/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73558160/1954153525.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Vikings’ NFC North Rival Oppo Research: Green Bay Packers")
Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images In my second installment on oppo research on the Minnesota Vikings’ NFC North rivals, I take a closer look into the Green Bay Packers. Recap of the Packers’ 2023 Season The 2023 season was a tale of two halves for the Packers. The first half ended with a 3-6 record and fear and loathing in Packerland about the future of Jordan Love. After a 38-20 dismantling of the hapless Bears to start the season, the Packers’ offense was generating just 17.6 points per game on average during that span. And over the first eight games, Jordan Love was averaging just under 200 yards per game passing, with 8 of his 11 interceptions during the regular season occurring in that same span. Love had a stretch of five games between weeks 3-8 where his average passer rating was just 66.3. To be honest, the Packers were lucky to beat the Saints in week 3, as the Saints were up 17-0 in the third quarter when Derek Carr was injured and left the game, allowing the Packers to pull off an 18-17 comeback. Similarly, they faced the Rams- quarterbacked by Brett Rypien- in week 9, leading to a three-point offensive showing for the Rams and an easy win for the Packers. Otherwise, they would’ve likely been 1-8 after week ten with an eight-game losing streak and looking to 2024. But starting week 9, Jordan Love began to improve. His adjusted completion percentage (on-target passes not including drops or throw-aways) went from 65.9% over the first eight weeks- worst in the league and borderline off-the-charts bad- to 77.8% from weeks 9-18 which was sixth-best over that span. Love’s average passing yards per game improved to 263, and with only 3 interceptions. That helped the Packers finish the season 6-2 and sneak into the playoffs as a wildcard with a 9-8 record. The capstone of Love’s second-half performance came in a 48-32 embarrassment of the Dallas Cowboys in the Wildcard Round in which Love had just 16 completions (out of 21 attempts) but for 272 yards and 3 TDs and a near-perfect 157.2 passer rating. Unfortunately for Packers fans, Love’s next game in the Divisional Round against the 49ers encapsulated Love’s first half of the season performance, in which he went 21/34 for 194 yards (63.6 adjusted completion percentage), 2 TDs and 2 INTs, ending the Packers season. Outside of Jordan Love, the Packers had a solid ground game last season, ranking 9th in yards per attempt with AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones providing a solid 1-2 punch. Overall, the Packers finished the season ranked 12th in points and 11th in yards offensively. The Packers also had a solid defense that ranked 10th in points allowed and 17th in yards allowed. They did not produce many takeaways, however, and were weak against the run. In DVOA terms, the Packers finished 13th in total DVOA at 1.6%. They ranked 6th in offensive DVOA at 13%, but just 27th in defensive DVOA at +8.2% (negative is better). Lastly, while it’s often said that the Packers have been the luckiest team when it comes to the ball going the right way for them, last year they actually were the luckiest team. The chart above shows the key ‘luck factors’ and the cumulative net win probability added over the course of the 2023 season. The Packers were easily the luckiest team in the league last year by this measure, which is something typically not sustainable year-to-year and suggests the Packers could be susceptible to some reversion to the mean this season. The Packers ranked 24th in adjusted games lost due to injury. All-Pro LT David Bakhtiari missed almost the entire season, but that was more-or-less a known issue going into the season. CB Jaire Alexander missed half the season, as did S Darnell Savage, while CB Eric Stokes missed twelve games. The Packers also were beat up at running back, with Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, and Emanuel Wilson all missing several games. WR Christian Watson also missed several games. Overall, however, if you subtract Bakhtiari as being a known, preseason issue, the Packers were about average last season when it came to injuries. Coaching Changes The Packers moved on from defensive coordinator Joe Barry this season, replacing him with Jeff Hafley. Hafley last coached in the NFL as defensive backs coach for the 49ers back in 2018 before coaching in college for Ohio State as co-defensive coordinator in 2019 and then head coach of Boston College for four seasons. Hafley is known for an aggressive style of defense with a penetrating defensive front including more linebacker blitzes, with single-high safety behind and either man coverage or a cover-3 zone. That can lead to more of a feast-or-famine result depending on the quality of defenders. This is his first season as a defensive coordinator in the NFL. Otherwise, the Packers have continuity with head coach Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. Player Moves After letting Aaron Jones go, the Packers signed Josh Jacobs to be their lead back this season. He’ll likely be the bellcow back for them this season, but share carries with third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd. After a stellar 2022 season, Jacobs had an average 2023 campaign for the Raiders, who didn’t make much of an effort to extend him. His elusive rating- a PFF stat meant to measure the success and impact of a runner independent of blocking, has declined consistently since his rookie season in 2019. The biggest free agency signing for the Packers was safety Xavier McKinney, who is coming off his best season with the Giants in 2023 and will replace Darnell Savage. The Packers drafted G Jordan Morgan in the first round, followed by LB Edgerrin Cooper and S Javon Bullard in the second round. Morgan looks to be a backup initially behind 2022 3rd round pick Sean Rhyan, and Cooper at LB, along with 3rd round pick
