Detroit News

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News After a perfect performance in Sunday’s victory over Arizona, including a game-winning field goal as time expired, Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week.  It’s the 11th time Prater has earned Player of the Weeks honors, including his sixth since

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News Pondering who deserved the game ball after the Detroit Lions’ 26-23 win over Arizona Cardinals, your first though might be linebacker Jamie Collins, who forced a pair of turnovers. Or kicker Matt Prater, who made all four of his field goal attempts, including the game-winner. How about wide receiver

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News The first order of business for Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson this season was finding the consistency he lacked as a rookie. From a pass-catching perspective, he’s well on his way.  In each of the first three games, Hockenson has caught at least four balls and surpassed 50

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News As the unit nears full strength, there’s plenty to like about the Lions offense. Sure, quarterback Matthew Stafford has made a few uncharacteristic errors, but he’s showing no ill effects from the back injury that sidelined him for the second half of last season. And his pass-game weapons might be

Rod Beard   | The Detroit News Mitchell Trubisky, Aaron Rodgers and Kyler Murray. It’s not exactly a paragon of mobile quarterbacks, but it’s a formidable group, at least. With their elusiveness, three quarterbacks the Lions have faced this season have been unfettered in eluding the defense. The Lions have registered just three sacks — one

Rod Beard   | The Detroit News During coach Matt Patricia’s two-plus seasons, there have been plenty of ups and downs. In 35 games, he’s won just 10 times, including a 3-12-1 record last season. One of the better wins came in Sunday’s last-second thriller over the Arizona Cardinals, ending the Lions’ 11-game losing streak and

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News Phoenix, Ariz. — Here are four observations after having a night to ponder the Detroit Lions’ 26-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday: First down Coming into Sunday, Detroit’s defense was broken. They couldn’t stop the run, they couldn’t stop the pass, they couldn’t get to the quarterback and

The Chelsea actor’s latest debuted during Fox’s NFL pregame show on Sunday Adam Graham   | The Detroit News Jeff Daniels has the blues: “The Silver and Honolulu Blues.” The actor and lifelong Detroit sports fan dialed in to Sunday’s Fox NFL pregame show with his new song, in which he details the heartache of being

John Niyo   | The Detroit News Glendale, Ariz. — They didn’t blow a fourth-quarter lead this time.  But the Lions didn’t have one, either. Not until time had expired here in the desert, and the parched visitors finally got a taste of victory.  It had been 337 days since the Lions last celebrated a win,

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News Glendale, Ariz. — For the past week, the Lions had the world shoveling dirt on their grave. It turns out they were declared dead prematurely. Rediscovering their pulse, and the ability to play defense, the Lions secured a 26-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. The Lions intercepted

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News Glendale, Ariz. — Justin Rogers grades the Detroit Lions’ performance after their 26-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.  Quarterback There’s a lot to like about what Matthew Stafford contributed to the victory. First and foremost, the final stat line is stellar. He completed 22 of his 31 throws for 270 yards, two

Nolan Bianchi   | The Detroit News Game summary The Detroit Lions took advantage of three interceptions by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Sunday, as Matt Prater hit a 39-yard field goal with time expiring to give the Lions a 26-23 win, their first of the season. Rookie cornerback Jeff Okudah, Duron Harmon and Jamie

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News Glendale, Ariz. — When the Detroit Lions signed Halapoulivaati Vaitai this offseason, they made sure to emphasize how much they liked his versatility. But throughout training camp, Vaitai lined up at right tackle, where his five-year, $45 million contract always implied he was destined to start.  But with Vaitai medically cleared to

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Terry Bradshaw with the No. 1 overall pick in 1970, the franchise had one postseason appearance and no playoff wins in its 37-year history. Five years later, the team won its first Super Bowl.  So Bradshaw speaks from experience when talking about turning around

Rod Beard   | The Detroit News Lions fans have been frustrated by their inability to build a sustained winner, or even a contending team that can make the playoffs consistently. The years under coach Jim Caldwell were deemed a failure, with the thinking that the Lions could do better than the 9-7 record those teams

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News Listed as doubtful for the team’s Week 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals heading into the weekend, the Detroit Lions officially ruled out top cornerback Desmond Trufant (hamstring) on Saturday.  With Trufant sidelined, the Lions will once again turn to the inexperienced duo of Amani Oruwariye and rookie Jeff

Rod Beard   | The Detroit News Many Lions fans remember last season’s opening game as rookie T.J. Hockenson’s breakout debut, with 131 yards and a touchdown. Some others will remember the Lions’ all-too-familiar refrain of coughing up a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter for a dispiriting tie. Arizona Cardinals fans recall that matchup for

Rod Beard   | The Detroit News Lions at Cardinals Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. Sunday, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. TV/radio: Fox/760 Records: Lions 0-2, Cardinals 2-0 Line: Cardinals by 5½ Rod Beard of The Detroit News breaks down the Lions’ Week 3 matchup against the Cardinals. Key matchup KYLER MURRAY VS. LIONS SECONDARY Don’t look at last

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News A significant portion of being a successful defensive back in the NFL is the ability to forget a mistake and move on to the next play with a clear focus. Detroit Lions safety Will Harris needed to lean on an expanded version of that concept to put a disastrous stretch from

Justin Rogers   | The Detroit News The Detroit Lions are trending toward having a more complete roster when they travel to Arizona to play the Cardinals on Sunday.  On Friday’s injury report, the team listed wide receiver Kenny Golladay (hamstring) and right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (foot) as questionable for the contest. Both have been sidelined the first