaky start. Grade: B+Defensive line: On the flip side, the Lions hit the quarterback nine times, sacking the Vikings four times.
mlive.comLions vs. Vikings: 3 burning questions ahead of big-time Week 14 game
DETROIT -- There are playoff dreams and division-clinching implications on the line in the Week 14 game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. We’ll try and answer three burning questions ahead of kickoff below:What to expect from Lions WR Jameson Williams in Game 2? They’ll get him on check downs, and they’re running kind of choice routes like we do with (Amon-Ra St. Brown) Saint, some of those things. Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown have been cooking with fire since last month’s game in Chicago. St. Brown is the third-highest-ranked receiver by Pro Football Focus through those four games.
mlive.comLions release standing-room tickets as attendance soars 21.5% at Ford Field
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions will host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in a showdown of the top two teams in the NFC North. The Vikings (10-2) can clinch the division with a win, while the Lions (5-7) need a win to remain in the playoff hunt. It’s the biggest December game in a half-decade for Detroit, and Ford Field is expected to be beyond capacity. The Lions announced on Friday they’re releasing standing-room tickets for the game, as they did two weeks ago for the Thanksgiving game against the Buffalo Bills. They’re clocking in at 62,609 fans per game this year, which ranks 29th in league, due partly to the comparatively small dimensions of Ford Field.
mlive.comDungeon of Doom: Should Detroit build around Jared Goff? Plus James Houston talks debut
Lions quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have Ben Johnson’s offense producing at a high level. Oh, yeah, first-round rookie wideout Jameson Williams also made his NFL debut last week. Now, the Lions (5-7) welcome the Minnesota Vikings (10-2) in a hotly-anticipated game at Ford Field in Week 14. Hosts Kyle Meinke and Ben Raven have all of that, not to mention a discussion regarding whether the Lions should build around Goff in this latest episode. Subscribe to the Dungeon of Doom wherever you get your podcasts -- Acast, Spotify, Apple, Google -- Follow Benjamin Raven and Kyle Meinke on Twitter.
mlive.comAmon-Ra St. Brown is top 5-10 receiver in the NFL, Lions’ Ben Johnson says
ALLEN PARK -- Amon-Ra St. Brown was the 16th receiver taken in last year’s draft. “I kinda knew I was going to take a hit,” St. Brown said. Like at the start of that game, when St. Brown helped turn a fumble into seven points by catching a Goff pass that was nearly picked off. “I honestly thought he was going to intercept it, but it went right through his hands,” St. Brown said. “It’s super humbling to be in that conversation,” St. Brown said.
mlive.comThe Lions are scoring more without T.J. Hockenson than they did with him
ALLEN PARK -- The T.J. Hockenson trade made sense. St. Brown has always been lethal on third down, but has taken it to another level since the trade. All four of those completions went to St. Brown, and all of them moved the sticks. For the season, St. Brown is moving the chains on a staggering 18.2% of his routes. But the Lions’ calculation that they could afford to trade Hockenson and not miss a beat have been correct.
mlive.comQuintez Cephus returns to practice as Lions load up on receivers for playoff push
Quintez Cephus went down a week later with a foot injury, while Josh Reynolds was sidelined for weeks by a back injury after that. The Lions have been among the league’s most-injured teams this season, and those injuries hit harder at wide receiver than perhaps anywhere else. Now as they make one final push for the postseason, the Lions (5-7) getting everyone -- everyone -- back. Cephus’ return comes just three days after the Lions played their healthiest game yet at wide receiver. Now Cephus is back too, loading up the Lions for their stretch run.
mlive.comDetroit Lions defense, passing attack keep wildcard hopes alive
Defense and offensive weaponry proved to be too much for the Jacksonville Jaguars as the Detroit Lions had a convincing 40-14 victory, improving to 5-7 on the season, and are now just two games back in the loss column for the seventh and playoff spot.
