January 8, 2025 • 51 mins
Join Kiel and Tyler this week as they discuss Detroit's 31-9 win against Minnesota in the highest win total matchup in NFL history. The guys break down the Lions offense, defense, coaching strategies, and Grit of the Week as the Lions secured the number 1 seed and first round bye.
At the backend of the episode, Kiel and Tyler play listener voicemails and discuss, wrapping up with he rest of Detroit sports, Pistons, Tigers and Redwings!
Join the conversation by leaving a listener voicemail for the guys to play and discuss live on the pod! (313)-306-7939
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
....
(00:05):
when you hit it thats.
(00:28):
All right, welcome to the grit iron report your Lions first all Detroit sports podcast today is Tuesday
January 7th and your Detroit Lions win the NSE north for the second year in a row
Secure the number one seed and a buy in the playoffs after beating the Vikings Sunday night. Let's get into it
(00:50):
Before we do so a little bit of house cleaning if you've listened to us for quite some time now
We are no longer going to be going on Twitter spaces
We will not be going live instead. We will be coming to you and all platforms that support podcast be as
Spotify Apple podcast wherever you listen to your podcast you can catch us each week if you're a new time listener
(01:11):
I'm Tyler
What's up guys? I'm keel we're both Detroiters been Detroit fans for 20 plus years
We're gonna be coming at you each week just talking about the previous weeks game the upcoming weeks game and hopefully has some
Interesting takes along the way on top of just some other Detroit sports stuff outside the tie the Lions as well
So let's get into it
(01:33):
First and foremost we're gonna start with just last week's game Sunday night the Detroit Lions 31
Minnesota Vikings 9 and what turned out to be the third most viewed NBC night game in NFL history
Kyle let's just start with you and your overall thoughts on the game
Yeah, absolutely man. I mean first and foremost
Yeah, the viewership it speaks for itself. I mean this was the biggest
(01:57):
NFL regular season game in the in the history of the league
And you know for good reason, you know to 14 and two teams just battling it out battle for the NFC north
I mean it really you really can't write something like that
I think Dan Campbell probably said that one of his pregame pressers that you can't write anything better
It really just doesn't get anything it doesn't get better than that and yeah my overall thought I mean Aaron Glenn for freaking
(02:20):
President, I mean what what what a defensive performance in in the biggest game on the biggest stage
and
Second thought we own the Vikings the Detroit Lions own the Minnesota Vikings and we own the NFC north and I don't think we're
Giving it back anytime soon. Yeah, there's so much to break down here with this game
We talked a lot about it last week
(02:40):
You should be able to find that episode just above this one
But we talked about how a little bit confusing a little bit unsure about this game
Just because it is so hard to beat a team over and over again like you said Detroit had owned the Vikings for it really since
The Dan Campbell era started it got his first win as a Detroit head coach against the Vikings
And we kind of just have owned them since then so I know both of us were a little bit nervous coming into this game
(03:02):
Especially just how hot the Vikings were and how injury depleted the Lions are currently
But there's so much to break down. I think you nailed it on the head though. It was an absolute masterclass by Aaron Glenn
I've seen in the previous weeks and last few weeks the Detroit Lions kind of get outschemed a little bit and
To a point where I took note of it and I felt like we absolutely
(03:24):
Did that to the Minnesota Vikings with Aaron Glenn in the defense?
So let's just dive right into the offense in the defense. We'll start on the offensive side
Keel you can attest I was absolutely furious with the offense for pretty much 75% of the game
You know shout out all the boys were on the other end of my text messages
I mean I was just laying into the offensive line. I thought they the offensive line had just a really really difficult night
(03:45):
And I know the Minnesota Vikings have a really good defensive line
They get really good pressure Andrew Van Ginkl is having a fantastic year Blake Cashman who both guys we mentioned last week
Cashman what didn't play for the Vikings the last time he played him. He was out with an injury. He was back this week
Grenard is just fantastic. So the Vikings have a good defense shout out to them
But our offensive line which is usually a strength the you know a point of strength for us was I think just simply overpowered
(04:12):
I mean there was miss it missed assignments. There was false starts
There was guys when you're pulling going down the line just simply not getting out in front of our runners to get any blocks or anything
I thought they really struggled and giving up two sacks against that defensive line from the Vikings
But you know, I then you did kind of see as the game went on
They did end up starting to get you know get their get their groove back a little bit as the momentum started to swing a little bit
(04:35):
You saw the the offensive line start to suddenly they're making those blocks and they're picking up the reeds and picking up the blitzes and stuff
But I think they started off very
You know very uneasy I should say
Yeah, for sure. I think it was you know a tale of two halves. I do think yeah in that first half the offense of offensive line did struggle
We probably saw more than a couple missed blocks a couple with blocks
(04:58):
Which you know pretty uncharacteristic and uncharacteristic from in my opinion
Yeah, one of the best offensive lines in football albeit at times they have struggled a bit this season
But you know, that's to be expected. It's a long NFL season, but I thought the offense overall in that first half. Yeah pretty sluggish
Really really couldn't finish drives. It also had multiple turnovers, you know, you know
(05:18):
The first interception from Jared on that screen pass. It was a great great play by Ivan Pace Jr
I believe he's a linebacker for the Vikings. I thought Craig Reynolds
You know, he kind of after that chip block got a little bit too close to Jared and it was kind of hard to then you know
Lay that ball over top of the defender to get it to Craig
I do think if Craig, you know catches that ball. He's probably still running to this day
(05:41):
There was really just no one for about 25 or 30 yards. So
That that I think you know boils more down to execution. I thought the play call was great
Just just couldn't execute in a hell of a play by that kid from the Vikings
Second interception arm punt, you know, say what you will they were backed up
Kind of a bit of miscommunication. I don't think Jamo ever really saw that ball and you know, Jared
(06:02):
Huck that up about 60 yards in the air right to the Vikings
So, yeah, I mean
Again, missed execution. That was probably not my favorite play call. I think it was a first down play
Right after getting a you know a big stop the defense that we'll talk about the defense
But yeah, I mean the first half was tough
I really think that the offense got it rolling in the second half and then yeah
(06:23):
I mean, I probably can't say another word without you know talking about our our Lord and Savior
Little sacrilegious there, but but Jameer Gibbs just an incredible game
Just from top to bottom, you know, he got the scoring going in the first half
He was exceptional in the second half ripping off long runs ripping off scoring runs catching the ball
(06:43):
You know for total touchdowns. I think you know, he went for you know
139 yards on the ground another another almost over 30 actually in the air and for total touchdown
So yeah, I mean we I can't go another another breath without just saying, you know
What an exceptional job that young man did. Yeah, obviously he tied Barry Sanders record and then broke it and at the same time
(07:05):
Broke the NFL not record but the NFL leading touchdown for the year
He was you're right. He was masterful for total touchdowns 170 yards breaking the the
Barry's record there. It's interesting. You said you you you like the you like the play call
I kind of was on the opposite side. I thought the play call was a little bit suspect
And maybe it was because we were struggling so much in the first half that it just kind of shined a spotlight on the play call
(07:29):
But like you said the the quote-unquote arm punt that Jared golf had that interception
We just had a huge stop in the red zone on the defense and we'll get to the defense in a minute
But as soon as we get the ball back the first thing we do is throw, you know a bomb like that in which people are not on the
Same page and give it right back to them
If we're playing a team that like is not Sam Darnold Sam Darnold led
(07:52):
I they immediately go down and make us, you know pay for that mistake and punch it in so I thought that was a little suspect
It was there the fourth and inches
play call that was a throw over the top that I think again got knocked down by a
Vikings defender, so I I don't know I always say this fourth and inches
I don't like us to mess around and get cute and trying to throw over the top or even hand it off
(08:14):