Vikings’ NFC North Rival Oppo Research: Green Bay Packers
Chiefs confident in their receivers — even without Hollywood Brown
Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images Kansas City added Brown hoping he would be ready to play his former team, but the rest of the room has them confident. The Kansas City Chiefs were rather intentional about improving their wide receiver room this past offseason, signing free agent Hollywood Brown and using a first-round selection on Texas receiver Xavier Worthy. As is well known now, the Chiefs won’t have Brown in their season-opener on Thursday night after he suffered a sternoclavicular injury in Preseason Week 1. His timeline dictates a return in Week 2 or Week 3. For the first few weeks of training camp, the Chiefs built their offense believing Brown would be available from the beginning of the season forward. But in the last month, the team has had to pivot. “You have to adjust a little bit,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters on Sunday, “just because he’s such a vital part of our offense. He’s someone that can do a lot of different stuff; he could play a lot of different positions. But I think what coach [Andy] Reid and [Brett] Veach did this year was they brought in a lot of competition in that room. Guys have stepped up and taken over some of his role. “It’s not going to be just one guy. It’s going to be multiple guys that get in there and do the things that he does this week, and then the hope is that you have him back the next week.” Early on in training camp, it became clear that the starting receivers in 11-personnel (three wideouts) would be Brown, Worthy and Rashee Rice — and when Brown went down, the first name mentioned by offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was veteran Justin Watson. Watson came to the Chiefs in the runup to the 2022 season. Since then, the coaching staff has learned he is a reliable player. “Justin’s always been a big part of it — silently,” said Reid at the podium Sunday. “He doesn’t say much, and he doesn’t get a lot of [publicity]. He’s always been a pretty big part of what we do. That part won’t change. He’ll be in there running around. And even when Hollywood comes back, he’ll be in there running around. He’s a smart kid that’s skilled and loves to play the game. [He] plays hard every snap [in] practice [and] games.” Beyond Watson, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore could see a few snaps — but their impact is more likely to be on special teams. On Kansas City’s initial 53-player depth chart, both Hardman and Moore were listed among the returners. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub came into camp hoping Worthy may be the starting punt returner — but now, with Brown unavailable, it’s likely to be Hardman. It would not be surprising to see Moore and fullback Carson Steele as the two kick returners. Worthy should make his season debut with his focus solely on offensive impact. “[Worthy] spends a lot of time with Pat, and the other receivers, the veteran guys just figuring out what Pat’s expecting,” said Reid of Worthy on Monday. “He’s not afraid to ask — and then he’s been willing to try everything. Whether it’s an inside route, one of those intermediate routes or long routes, he’s been very willing to get in there and mix it up. I like what I’ve seen. Like any rookie that’s coming into this thing, you want to see how they do in the games, but you’d think he’d probably do OK.” On Sunday in the locker room, Worthy sounded like a player prepared for the moment. “I feel like I got real comfortable just understanding the system, the nuances of the system knowing why they’re doing things,” said Worthy. “I just feel like I’m ready.” To perhaps ease any final wide receiver uncertainty, Kansas City decided to bring back a familiar face last week: JuJu Smith-Schuster. After dealing with knee issues the past few seasons, the Chiefs say he is now healthy — and has been a breath of fresh air for the quarterback. “It’s super exciting [having Smith-Schuster] back,” Mahomes said on Sunday. “Just the person, man. Being in the locker room, being in the meeting rooms? He gets it, man. He gets how to be a pro. And then he works hard. He’s out here; he looks great. “I’m excited for him just to continue to learn the little things that we changed in the year that he wasn’t there (2023), but he’s picked up a lot of the stuff really fast, and it’s good to have that type of guy in that receiver room.” While this is obvious, it is still worth saying: Kansas City would love for Brown to be available to play his former team on Thursday night. But in the days since his injury, the team has established an air of confidence without him.
