Detroit Free Press

We’re down to the final five. The Detroit Lions are heading down the 2021 NFL season’s last stretch after winning their first game of the season. That improved the Lions’ record to 1-10-1 and saved Detroit reporters from having to call Dan Orlovsky, revisit 2008 and book some therapy sessions. But with that pesky first

Detroit Lions (1-10-1) at Denver Broncos (6-6) The coaches: Lions-Dan Campbell (6-17-1 overall, 1-10-1 with Lions); Broncos-Vic Fangio (18-26 overall, 18-26 with Broncos). Last game: Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings, 29-27. Broncos lost to Kansas City Chiefs, 22-9. Last meeting: Dec. 22, 2019: Broncos won, 27-17. Key matchups Broncos RB Javonte Williams vs. Lions LB

T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant made history in 2019, when they became the first set of tight ends from the same school drafted in the first round. Nearly three seasons later, with numbers that are almost identical to this point in their careers, the former Iowa teammates are set to renew their friendly rivalry Sunday when

The Detroit Lions are dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19, but their game Sunday against the Denver Broncos remains on. The Lions placed safety Tracy Walker and running back Jamaal Williams on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, bringing their total number of COVID cases this week to four. On Monday, the Lions placed center Evan Brown

The Detroit Lions went to great lengths to limit the spread of the flu, altering two days of practice this week, and Lions coach Dan Campbell said those measures have his team in a better spot health-wise heading into Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. “We’re on the tail end of it,” Campbell said before

Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright caught his first NFL touchdown in last week’s win over the Minnesota Vikings. The undrafted rookie sat down with the Free Press this week to answer five questions. Some questions and answers are edited for clarity and brevity. You scored your first touchdown last week. What are you doing with

And we thought the Detroit Lions were a lock for the 2022 No. 1 pick. The Lions’ first win of the season was certainly sweet, but one more victory could have major draft implications. With the NFL season hitting the stretch run and the NCAA football season wrapping up, ESPN draft analysts answered questions about the draft and

And we thought the Detroit Lions were a lock for the 2022 No. 1 pick. The Lions’ first win of the season was certainly sweet, but one more victory could have major draft implications. With the NFL season hitting the stretch run and the NCAA football season wrapping up, ESPN draft analysts answered questions about the draft and

A serious flu outbreak continues to wreck havoc on the Detroit Lions‘ practice schedule ahead of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. The Lions held an abbreviated practice Thursday, bringing healthy skill position players together for work against their back seven while sending most of their offensive and defensive linemen home early. Twenty-two players in

Anthony Lynn figured the Detroit Lions had a good chance to connect on the pass for a touchdown on the final play of last week’s win over the Minnesota Vikings, long before they lined up for the snap. “We felt that way going into the game, absolutely,” Lynn said Thursday. “I don’t think Patrick Peterson would

Rookie linebacker Derrick Barnes could be in line for an expanded role when the Detroit Lions visit the Denver Broncos this week. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said Thursday that Barnes and linebacker Josh Woods will play in tandem as part of the team’s linebacker rotation Sunday. MORE FROM BIRKETT: Dan Campbell: Breakthrough game vs.

Before Jared Goff went out for the final drive against the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell gave him one not-so-simple command: “Go win this game for us.” Goff’s reply: “Yes, sir.” “That was it,” Brunell said Wednesday. “ ‘Go win this game for us,’ and he did that, which, it was fun.

It’s not just kneecaps opponents have to worry about when playing Dan Campbell-coached teams. One of Campbell’s former players with the New Orleans Saints said Campbell, now the Detroit Lions head coach, had him ready to disfigure a different body part. “Dan, he’s awesome,” Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater told reporters Wednesday. “His energy is contagious and I’m

The sprained shoulder that kept D’Andre Swift out of last week’s win over the Minnesota Vikings is “improving,” but the Detroit Lions running back missed his fourth straight practice Wednesday. Swift was listed as a non-participant on the Lions’ estimated practice report. ACCOLADES?: Lions QB Jared Goff is NFC Offensive Player of the Week after

The Detroit Lions altered their practice schedule Wednesday to try and eradicate a flu outbreak that has impacted much of the team. Lions coach Dan Campbell said offensive players took part in a morning walk-through and meetings Wednesday, while defensive players were at the team’s Allen Park practice facility in the afternoon in an effort to limit

Jared Goff’s big week netted him a big honor. Goff was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday after leading the Detroit Lions to a last-second win over the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Goff threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, the Lions’ first of the season, and led

It’s nice to be taking mailbag questions after a win, for once. The tone of your questions (and, I’m sure, my answers) was noticeably different. The Detroit Lions rank among the NFL leaders in snaps played by rookies this season, so I figured I’d start this mailbag by doing something @detroitman606 requested and evaluating Brad Holmes’ first draft

Dan Campbell said something that made me sad. He said it about a moment that should have been full of joy and redemption. Instead, the moment was uneasy for him, full of concern even about all the good things that had happened. It’s a special moment for any coach when they get their first victory.

Dan Campbell called himself “a (Jason) Cabinda fan” in training camp, and while the Detroit Lions coach was mostly referring to his fullback’s playing style, he could have been talking about Cabinda’s influence off the field. The Lions named Cabinda their Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee Tuesday. The prestigious honor is given every

Sean McDermott is right. It didn’t take a coaching genius to come up with the gameplan the New England Patriots used to beat the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. But watching that wind-blown game, when the Patriots attempted just three passes — the fewest by any NFL team in a game since 1974 — it still