Just sneak it get it get behind the guys and sneak it so I thought the play call was a little bit suspect at least in the first half
You know like I said it probably was a little bit for sure a little bit worse because of how we were playing
But I mean I thought Jared golf was decent 27 for 33
231
Yards at one tug again the two picks the two picks I
(08:36):
Primarily on the offensive line. I think actually like you said the first one was a great play by the Minnesota Vikings defender
The second one was a miscommunication say which I guess that one technically was on Jared, but then the third one was
Oh, excuse me, maybe was that second one. I think his arm actually got hit or something along the lines
He was I feel like every time he went back to pass
(08:56):
a Vikings defender had an arm on his arm and deflected the ball in one way or another so I
Thought golf is okay
I think he wasn't given much opportunity with that offensive line at least in the first half the second half like you said
Gibbs really got going. I'm in raw was his usual miss a reliable self
And then like I said you can still start to see the O line start to get in their groove and start to you know
(09:19):
Inflict some some will on that and that that defense there. Just so I've note the highest top five highest PFF grades
Number three was Jameer Gibbs 82.3 and number five was Jericho with 79.8 on the offensive side
The other guys came from the defense so
Yeah, I offensively I was worried that we were gonna start slow like we did the last time that we played the Vikings
(09:40):
Obviously that kind of came to fruition. We just got lucky or I guess not lucky, but we're fortunate that the defense absolutely came to play
Yeah, and I think that you know you talked by Jared golf
You know a pretty high PFF grading
I think that he does probably deserve more credit than his stat line might show
You know we talked about the two interceptions, but you know completely 27 of 33 passes
(10:03):
You know, I'll be at 231 yards. So it's not like he was putting up over 300
But I mean still a really solid day in the office
I think I think that he really you know just distributed the ball well
Six different Lions caught at least one pass on Sunday night and a lot of a lot of those throws
They were on third and sometimes fourth down. So I think when it mattered most he was making those plays
(10:23):
I do agree some of those play calls, especially in the first half the fourth and inches
To throw the ball it really just it wasn't executed and really I
Guess say what you will about the Lions not executing
I think the Lions did everything they could there on that play. It's just that the Vikings executed better by batting the ball down
If you saw I think that ball was going to James and Williams. He was open
(10:44):
So, you know probably would have been a 10 or 15 yard play. So
Yeah, I mean it was a great play by the Vikings
I would have liked to see them stay on the ground there and you know use that offensive line
Higher probability in my opinion to you know pick up that yard or two. Of course, you're not gonna hit the home run
But yeah, that's that was a bit suspect for sure
But I mean overall I do think that the offense started rolling especially later in that second half
(11:07):
And yeah, Jamir Gibbs. I mean, I don't know how his his PFF grading wasn't you know, if you're a hundred out of a hundred
I know that's probably not possible
But I mean when you when you have four tugs in the biggest game of your career
That's that's that really says something said something to me
Yeah, and the one thing I will say like on that fourth and inches while I do want us to run it there
We obviously were missing our our guy that we would put in normally there and Monty
(11:31):
He's you know short down back the guy just gonna put his head down and try and get you two yards when you need
You know one so missing him what we'll get into him a little bit later, but yeah, let's move on to the defensive side
As much for as much shit as we've given this defense over the last three to four weeks and rightfully so they've been
What we talked about it last week the Vikings were very susceptible to the to the past
(11:55):
They were like I think you said they were like 29th in a league and I was like well
Who's 30 and 31 and naturally it was Detroit we've been struggled so much on the defensive side
They were absolutely fantastic and we already alluded to a AG just an absolute stellar performance
I think it was what last week or two weeks ago. I actually mentioned and I stand by this. I'm not necessarily
(12:15):
Always an AG guy. I always thought he I thought he obviously we had such a bad defense last year
We didn't have any parts we added to it. We've been playing well
I was never fully sold until until Sunday night like he watching him at the end of the game when he does that thing
He did against the Colts as well
I think where he just sat back on that bench like that that picture of him sitting back after like watching the
(12:38):
Master plan he put together that is it was so fantastic. I've never seen a
defensive coach put together such a scheme and
Take one of the hottest teams in the NFL and just equate them to an a JV squad
I mean he was running brackets on guys
He was running man and then switching into zone
He had robbers playing perfectly and again this is all I mean the defense was perfect
(13:00):
And he was doing it with guys that they picked up off the street now
We are starting to get more healthy, you know, we were able to
Cut Kwan Alexander in Jamal Adams a few of the guys that we kind of picked up to to plug a few holes
We were able to cut some of them as some of our guys are coming back
But it's still we're still far from 100% and we still had definitely have guys out there that
I'm an everyday roster probably won't be seeing many snaps. So he was absolutely fantastic and
(13:26):
For as good as he was. I mean a lot of the guys for us performed
And you know, I'm curious to see what you thought of the defense and in specific a few guys
I have a few has in mind that I think absolutely deserve shout-outs
Hell yeah, I mean absolutely. I think just you know talking about the man of the hour Aaron Glenn
I think he proved without a shadow of a doubt in my opinion that he deserves to be a head coach in the National Football League
(13:49):
I mean the the
The coaching that we saw on Sunday night and you know, you alluded to it Tyler
But I mean it was just an absolute masterclass. Yeah, you know, he was switching up his schemes
He was you know, we're talking about you know shutting down two of the best receivers
Certainly Justin Jefferson one of the best receivers in the league and then Jordan Addison a very very good wide receiver to probably could be a wide receiver
(14:12):
One on other teams
You have TJ Hawkins. It was a plus, you know tight end to be able to shut them down
You know holding Jefferson to three receptions for 54 yards Jordan Addison
He might as well have just been you know running a marathon running cardio out there all game
He had one grab for zero yards. I think Hawk might have had one grab two tops
To shut to shut these weapons down to shut down the Vikings run game as well
(14:34):
I mean, it's it's nothing short of spectacular what I really want to just focus on for a second
Just in particular on the defense the Red Zone defense. They quite literally were perfection
Twice the Vikings had the ball in and around the five yard line of the Lions
And the defense kept them out of the end zone both times the Vikings ended up being 0 for 4 in the Red Zone on
(14:55):
Sunday night, so yeah
I mean when when you know the going got tough and you know one of it was one of them was you know
A Jared Goff interception on that screen play over the Vikings got the ball back down to like the seven yard line
To you know hold this Vikings team out of the end zone there
You know at the you know very pivotal points in the first half when touchdowns
(15:17):
You know the multiple touchdowns might might you know put the game out of reach almost you know
It's it's you know, it's extremely pivotal and you know to have that defense step up like that. I mean, it's so spectacular
Yeah, I think against
You know if we are trotting out there a normal defense with a normal
defensive coordinator, I think we lose this game by
(15:37):
At least two touchdowns the offense
They obviously turned it on in the second half, but they set this defense up so poorly in the first half
Like over and over and over again
This defense was was asked to to perform in unfair situations and they just kept coming back
They kept they kept performing they kept rising to the occasion. They were fantastic
I mean you mentioned the just the weapons and how inefficient they were the Vikings weapons were I had the numbers in front of me
(16:01):
So you had darnold who was 18 for 41, which is disgusting
166 yards a passer rating of just a QVR rating of 55.5
I mean that is just absolutely horrendous yet J Jetta like I said like you said Justin Jefferson one of the
Best if not the best receivers in the game yet fire or excuse me three catches for 54 yards
(16:22):
And he had a long of 31 so of those 54 yards basically one of those plays was more than half of those yards
Jaylin Naylor who's actually been pretty good for the Vikings as of late
Three catches 53 yards essentially the same as Justin Jefferson. How could two catches for nine?