Enter the 2024 Field Gulls Survivor League!
Photo by Felix Hörhager/picture alliance via Getty Images Let’s play Survivor League football! Field Gulls Survivor League football is back! Unlike last season, there’s only bragging rights on the line and no prize money. We will, however, have details soon on a giveaway that Field Gulls is doing, so stay tuned for that. Another change from previous seasons is using Yahoo instead of ESPN, but the rules of the game are what you’ve come to expect if you’re a seasoned veteran. If you don’t know what Survivor League is, let us help you out! The Rules Each week you pick one team that you think is going to win their matchup. However, once you pick that team for that specific week you cannot use them again for the rest of the season. Example: Seahawks over Broncos in Week 1, Seahawks win, but now you can’t pick the Seahawks again for the rest of the season. If the team you pick wins then you survive to the next week. If they lose then you are out and there is no second chance. Under Yahoo’s rules, a tie also eliminates you since you are picking a team to win, and a tie ain’t a win. The winner is whoever is the last person standing. There is almost no way you are going to make it through all 18 weeks without tripping up. Playoffs are enabled but I doubt anyone runs the gauntlet. Deadline to get your picks in is Sunday at 10 am PT, so if you want to pick the Thursday game or a Friday or Saturday game then the onus is on you to submit your entry sooner. If you don’t have your pick in by the Sunday deadline then you’re out. How to Enter Go to Yahoo.com’s Fantasy Football section and create an account (if you haven’t already). Click “Join private group” and enter the group ID number, which is 26149. Alternatively, go directly to this invite link after you’ve registered. Type in the password as written: gohawks Your Survivor League username should preferably match your Field Gulls username if you’re a community member. And that’s it! Let’s have some fun! If you have any issues with registering or submitting your picks just notify in the comments section.
Miami Dolphins fans sound off on the media that covers the team!
Photo by Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images With the season quickly approaching, I asked the following question this past week: Which Miami Dolphins beat reporters or NFL reporters, local or national, do you both respect and count on to give you solid information or rumors that are more likely correct? Which of the various reporters is/are your favorite(s) and why? Below are some of your comments and thoughts on the question of the day- daytonadolfan, after retiring, has no more Fs to give and doesn’t pay attention to those types any longer. I try not to pay much attention to reporters, I just let the games speak for themselves . I might watch a presser with the coach now and then though . DConcep isn’t a fan of one of the more controversial talking heads in sports or our beat reporter from the Herald. I don’t like Stephen A. Smith on a personal level, but his knowledge of the sport and insights cannot be denied… like him or not. I can say that the worst is Omar Kelly. His analysis of players has to be one of the worst I’ve seen from any reporter. Alpha6 points out Darlington as one of the more solid guys in the space. Anyone who trusts the media should have his-or-her head examined. That said, of the team’s coverage… Jeff Darlington gets my nod. Dolfan88 is another Darlington fan. Jeff Darlington is the best, Omar and Joe Shad are the worst. They say stuff just to get clicks!! TheRoo1 is not a fan of the current state of things with the media. With the current state of news media, sports and otherwise, none strike me as reliable. The best you can do is pars3 the stories, try to eliminate the hype and fluff, and follow up to verify the bits that are factual. This was one of our slower threads lately, but maybe it was the subject I chose that didn’t get many people commenting. The Dolphins fans seem to love to slam the media covering them so much that they don’t even want to comment on them when asked!?! Thank you again to those of you who took the time to add a comment to our thread. I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend. We will be back tomorrow evening with another open thread.