3 things we learned: The amazing Amon-Ra St. Brown is still WR1 in Detroit
Amon-Ra St. Brown is still WR1 in Detroit. But on the day Williams made his NFL debut, St. Brown offered a stirring reminder that -- for now at least -- he remains WR1 in Detroit. That’s good stuff, although the aggregate numbers only begin to paint the full picture of what St. Brown does for this offense. On third down, for example, St. Brown has moved the chains on a staggering 18.2% of his routes this season. Right now, this offense flows undeniably through Amon-Ra St. Brown.
mlive.comLions grades: Rave reviews everywhere, highlighted by Ben Johnson and Jared Goff
DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 40-14 in Week 13 action from Ford Field. And those 340 yards were the second-most of his tenure around these parts (378 yards in Week 4). Grade: ARunning backs: And don’t look now, but D’Andre Swift had 18 touches in the win, his most since Week 1. Ben Johnson and the offense appeared to find the balance between Swift and Jamaal Williams, each getting their fair share of the work. The Jaguars had two sacks and three tackles for loss, while the Lions ran 31 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
mlive.comHalftime analysis: Jameson Williams isn’t doing much, but Lions rolling anyway
DETROIT -- Jameson Williams played just two snaps in the first half of his highly-anticipated NFL debut. But with only three practices under his belt in nearly a year, and only a handful of full-speed routes with Goff, Williams is one a severe pitch count against Jacksonville. The Lions haven’t even been forced to punt yet thanks to a clinical first half from the other receivers. Jamaal Williams plunged into the end zone from 1-yard out on the next play, his 12th rushing touchdown of the year. That’s a league high, and the second most in Lions history, trailing only Barry Sanders’ franchise-record 16 from 1991.
mlive.comJaguars vs. Lions predictions, spread and odds for NFL Week 13: 12/4
Let’s dive into our Jaguars vs. Lions predictions with odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook. JAGUARS VS. LIONS PREDICTION: Over 51.5 (-105 at FanDuel Sportsbook)Use this link to register for a new FanDuel account, and you’ll receive a No Sweat First Bet worth up to $1,000 to fade or follow any of our experts’ Jaguars vs. Lions predictions. Jaguars vs. Lions predictions for NFL Week 13This game screams shootout from every angle. Jaguars vs. Lions spread and pick against the spreadSince Week 9, the Lions have gone 4-0 ATS and are 3-1 SU. If you want to take advantage of this sign-up offer before Sunday’s Jaguars vs. Lions game, don’t wait any longer and sign up today.
mlive.comLions grades: Defense hangs with Josh Allen and Bills until crucial final minute
This post will run through MLive’s grades from Detroit’s loss on Thanksgiving:Quarterbacks: Jared Goff had another solid game. But it’s hard to address his performance without fixating on the third-and-1 missed opportunity to Chark in the final minute. And Jack Fox had another solid day punting. Ben Johnson called another solid game, highlighted by the team’s creative rushing attack -- see the designed run for St. Brown on fourth-and-1. But for the Lions to hang with the Bills and Allen for all 60 minutes while not feeling fluky?
mlive.comLions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown hopeful after another big day, hanging with Bills
DETROIT -- Amon-Ra St. Brown delivered another big day as the Detroit Lions hung with the Buffalo Bills in front of a national audience on Thanksgiving. And while St. Brown isn’t celebrating moral victories or anything of that nature, the second-year wideout knows his team hung in there blow-for-blow with one of the NFL’s best. St. Brown caught nine of 10 targets for 122 yards and one touchdown. It came down to the end,” St. Brown said. St. Brown has also added three carries for 13 yards during that span.
mlive.comLions activate WR Josh Reynolds for Thanksgiving showdown against Bills
DETROIT -- Jameson Williams won’t play on Thanksgiving. The Lions have activated Josh Reynolds for their Turkey Day showdown against the Bills at Ford Field. Now Chark and Reynolds are both back on the outside, with St. Brown doing his thing in the slot. The first-round pick began practicing this week, ran routes at Ford Field during warmups on Thanksgiving, and should return a week or two after Thanksgiving. Cornerback Jeff Okudah (brain) and defensive linemen Charles Harris (groin), Josh Paschal (knee) and Michael Brockers (benched) also will not play.