I'm gonna say it's Barton Jaylin Naylor. Yeah having a really great great season
Take a look at him if you haven't watched him, but Aaron Jones who I think I end up getting hurt a little bit
(16:45):
I saw him on the sideline. He kind of was in and out. They went to camp acres a lot
Aaron Jones had 45 yards and 10 carries and it actually kind of was acres who did the most damage against us
He had a 65 rushing yards on six carries so
But again of those 65 yards
He had one long run of 58 yards so all those pretty much came in one
So it really I mean just absolutely masterful what they were able to put together and like I said
(17:08):
AG deserves all his credit if you go back and watch the tapes. I mean the
the
Creativity he was doing everyone notices when the creativity comes on the offensive side
Right, you have an offensive lineman going out and catching a pass
You have a fleet a fake flee flicker that goes to a receiver and he has a hook and you know
You can see that that creativity on the offensive side on the defensive side. It's a lot more subtle
(17:30):
You have guys that like really only if you really know football
You're like watching and seeing how they're handing guys off what kind of formations they're running
You don't really get the appreciation, but if you watch and break it down
He was so good at confusing Sam Darnold that he literally turned him back into a pumpkin
But it was it's just as important
I think as AG was that we had guys like Alex and Zoloni back out there
(17:51):
He was so fantastic like jet Campbell has been great in his absence, but Anceloni is
So pivotal to this team. I thought he's gonna come back and be on a snap count
But he was out there damn near the entire game if not too long like at the end of the game
I think a lot of us were saying like why is he still playing get we're up by you know two scores get him out of this game
Please but he was absolutely fantastic. He had seven tackles three solo
(18:14):
Just you can watch him just directing this defense left and right. He was absolutely fantastic
Absolutely, it was so great seeing those those long golden locks just flying. Yeah entire field
I think he had you know five six tackles and he was he was just all over the place. Maybe a couple passes defended
Loved what I saw at Anceloni
(18:36):
Especially loved what I saw out of the absolute dog Amik Robinson Robertson excuse me
You know, he was incredible all night
You know often he was finding himself on an island covering Justin Jefferson
Like we said one of if not the best wide receivers in the game
And he absolutely shut him down and and I will say that you know a bit of it, you know
There is a bit of luck involved, right? You know Justin Jefferson in the end zone
(18:58):
He you know high pointed a ball ended up you know dropping it. There was another pass Donald. It's an easy pass
But I
In you know the right corner of the end zone that Donald just absolutely missed him
I think a lot of that though you can you know credit
You know the defense of pass rush and you know getting getting in Donald's grill making him uncomfortable
You know the credit credit to you know the Ford field
(19:19):
You know the crowd all of that is all of that is you know, it's part of it
It's not the only thing but it's certainly part of it and it all adds up
You know in the most pivotal game of the year and that's when that's when you saw some you know really awesome plays
So yeah, I just wanted to give Amika shout out. He was quoted, you know right after the game
I think it was you know actually in their post game speech that you know Dan Campbell does every week
(19:41):
Saying you know, they tried to bury me, but you can't bury what came from the fucking dirt
So yeah, I mean just inject that right into my veins
Yeah, it's he's just one of the other amazing guys on this team that I kind of work cast off a little bit by the original teams
And then came to Detroit and just absolutely thrive under this culture in this team. He was fantastic
I think if he if he came back and provided I'm thinking of one play in particular that the pass was over the middle
(20:05):
He was able to break it up. He was great
Unfortunately, we had Terry and Arnold go down we'll get into injuries and some updates here in a little bit
But we had TA go down and I thought he was fantastic before he ended up going down
Zadaria Smith who you and I brought up last week as having real quiet three weeks
I think he had like two total tackles over three weeks now
(20:25):
I don't want to I don't want to hurt myself
You know hurt my own arm to pat myself on the back, but I did say Zadaria Smith was gonna have a great game
Now I think I said it we can run it back. I think I said he was gonna have two sacks and
One and a half tackles for loss
He I think only had one sack pulling up the numbers here real quick
(20:45):
Let's see Zadaria Smith
Yeah, well and while you pull up those numbers, yeah, I mean certainly credit to you
I mean you call that yet huge sack. I think it was in the first half, too
I mean very very pivotal point in the game
And yeah, the big fellas coming up with a sack. I thought he was gonna get another one
He was he was pretty close on another one, too
That I think would have would have gotten him paid out of bonus, but yeah, just incredible game out of Z
(21:10):
Yeah, so he ended up having three total tackles three being solo a sack and tackle for loss
He was on in on it was damn near the entire defense. So I thought he was gonna get a half sack for that one
So I my prediction came up a little bit short. Like you said, he had a big
I don't think I don't remember if it was 250,000 or 300,000
Incentive if he got another sack he needed two in the game. So he didn't obviously hit that
(21:32):
I thought he was gonna have another one, but either way he came up big
We knew he loves to eat against this NFC North teams. So he's fantastic Levi owns a workie before he got injured
Got banged up a little bit. I think he'd be okay though. He was having a fantastic game
I think he had nine pressures nine or eleven pressures
I can't recall which one it which is actually insane just getting pressure up the middle a guy who really needed to have a big year
(21:54):
Kind of was overshadowed a little bit by a limit Neil. He had fantastic fantastic game
Alquan even Muhammad had a sack and a QB his tackle for loss. Yes, he did
So I mean absolutely fantastic by the team they got they had Jared
They had a excuse me not Jerichof they had Sam Darnold absolutely in hell
And like you said, it might be a little bit of luck that
Darnold had some wide open guys and wasn't able to make the pass
(22:16):
But like you said Ford field and the pressure that this D line was able to get to him
I truly think like yeah, he might have you might have caught some luck a little bit
But the pressure caused, you know the force that that luck to kind of be up fall on our side and make him
You know make those mistakes so
Outside so I said that the highest PFF grades on the offensive side of the top five
Number three and five were from the offensive side being Gibbs and golf
(22:40):
The other three in the top five were Jack Campbell at coming at number one highest PFF grade from the from the game at
84.8 number two Levi owns a workie at 83.2 and then number four Alquan in Muhammad
81.2 so I mean just these guys that
Levi who obviously like I said, it's kind of taking a backseat to a lean all Queenie Muhammad who I don't even know was if he was on
(23:05):
This team to start the season
These guys are just stepping up. They played absolutely fantastic
Anyone in the one thing I will say I would be remiss if I didn't mention
Kindleville Dorff who had an absolute, you know, we we rag on the guy a lot
When he does get into play he kind of only comes in now because of injuries and he obviously got in today
(23:25):
Or excuse me on Sunday because of the TA injury. I thought he was really good
I when we you know, we're rag on the guy when it deserves so we'll also give you your flowers when you deserve so bill door
I think was was was very good. He ended up having
Let's see a past defended
Two tackles coming in kind of in at last minute. So I shout out to him
(23:46):
Hell yeah, absolutely. I mean all these guys. I mean we talk about you know answering the bell
When your name is called and you know, there's so many lines that have done that over
Over this season, you know, it's obviously a ton of injuries and there's so many guys that have answered the call
So yeah, it's it's phenomenal to see it's phenomenal to see this defense finally put together, you know
It an incredible game, you know, the biggest game of the year
(24:09):
Really can't be overstated and and really just awesome momentum going into the playoffs
I think it would have been very very difficult in my opinion to you know, go into the playoffs with if you would have given up
You know 30 30 plus points to this bike team even even if you won, you know, because then there's the question mark
You know, can you can you continue to get in shootouts?
Knowing that you know this defense who had been so good for the first half of the season
(24:32):
Battle through injuries had some bad games to know that they still have good games in there
And they're getting healthier again and Aaron Glenn, you know, Ken Ken, you know pivot and change his schemes up
It's just it makes me feel so much better about where this team can go in the playoffs
Yeah, we we talk of so much about this high-powered offense and and we've been you know knock on wood
We've been fortunate that they've been healthy, but this defense aside that's been so injured
(24:56):
How many times have we come on this this episode if you're a new listener again?
Welcome if you're a listener for a few months now you've been listening as well
For these grid of the weeks that we've been given out we'll get to ours in a second
We've given them to so many different guys
There was what like a three a three weeks ban in which Brian Branch was the best player and on this defense
He was playing out of his mind last week. We were talking about Kirby Joseph having an absolutely insane game this week
(25:19):
We're talking about a meek Robertson which we've talked about as a Darius Smith. Absolutely destroying teams when we first got him
I mean so many different guys are and it's just like what is I don't even know how it
Naturally happens that guys are just like oh, I guess it's my week to step up and be an absolute dog today
I mean, it's insane how balanced and how how these guys are still performing. So it's absolutely fantastic
(25:40):
To see them doing this. It's what championship teams do so
Let's get before we get into the injuries and rumors based off this game. Let's do let's go ahead and do that real quick
Let's do grid of the week
So again, if you're a new listener grid of the week, Keel and I just go through
Pick out a guy that performed above and beyond really what he's asked for just how to stand out game
(26:01):
Just the grittiest of gritty for the Detroit Lions
We try and go through and name one and then we'll as long as there is another game to preview
We'll give a predictive grid of the grid of the week
Try and come back and see how right and or how wrong we were again for the record show
I said last week's is area Smith was gonna be the grid of the week. He had a sack. He had one of our two sacks
I think that's semi worthy of it, but
(26:24):
Who is your grid of the week?
