Amon-ra St. Brown – Page 5

Five things to watch as Lions try to snap Thanksgiving losing streak

Bears have lost 5 straight including recent OT loss to Vikings

Thanksgiving Day hasn’t been such a happy occasion for the Lions for the last seven years. Each game has ended in a loss. Gathering around the table afterward hasn’t been so pleasant.

But this version of the Lions, which has won nine straight games, is different from the rest.

The Lions (10-1) face the Chicago Bears (4-7) at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.

For coach Dan Campbell, getting the division win is key and breaking that seven-game losing streak is just gravy.

“I think there’s two things. Number one, get a W, right and it’s a division win that’s why this is huge,’’ Campbell said. “Number two is because the players are going to get a couple of days off. So, they have family, friends in, it’d be nice to feel good about it when you’re with everybody because it’s just not real fun. It’s not real fun to be around. Ask my wife, she’ll tell you. Like that’s why she’s praying for a win big time because she knows that I’m a bear when we don’t win, so we all want it. It is long overdue, but we have to win to win.”

The Bears could come out a little angry after losing to the Vikings, 30-27, in overtime on Sunday. The week before that they lost to the Packers, 20-19.

Five things to watch:

ONE: The next-man-up standard has worked well for the Lions so far, but is there a tipping point? LT Taylor Decker and CB Carlton Davis III are definitely not going to play. WR Kalif Raymond was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and RB David Montgomery were also injured Sunday but Campbell expects they will play. He would have a hard time keeping Montgomery, a former Bear, off the field.

TWO: QB Caleb Williams has gone five straight games (all losses) without throwing an interception but he’s only thrown two touchdown passes in that stretch, both against the Vikings defense. Still he’s a mobile quarterback and is the Bears’ second-leading rusher. “What I’ve been impressed with is just how he has grown, he has grown every game but these last two I really feel like he’s taken off and what they’re doing with him has been really good for him and he just looks very composed,’’ Campbell said. “He doesn’t get frazzled, plays pretty fast, and he’s an accurate passer, big arm, and he’s got some guys that can get open for him.”

THREE: The Lions rushing defense will be tested by D’Andre Swift, the former Lions running back. “They’re going to try to run it, get Swift on the perimeter, Swift’s doing a good job, he’s been a good asset for them,’’ Campbell said.

FOUR: While CB Carlton Davis is out, CB Terrion Arnold, who didn’t play on Sunday, will be active Thursday which could give the secondary a boost. Kindle Vildore struggled last week while replacing him. Caleb Williams has plenty of options including wide receivers D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, along with rookie tight end Cole Kmet.

FIVE: Preparing in a short week is tough but it’s the same for both teams. “I would say, if we were playing them for the second time this year it can help. It’s the first time, so there’s some new things, you’re still getting the first time of watching all their tape, so I don’t know if being in-division helps much,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said. “I guess we know their personnel pretty good, they do some similar stuff from last year, but there are some differences, too, that you’ve got to be aware of.”

LIONS INJURY UPDATE: T Taylor Decker (knee) and CB Carlton Davis III (knee, thumb) are out; RB David Montgomery (shoulder) and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) are questionable.

BEARS INJURY UPDATE: DB Elijah Hicks (ankle) and OL Ryan Bates (concussion) are out.

PREDICTION: Lions 35, Bears 21

Injuries could be issue as Lions look to snap Thanksgiving losing streak

ALLEN PARK — It’s Thanksgiving week which means the Detroit Lions are cramming six days of preparation into three.

On Thursday they will try to snap a seven-game Thanksgiving losing streak when they face the Chicago Bears (4-7).

“Nobody likes losing, I don’t want to lose. I don’t want to lose a game, I don’t think any of us do. But it’s more so it’s about a division opponent at home, the next one in front of us, more so than we don’t want to lose the Thanksgiving game,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Monday. “We don’t want to lose, period.’’

At the same time, winning on Thanksgiving makes dinner a little tastier. That’s something that center Frank Ragnow longs for. He was drafted by the Lions in 2018 and has never won a Thanksgiving game.

“I’d really like to enjoy Thanksgiving. Usually in the past years it’s been like I don’t really want to talk to my family, all upset about everything. I’d really like to enjoy Thanksgiving and put on a show for the crowd,” Ragnow said.

“It’s such a special unique thing to Detroit, and need to capitalize on it and make it as special as it is,” Ragnow said. “I think we’ve all got that in the back of our mind.”

The coach said this week is about rest, recovery and mental work. The team had a walk-through on Monday with another planned on Tuesday.

Injuries could be an issue for Thursday after the Lions were banged up following Sunday’s 24-6 win at Indianapolis.

Campbell said decisions on some of the injured could come down to the wire. He’s most concerned about the availability of LT Taylor Decker (knee), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee), Carlton Davis III (knee, thumb) and WR Kalif Raymond (foot).

None of them would have practiced on Monday, per the estimated practice report.

RB David Montgomery (shoulder) and DT D.J. Reader (illness) also would not have practiced.

The good injury news is that CB Terrion Arnold (groin), who didn’t play on Sunday, would have had a full practice.

Lions make winning look easy, but Jared Goff scoffs at the perception

Loaded with talent and hard-workers, the Lions have won eight straight and shatter records each week. In the last four games they have outscored opponents 154 to 57.

Piece of cake? Guess again.

“We’re really really trying to chase excellence every day. It’s not just on the field in games. In practice, we just finished walking through, the details are coming out. It’s amazing,’’ said Scottie Montgomery, Lions assistant head coach/running backs, on Wednesday.

The perception — to some, not everyone — is that the consistent winning is easy. Quarterback Jared Goff has something to say about that.

“None of this is easy. I keep getting that question. It makes me a little upset, but like I got it on the radio and after the game. None of this is easy. I know we scored 52, but like it’s freaking hard in this league,’’ Goff said on Wednesday.

“We’ve been playing well, we’ve been doing a lot of good things on offense. By no means would I ever characterize anything we’re doing as easy or without effort,’’ Goff added. “It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of time. The games are obviously very hard always and tough to win. Just rewind to a week ago (at Houston) you see how hard that win was. It’s never easy.’’

Goff said he’s not sure why the perception is that it’s easy.

“Everyone watches on Sunday to see what happens. But we’re in here Monday through Saturday. Our coaches are working around the clock,’’ Goff said. “Our bodies aren’t where you’d like them to be, no one is in this league right now. None of this is easy. We’re doing some good things offensively and defensively, but none of it is easy at all.’’

Coach Dan Campbell has preached hard work and details since he first walked into the building. That is one reason the Lions are 9-1 and considered Super Bowl worthy. At times they’re making it look easy, but it is not.

“I’ve been on some good football teams, but this is one of the first times when your best players are some of the most detailed players,’’ Montgomery said.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said the offense has known it’s special since the start of last year.

“We treat every opponent the same and that’s what makes us special,’’ St. Brown said.

UP NEXT: Lions (9-1) at Indianapolis Colts (5-6), 1 p.m. on Sunday.