Category: NFL

Five keys to watch as the Lions face the 49ers; plus injury updates, prediction

When the Vikings defeated the Packers, 27-25, on Sunday, it created a logjam of sorts atop the NFC North. Now it will all come down to the regular season finale when the Lions (13-2) host the Vikings (14-2) on Sunday, Jan. 5, at Ford Field. 

The winner will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The loser will play in the wildcard round. Detroit is 5-0 in the division while Minnesota is 4-1. 

In other words, Monday night’s game at the San Francisco 49ers does not mean anything in the standings or for playoff seeding. But it could be huge for the Lions to get a win to boost confidence before facing the Vikings.

And make no mistake, the 49ers game is still important to coach Dan Campbell. He addressed the possibility last week when asked if he would sit players if the Vikings won.

“We’re bringing everything that we have to this game, and we are playing, and I don’t care what it looks like, and where it’s at or who’s this, who’s that, we’re going out to play and win this game out on the West Coast,’’ Campbell said. “So, there you go.”

A year ago, the Lions fell apart in the second half to lose to the 49ers at San Francisco in the NFC Championship game.

They’ve won 13 games this year and have been in the Super Bowl conversation since Week 1. Still that loss is there somewhere in their heads.

“For us it’s really been difficult at times. It’s been the windshield mentality vs. the rearview mirror. We’re really trying to focus on what we have going forward,’’ Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomer said. “This is a different team and they’re a different team. That’s kind of where we are.We’re really focused on this year, 2024 and trying to play as well as we can possibly play against this team.’’

Campbell said his team is more mature this year.

“When you take an ‘L’ like we did last year, you learn from that. There were a number of things we did wrong and a number of things they did right, and I think you understand how the game can go and where it can swing and just about keeping your composure and making the most of any rep that comes, because the one that happened in the second quarter could change the game,’’ Campbell said.

“So, I think we’re much more prepared than we were, potentially, even that time. You feel like you are, but until you get into that with a heavyweight, real champion who’d been there numerous times, you don’t always know. And so, I think that experience, as difficult as it was, served us well moving forward into this year, and it’s like anything else, you just – you don’t like to lose, so you’ve got an opportunity with a team that got the best of you, and so you just want to go out and find a way to get a win,’’ the coach added.

Five things to watch:

ONE: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs put on a show without David Montgomery as a sidekick last week and needs to do the same again. “This is what he was built for, this is what he wants to do,’’ Montgomery said. “Now that he has to do what he has to do, this is something we expect from him. He did a good job, we felt that he created. He was very creative on the first level. We also liked him in the passing game once again and we’re finding out he can do those things more and more – interior running game, exterior running game. It’s a chance for him to showcase, in David’s absence, what he can do.’’ In the win over the Bears, he had 23 carries (the most this season) for 109 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs also had four catches for 45 yards. 

TWO: Get off to a fast start like they did against the Bears on Sunday when Detroit was up 13-0 in the first quarter and owned a 27-14 edge at the half.

THREE: Continue to work on the connection between Goff and WR Jameson Williams who has four touchdowns of 50-plus yards this season. The 82-yard touchdown bomb against the Bears last week was a career-long for both of them. Williams, known as Jamo, can be a huge weapon in the postseason. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said he knew it would click between the two but it took two and a half years for their chemistry to get in sync. “When it does click, man, what’s better than a two-play drive? That’s the potential that Jameson has to this offense and it’s a beautiful thing to see a post versus single-high like that,’’ Johnson said. “I know this, it does our offense wonders going into the end of the season here and into the postseason to put that type of stuff on tape.”

FOUR: The Lions defense continues to slowly regain its health while new guys and backups clearly are learning their roles after some of them (that’s you Z’Darius Smith) were thrown in without much time for preparation. The 49ers rank eighth in total offense and can run the ball no matter who carries it. “Listen, we know they’re going to run it, they know they’re going to run it, and their mentality is, ‘Listen, you’re going to have to stop it.’ So, it’s a tough, tough system which requires tough men, which you have to be on your assignment to be able to stop it, and we know that,’’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “And if you look at the game from last year, I thought our guys did a really good job early, and then some of their guys started to will themselves into making some plays, and that’s what we really have to do this game. Our top guys have to outwill their top guys, and I’m looking forward to seeing our guys do that.”

