No Detroit Lions in the Top 5 in Pro Bowl fan voting at any position thus far -- that includes QB Matthew Stafford, P Sam Martin, K Matt Prater, returner Andre Roberts and ST players Johnson Bademosi and Don Carey.
Despite a great performance against Drew Brees & Co. on Sunday, Detroit's pass defense has been downright awful this season. It's hard to see that ending well in the playoffs, Bill Barnwell writes. Contender kryptonite
Benching Golden Tate in a Week 4 loss to the Bears may have been one of JimCaldwell's most underrated moves this season.
A convincing win in New Orleans has expanded the Lions' postseason hopes from just winning the NFC North to trying to secure a first-round bye.
...the Lions would win the NFC North by two games for their first division title since 1989. They're just a half game out of the race for a first-round bye, but tough tests remain on their schedule. Playoff picture
On a key third down in the fourth quarter, Tate got free from the Saints' D and Matthew Stafford found him. "I couldn't believe how open I was when I caught it," Tate said. "...I just turned into a runner." Sights and sounds
Other than Haloti Ngata, the Lions split defensive tackle reps pretty equally between A'Shawn Robinson, Khyri Thornton, Stefan Charles and Tyrunn Walker.
Detroit needed a game like this to show itself and the rest of the NFL it can be a third contender for the NFC title. along with Dallas and Seattle.
On Sunday, Golden Tate was the obvious No. 1 target for quarterback Matthew Stafford and he played like it in the Lions' 28-13 win over New Orleans.
A jovial "love tap" among friendly ex-teammates or a message? Lions QB Matthew Stafford and Saints DT Nick Fairley have different perspectives.
With the win Sunday, Detroit clinched a better record this season than its 7-9 record last year.
Lions QB Matthew Stafford got in a groove in the first half, completing 13 passes in a row to establish a franchise record.
His 66-yard score today was the third touchdown of 65 yards or longer in his career. Two of those scores have come against the Saints. (ESPN Stats & Info)
The Detroit Lions may not say it, but they needed a win like this -- without the requisite Matthew Stafford fourth-quarter comeback and trailing in the fourth quarter. Detroit had one of its best performances all year and put itself in position to be legitimate contenders in the NFC.
Matthew Stafford passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns, and the Detroit Lions beat the mistake-prone New Orleans Saints, 28-13 on Sunday.
Lions beat Saints 28-13 to improve to 8-4 atop the NFC North. The ViewFromVegas is they did it as 6.5-point road underdogs and +240 on the money line.
| NAME | POS | TYPE | PREV. TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Abdul-Quddus | S | UFA | DET |
| S. Acho | LB | UFA | CHI |
| J. Adams | OT | UFA | HOU |
| J. Addae | S | RFA | SD |
| D. Aiken | LS | UFA | NYG |
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(16) | Taylor Decker | OT | Ohio State |
| 2(15) | A'Shawn Robinson | DT | Alabama |
| 3(32) | Graham Glasgow | C | Michigan |
| 4(13) | Miles Killebrew | S | Southern Utah |
| 5(12) | Joe Dahl | OG | Washington State |
| 5(30) | Antwione Williams | OLB | Georgia Southern |
| 6(16) | Jake Rudock | QB | Michigan |
| 6(27) | Anthony Zettel | DE | Penn State |
| 6(35) | Jimmy Landes | LS | Baylor |
| 7(15) | Dwayne Washington | RB | Washington |
