Lions
Former Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford Wins Super Bowl LVI
Just over a year ago, the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions ignited the NFL world with a blockbuster transaction that resulted in one of those teams winning the Super Bowl.
Detroit and Los Angeles agreed to exchange starting quarterbacks, as well as two first-round picks and a third-round pick going to the Lions. It was amazing since then-LA QB Jared Goff had led the team to a Super Bowl berth only two years prior and was just in his sixth season in the NFL. All this while Stafford, a Lions franchise legend, was entering his 13th season in the NFL and still putting up incredible numbers on an underperforming club.
The Rams’ decision was taken because they had a clear win-now mindset. Rams coach Sean McVay had helped build a squad that was filled with talent on both offense and defense. But Goff’s play has been lackluster at best since their Super Bowl victory in 2018. With the team’s premier talent aging, LA felt their potential championship window was fading. So they were looking for an improvement in QB play and found it in Stafford. He also had previously demanded a trade from the organization after 12 years and no post-season wins.
Overview of the game details
Matt Stafford guided the Los Angeles Rams to their second Lombardi Trophy with a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday night. By rallying from behind at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Stafford helped his alma school achieve a historic feat.
A crucial part of the game was when a Stafford interception came from Rams wideout Ben Skowronek, who played a larger role in the second half after Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a non-contact injury in the second quarter.
Stafford and Cooper Kupp, on the other hand, performed what they had done all season. They dialed in when the game was on the line. Offsetting penalties negated a four-yard Kupp touchdown on first-and-goal inside two minutes. Stafford connected with his No. 1 weapon again three plays later for a one-yard touchdown, giving the Rams the final 23-20 advantage, which Aaron Donald would secure with a vital pressure on Burrow on the next drive.
Should the Lions have traded Stafford?
Many questioned Stafford’s ability to be a “Super Bowl-level” quarterback. An enormously wide label commonly used to players who have yet to win a post-season game. Stafford and the Rams won the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. Whether you credit Stafford, Sean McVay, Donald, or Cooper Kupp, the reality is that Stafford won a Super Bowl in his first season after leaving Detroit.
Not only is the Lions’ 2023 first-round selection still on the table, but the draft picks have failed to produce anything concrete. Who knows what will happen with the 32nd pick? Or who knows what Melifonwu’s future will hold? Who knows how the Rams will do in the coming season?
Furthermore, we don’t believe the Lions could have got more in exchange for Stafford.
We believe the Rams deal still provided the Lions with the best opportunity to rebuild. The Rams made the most of their transaction. It’s now up to the Lions to follow suit.
The Detroit Lions look to rebound from their first loss of the season in a Week 3 matchup with the unbeaten Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at 10 am EST at Ford Field.
Last week, both teams rallied from double-digit deficits in the second half. The Lions (1-1) scored 10 points in the final 3:08, including a field goal with no time remaining, only to fall in overtime to Seattle, 37-31.
The Falcons (2-0) trailed at home to Green Bay by 12 points in the fourth quarter and won on a field goal with a minute left, 25-24. The Lions suffered multiple serious injuries in the loss and will host the Falcons, missing several key players.
Lions Team News
The overtime defeat to Seattle may have looked familiar to Lions fans. Critical mistakes on offense and an ineffective defense resulting in a close loss was the team’s identity for the first half of last season.
Jared Goff was solid again but threw a pick-6 midway through the fourth quarter to give Seattle a 10-point cushion at 31-21. The Lions responded with a 75-yard TD drive on their next possession, scoring on a Goff to Josh Reynolds connection, and then tied the game on Riley Patterson’s 38-yard field goal on the game’s last play.
The Seahawks won the OT coin toss, however, and went 75 yards in nine plays, with Geno Smith’s 6-yarder to Tyler Lockett being the game-winner.
Goff’s first interception in nearly 400 pass attempts wasn’t the only costly turnover by Detroit. After halftime, David Montgomery was hit in the backfield and fumbled on the first play. Seattle recovered at the Lions 23 and scored two plays later to tie the game,14-14. Montgomery (16 carries for 67 yards and a TD) was later carted off the field with a thigh injury and is listed as questionable for this week. He has 37 of the team’s 61 rushing attempts this season.
