Tag: Aaron Glenn

Five things to watch as Lions face Vikings with No. 1 seed on the line

Coach Dan Campbell built this Lions team for games like Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. It’s not just another game, it’s two 14-win teams vying for the No. 1 seed, a week off and home field advantage until the Super Bowl.

After losing the NFC Championship game at San Francisco last January, the Lions’ goal became to earn the No. 1 seed. Even though they’re perfect on the road, getting the bye and staying home until the Super Bowl is the goal. 

“You come out of that game and feel like it gives you the best odds to get to where the ultimate is, which is, as well all know what the prize is, and that’s the Super Bowl, well, you just – you try to set yourself up the best you can and that’s why you put those goals out there,’’ Campbell said. “So yeah, it’s been there for a while, so certainly this is something we want to do and we’ve had in our minds – division and one seed and all that, and it’s right here in our hands.”

The Lions beat the Vikings, 31-29, in their first meeting on Oct 20  and beat them both games in 2023. 

The Vikings have won nine straight, scoring more than 30 points just once – 42 in a win over Atlanta.

“They’re well-coached, got a lot of good players – a lot of good players and they create issues, really, in all three phases that we’re going to need to be prepared for, but it’s a challenge we’re looking forward to,’’ Campbell said. “So, like I said after the game, these are exciting times, to be able to play these types of games, so we’re looking forward to it.”

 FIVE THINGS TO WATCH:

ONE: Offense must pile on the points because the Lions defense is still the weak link due to injuries. In the last four games the Lions have averaged 37.5 points and outscored opponents 150-120 and overall they have a 533 to 333 advantage in points scored. In the first matchup against the Vikings, the Lions won 31-29. Last year the Lions beat the Vikings twice, scoring 30 points in each game. Goff was 22 of 25 for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first game. He has thrown just one interception in the last seven games. Goff has a 77-percent completion percentage and 90.9 QBR vs. the  Vikings blitz under Brian Flores, defensive coordinator. The Lions scored 30 or more points in all three games.

TWO: Contain Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. “Man, he is a special one. He’s my type of guy and you see the way he’s playing is starting to permeate to some of those other receivers,’’ Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “I think he’s one of the toughest guys playing that position. He’s an old school player, in my opinion, it’s almost like he’s a defensive guy playing receiver.’’ Jefferson had 7 catches, for 81 yards and a touchdown in the first game against the Lions.

THREE: The defense must make impact plays. “I thought that our top players outwilled their top players (in San Francisco) and to me, that’s what the focus is on for us. How many impact plays we can make and how our top players are going to outwill their top players,’’ Glenn said. In the first meeting, QB Sam Darnold completed 81.5 percent of his passes with 1 touchdown and 1 interception (by Brian Branch) with 244 passing yards in the first matchup. The LIons defense also gave up139 rushing yards in that game.

FOUR: Keep the run game going. Jahmyr Gibbs has done a good job with David Montgomery sidelined for the past two games. In those contests, Gibbs has a combined 226 rushing yards with two rushing TDs and 8 catches for 91 yards. He’s getting help from Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson and Vaki Stone. In the first matchup, Gibbs had 15 carries for 116 yards with two rushing touchdowns.

FIVE: Kicker Jake Bates could be the not-so secret weapon. In Monday’s win at San Francisco he kicked field goals of 57 and 42 yards, He did miss on two extra-point kicks – one was blocked. It’s something that was worked on this week. 

LIONS INJURY REPORT: CB Emmanuel Moseley (illness) and WR David Montgomery (knee) are out; LB Alex Anzalone (forearm), WR Kalif Raymond (foot) and RB Craig Reynolds (back) are questionable.

VIKINGS INJURY REPORT: OLB Patrick Jones II (knee) is out); LB  Kamu Grugier-Hill (illness) and CB Fabian Moreau (hip) are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 34, Vikings 31.

Lions LB Alex Anzalone closer to return but unsure if it will be on Sunday

ALLEN PARK — Nothing is certain about the availability of Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone for Sunday’s game against the Vikings. It would be his first action since he broke his left forearm on Nov. 17.

The decision will be made collaboratively by trainers, doctors, coaches and Anzalone himself.

At this point there are more questions including how much more healing will there be if he waits a week or two before he plays.
If he would re-injure it, he could be sidelined for the playoffs. It’s a factor in the decision-making process.

“You just think about OK, for me personally, obviously the doctors and trainers kind of go through what the risks are of waiting a week, waiting two weeks, going through practice and maybe letting it spin next week or the week after that or this week,’’ Anzalone said on Thursday.

“I think, for me personally, it’s like OK, say if something did happen would I be OK not playing in the Super Bowl? That’s a decision I have to make in my own head. Is it worth it? How do I feel going over these next few practices and go from there? I haven’t practiced in six weeks,’’ said Anzalone, who has a steel plate in his arm with a big scar as proof.

In Thursday’s practice he wore a carbon-fiber, padded protective wrap on the forearm.

Anzalone seems very much unclear about playing against the Vikings on Sunday night.

 “They do a really good job in the training room and our team docs, they don’t really try to put us in crazy harm’s way. There are risks of playing with injury and coming back, at the same time they do a really good job of getting you ready and putting you out there prepared and when they feel comfortable, then part of my voice and how I feel definitely goes into it,’’ Anzalone said, explaining the decision process.

While Thursday was his first practice it was not padded. He was listed as a full participant up from limited for Wednesday’s walk-through.

“That’s another thing, I haven’t tackled anyone to the ground. I’ve done some drills and tried to simulate it as much as possible. It’s one of those things, how do you feel?’’ the veteran linebacker said.

He’s been pleased to watch the development of Jack Campbell who has taken his place. 

“He’s done a really good job, taking control and being the play caller out there. He’s going to continue to grow,’’ Anzalone said. “It’s good to see a young guy take the reins in that regard, I’m proud of him.’’

Of course defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn looks forward to Anzalone’s return.

“Just him, his presence, his common presence and the players get so used to being around. That’s nothing against Jack, they’re just two totally different people in how they operate. I’m looking forward to getting him back out there. I can’t say if he’ll be out there this week. He’s getting himself back to acclimate how we do things and practicing. Hoping we get him back really soon,’’ Glenn said before Thursday’s practice.

While he’s been off, Anzalone said it hasn’t been too difficult to watch his teammates play  because he knew he’d be back around this time. It also probably helps that they’ve only lost one game in his absence.

What he doesn’t like is the league-wide chatter that the Lions defense, which has many key injuries, is not good enough to win the Super Bowl.

“I think it’s bullshit honestly, it’s one of those things. We have to do our part and limit points, that’s the No. 1 goal as a defense,’’ Anzalone said. “We haven’t been doing that recently but at the same time to say we’re not good enough to win the Super Bowl I think that’s pretty dumb.’’

INJURY UPDATE: CB Emmanuel Moseley (illness), G Christian Mahogany (illness) and RB David Montgomery (knee) did not practice on Thursday.

UP NEXT: Vikings (14-2) at Lions (14-2), 8:20 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field. Winner earns the NFC”s No. 1 seed.

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.