Latest Detroit Lions Stories
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 7:10PM ET by Bruce Ciskie (RSS feed)
Filed under: Browns, Lions, NFL Injuries

There was little on Sunday that matched the drama of the Cleveland-Detroit showdown. Yes, two 1-8 teams gave us a gripping game filled with highlights and lowlights from both sides.
After
Matthew Stafford found
Brandon Pettigrew for the game-winning touchdown on an untimed down that followed a defensive penalty,
Browns coach Eric Mangini -- never one to shy away from controversy -- decided to accuse the
Lions of faking injuries during the game.
Posted: Nov 23rd 2009 3:01PM ET by Dan Graziano (RSS feed)
Filed under: Browns, Lions, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Analysis

When you're the
Detroit Lions and you're thinking about making
Matthew Stafford the No. 1 overall pick in the
NFL Draft, you're a quivering Jell-O mold of fear and trepidation. Is the kid smart enough? Is he strong enough? Is he tough enough to not just play but thrive in the most crucial position any sport has? Will he represent the team well? Does he make a good impression? Is he a leader? You're risking dozens of millions of dollars and the future of your franchise on questions you really can't hope to answer by the end of April of his junior year of college, and it's scary.
But the flip side is what you know he
can be, which is that rarest of NFL commodities -- a franchise quarterback. You imagine a day when he puts the team on his back, overcomes some ridiculous obstacle (an expired clock, say, or an injured shoulder ... or both!) and leads the team to an emotional, season-defining win. You believe he can be that kind of player, and so, you give him the money and hope. And then, in Week 11 of his first season, he gives you a glimpse.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2009 5:35PM ET by Bruce Ciskie (RSS feed)
Filed under: Browns, Lions, NFL Injuries

When two bad teams get together, sometimes they can produce some great theater. Such was the case Sunday in Detroit, where a pair of 1-8 teams gave fans one of the day's best games.
At the end, a penalty that was called on the game's last play gave the homestanding
Lions one untimed down from the Cleveland 1. They made it count, as rookie quarterback
Matthew Stafford hit tight end
Brandon Pettigrew for six, and a Jason Hanson extra point gave Detroit a 38-37 win.
Posted: Nov 20th 2009 11:00AM ET by Bruce Ciskie (RSS feed)
Filed under: Browns, Buccaneers, Colts, Lions, Ravens, Saints, NFL Fans, NFL Live Blogging

We still have two unbeatens in the NFL, New Orleans and Indianapolis. The Saints visit Tampa, so they shouldn't be threatened, but the Colts have a doozy of a game at Baltimore. Meanwhile, it's a clash of titans in Detroit, as the 1-8 Lions host 1-8 Cleveland. Join us at 12 PM ET to discuss all the Week 11 NFL action.
Posted: Nov 18th 2009 2:15AM ET by Chris Burke (RSS feed)
Filed under: Lions
Calvin Johnson, now is his third professional season, has shown flashes of brilliance. His 1,200-plus yards receiving and 12 touchdowns in 2008 were incredible numbers considering Detroit finished 0-16. But "Megatron" has just one TD grab this season, and the
Lions are a combined 8-33 since drafting him.
So while Johnson has been stellar at times and has a very, very bright future, it's hard to put him on the same level as guys like
Randy Moss,
Andre Johnson or
Larry Fitzgerald. Unless you ask Minnesota cornerback
Benny Sapp, that is.
Posted: Nov 2nd 2009 2:20AM ET by Chris Burke (RSS feed)
Filed under: Lions

Dominic Raiola has played all nine of his
NFL seasons in Detroit, never finishing with better than a 7-9 record -- and that streak isn't ending this season. So he's allowed to have some pent-up frustration.
He let some of it out Sunday during the
Lions' 17-10 home loss to the previously winless
Rams, firing off some choice words at a group of Detroit fans who were heckling rookie quarterback
Matthew Stafford. Detroit's final possession of the game consisted of four Stafford incompletions (plus two more pass attempts wiped out by penalties).
After the final misfire landed well wide of its intended target, a few rowdy patrons let Stafford have it -- yelling "Hey Matt, throw it to me, I'm open, I'm open," according to Raiola, who quickly came to his QB's defense.
Posted: Nov 1st 2009 2:30PM ET by Chris Burke (RSS feed)
Filed under: Lions, Rams

Sunday's St. Louis-Detroit matchup appeared destined to be one of the worst of the
NFL season -- the teams entered Week 8 a combined 1-12 on the year -- and one second-quarter play summed up the ineptitude of both teams pretty well.
With Detroit facing 3rd-and-10 from the
Rams 12, quarterback
Matthew Stafford fired a pass over the middle that ricocheted off the hands of running back
Aaron Brown and right to waiting St. Louis safety
James Butler.
Posted: Oct 18th 2009 11:55AM ET by Chris Burke (RSS feed)
Filed under: Lions, NFL Injuries

Not that the
Lions need any more mountains to climb, but they will be without quarterback
Matthew Stafford and star wide receiver
Calvin Johnson Sunday as they attempt to break an 18-game losing streak at Lambeau Field. Both players
are listed as inactive for the matchup in Green Bay, though Stafford will serve as Detroit's third-string, emergency QB.
Daunte Culpepper will get his second straight start at quarterback for the Lions. In Week 5, he was 23 of 37 for 282 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Detroit's 28-20 loss to Pittsburgh.