Goff finished 28-for-35 with three TDs. Eight Lions caught a pass in the game, led by Amon-Ra St. Brown’s six receptions for 102 yards. Reynolds also had a TD catch in the first quarter, and Kalif Raymond scored on a 36-yard pass play to give Detroit a 14-7 lead at halftime. Rookies Sam LaPorta (5 catches for 63 yards) and Jahmyr Gibbs (7 for 39 yards) also played major roles in the passing attack.
More injury updates that are not good for Detroit include defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson being out for months and possibly the entire year with a torn pectoral. The Lions lack of pass rush took a hit as it was reported that James Houston would miss months with a fractured ankle. Starting guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai reportedly will miss at least this week with a knee injury.
After two games, Goff is fifth in the league in passing yards (576 yards), fifth in QBR (75.3) and third in QB Rating (109.0). He’s completing 71.4% of his passes. St. Brown’s big day puts him 10th in the league with 143 receiving yards. Overall, the Lions offense is third in the league at 393 total yards per game.
Meanwhile, the Detroit defense allows 354.5 yards and 28.5 points per game. Both defensive numbers rank in the bottom-half of the league. The Detroit defense forced only one three-and-out against the Seahawks. Alex Anzalone recorded the lone sack on the day by the Lions.
Falcons Team News
The Atlanta Falcons are one of nine 2-0 teams left in the NFL after two weeks.
Atlanta plans to run the ball and is fourth in the league with 71 rushing attempts. Eighth overall pick Bijan Robinson is second in the NFL with 180 rushing yards and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Second-year back Tyler Allgeier actually leads the team with his 31 carries and has 123 rushing yards.
Second-year QB Desmond Ridder has been efficient so far, completing 34-of-50 passes for 352 yards. Robinson also leads the team with 10 receptions. Mack Hollins, Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts are the other main receiving targets the Lions will have to account for.
In the comeback win, Atlanta outgained the Packers 446 to 224 in total yards, and the team’s young offensive talent was displayed. Robinson impressed with 124 yards on 19 carries and four catches for 49 yards.
Ridder opened it up a bit, going 19-of-32 for 237 yards and running the ball 10 times. London had 6 catches for 67 yards. The Falcons had 211 rushing yards and 15 rushing first downs. On defense, the Falcons are ranked third, allowing 252.5 yards per game.
Lions Falcons Prediction
The Lions are early 3.5-point home favorites with a Total Over/Under of 46. The injuries to key Detroit players are a concern. If Montgomery can’t go, the game could feature an exciting showcase of Gibbs and Robinson.
The Falcons’ two wins have come at home against inexperienced quarterbacks Bryce Young and Jordan Love. We’re not convinced Ridder can get it done on the road.
This one feels like it will be decided by the arm of Goff and the Lions’ defense’s ability to stop the run. We like the former…but worry about the latter.
Detroit 27, Atlanta 24
The Detroit Lions kick off the 2023–24 NFL regular season against the Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, in the nationally televised Thursday night spotlight no less, 5:20 EST at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO.
There is no tougher ask in professional football than taking on the defending champions at home, on Ring Night, against their worldly quarterback and mastermind head coach.
There has not been so much optimism for Detroit fans in years as the Lions look to build on their late-season surge from a year ago. If last year’s trends hold true, plenty of points should be placed on the scoreboard. The underdog Lions should also have a chance to pull off a season-opening stunner.
Keep reading for team news and our Lions vs. Chiefs betting prediction.
Detroit Lions Team News
The Lions (9-8 last year) finished the preseason 2-1 with wins against the Carolina Panthers and N.Y. Giants. The decision was made for QB1 Jared Goff to sit out the entire preseason so that he will see his first game action since last season against the Chiefs.
Last year, the Lions offense ranked 4th in Total Yards Per Game (380 ypg) and 5th in Points Per Game (26.6 ppg). Led by Goff’s 4,438 passing yards and 29 passing TDs, the team finished 8th in Passing Yards Per Game with 251.8 ypg. The Lions offense was well-balanced, finishing 11th in Rushing Yards Per Game at 128.2 per.
Gone, however, from last year’s team are Jamaal Williams (now a Saint) and his 1,000-yard season with 17 rushing touchdowns and the team’s second-leading rusher, D’Andre Swift (552 yards and 5 TDs a year ago), now a Philadelphia Eagle.
Running behind one of the league’s more underrated offensive lines this year will be Alabama rookie Jahmyr Gibbs and veteran David Montgomery, formerly of the Bears. The team’s leading receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown (1,161 yards and 6 TDs last season), is listed as questionable for the opener after suffering a preseason ankle injury.