FIVE: The 49ers’ passing defense is rated third in the NFL against the Lions’ second-rated passing offense. Something has to give. Jared Goff must play a clean game like he has in recent weeks with just one interception in the last six games. The 49ers may be 6-9 but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause trouble for the Lions.

LIONS INJURY UPDATE:  LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck) is questionable; WR Kalif Raymond (foot) and RB David Montgomery (knee) are out.

NINERS INJURY UPDATE: OG Aaron Banks, DE Robert Beal, OG Spencer Burford, LB Dre Greenlaw and CB Charvarius Ward are out; S Ji’Ayir Brown and OT Colton McKivitz are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 34, 49ers 24.

QB Teddy Bridgewater rejoins Lions after coaching state championship team

ALLEN PARK — Teddy Bridgewater is back with the Lions and that should bring smiles to everyone on the team, even second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker.

Bridgewater, 32, who was a backup with the Lions in the 2023 season, spent much time working with Hooker who was a rookie.

“I understand what it looks like. It’s just a different world that we’re getting ready to walk into and I just felt like this was the right thing to do, especially with somebody I have a tremendous amount of trust with and for,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Thursday. “He understands our offense well, the guys know him well, the coaches know him well and he brings a certain level of comfort to us.’’

Bridgewater just coached his alma mater, Miami Northwestern, to a Florida state high school championship in November. Not bad for his first year of coaching. Shortly after he announced plans to unretire and sign with an NFL team. He was on the Lions practice field on Thursday wearing No. 12.

“It’s fun, it’s cool. I’m glad to have him back here. State Champ Teddy Bridgewater is what we call him now,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said. “He’s a valuable asset to our team. I love having him in the quarterback room, he’s great to have around.’’

Campbell loves Bridgewater’s experience.

“He’s staying in shape, he’s been throwing, just getting worked back in here a little bit. It just brings a level of professionalism, veteran presence. Somebody that’s great for our team, that’s great for the position,’’ Campbell said. “It doesn’t mean we’re disappointed in Hooker, that’s not what this means. This gives us somebody that’s played a lot in the NFL, we’re getting ready for the playoffs, it’ll be good to get back in the fold with us.’’

Campbell said everybody in the locker room respects Bridgewater and what he stands for.

“When he gets his sea legs back under him, he’ll test those guys a little bit defensively which is good in practice,’’ Campbell said.

It’s not just that Bridgewater is an insurance policy as the Lions start a playoff run, always smiling he brings an infectious enthusiasm to the locker room. 

“He’s a great resource for Jared, young quarterbacks Jake and Hendon. He is a professional — he works hard, he prepares as if he’s the starter and that’s what you want. He’s great to be around,’’ quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell said. “He brightens up that room quite a bit and adds some experience, we love having him around, obviously.’’

Campbell and Brunell both said Hooker improves daily.

“Each week he gets better, he really is. His mechanics, his fundamentals, understanding the defenses he’s presented with, his preparation, his work ethic,’’ Brunel said. “I can’t say enough about him. … He’s going to be a really good quarterback in this league and I’m excited for him.’’

Campbell has known Bridgewater since he coached him with the New Orleans Saints in 2018 and 2019. As a backup for the Lions in 2023, Bridgewater played three snaps in a win over Carolina in Week 5 of the season. 

Bridgewater was drafted by the Vikings in 2014 (32nd overall) and started for two seasons (6-6, 11-5). He has also played with the Saints (2018-19), Panthers (2020), Broncos (2021) and Dolphins (2022). 

In 79 games in his NFL career he completed 66.4 percent of pass attempts and threw 75 touchdowns against 47 interceptions.

INJURY UPDATE: Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin was back at practice after getting in a full practice last week coming off a neck injury. WR Kalif Raymond had his first day of practice coming off a foot injury. “We’ll see where he’s at, I don’t feel as confident with him as I do JRM,’’ Campbell said.

UP NEXT: Lions (13-2) at San Francisco 49ers (6-9), 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30.