After the game against the yeah
Yeah, I think for me it's well
I'd say it's easy
It's not easy because I think there's so many guys that could probably get it
But there's one guy in particular for me and it's gotta be Jameer Gibbs
Really just answering the call
In the biggest game, of course, we know that David Montgomery has been out now for you know, three or so weeks
(26:48):
you know after getting injured in the Bills game and
Just to see Jameer. I mean time and time again when you know, he is called on
To get 20 touches to get 25 touches 30 touches in a game
As he I think he was almost at 30 in the Vikings and you know to four touchdowns 130 on the ground another
You know 30 through the air
It's just it's so exceptional for me to see a guy like that just blossom a guy who we know
(27:13):
Has just an incredible skill set and now you know on the biggest stage when you know
His his partner in crime is injured and can't be out there and it's all on him and he performs like that
I mean, that's just the epitome of grit to me
So for me, it's Jameer and with you know a very close second being a meek Robertson
Just absolutely locking down Justin Jefferson all night and really just balling and being one of the leaders on that defense
(27:37):
Yeah, it is this was a really difficult one for me
Because it's hard you got the guys who the guy who breaks Barry Sanders scoring records for the Lions
He literally is leading the NFL and Tush onson and Jameer Gibbs
At the same time and that was he was fantastic, but I had to give my grid of the week
I'm gonna give it to Aaron Glenn. I was so like hell. Yeah, I could not stop smiling
(28:00):
During the game. I was again furious with the offense
I was expecting as anyone would that that eventually the defense would make a mistake and like give up
You know, you don't ask so much for them
Especially defense that kind of we've shown for the last three weeks
So I wasn't happy during the game
but after the game like watching all watching the guys and and watching AG's
Pressors and all the defense guys like I couldn't stop smiling put together the most perfect game plan
(28:22):
So I got to give it to AG and I'm gonna do a little sprinkle of
Grid of the week on a meet Robertson as well. We've already covered him plenty
You mentioned it a guy who you know pulled up by his bootstraps came out of the the Raiders organization
I think he at one point said he wanted to be a raider for life
And we traded for him this offseason and he's just I mean taking on the role of Detroit has been fantastic
(28:43):
Especially at a time when when a lot of our defenses out. He was actually fantastic
So I'm gonna go Aaron Glenn with a sprinkle of a meet Robertson
With a little hints of junior Gibbs will give him a little bit there. So but majority we're gonna go to Aaron Glenn
Hell, yeah, love it. Love it. I tried to bury my boy. I mean, they can't bury him can't bear it. It comes with the fucking dirt
(29:04):
Okay, so
Let's get into before we get into the other segments. Let's get into some injuries and news
News rumors and reports. So we already mentioned it the Tarian Arnold injury. I
I have in my notes and I tweeted it out
I was going on a rampage on Twitter just because I mentioned I was so furious with the offensive line
It was right immediately after the offensive line. Essentially I what I would
(29:29):
Attribute to them as interception the defense goes right back on the field and then Terry and Arnold gets hurt almost immediately
Kind of hard to tell which one he flipped over had a tackle on the sideline kind of flipped over caught his his foot got a little hyper extended
Went down in some pretty serious pain and ended up being
Carded off the field. I think he might have had his leg and a
aircast or something
(29:51):
sideline on the
Emotion on the sideline, but Terry and Arnold is just an emotional guy. I think that's that's pretty safe to say
They talked to him after the game in which he was in a boot in the locker room. He was wearing a boot
but I think it was rigor who asked him like what's the update on the injury and Terry and Arnold was like, no, I'm gonna play
When we after our bye we come back. I'm gonna play
(30:11):
At the time you kind of take that I'll leave it Mason just a guy who doesn't he's just saying that
But then today in the Dan can't Dan Campbell presser. He did say
Terry and Arnold is the x-rays were negative. It's a day-to-day injury with the if we didn't have the buy
I think he probably would be out but with the buy
I think we actually can see Terry and Arnold suiting back up when we when it does come time to compete in the playoffs
(30:34):
That's huge. That's huge. Yeah, and we've seen obviously Terry and Arnold
improve a lot over over this year, you know, his campaign, of course
Of course up and down but he has been we've talked about it
He has been called upon to run a significant amount of man coverage actually more man covered than any other
Cornerback in this entire league. So yeah, so take take any numbers that he's putting up with a grain of salt
(30:57):
He's still you know a very very good rookie and it's great to see that that injury is not, you know
Super serious and that he could be back for the divisional round because they certainly need him. Yeah
Yeah, I think we beginning of season
We were a little fresher with him and then as he did get hurt for a few games
We had Bill Dorr get out there and a few other guys
We kind of were like I wins wins today coming back like we could really use him now. So super glad to see him back out there
(31:20):
I saw he was at the the Pistons game last night. I think it was or than it two nights ago
And I said what had it been last night last night and just got a standing ovation
So AG was also there AG got a legit standing ovation everyone sort of and clapped him so
Fantastic there few of the other injuries
Towards the end of the game. I mentioned it with Anzalone like
(31:40):
The game was pretty much put away and Anzalone was still out there a lot with same with a lot of the defenders and same with
Pretty much our entire offense. I kind of was a little bit surprised to see them out there for so long just based on like it
We knew I don't want anyone out there and you watch the chiefs. They got blown out police
They got their rest their starters. So as soon as we went up my two touchdowns, I wanted to see everyone get pulled and they didn't do that
(32:01):
Kind of as a result of that Kevin Zitler ended up coming up a little lame with a hamstring injury
Towards the end of the game. I'm not sure why he was still in I will say Dan Campbell
Is also said when he was talking about Terry and I don't know
They also mentioned Kevin Zitler is expected to be just fine his day-to-day should be fine by the time we do come back from the
(32:23):
bye but kind of just interesting and
strange that our starters were in there so long and
And and kind of that you can attribute this injury to that decision
Yeah, yeah, I'm certainly strange and I don't I have to look back and look at the tape to see if they were up by two scores
Or up by three scores when it happened
Certainly if they're up by three scores, I it's a bit of a head scratcher
(32:45):
I do get it if there was only you know that two score game
To still have that offense and even in the fourth quarter, you never know what's gonna happen. So yeah, I mean, it's just it's a mentality thing
That Dan Campbell has had I certainly don't agree with it when it's that late into a game, you know
Love the mentality, you know, even even talking about last week and you know the San Fran game having the starters in that makes sense to me
(33:06):
That's certainly a mentality thing. But yeah, if we're up three scores in the game is, you know, certainly out of reach
For you know, the Vikings to come back would love to see you know, the two is going especially, you know, offensive line
Which you know, it's extremely vital easy easy to have injuries on you know, any given play, right?
You know, it can it can happen. It's the national football league. So yeah bit of a head scratcher there for me
(33:27):
Yeah, and the one thing I will say we got a I think it was
Last week or it might have been against the Bears Christian Mahogany the rookie behind him had a fantastic game
And that's who came in for for Zitler when he was
injured with with Mahogany so
In a way good to see the young buck go in there and still be able to perform
But yeah interesting and like I said, especially for other guys like Anseloni who I
(33:51):
We thought was gonna be on a snap count and really wasn't which was great
We needed him but like when we're up by at least to a guy like him
I'd want to see pulled so but nonetheless Terry and Arnold Kevin Zitler expected to be back when we returned from our
Bi week to start the playoffs the other one just named today
David Montgomery is set to return for the divisional round the Sonic and Knuckles duo will be back together once again
(34:15):
We talked about it. Yeah, we'll clap it up clap it up for the for David Montgomery coming back, but we talked about it and
previous weeks that like it gives us done absolutely fantastic. I mean in a way like
We would be totally fine. We just gives I'm confident in that
But having Montgomery maybe that does change our play call on those fourth and inches like we said
Maybe we're not trying to throw over the top
(34:36):
We're just handing it to to to date to Demont and send him up the middle when we're in the red zone
Maybe it's a little bit better. I mean just absolutely fantastic
And you got to assume it helps morality on the sideline. I mean that's that's you may or gives his brother out there
They they're one two tandem together. They are Sonic and Knuckles. I mean, they're fantastic. It's so happy to see him back
(34:57):
Absolutely, and really let's just clear the air for a second
You know David Montgomery is not just a down back that you can give to on fourth and one
I mean he is so much more
Dynamic than that. I mean we've seen just over the past two years since he's been at Detroit line
I mean how many how many tackles is he broken?
You know spin moves juke moves. I mean he's he's exceptional in space. He's exceptional between the tackles
(35:20):
So I mean he he adds so much to this offense, you know in the screen game
so I mean it's it's it's huge to get him back, but then also yeah to
You know take some take some touches away from Jameer Gibbs in a good way
I'm gonna go here is awesome if he's getting 15 to 20 touches a game
If he's getting 30 a game, you know, he's he's exceptional regardless, right?