Of course, the soft spot last year was the Detroit defense. The Lions ranked last in Yards Allowed Per Game (392.3 ypg) and third to last in Points Allowed Per Game at 25.1. The Lions overhauled the secondary, acquiring Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson while drafting Brian Branch out of Alabama. Moseley’s status for the game is uncertain. The team also drafted linebacker Jack Campbell out of Iowa to fill some of those big running lanes. The combination of Aiden Hutchinson (9.5 sacks last year) and James Houston (8 sacks) hope to force the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes into a rare off night.
Kansas City Chiefs Team News
The Chiefs finished 14-3 during the regular season last year. Plus, as everyone knows, they outlasted Philadelphia to take home its second Super Bowl trophy under coach Andy Reid in the last four years.
The 2022 Kansas City offense ranked 1st in both Yards Per Game (413.6 ypg) and Points Per Game at 29.2. MVP quarterback Mahomes led the league with 5,520 passing yards and 41 TD passes.
Tight end Travis Kelce had 110 catches for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the team. After Kelce, the Chiefs’ other pass catchers are more castoffs than pro bowlers and will highlight Kadarius Toney (questionable), Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Sky Moore. The Chiefs’ undervalued running attack will feature Isiah Pacheco (831 rushing yards last year) to go with Jerick McKinnon (56 receptions) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Last year, the Kansas City defense was middling statistically, allowing 21.7 points each contest. They are without All-Pro Chris Jones (holdout) and his 15.5 sacks from last year, and that could be a difference-maker in this game.
Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers Prediction
The Chiefs are 6.5-point favorites with a total O/U of 54. The Lions were 5-4 on the road last year. The Chiefs were 7-1 at home. Most signs point to a Chiefs celebration on opening night.
The less-than-a-touchdown spread is intriguing and telling. The Lions will play ball-control and keep away from Mahomes. Both teams will try to run the ball more than normal. We think the Lions will have a chance to win the game late…but won’t.
Prediction: Kansas 27, Detroit 20
The Detroit Lions will host their second straight home game to open the NFL preseason Saturday at 1 PM EST against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field. Both teams won their preseason opener by five points. Both teams have big ideas for this season that include at least a divisional championship.
Detroit Lions Team News
The Lions opened their preseason with a 21-16 win over the New York Giants. Battling for a back-up quarterback spot, Nate Sudfeld threw an interception on the first play of the game and finished 15-of-28 for 194 yards and 2 INTs. Sudfeld played the entire first half and the first possession after halftime but it was rookie QB Adrian Martinez, from Kansas St. via Nebraska, who led the last drive and scored the winning TD on a 1-yard push with 1:51 remaining. The other Lions touchdown was a 95-yard punt return complete with two spins (YouTube it if you didn’t see it) from Florida International rookie Maurice Alexander.
1st round pick Jahmyr Gibbs flashed with 6 carries for 19 yards to give the home fans a little taste. Of note on the Detroit defense, Julian Okwara recorded three sacks while his older brother Romeo got one sack. Rookie Brandon Joseph of Notre Dame fame had an interception.
The biggest news heading into the Jacksonville game is really a bit of old news. Recently signed Teddy Bridgewater (still only 30 years old) is expected to play against the Jaguars as the Lions look to secure the back-up spots behind starter Jared Goff. Bridgewater started two games last season for the Miami Dolphins.
Jacksonville Jaguars Team News
The Jaguars won their preseason opener, 28-23, in Dallas over the Cowboys. Unlike the Lions who didn’t play Goff, Jacksonville’s No. 1 Trevor Lawrence did start and threw an interception on his second attempt of the game. Lawrence did lead a scoring drive with a TD toss to Christian Kirk before putting a baseball cap on over his long locks. Dak Prescott did not play for Dallas. The Jags won the game in the 4th quarter as undrafted QB Nathan Rourke from Ohio threw and ran for a touchdown.
Detroit Lions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Prediction
The early line has Jacksonville as -3.5 favorites. That seems to make sense if Doug Pederson gives a series or two again to Lawrence. The Jaguar’s back-up QBs also played well in the first preseason game win. Meanwhile, Bridgewater just joined the team and might see some action. Sudfeld was a bit wild with two interceptions.
Prediction: Jacksonville 20, Detroit 13
One more thing: The teams are not scheduled to play this year unless they meet in the Super Bowl of course. The Lions are currently about +2200 to win it all. Jacksonville is around +3000.
