Detroit Free Press

Everybody was going crazy. OK. Stop. That’s deceiving. Let me rephrase: The few fans left in Ford Field were going crazy on Sunday afternoon. Near the end of his Detroit Lions head coaching debut, Dan Campbell stood on the sideline, watching intently, slowly chewing gum. Campbell did not come across as a crazed, over-caffeinated, fist-pumping, vocal-cord

The Detroit Lions we knew wouldn’t be very good. The Chicago Bears figured to be below average, too. The Minnesota Vikings looked like a middle-of-the-pack team, mostly because they play the Lions and Bears twice this year. But the Green Bay Packers were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender. The fact that the Packers got

When the Detroit Lions face reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers next Monday night, they likely will start rookies at two of their three cornerback positions. Third-round pick Ifeatu Melifonwu is in line to take over for Jeff Okudah after Okudah ruptured the Achilles tendon in his left leg in last week’s

Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  The Detroit Lions just must be cursed. How else can you explain the ruptured Achilles tendon that ended cornerback Jeff Okudah’s season after 48 snaps? How can it be that such a studious, hard-working, dedicated player suffered a notoriously problematic injury that also might end his career? How can a player who drew

Jeff Okudah wasn’t the only starter the Detroit Lions lost to injury in their season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Lions coach Dan Campbell said No. 1 receiver Tyrell Williams is in concussion protocol after leaving the game following a helmet-to-helmet hit in the third quarter. Williams retreated to the locker room, accompanied

Five things we learned about the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season: They might finally have an effective running game When I sat down with Dan Campbell before the season, one of the topics we discussed was how thin the Lions’ margin for error was this season. Campbell said the Lions have

Jeff Okudah’s season is over, and the No. 3 pick of last year’s draft has another major obstacle to overcome if he ever is going to live up to his lofty NFL draft status. Okudah suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the Detroit Lions’ season-opening 41-33 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. NFL Network

Jeff Okudah’s season is over, and the No. 3 pick of last year’s draft has another major obstacle to overcome if he ever is going to live up to his lofty NFL draft status. Okudah suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the Detroit Lions’ season-opening 41-33 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, NFL Network

Welcome to Detroit, Jared Goff. Let me set the scene. Your No. 1 receiver was hurt. Your left tackle had hand surgery, forcing rookie Penei Sewell to move from right tackle — oh, and he had to go up against Nick Bosa. One of your receivers, Trinity Benson, arrived just six days ago. And everything that

And they’re off! And they’re… off. The work in progress that is the new Detroit Lions was, well, a work in progress in Sunday’s opener, falling into a four-touchdown hole, whiffing frequently on offense and defense, bobbling passes, overthrowing receivers, taking sacks, blowing defensive assignments and surrendering some huge plays, including a 79-yard touchdown pass

Nick Bosa beat Penei Sewell with an inside pass rush on Sewell’s first pass-block snap of the game, and he drove the rookie offensive tackle back into quarterback Jared Goff’s lap for a sack another time. But Bosa, one of the best defensive ends in the NFL, left Sunday’s season opener saying what a lot of

For the entire spring and summer, Detroit Lions fans have had to deal with the fact that longtime QB Matthew Stafford appears to in a much better situation with the Los Angeles Rams. Two passes into his first regular season game with the Rams, Stafford throws a 67-yard bomb to Van Jefferson. Because, if you’re

Downtown Detroit was packed full of Lions and Tigers fans Sunday afternoon. And while Eastern Market was closed for tailgating due to staffing issues, it didn’t stop the fans from setting up shop elsewhere to party. In a parking lot off Gratiot Avenue and the corner of Vernor Street upwards of 100 people came out to celebrate

The Detroit Lions had the worst defense in franchise history last season. If Dan Campbell’s first game as head coach is any indication, that mark won’t stand for long. The San Francisco 49ers scored touchdowns on three straight possessions in the first half and added a fourth score on a 39-yard interception return by Dre

Dan Campbell was pissed, and getting angrier by the possession. His Glen Rose High School basketball team was down double-digits in the fourth quarter of a game against Boyd, and anyone who knew Campbell knew how much he hated losing. A sophomore playing varsity at the time, Campbell decided to go rogue. He stopped covering the

Sunday brings a new era for the Detroit Lions, as quarterback Jared Goff, acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason trade of Matthew Stafford, will throw his first regular-season pass in Honolulu Blue. Sunday will also bring reminders of an old era, as the Lions open their 30th season since the franchise’s last

Taylor Decker’s absence from the Detroit Lions starting lineup will extend at least until early October. The Lions placed Decker on injured reserve Saturday, three days after he suffered a finger injury in practice. NFL Network reported Decker underwent finger surgery, something Lions coach Dan Campbell hinted was coming Friday. THE QB: Matthew Stafford will

Detroit Lions (0-0) vs. San Francisco 49ers (0-0) The coaches: Lions-Dan Campbell (5-7 overall, 0-0 with Lions); 49ers-Kyle Shanahan (29-35 overall, 29-35 with 49ers). Last game: Season opener for both teams. Last meeting: Sept. 16, 2018: 49ers won, 30-27. OUR PICKS: Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers: Any chance the season starts with win? Key matchups Lions

Taylor Decker’s absence from the Detroit Lions starting lineup will extend at least until early October. The Lions placed Decker on injured reserve Saturday, three days after he suffered a finger injury in practice. NFL Network reported Decker underwent finger surgery, something Lions coach Dan Campbell hinted was coming Friday. THE QB: Matthew Stafford will

Free Press sports writers make their predictions for the Detroit Lions‘ 2021 season opener at Ford Field against the San Francisco 49ers (1 p.m., Fox): Jeff Seidel This will be a sobering game for Lions fans. The Lions will struggle on offense, struggle on defense and won’t do much in special teams other than punting,