mlive.comLions grades: Not much not to like from Detroit’s dominating win in New York
The Detroit Lions (4-6) beat the New York Giants (7-3) 31-18 in Week 11 action from East Rutherford, New Jersey. This post will run through MLive’s grades from Detroit’s latest win:Quarterbacks: Jared Goff was in game-management mode against the Giants. Goff hit the throws the Lions needed him to hit, and there isn’t much more to say about that. Grade: BRunning backs: Justin Jackson probably earned more touches in this one, running nine times for 66 yards off the bench. The Lions moved the chains on the ground 12 times, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt on 37 rushes.
mlive.comDetroit Lions at New York Giants: Fantasy guide and key matchups for Week 11
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions (3-6) are off to New York in quest of their first three-game winning streak since 2017. They’ll have to go through the hard-charging Giants (7-2) in Week 11 to keep it rolling. The 24-year-old has six catches for 82 yards this season, including two for 41 yards last week against the Texans. You’ll see runs even from last week, 3-yard run, 1-yard run, 2-yard run, 27-, 17-, 2-yard run, and then it’s 25-yard run. 2022 TEAM STATSDVOA offensive ranking: Lions 13th | Giants 15thDVOA defensive ranking: Lions 26th | Giants 24thNet yards gained per passing attempt: Lions 6.9 (6th) | Giants 5.4 (29th)Rushing yards per attempt: Lions 4.8 (11th) | Giants 4.8 (10th)Points per game: Lions 24.3 (9th) | Giants 20.8 (22nd)Points allowed per game: Lions 29.3 (32nd) | Giants 19.2 (9th)Net yards allowed per passing attempt: Lions 7.4 (32nd) | Giants 6.1 (15th)Rushing yards allowed per attempt: Lions 5.3 (30th) | Giants 5.5 (32nd)Takeaways: Lions 10 | Giants 12SERIES HISTORYThe Lions lead the all-time series 24-21-1, winning back-to-back meetings, including three of the last four against the Giants.
mlive.comLions midseason grades: Young nucleus reason for optimism on struggling defense
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions (3-6) cross into the season’s second half riding a two-game winning streak. He’s added 393 yards after contact while forcing 16 missed tackles and rushing for 38 first downs, the fifth-most in the NFL. Jackson added 14 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards in last week’s win in Chicago. The room has contributed three touchdowns in two weeks, with the Lions opting for a more conservative offensive approach. Grade: C-Linebackers: Malcolm Rodriguez has been one of the best rookie defenders in the game, providing this defense a much-needed boost.
mlive.comDetroit Lions storm back from 14-point deficit against Bears for second consecutive victory
The Detroit Lions stormed back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Chicago Bears 31-30 for their second win in a row while snapping a 13-game road losing streak under head coach Dan Campbell.
3 things we learned: Amon-Ra St. Brown is so good, but injury concerns grow at WR
CHICAGO -- The Detroit Lions roared back to upend Chicago 31-30 on Sunday at Soldier Field. On a day where Detroit needed him to be everything, he was. All the injuries forced the Lions to re-sign Trinity Benson off Denver’s practice squad, who also left the game with an injury. After so many challenges and injuries, this was Okwara’s best game in Detroit, and perhaps a sign that progress has finally been achieved. He missed a tackle on Fields’ 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, plus gave up another touchdown to Cole Kmet in pass coverage.
mlive.comTom Kennedy was among the Lions’ final cuts. In Chicago, he was a hero.
CHICAGO -- Tom Kennedy goes all out, all the time. “There ain’t nothing else you could do,” head coach Dan Campbell told Kennedy while cutting him. And Kennedy delivered, sticking his foot in the ground on a crossing route and separating from cornerback Jaylon Johnson. And I thought Tom ran a great route, ran a great route. He ran a great route and made a great play.”It was perhaps the best play yet from a guy who has become the football version of a AAAA player.
mlive.comLions grades: Steady coaching, fourth-quarter explosion lead to win over Bears
Grade: B-Wide receivers: The Lions made it a point to feed Amon-Ra St. Brown early and often in Chicago. St. Brown secured 10 of 11 looks for 119 yards, adding one rush for 2 yards to move the chains. St. Brown showed his superior route-running ability on third-and-9 in the first half when he ran a delayed looping slant. St. Brown is now in the top 10 all-time, with 139 catches through his first 25 games. But feeding St. Brown and getting creative with the rushing game took the pressure off that short-handed passing attack.