Mike McDaniel extension creates continuity – The Splash Zone 9/1/24
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. Through 2028, the Miami Dolphins will have their head coach and starting quarterback under contract. Entering the offseason, the biggest story around the Dolphins was a new contract for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. It took awhile, but the two sides managed to get a deal done. Now, Mike McDaniel was rewarded with an extension and helps create continuity over the next several seasons. You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below. What Mike McDaniel’s Contract Extension Says About Stephen Ross’ Vision for Miami DolphinsMike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa are now under contract through 2028 after Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross greenlit extensions for both this offseason. Dolphins Quarterbacks What Tua Tagovailoa Owes the Miami Dolphins in 2024The NFL is a pay-to-play league. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has gotten paid — now it’s time for him to play his best football for the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins Wide Receivers What to know about new Dolphins receiver DuBose. And what changed for Malik Washington – Yahoo SportsNew Dolphins receiver Grant DuBose happy for opportunity. And what changed for Malik Washington. Dolphins Offensive Line The One Wild Terron Armstead Stat That Should Make You Optimistic About Miami Dolphins’ O-LineThe Miami Dolphins built their offensive line from the outside in, and their best player — tackle Terron Armstead — has as much confidence as ever. Phinsider News You May Have Missed Miami Dolphins extend head coach Mike McDaniel through 2028 – The PhinsiderThe Dolphins have handed McDaniel a cushy new deal. Dolphins’ GM Chris Grier is not worried about the o-line — he should be – The PhinsiderRecent roster moves have left the Miami Dolphins roster with an Achilles heel. How are you feeling about the Miami Dolphins as regular season looms? – The PhinsiderAre you confident in the direction of the Miami Dolphins heading into 2024? Dolphins add Robbie Chosen to practice squad – Miami Dolphins News 8/30/24 – The PhinsiderWelcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. Miami Dolphins add former New York Jets quarterback Tim Boyle and three others to practice squad – The PhinsiderThe Miami Dolphins practice squad is up to 13 players after Thursday’s five additions. Phinsider Victory Of The Week Open Thread Vol. 600 – The PhinsiderJoin us on Friday evenings to share your victory of the week and discuss your Miami Dolphins. Could Tanner Conner emerge as a key piece of Mike McDaniel’s offense in Miami? – The PhinsiderWill Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins finally utilize tight ends on offense?
Your Thoughts On The Miami Dolphins 2024 Roster
Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images Following the Miami Dolphins cutdown to the semi-final 53-man roster this past week, I asked: Which player(s), if any, were you disappointed to see cut by the Dolphins today and why? Which player(s), if any, were you disappointed to see NOT cut by the Dolphins today and why? Below are some of your answers and thoughts on the question of the day- sdphinsfan is concerned that “nothing has changed.” I, too, am worried about the OL and hoping that we are all wrong somehow, but I know we probably are not. Everybody’s hurt and the starting IOL is comprised of the same depth players that were playing at the end of last season. So nothing has changed since this team last took the field in a real game. What’s that saying about doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? Lefty5150 is probably sad again now that McMorris has also been cut from the practice squad. Glad they kept McMorris sad they had to cut Brooks heatforlife wants the front office to consider a player’s past injury history more before signing a guy. ez e and brooks looked good until injuries,cracaft alwasy looks good until he gets hurt.phillips and chubb were balling until injuries.waddles injured. obj cant play w/o getting hurt.wynn was always in ne .uh mr grier when u acquire players can u ck their injury history a little closer please SlayerNation1 pointed out that the roster would only take its closer to final form towards the end of the week. This roster is the rough draft that needed to be handed in to the teacher yesterday at 4:00 It will change before kickoff. We shall know of they do get it right, and very quickly, as in after 4 days of kickoff. We’ll know a lot in 4 days. Has McD’s coaching evolved to have the team prepared for a possible shootout vs JAX, to not look ahead to a short week with BUF already breathing down their necks? Weaver’s Defense? Can they afford any injury already? No pressure, just imperative to be 2-0 (no significant injuries) in 4 days when you look at the last 6 weeks of the schedule. cyberflea is miffed at decisions made. Easy what Grier got wrong….not addressing the IOL.The OL is worse than it was last year and will be a concern throughout the season. Dolfanjoe is another concerned with some of the injuries. The problem here is that we do not know the extensiveness of the injuries for many players. I was very bummed seeing Brooks put out on the waiver wire ! If he is near health with just a concussion i could see another team taking a chance on him. But then again we know nothing about if it is just a concussion or he is dealing with something else. Some tough cuts and maybe more to come with pickups in the next few days. Hoping we get a talented practice squad. We need the depth! Alpha6 wanted to see Brooks make it and Tindall sent on down the road. Which player(s), if any, were you disappointed to see cut by the Dolphins today and why? BROOKS/RB – played 9 games for the Dolphins in 2023, totaling 19 carries for 106 yards (5.6 avg.) only ‘cause he’s a BYU product & ‘cause he looked like a bruising back. Which player(s), if any, were you disappointed to see NOT cut by the Dolphins today and why? TINDALL/LB – ‘cause this dude was suppose to be something great. daytonadolfan is for the most part happy with how things went down. I’m good with the cuts, Needham was a surprise but i guess he’s getting a little long in the tooth so next man up ! Not happy with so many skill players on the pup list. Feels like we are starting out short handed and who get’s cut to bring them back in? It seems as if those of us here are inline with the majority of the Dolphins fans base. We are worried about the offensive line and the lack of depth in that unit. Thus far we have not seen the front office address it after the cuts so I guess we will see and they will live with the concequeses of decisions made or not made. Thank you again to each of you that took the time to answer our question of the day.