But to but to you know mitigate, you know potentially
(35:43):
You know wear and tear injuries everything like that just to have two dynamic backs in there instead of one
I mean it's it's double the fun. Yeah, and we I mean Craig Reynolds we talked about him last week
Craig's such a locker room guy. Everyone loves Craig. He got a few good drives in
You know the other on Sunday night
But how many times have we seen this this year when we go to overtime against the Rams and we literally just run the ball
(36:05):
Run the ball run the ball run the ball and we can do that because we have two elite running backs
Like Craig is just Craig's a fantastic guy great a good running back
Not an elite running back when you have two elite running backs and suddenly the game is going into the fourth quarter
And you're still kind of battling it out having somebody that's like yeah
You're switching them off so they're not a hundred percent fresh
But they're still more fresh than then you know just having one back is is you know that is astronomical
(36:29):
So shout out to him
I'm kind of surprised honestly because what he said two different doctors had shut him down for the year
And then he went and found a third that said he could be back
So I was kind of thinking it was like a
NFC championship game at their earliest so I'm kind of surprised he's back this early, but you know NFL athletes
It they're built different than us. I guess
Yeah, there's there's just something in the water, you know these guys they probably heal about ten times faster than maybe you were me
(36:53):
But yeah, I mean it's exceptional to see you know, he might be in a snap count. We don't know
It's you know, it's of course two weeks away because we have that you know very vital first round by so we'll see but at any rate
It's it's great to hear that Montes back. Yeah, and I mean we didn't really touch on it on the buy
But just how important is that? I mean looking at the game the games that had to go on this week
(37:14):
We can just kind of sit back on our couch and and just let our voice get even more healthy. It's it's absolutely fantastic
I was I went from
Having real concerns that like this was our window and we might blow this just simply because of injuries and like now
I'm fully just back on that like shit this
What take one week at a time but like it is we needed this by week and we got it so
(37:34):
Yeah, I just I know we didn't touch on that real quick, but
Okay, the other injury news that kind of came out of Dan Campbell's pressure presser today
less
Optimistic than the last ones we just went through so Dan Campbell and nothing is confirmed or anything
But he did come out today and say he essentially thinks that Derek Barnes
(37:55):
Carlton Davis and Aiden Hutchinson seasons are all done. They will not be coming back even if we do make the Super Bowl
I think it I
Say what you want about these guys and what they're you know talking about how they're gonna come back for the Super Bowl and stuff and I
Think it's fantastic. It gives the guys like something like I mean
I was one of them like saying like oh if only we make it to the Super Bowl like our team will be holy a healthy again
(38:18):
Like it really truly is like one more week until we're healthy
You know worth that much closer and so it did give us something to strive towards but I think at the end of the day
All of them coming back for the Super Bowl will be so
Extreme I mean Carlton Davis and Carlton Davis broke his jaw. I mean that's pretty extreme if Derek Barnes
It was a neck and back injury is pretty extreme Hutchinson. I mean he I mean it's insane injuries
(38:42):
And they are like I just said NFL athletes. They are superhuman. They are built differently than us
But like that would be crazy if they could now again nothing's been confirmed
Maybe Dan's just kind of trying to temper expectations a little bit if anyone can do it and will defy all doctors and in
Nature it's Aidan Hutchinson
But a little bit sombering from Dan Campbell's presser today
(39:05):
For sure for sure. Yeah, I think as far as Derek Barnes is concerned
I was not expecting him to come back at all and that seems like that's you know off of the season totally fine
Hutch of course. Yeah, he's been saying ready for the Super Bowl if there is even you know at a shred of risk of re-injury
I would say you know definitely don't do it
Only do it if you know that bone is a hundred percent healed and he's he's ready to go so still wouldn't count him out
(39:29):
I think the one that's probably most surprising to me is Carlton Davis just given that you know
We are still pretty thin at cornerback and he was just having such such an exceptional season
And we talked about it in previous pods that you know
We'd like to see him extended and you know stay with the Detroit Lions. Yeah, just he was having that good of a season
So yeah, I thought that maybe we would get him back for the playoffs so to hear that that's pretty disheartening for sure
(39:53):
Yep
But like I said, maybe they're just trying to temper expectations and I could still see a world in which the two of them
I could said not necessarily Derek Barnes, but I could see the other two
Making a surprise come back and we'll see so that wraps up the
The injury reports you got some other I'm in Ross and Brown stuff
(40:14):
Yeah, just just one more just Sun God, which I feel like we haven't really talked about him much this pod
You kind of a quiet game
Especially for his standards, but he did
After Sunday night's game, he did join Devonte Adams and Antonio Brown as the only receivers in NFL history to record
115 or more receptions and ten or more touchdowns in back-to-back seasons
(40:39):
So of course Tay a B. I mean two of the best ever do it
So our Sun God joins those two legends in the NFL history books
So I mean it's it says everything to you know, how much Sun God means to the Detroit Lions to this team
He's he's exceptional. I think he's a top five receiver in the league and he's you know proven it in back-to-back seasons now
(41:01):
Yeah, I mean you're right
We kind of did have a quiet game but quiet for him is still about 65 yards and and it's more important as to when those yards came
Just like I said in our review just mr. Reliable
If you're a new listener and we come at you with these stats if Kyle saying it that's usually means he's done some background
Into it and looked into it if I'm saying it that usually means I saw it on Twitter and wrote it down
(41:22):
And I'm bringing it to you with very little to none
No background check on that so gotta know that that was probably true
Yeah, it's true. I saw it on Instagram. So it has to be true. Okay, if it's Instagram has to be true. Absolutely
So again, if you're new and new listener here
What we kind of do we review or yeah review the last week's game
(41:45):
Going to grid of the week any injury news reports stuff like that
Into like a segment two of previewing the upcoming game. Obviously, we don't have an upcoming game for the Lions
We are lucky enough to go into that by
The Detroit Lions will be waiting to see who they play
Upcoming next week. We could either be playing the Los Angeles Rams again, Minnesota Vikings again
(42:06):
Washington Commanders or the Green Bay Packers again
So we have to wait and see who we'll play it be playing of those games either way
It will be in Detroit based on our win
Which is so so important
And it just like I said just kind of revitalize my my Super Bowl hope here and getting this by
Yeah, yeah, absolutely and I think kind of a hand up if this is a safe space Tyler
(42:31):
I was either not aware or just completely forgot that the NFL playoffs
They're not locked in and you basically, you know, the one seed's gonna play
So I when I saw the bracket, I'm like, oh my god, there's gonna be a Vikings rematch
And yeah, that might happen, but it also very much might not happen
So depending on other upsets that that go into play. So yeah, I just wanted to
(42:52):
Uh, to put my hand up on that one. Yeah, do you see what Dan Campbell said when they went to midfield and congratulated
You know Kevin O'Connell and talked about the game
Dan Campbell said I'll see you in two weeks. So Dan Campbell is fully expecting the Vikings to somehow make their way back to Detroit
Um, and I I don't really know how I feel about that
We will you know, we'll obviously have next week's episode to talk pretty much primarily about the upcoming game
(43:16):
So we'll you know, whoever it is. We'll break them down
But uh playing a team three times as we would for obviously the Vikings or the Packers
That is that difficult to do. So um, we'll see
It's hard to beat a team three times, but you know, it's it's in Detroit
Um, and so I would have the utmost confidence regardless. Yep. Yep. Um, so then I like I said normally we do a preview of the upcoming game
(43:39):
We'll get into like a segment three
We would touch on the other Detroit sports the pistons tigers and redwings
Uh, and then sort of wrap up. We have a live voicemail set up 313 306 7 9 39
You can call that number. Uh, leave a voicemail for us. Uh, it can be about sports
It can be about life. It could be about really anything
As long as it's semi appropriate
We will play it live here on the show and and just kind of talk and chat about it and
(44:03):
Use it as a good way to connect with with all your listeners and stuff. So that's usually segment four that we'll get into
But let's just jump back to segment three with the the the pistons and tigers and redwings
For this one, we don't jump into a game breakdowns like we do with the lions
Uh, but if it's notable noteworthy enough, uh, we know we'll definitely jump into it
And what is noteworthy enough the or the Detroit pistons win again? They are now a 500 team sitting at 18 and 18
(44:29):
uh, they obviously
Play their games in weird ways. This is like the eighth game in a row in which we've been down by 20 points
And then slowly chisel our way back
Um, but they did it again. We're 18 and 18 after beating the trailblazers last night on Chauncey billops night, which is fantastic
Yeah, yeah, I mean they should probably stop doing that. They should not stop winning
(44:50):
They should keep winning they should stop digging themselves these like enormous holes
And then you know claw the way back out of it would love to see just just a wire to wire win