mlive.comHalftime analysis: Amon-Ra St. Brown rollin’, but Lions struggling with Justin Fields
The Detroit Lions receiver has been slowed by ankle and suspected brain injuries since his huge Week 2 performance against Washington. St. Brown is now the 11th player since 1950 to catch at least 135 passes in his first 25 career games. Just ask Lions defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs, who had the Bears quarterback in both of his big mitts deep in the backfield late in the half. But Fields squirmed out of his grasp, then scrambled through the defense for an equalizing touchdown with 25 seconds left. Fields now has 69 rushing yards on just eight carries, one week after he ran for 178 yards against Seattle, an NFL record for a quarterback.
mlive.comDetroit Lions at Chicago Bears: Fantasy guide and key matchups for Week 10
SIT Lions RB D’Andre SwiftIt’s hard to trust the Lions and D’Andre Swift in fantasy football. START Lions RB Jamaal WilliamsOn that note, ignore those rankings for the Lions running backs, and roll with Jamaal Williams. MATCHUPS TO WATCHDetroit’s defense vs. Fields and Chicago’s rushing attackJustin Fields forced eight missed tackles last week, averaging 7.87 yards after contact per attempt (!). The Lions missed five tackles last week, with defensive lineman Alim McNeill (two), linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (two) and cornerback Will Harris accounting for those. They’re really, really good, and the thing is they break tackles, they can find the seam, so we really have to be disciplined.
mlive.comAmon-Ra St. Brown and brother already talking trash ahead of Lions-Bears game
ALLEN PARK -- The trash talk between Amon-Ra St. Brown and big brother Equanimeous St. Brown has already begun ahead of this week’s Detroit Lions-Chicago Bears matchup. But things have changed this time around, and not just the jersey for Equanimeous St. Brown. Amon-Ra St. Brown took a 4-yard pass into the end zone, then Equanimeous St. Brown secured an 18-yard touchdown pass moments later in Week 1. Amon-Ra St. Brown said his dad made another one for this time around and has one ready for their mother, too. He got a new one made for sure, you know he would,” Amon-Ra St. Brown said through laughter.
mlive.comDetroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers: Fantasy guide and key matchups for Week 9
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions (1-6) host the Green Bay Packers (3-5) in Week 9 action from Ford Field. This post serves as a fantasy guide while running through matchups to watch, team stats and the series history:FANTASY GUIDEStart Packers RBs Aaron Jones, A.J. Start Lions WR Amon-Ra St. BrownAmon-Ra St. Brown will be the best fantasy bet via the Lions for the rest of the season. St. Brown has seen double-digit targets in every game he’s been healthy. 2022 Team stats:DVOA offensive ranking: Lions 10th | Packers 8thDVOA defensive ranking: Lions 32nd | Packers 22ndNet yards gained per passing attempt: Lions 6.9 (6th) | Packers 5.8 (23rd)Rushing yards per attempt: Lions 5.2 (4th) | Packers 4.9 (10th)Points per game: Lions 24.7 (9th) | Packers 18.1 (26th)Points allowed per game: Lions 32.1 (32nd) | Packers 21.6 (16th)Net yards allowed per passing attempt: Lions 7.7 (32nd) | Packers 6.2 (13th)Rushing yards allowed per attempt: Lions 5.1 (28th) | Packers 4.9 (25th)Takeaways: Lions 6 (t31st) | Packers 7 (t30th)SERIES HISTORYThe Packers lead the all-time series 105-73-7, winning five of the previous six meetings.
mlive.comD’Andre Swift, Amon-Ra St. Brown OK’d to play; Michael Brockers benched again
DETROIT -- For the first time in more than a month, the Detroit Lions will have D’Andre Swift at their disposal. And that’s very good news for a team that still hasn’t won since their dynamic running back went down with ankle and shoulder injuries in a Week 3 game against Minnesota. St. Brown will return against the Dolphins too, after missing most of last week’s game because of concussion-like symptoms (although he passed all concussion tests) and being severely limited or out entirely before that because of a high ankle sprain. Perhaps it’s no wonder the offense has sputtered, nor that Detroit has lost an NFL-worst four games in a row. Defensive lineman Michael Brockers has been benched for a second straight week as the Lions turn to the more effective John Cominksy and Josh Paschal on the interior of the defensive front.