Phinsider Victory Of The Week Open Thread Vol. 600
It’s Friday, so it’s time for us to welcome you to another VOTW post. Today’s open conversation prompt is just that – what is your victory for this week? Did something extraordinary happen this week? Is it the small thing worth celebrating? Was it Miami Dolphins related? Was it in your professional life? Your personal life? We all had something, big or small, that was a victory, and we want to know what yours was. This post is yours, the site member, aka one of our family here at the Phinsider. This post is your chance to share your victory from the last week. Your victory can be huge, like the birth of a new child/grandchild or finally getting that job or promotion you worked your rear off for. It can be a small thing like you won $100 on your lottery scratch-off ticket, or maybe it was a great overall week for you for another reason you wish to share. It’s your post and victory, so please feel free to share it with the rest of the site in the comment section below.
Jared Goff drops sleek ‘Grit City’ apparel, benefits all go to charity
Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK Jared Goff just dropped a pretty sleek line of apparel with 100% of proceeds going to a nonprofit. More info here. For the third straight year, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has dropped a line of apparel with all of the proceed going to charity. But this isn’t any ordinary clothing line. No, this series of shirts, hoodies, and hats were designed with the help from children in the Fate Program. A little backstory: For the last three years, Goff has partnered with Merit—a Detroit-based nonprofit aimed at youth in the hopes to provide them with the resources and opportunities to both graduate high school and go to college. Within Merit is the FATE Program, which they define as the following: This four-year, cohort-based program provides innovative programming that blends project-based learning, character development, career exposure, and mentorship into a co-curricular experience that emphasizes the value of education and its role in achieving long-term career and personal goals. Goff’s program is an innovative one. He collaborates with kids already in the FATE Program to produce some really nice Detroit apparel. Every year, they come out with new designs, and in Year 3, they’ve really hit their stride with the Grit City collection, which you can view here. Here’s a great background video on how they developed this year’s designs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jared Goff (@jaredgoff) Of course, the best part about the programs is that 100% of the proceeds will go toward funding a college scholarship. According to Goff’s website, last year this program provided four-year scholarships for each of the kids involved in the design of the shirts, plus extra money to go towards other children in the FATE Program. Oh, and did I mention that Goff himself matches every single dollar raised? So if you purchase a $30 shirt, all $30 goes towards a scholarship, plus an additional $30 from Goff for a total contribution of $60. If you like any of the designs or just want to support a great cause, you can purchase here.
Open thread: What are you most excited about for the 2024 Lions?
Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images We’re a week away from Detroit Lions football! What are you looking forward to the most? Detroit Lions football is just a week away. Before you know it, Sunday night will be upon us and the Lions will be ready for another primetime bout against the Los Angeles Rams. The return of football means so many things to so many people. For me, who does this for a living, it’s a return to a normal schedule and a much-welcomed structure to my weekly life. For some fans, it’s the Sunday ritual of sitting down and watching 10 hours of football with loved ones. Maybe some are just excited for their fantasy league to start up. But for most fans, it’s the nine months of anticipation for their specific team to finally take the field after a long offseason. So today’s Question of the Day is: What are you most excited to see with the 2024 Lions? My answer: The chalk answer would just be to witness a Lions season with such high expectations and unlimited potential. A true Super Bowl run for the first time in franchise history would be unbelievable to witness, and we know this because it almost came last year. But if I wanted to get more specific here, I think I just love watching the Lions offense. Thanks to brilliant offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, it’s so intricate and detailed that you could go down a rabbit hole trying to break down why they chose every little decision they made in each individual play. Beyond that, the Lions have an abundance of talent on that side of the ball that is a pleasure to watch every day. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta are all arguably top-five at their position. And let’s be honest: the story of Jared Goff is one of the coolest stories in franchise history. It’s not very often a quarterback gets discarded in the way that he was and revitalizes his career—let alone doing it with one of the losingest franchises in the history of the sport. It’s an incredible tale of inspiration, hard work, and coaching done right. Every day, Goff goes out there and proves another doubter wrong, and it’s a pleasure to watch. What are you looking forward to the most for the 2024 Lions season? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!