But yeah, I mean another pistons win like you said, they're they're above or they're at 500 now 18 and 18
Chance to get above 500 in their next game and they're playing really well and kade is uh solidifying himself as an all-star
(45:11):
I think you know the two of us and pretty much everyone in detroit has seen it since since his rookie year that he has shown
that he can be
Um a very good player in this league if not a great player in this league
And and finally he's getting the recognition that he deserves from I think you know the media and from from the rest of the league
And he's he's just taking it just another step further
(45:32):
Um and just having just having a really incredible season. So shout out kade cunningham. You're the absolute dog
Yeah, if you haven't gone out and voted him to be in the all-star game, please go out and do that
He is absolutely deserving. So I mean he's averaging like 30 plus or something in the last two weeks
He's playing phenomenally last night. We had tim hardaway jr. Finally come alive had a season high. I think 26 points
(45:53):
it's really uh enlightening and
Fun to watch who kind of similar to this this lion's defense like who's gonna step up in this game
Last night. It was tim hardaway jr. Over the last few weeks. It's been kade and milk beasley who's been absolutely fantastic and really giving
You know a name for himself in out there for the six man of the year
um, you know, you got uh
(46:14):
Ron holland who's slowly coming along and really showing his confidence and stuff. So a sardar thompson getting back
It's absolutely fantastic. If you haven't caught a pistons game, um, you know this season or as of late
And it was really hard to watch them just because the NBA loves to try and outdo the mlb and becoming irrelevant
Um, so if you can find a way to watch them, please do they're so fun kade is absolutely elite
(46:35):
The young guys are playing really really well right now. So shout out to the pistons
Shout out john c billips who was in the house. We were representing him
And uh being inducted in the nice myth hall of fame last night. So shout out him
Um, yeah, yeah, absolutely. I definitely echo that. I mean, they're so fun. They they have guys that can just jump through the roof
So definitely give them a watch if you can. Yep
Uh, nothing on the front of the tigers one thing former tiger just before we started recording
(47:00):
Just in verlander signs for the san francisco giants
Um, I did not see I think it was a one year deal
I don't know if you had the numbers in front of you just something to note former line or former tiger
Excuse me. I know some people were talking about a possible reunion in his future just to try and retire here in detroit
Um, doesn't sound like it's going to be this year is I think I think I said I think it was a one year
So if he's planning on maybe going two more he still could do his
(47:22):
Uh, you know fried out the sunset here in detroit, but next year he will be pitching for the san francisco giants
Yes, sir. Yeah. Yeah, that's huge for jv
You know, he had a very very down season in houston last year. Um, I think a lot of it can probably be
credited to credit to injuries
But yeah, he just he wasn't quite himself. I think he does have a lot left in the tank
(47:43):
You know, he had an exceptional season the year before so
Yeah, I wish him the best of luck and hopefully, uh, I would definitely like to see him in a detroit uniform before he retires
So yeah, hopefully they can make that happen eventually
And then the other the other team here in detroit. That's also
Randomly also on fire the detroit redbrings
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Absolutely. So they're actually playing right now. They are currently playing the ottawa senators
(48:07):
At home at lca. Uh, they are looking to make it four straight wins. Um, they're up. They're up one nothing right now
I don't have the game on in front of me. I'll probably you know turn it on after we're done recording here, but uh one one zip
That's better than being down one zip. So
Um, yeah, hopefully they can keep it going. Uh, detroit sports in the uh month of january in the year 2025
(48:27):
They are seven and oh so hopefully making it eight and oh
After this redwings game, but yeah, they're skating well, um with their with their new head coach
Yeah, you said I mean detroit fans
Enjoy this because I tweeted this out the the lions enter the playoffs as super bowl favorites
I think they're like plus 250 or plus 350 kade cunning am
Uh is now I think I could be wrong if not up there leading the way for most improved player of the year
(48:51):
Um, you had like I said the pistons who are 500 and actually I forgot to mention this with the pistons
They have a very winnable next four games. So there's a chance we could be coming out next week and maybe
Um, you know four games above 500. Yeah, the redwings who obviously had to fire
Lalonde and has been playing ever really well ever since under Todd
Um, so yeah, I really we're on the up and up detroit. Let everyone know that we're back
(49:13):
Um, enjoy this detroit fans while we can because uh
We never know how long we we're in the the basement for so long with all these teams. Uh, let's enjoy it while we got it. So
Um, we are back, baby
We are so that is it for the rest of the league as we move into the all season
We'll you know, whatever team is kind of on the forefront
We'll dive more into that and kind of do what we can to to discuss those as you know
(49:37):
Dead lions come up with these teams no matter what season it is
We'll be jumping into those as well
Um, it's at this point we jump into kind of our final segment and the going through the the listener voice mails
Um, we don't have any at the moment. So make sure to call into that again
The phone number there is 313 306 79 at 39. Um, you don't need to leave your name or nothing
Whatever you want to do just you know, let's just talk give us something to talk about sports life anything
(50:01):
We'll we'll play it live on the on the show at least one of us will probably
Filter it or and listen to it the other one will probably be listening it to it live on the podcast
So you get our um, you know unfiltered response to there. So um, that is essentially it for our episode
Again, sort of this new beginning of the not being on twitter spaces being available
(50:22):
Wherever you find your podcast. So if you are a longtime listener, thank you so much for sticking with us
If you are new to listening to our shows, thank you for joining us
Thank you for putting up with us keel and ire start still trying to figure out all this stuff how
How podcasts work and you know the best softwares everything to use so we appreciate
Everyone just sticking with us and as we kind of work through all these we'll just you know continue to bring you
(50:45):
Detroit sports things like I said try and bring out some
Some takes and stuff that maybe are right. Maybe could not be more wrong
So we'll do our best at each and every week. So thank you everyone for joining us. We will talk to you all next week
Thanks y'all restore the roar
....
(00:05):
when you hit it thats.
(00:28):
All right, welcome to the grit iron report your Lions first all Detroit sports podcast today is Tuesday
January 7th and your Detroit Lions win the NSE north for the second year in a row
Secure the number one seed and a buy in the playoffs after beating the Vikings Sunday night. Let's get into it
(00:50):
Before we do so a little bit of house cleaning if you've listened to us for quite some time now
We are no longer going to be going on Twitter spaces
We will not be going live instead. We will be coming to you and all platforms that support podcast be as
Spotify Apple podcast wherever you listen to your podcast you can catch us each week if you're a new time listener
(01:11):
I'm Tyler
What's up guys? I'm keel we're both Detroiters been Detroit fans for 20 plus years
We're gonna be coming at you each week just talking about the previous weeks game the upcoming weeks game and hopefully has some
Interesting takes along the way on top of just some other Detroit sports stuff outside the tie the Lions as well
So let's get into it
(01:33):
First and foremost we're gonna start with just last week's game Sunday night the Detroit Lions 31
Minnesota Vikings 9 and what turned out to be the third most viewed NBC night game in NFL history
Kyle let's just start with you and your overall thoughts on the game
Yeah, absolutely man. I mean first and foremost
Yeah, the viewership it speaks for itself. I mean this was the biggest
(01:57):
NFL regular season game in the in the history of the league
And you know for good reason, you know to 14 and two teams just battling it out battle for the NFC north
I mean it really you really can't write something like that
I think Dan Campbell probably said that one of his pregame pressers that you can't write anything better
It really just doesn't get anything it doesn't get better than that and yeah my overall thought I mean Aaron Glenn for freaking
(02:20):
President, I mean what what what a defensive performance in in the biggest game on the biggest stage
and
Second thought we own the Vikings the Detroit Lions own the Minnesota Vikings and we own the NFC north and I don't think we're
Giving it back anytime soon. Yeah, there's so much to break down here with this game
We talked a lot about it last week
(02:40):
You should be able to find that episode just above this one
But we talked about how a little bit confusing a little bit unsure about this game
Just because it is so hard to beat a team over and over again like you said Detroit had owned the Vikings for it really since
The Dan Campbell era started it got his first win as a Detroit head coach against the Vikings
And we kind of just have owned them since then so I know both of us were a little bit nervous coming into this game
(03:02):
Especially just how hot the Vikings were and how injury depleted the Lions are currently
But there's so much to break down. I think you nailed it on the head though. It was an absolute masterclass by Aaron Glenn
I've seen in the previous weeks and last few weeks the Detroit Lions kind of get outschemed a little bit and
To a point where I took note of it and I felt like we absolutely
(03:24):
Did that to the Minnesota Vikings with Aaron Glenn in the defense?