mlive.comLions offense finally getting healthy, including D’Andre Swift, Amon-Ra St. Brown
ALLEN PARK -- D’Andre Swift has missed three games in a row, which certainly isn’t good for the reeling Detroit LIons. This week, for the first time since the opening week of the season, he’s been a full practice participant. With the Lions (1-5) trying to snap a league-worst four-game losing streak, they’re ready to finally welcome back their top running back. Just stuff we do every day with other running backs.”St. Brown is on track to play against Miami too. “I mean, those two guys can account for a lot of offense, alot of production in our offense.
mlive.comD’Andre Swift, Amon-Ra St. Brown trending toward playing; T.J. Hockenson back
ALLEN PARK -- D’Andre Swift and Amon-Ra St. Brown continue to trend toward returning to the field on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, a welcomed sight for a Detroit Lions offense that hasn’t scored a touchdown in back-to-back games. Swift hasn’t played in more than a month while dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries he sustained in a Week 3 loss against Minnesota. He practiced all last week and said he was “pushing toward” playing in Dallas, but ultimately was scratched for that game too. Tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee), receiver Josh Reynolds (knee) and guard Jonah Jackson (neck) all practiced as well, after getting the day off on Wednesday to nurse injuries. In Harris’ case, he’s trending toward missing a third straight game.
mlive.comLions down 8 players at practice; WR Amon-Ra St. Brown in red no-contact jersey
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions were without eight players at Wednesday’s practice, with wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown participating in a red no-contact jersey. “Swift will practice today, and then Saint is moving right along,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said before practice. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he cleared testing but was ruled out by the video evidence. St. Brown looked disoriented after taking the hit. “But it’s, he’s in the protocol just to go through the process of it,” the second-year head coach said on Monday.
mlive.comLions expect to have wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown against Dolphins in Week 8
ALLEN PARK -- Amon-Ra St. Brown isn’t expected to miss much time after exiting early against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7. Detroit Lions head coach Dam Campbell said St. Brown remains in concussion protocol, but the second-year wide receiver passed his initial tests on Sunday. Campbell said his understanding of the new rules created in the aftermath of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s recent brain injury is that St. Brown looked disoriented after taking the hit. And that’s what happened with St. Brown, who stayed down and shook his head after taking a stiff clothesline to the back of the head/upper neck. But we got guys capable of doing it,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said of St. Brown’s absence after the game.
mlive.comVideo recap: The good, bad and ugly from Lions’ 24-6 loss to Dallas Cowboys
The Detroit Lions (1-5) went into halftime leading 6-3 against the Dallas Cowboys (5-2) on the road in Week 7, sporting an inspired effort from their defense after the bye week. But then the second half happened, and the offense lost the ability to protect the ball. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, with running back Jamaal Williams losing the first fumble of his six-year career at the 1-yard line. Those turnovers put the defense in a rough spot, eventually fading down the stretch, leading to two Cowboys touchdowns in the final 180 seconds. See below for MLive Detroit Lions beat writer Ben Raven’s video breakdown and more headlines after the team’s latest loss.
mlive.comDetroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown roasts Washington receiver who was drafted before him
"I didn’t see him in the game much." -- Just days after he tore up Washington on the field, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown roasted a receiver the Commanders selected ahead of him in the 2021 draft.
It’s a Hard Knocks life for Detroit, as second episode goes behind scenes of Lions’ preseason loss
Although this year seems like the Lions may be in a different stratosphere as an organization, after blowing week one of the NFL preseason to the Atlanta Falcons, they seem like they’re the same old Lions.
6 Hard Knocks takeaways: Loving ‘Rodrigo,’ St. Brown’s epic draft list, and some Same Old Lions
The second episode of Hard Knocks featuring the Detroit Lions had a little bit of everything: the “Rodrigo” underdog story, Amon-Ra St. Brown’s incredible draft day revenge list, and even some SOL sprinkled in.
Slovis, St. Brown help No. 16 USC rout Washington State
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.
USC football vs. Cal: Time, TV schedule, game preview, score
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 football vs. USC: Time, TV schedule, game preview, score
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.