Notes: Isaiah Williams tabbed as UDFA poised to make an impact
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK Justin Melo of The Draft Network has Lions receiver Isaiah Williams as one of his undrafted free agents poised to make an impact in 2024. Seemingly every year, one Detroit Lions receiver captures the hearts of the fanbase during the dog days of August. For a while, it was now-veteran receiver Tom Kennedy’s reign. Someone would pop off in the preseason, and while it was fun to watch, most understood that the production wasn’t likely to translate to the regular season. However, this year’s competition was a bit different. Everything was wide open behind roster-locks Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond. Coaches were nearly begging for someone to step up and take control of the race, and in an unlikely turn of events, undrafted free agent Isaiah Williams ended up seizing his opportunity. So much so that Justin Melo of The Draft Network tabbed Williams as one of his three UDFAs set to make an impact in 2024. And while Williams doesn’t really fit the bill of the traditional X-receiver the Lions are currently lacking when they go three-wide, he made enough plays in August to stick on the active roster anyway. You can read the entire article from Melo right here. And now, onto the rest of today’s notes: According to several metrics compiled by offensive line analyst Brandon Thorn, the Lions have one of the more elite offensive lines in the NFL. Here is the top 10 in weight-adjusted RAS for 2024 compared to their 2023 ranking. Keep in mind with the Saints Ramczyk doesn’t have a RAS score, so with Penning in the lineup that was the primary source of their jump. pic.twitter.com/kWs95Zf2SF — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 New this year is a side-by-side ranking of each unit from 2023 to 2024 that I added in this morning. Here is the top 32 over the last two years in total weight. The Eagles total 1688 pounds, 38 pounds heavier than any unit over the last two years. pic.twitter.com/pHdvpHMYFD — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 Total experience is another interesting one (combined games started). 2024 to 2023 differences: pic.twitter.com/XMSe4xoqew — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 30, 2024 If you live in the Metro Detroit area then chances are you are aware of Gardner White Furniture. And if the Lions win a certain big game in February of 2025, then your furniture could be free. Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold visited his former stomping ground in Tuscaloosa ahead of his NFL debut next week. Terrion Arnold in attendance for Alabama vs. Western Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/ceqd2jgZUe — Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) August 31, 2024 Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bishop wrote about how Jared Goff’s resurgence in Detroit has been essential for the Lions’ ascension to a team with championship aspirations. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press wrote about how Lions defensive end James Houston offers a completely different type of rusher off the edge. This was hilarious and the editing was S-tier. Definitely take the time to watch it if you are looking for a few good laughs. We are so back. Milk and Cookies, Episode 1, featuring @JKERB25 and @ArnoldTerrion pic.twitter.com/iZpNhUmSFZ — Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 31, 2024 Another funny and unique concept from the Lions media department—smoothie competition between three rookies. This offseason, our rookies competed to make the best smoothies incorporating protein and carbohydrate-rich dairy products to help fuel their bodies. Part 1 | Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Mekhi Wingo pic.twitter.com/ABe2dbyOlz — Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 31, 2024 I love this mentality from Lions receiver Jameson Williams. Williams had his number retired at his high school back in St. Louis over the weekend. #Lions’ Jameson Williams to ESPN on Year 3 goals:“I just want to have the most yds and TDs – that would be my personal goals. Out of the whole NFL, I want to have the most receiving yds and TDs. It don’t matter about catches, because I know what I’m gonna do when I get the ball.” pic.twitter.com/5XssWdK6XT — Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) August 31, 2024