So let's just dive right into the offense in the defense. We'll start on the offensive side
Keel you can attest I was absolutely furious with the offense for pretty much 75% of the game
You know shout out all the boys were on the other end of my text messages
I mean I was just laying into the offensive line. I thought they the offensive line had just a really really difficult night
(03:45):
And I know the Minnesota Vikings have a really good defensive line
They get really good pressure Andrew Van Ginkl is having a fantastic year Blake Cashman who both guys we mentioned last week
Cashman what didn't play for the Vikings the last time he played him. He was out with an injury. He was back this week
Grenard is just fantastic. So the Vikings have a good defense shout out to them
But our offensive line which is usually a strength the you know a point of strength for us was I think just simply overpowered
(04:12):
I mean there was miss it missed assignments. There was false starts
There was guys when you're pulling going down the line just simply not getting out in front of our runners to get any blocks or anything
I thought they really struggled and giving up two sacks against that defensive line from the Vikings
But you know, I then you did kind of see as the game went on
They did end up starting to get you know get their get their groove back a little bit as the momentum started to swing a little bit
(04:35):
You saw the the offensive line start to suddenly they're making those blocks and they're picking up the reeds and picking up the blitzes and stuff
But I think they started off very
You know very uneasy I should say
Yeah, for sure. I think it was you know a tale of two halves. I do think yeah in that first half the offense of offensive line did struggle
We probably saw more than a couple missed blocks a couple with blocks
(04:58):
Which you know pretty uncharacteristic and uncharacteristic from in my opinion
Yeah, one of the best offensive lines in football albeit at times they have struggled a bit this season
But you know, that's to be expected. It's a long NFL season, but I thought the offense overall in that first half. Yeah pretty sluggish
Really really couldn't finish drives. It also had multiple turnovers, you know, you know
(05:18):
The first interception from Jared on that screen pass. It was a great great play by Ivan Pace Jr
I believe he's a linebacker for the Vikings. I thought Craig Reynolds
You know, he kind of after that chip block got a little bit too close to Jared and it was kind of hard to then you know
Lay that ball over top of the defender to get it to Craig
I do think if Craig, you know catches that ball. He's probably still running to this day
(05:41):
There was really just no one for about 25 or 30 yards. So
That that I think you know boils more down to execution. I thought the play call was great
Just just couldn't execute in a hell of a play by that kid from the Vikings
Second interception arm punt, you know, say what you will they were backed up
Kind of a bit of miscommunication. I don't think Jamo ever really saw that ball and you know, Jared
(06:02):
Huck that up about 60 yards in the air right to the Vikings
So, yeah, I mean
Again, missed execution. That was probably not my favorite play call. I think it was a first down play
Right after getting a you know a big stop the defense that we'll talk about the defense
But yeah, I mean the first half was tough
I really think that the offense got it rolling in the second half and then yeah
(06:23):
I mean, I probably can't say another word without you know talking about our our Lord and Savior
Little sacrilegious there, but but Jameer Gibbs just an incredible game
Just from top to bottom, you know, he got the scoring going in the first half
He was exceptional in the second half ripping off long runs ripping off scoring runs catching the ball
(06:43):
You know for total touchdowns. I think you know, he went for you know
139 yards on the ground another another almost over 30 actually in the air and for total touchdown
So yeah, I mean we I can't go another another breath without just saying, you know
What an exceptional job that young man did. Yeah, obviously he tied Barry Sanders record and then broke it and at the same time
(07:05):
Broke the NFL not record but the NFL leading touchdown for the year
He was you're right. He was masterful for total touchdowns 170 yards breaking the the
Barry's record there. It's interesting. You said you you you like the you like the play call
I kind of was on the opposite side. I thought the play call was a little bit suspect
And maybe it was because we were struggling so much in the first half that it just kind of shined a spotlight on the play call
(07:29):
But like you said the the quote-unquote arm punt that Jared golf had that interception
We just had a huge stop in the red zone on the defense and we'll get to the defense in a minute
But as soon as we get the ball back the first thing we do is throw, you know a bomb like that in which people are not on the
Same page and give it right back to them
If we're playing a team that like is not Sam Darnold Sam Darnold led
(07:52):
I they immediately go down and make us, you know pay for that mistake and punch it in so I thought that was a little suspect
It was there the fourth and inches
play call that was a throw over the top that I think again got knocked down by a
Vikings defender, so I I don't know I always say this fourth and inches
I don't like us to mess around and get cute and trying to throw over the top or even hand it off
(08:14):
Just sneak it get it get behind the guys and sneak it so I thought the play call was a little bit suspect at least in the first half
You know like I said it probably was a little bit for sure a little bit worse because of how we were playing
But I mean I thought Jared golf was decent 27 for 33
231
Yards at one tug again the two picks the two picks I
(08:36):
Primarily on the offensive line. I think actually like you said the first one was a great play by the Minnesota Vikings defender
The second one was a miscommunication say which I guess that one technically was on Jared, but then the third one was
Oh, excuse me, maybe was that second one. I think his arm actually got hit or something along the lines
He was I feel like every time he went back to pass
(08:56):
a Vikings defender had an arm on his arm and deflected the ball in one way or another so I
Thought golf is okay
I think he wasn't given much opportunity with that offensive line at least in the first half the second half like you said
Gibbs really got going. I'm in raw was his usual miss a reliable self
And then like I said you can still start to see the O line start to get in their groove and start to you know
(09:19):
Inflict some some will on that and that that defense there. Just so I've note the highest top five highest PFF grades
Number three was Jameer Gibbs 82.3 and number five was Jericho with 79.8 on the offensive side
The other guys came from the defense so
Yeah, I offensively I was worried that we were gonna start slow like we did the last time that we played the Vikings
(09:40):
Obviously that kind of came to fruition. We just got lucky or I guess not lucky, but we're fortunate that the defense absolutely came to play
Yeah, and I think that you know you talked by Jared golf
You know a pretty high PFF grading
I think that he does probably deserve more credit than his stat line might show
You know we talked about the two interceptions, but you know completely 27 of 33 passes
(10:03):
You know, I'll be at 231 yards. So it's not like he was putting up over 300
But I mean still a really solid day in the office
I think I think that he really you know just distributed the ball well
Six different Lions caught at least one pass on Sunday night and a lot of a lot of those throws
They were on third and sometimes fourth down. So I think when it mattered most he was making those plays
(10:23):
I do agree some of those play calls, especially in the first half the fourth and inches
To throw the ball it really just it wasn't executed and really I
Guess say what you will about the Lions not executing
I think the Lions did everything they could there on that play. It's just that the Vikings executed better by batting the ball down
If you saw I think that ball was going to James and Williams. He was open
(10:44):
So, you know probably would have been a 10 or 15 yard play. So
Yeah, I mean it was a great play by the Vikings
I would have liked to see them stay on the ground there and you know use that offensive line
Higher probability in my opinion to you know pick up that yard or two. Of course, you're not gonna hit the home run
But yeah, that's that was a bit suspect for sure
But I mean overall I do think that the offense started rolling especially later in that second half
(11:07):
And yeah, Jamir Gibbs. I mean, I don't know how his his PFF grading wasn't you know, if you're a hundred out of a hundred
I know that's probably not possible
But I mean when you when you have four tugs in the biggest game of your career
That's that's that really says something said something to me
Yeah, and the one thing I will say like on that fourth and inches while I do want us to run it there
We obviously were missing our our guy that we would put in normally there and Monty
(11:31):
He's you know short down back the guy just gonna put his head down and try and get you two yards when you need
You know one so missing him what we'll get into him a little bit later, but yeah, let's move on to the defensive side
As much for as much shit as we've given this defense over the last three to four weeks and rightfully so they've been
What we talked about it last week the Vikings were very susceptible to the to the past
(11:55):
They were like I think you said they were like 29th in a league and I was like well
Who's 30 and 31 and naturally it was Detroit we've been struggled so much on the defensive side
They were absolutely fantastic and we already alluded to a AG just an absolute stellar performance
I think it was what last week or two weeks ago. I actually mentioned and I stand by this. I'm not necessarily
(12:15):
Always an AG guy. I always thought he I thought he obviously we had such a bad defense last year
We didn't have any parts we added to it. We've been playing well
I was never fully sold until until Sunday night like he watching him at the end of the game when he does that thing
He did against the Colts as well
I think where he just sat back on that bench like that that picture of him sitting back after like watching the
(12:38):
Master plan he put together that is it was so fantastic. I've never seen a
defensive coach put together such a scheme and
Take one of the hottest teams in the NFL and just equate them to an a JV squad
I mean he was running brackets on guys
He was running man and then switching into zone
He had robbers playing perfectly and again this is all I mean the defense was perfect
(13:00):
And he was doing it with guys that they picked up off the street now
We are starting to get more healthy, you know, we were able to
Cut Kwan Alexander in Jamal Adams a few of the guys that we kind of picked up to to plug a few holes
We were able to cut some of them as some of our guys are coming back
But it's still we're still far from 100% and we still had definitely have guys out there that
I'm an everyday roster probably won't be seeing many snaps. So he was absolutely fantastic and
(13:26):
For as good as he was. I mean a lot of the guys for us performed
And you know, I'm curious to see what you thought of the defense and in specific a few guys
I have a few has in mind that I think absolutely deserve shout-outs
Hell yeah, I mean absolutely. I think just you know talking about the man of the hour Aaron Glenn
I think he proved without a shadow of a doubt in my opinion that he deserves to be a head coach in the National Football League
(13:49):
I mean the the
The coaching that we saw on Sunday night and you know, you alluded to it Tyler
But I mean it was just an absolute masterclass. Yeah, you know, he was switching up his schemes
He was you know, we're talking about you know shutting down two of the best receivers
Certainly Justin Jefferson one of the best receivers in the league and then Jordan Addison a very very good wide receiver to probably could be a wide receiver
(14:12):
One on other teams
You have TJ Hawkins. It was a plus, you know tight end to be able to shut them down
You know holding Jefferson to three receptions for 54 yards Jordan Addison
He might as well have just been you know running a marathon running cardio out there all game
He had one grab for zero yards. I think Hawk might have had one grab two tops
To shut to shut these weapons down to shut down the Vikings run game as well
(14:34):
I mean, it's it's nothing short of spectacular what I really want to just focus on for a second
Just in particular on the defense the Red Zone defense. They quite literally were perfection
Twice the Vikings had the ball in and around the five yard line of the Lions
And the defense kept them out of the end zone both times the Vikings ended up being 0 for 4 in the Red Zone on
(14:55):
Sunday night, so yeah
I mean when when you know the going got tough and you know one of it was one of them was you know
A Jared Goff interception on that screen play over the Vikings got the ball back down to like the seven yard line
To you know hold this Vikings team out of the end zone there
You know at the you know very pivotal points in the first half when touchdowns
(15:17):
You know the multiple touchdowns might might you know put the game out of reach almost you know
It's it's you know, it's extremely pivotal and you know to have that defense step up like that. I mean, it's so spectacular
Yeah, I think against
You know if we are trotting out there a normal defense with a normal
defensive coordinator, I think we lose this game by
(15:37):
At least two touchdowns the offense
They obviously turned it on in the second half, but they set this defense up so poorly in the first half
Like over and over and over again
This defense was was asked to to perform in unfair situations and they just kept coming back
They kept they kept performing they kept rising to the occasion. They were fantastic
I mean you mentioned the just the weapons and how inefficient they were the Vikings weapons were I had the numbers in front of me
(16:01):
So you had darnold who was 18 for 41, which is disgusting
166 yards a passer rating of just a QVR rating of 55.5
I mean that is just absolutely horrendous yet J Jetta like I said like you said Justin Jefferson one of the
Best if not the best receivers in the game yet fire or excuse me three catches for 54 yards
(16:22):
And he had a long of 31 so of those 54 yards basically one of those plays was more than half of those yards
Jaylin Naylor who's actually been pretty good for the Vikings as of late
Three catches 53 yards essentially the same as Justin Jefferson. How could two catches for nine?