Five reasons the Lions bounced back, dominated the Bears, 34-17

dominating 34-17 win at the Chicago Bears. Turns out that reports that the sky was falling were unfounded.  The win set the franchise record for 13 wins in a season.

With two games remaining, the Lions (13-2) still control their own destiny. Win out — at the 49ers and at home to the Vikings — and they earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed. 

The Lions, who are a perfect 7-0 on the road, were coming off a 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills, just their first loss since September which made this game seem that much more important. They haven’t lost back-to-back games since October 2022.

“As I told them, the two most important things to me were I wanted to see us play Detroit football and I wanted to win. That was it, I gave no other stipulations,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

He has preached resilience since Day One and it has stuck.

“We’ve got a group of guys that we all feel the same way. We don’t go in the tank, we don’t lack confidence, and you know I think just collectively, I gravitate to people who are like me in that manner and between coaches and players, we have a group that is that way,’’ Campbell said. “They’re very resilient and they get aggravated if they lose and want to clean it up.’’

He repeatedly said there is much to work on after the win which he says every week, but he did have a smile on his face. It seemed to get wider when he was informed the Eagles, now 12-3, lost to the Commanders.

“It takes a special group of guys to emotionally and physically and psychologically bounce back after a tough loss especially when you haven’t lost in a while, go out and win on the road again,’’ Campbell said.

 “I told the guys I did know that was a team record, a franchise record 13 wins has never been done. I told them one day we’ll be able to look back and enjoy that, but not yet, it’s not the time. We’ve got our work cut out for us,’’ Campbell added.

It was the ninth straight loss for the Bears who the Lions also beat on Thanksgiving.

Five of the main reasons the Lions beat the Bears:

ONE: The Lions offense got off to a fast start taking a 20-0 early lead and holding a halftime edge of 27-14. They scored on their first five possessions and didn’t punt until there were 5 minutes left in the game. In the previous week’s loss to the Bills, they fell behind early and could not catch up. So a quick start was at the top of the to-do list for a win. Check. 

TWO: With David Montgomery out, RB Jahmyr Gibbs carried the load in the run game which had struggled in the past few weeks. Not on Sunday. Detroit finished with 145 rushing yards and Gibbs had 109 of them, including a rushing touchdown. “That was somewhat his first taste of taking on more of the load,’’ Campbell said. “It was good.” Running the ball was key to taking time off the clock. Gibbs has produced 100-plus scrimmage yards in nine games this season. This is the most by a Lions RB since Barry Sanders in 1997. 

THREE: Wide receiver Jameson Williams’ 82-yard touchdown catch again proved that his speed makes him nearly impossible to stop. Of course, it was an amazing pass by Goff too. Williams got off to a rough start with a taunting penalty in the first quarter. Same thing happened when the Lions beat the Bears on Thanksgiving and Williams apologized to his teammates for the bonehead move. On Sunday, Campbell had a talk with him on the sideline but kept him in the game. He had five catches for 143 yards. “I love where he’s at right now,’’ Campbell said. Goff said his connection with Williams continues to grow. “He’s obviously one of the best deep threats in our league. Even when it’s not perfect, and I think keven those two, last week and this one, wasn’t the perfect look for him to make that play today and finish in the end zone. That’s what he’s capable of and there’ll be more of that, hopefully,’’ Goff said.

FOUR: The Lions defense had not had a takeaway in four games and then they had two in the first half. Bears’ WR Rome Odunze fumbled both times with Josh Paschal recovering the first and Jack Campbell the second. The offense responded with scores on both. Bears QB Caleb Williams found more of a rhythm in the second half, but the Lions defense only allowed one field goal in the second half.

FIVE: Jared Goff can never be overlooked. With the defense playing next-man-up football, much was expected from the offense. Goff delivered. Again. He completed 23 of 32 attempts for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Plus he should be in the running for an Oscar for his fake stumble before connecting with Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown pass. It was a play they had worked on all last week. Goff has now produced 41-career 300-yard passing games, tying Dan Marino and Matt Ryan for the second-most 300-yard games through nine seasons in NFL history. And Goff is the third QB with a 13-plus win season for multiple franchises in NFL history. He joins Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

UP NEXT: Lions (13-2)  at 49ers, 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30.