I'm gonna say it's Barton Jaylin Naylor. Yeah having a really great great season
Take a look at him if you haven't watched him, but Aaron Jones who I think I end up getting hurt a little bit
(16:45):
I saw him on the sideline. He kind of was in and out. They went to camp acres a lot
Aaron Jones had 45 yards and 10 carries and it actually kind of was acres who did the most damage against us
He had a 65 rushing yards on six carries so
But again of those 65 yards
He had one long run of 58 yards so all those pretty much came in one
So it really I mean just absolutely masterful what they were able to put together and like I said
(17:08):
AG deserves all his credit if you go back and watch the tapes. I mean the
the
Creativity he was doing everyone notices when the creativity comes on the offensive side
Right, you have an offensive lineman going out and catching a pass
You have a fleet a fake flee flicker that goes to a receiver and he has a hook and you know
You can see that that creativity on the offensive side on the defensive side. It's a lot more subtle
(17:30):
You have guys that like really only if you really know football
You're like watching and seeing how they're handing guys off what kind of formations they're running
You don't really get the appreciation, but if you watch and break it down
He was so good at confusing Sam Darnold that he literally turned him back into a pumpkin
But it was it's just as important
I think as AG was that we had guys like Alex and Zoloni back out there
(17:51):
He was so fantastic like jet Campbell has been great in his absence, but Anceloni is
So pivotal to this team. I thought he's gonna come back and be on a snap count
But he was out there damn near the entire game if not too long like at the end of the game
I think a lot of us were saying like why is he still playing get we're up by you know two scores get him out of this game
Please but he was absolutely fantastic. He had seven tackles three solo
(18:14):
Just you can watch him just directing this defense left and right. He was absolutely fantastic
Absolutely, it was so great seeing those those long golden locks just flying. Yeah entire field
I think he had you know five six tackles and he was he was just all over the place. Maybe a couple passes defended
Loved what I saw at Anceloni
(18:36):
Especially loved what I saw out of the absolute dog Amik Robinson Robertson excuse me
You know, he was incredible all night
You know often he was finding himself on an island covering Justin Jefferson
Like we said one of if not the best wide receivers in the game
And he absolutely shut him down and and I will say that you know a bit of it, you know
There is a bit of luck involved, right? You know Justin Jefferson in the end zone
(18:58):
He you know high pointed a ball ended up you know dropping it. There was another pass Donald. It's an easy pass
But I
In you know the right corner of the end zone that Donald just absolutely missed him
I think a lot of that though you can you know credit
You know the defense of pass rush and you know getting getting in Donald's grill making him uncomfortable
You know the credit credit to you know the Ford field
(19:19):
You know the crowd all of that is all of that is you know, it's part of it
It's not the only thing but it's certainly part of it and it all adds up
You know in the most pivotal game of the year and that's when that's when you saw some you know really awesome plays
So yeah, I just wanted to give Amika shout out. He was quoted, you know right after the game
I think it was you know actually in their post game speech that you know Dan Campbell does every week
(19:41):
Saying you know, they tried to bury me, but you can't bury what came from the fucking dirt
So yeah, I mean just inject that right into my veins
Yeah, it's he's just one of the other amazing guys on this team that I kind of work cast off a little bit by the original teams
And then came to Detroit and just absolutely thrive under this culture in this team. He was fantastic
I think if he if he came back and provided I'm thinking of one play in particular that the pass was over the middle
(20:05):
He was able to break it up. He was great
Unfortunately, we had Terry and Arnold go down we'll get into injuries and some updates here in a little bit
But we had TA go down and I thought he was fantastic before he ended up going down
Zadaria Smith who you and I brought up last week as having real quiet three weeks
I think he had like two total tackles over three weeks now
(20:25):
I don't want to I don't want to hurt myself
You know hurt my own arm to pat myself on the back, but I did say Zadaria Smith was gonna have a great game
Now I think I said it we can run it back. I think I said he was gonna have two sacks and
One and a half tackles for loss
He I think only had one sack pulling up the numbers here real quick
(20:45):
Let's see Zadaria Smith
Yeah, well and while you pull up those numbers, yeah, I mean certainly credit to you
I mean you call that yet huge sack. I think it was in the first half, too
I mean very very pivotal point in the game
And yeah, the big fellas coming up with a sack. I thought he was gonna get another one
He was he was pretty close on another one, too
That I think would have would have gotten him paid out of bonus, but yeah, just incredible game out of Z
(21:10):
Yeah, so he ended up having three total tackles three being solo a sack and tackle for loss
He was on in on it was damn near the entire defense. So I thought he was gonna get a half sack for that one
So I my prediction came up a little bit short. Like you said, he had a big
I don't think I don't remember if it was 250,000 or 300,000
Incentive if he got another sack he needed two in the game. So he didn't obviously hit that
(21:32):
I thought he was gonna have another one, but either way he came up big
We knew he loves to eat against this NFC North teams. So he's fantastic Levi owns a workie before he got injured
Got banged up a little bit. I think he'd be okay though. He was having a fantastic game
I think he had nine pressures nine or eleven pressures
I can't recall which one it which is actually insane just getting pressure up the middle a guy who really needed to have a big year
(21:54):
Kind of was overshadowed a little bit by a limit Neil. He had fantastic fantastic game
Alquan even Muhammad had a sack and a QB his tackle for loss. Yes, he did
So I mean absolutely fantastic by the team they got they had Jared
They had a excuse me not Jerichof they had Sam Darnold absolutely in hell
And like you said, it might be a little bit of luck that
Darnold had some wide open guys and wasn't able to make the pass
(22:16):
But like you said Ford field and the pressure that this D line was able to get to him
I truly think like yeah, he might have you might have caught some luck a little bit
But the pressure caused, you know the force that that luck to kind of be up fall on our side and make him
You know make those mistakes so
Outside so I said that the highest PFF grades on the offensive side of the top five
Number three and five were from the offensive side being Gibbs and golf
(22:40):
The other three in the top five were Jack Campbell at coming at number one highest PFF grade from the from the game at
84.8 number two Levi owns a workie at 83.2 and then number four Alquan in Muhammad
81.2 so I mean just these guys that
Levi who obviously like I said, it's kind of taking a backseat to a lean all Queenie Muhammad who I don't even know was if he was on
(23:05):
This team to start the season
These guys are just stepping up. They played absolutely fantastic
Anyone in the one thing I will say I would be remiss if I didn't mention
Kindleville Dorff who had an absolute, you know, we we rag on the guy a lot
When he does get into play he kind of only comes in now because of injuries and he obviously got in today
(23:25):
Or excuse me on Sunday because of the TA injury. I thought he was really good
I when we you know, we're rag on the guy when it deserves so we'll also give you your flowers when you deserve so bill door
I think was was was very good. He ended up having
Let's see a past defended
Two tackles coming in kind of in at last minute. So I shout out to him
(23:46):
Hell yeah, absolutely. I mean all these guys. I mean we talk about you know answering the bell
When your name is called and you know, there's so many lines that have done that over
Over this season, you know, it's obviously a ton of injuries and there's so many guys that have answered the call
So yeah, it's it's phenomenal to see it's phenomenal to see this defense finally put together, you know
It an incredible game, you know, the biggest game of the year
(24:09):
Really can't be overstated and and really just awesome momentum going into the playoffs
I think it would have been very very difficult in my opinion to you know, go into the playoffs with if you would have given up
You know 30 30 plus points to this bike team even even if you won, you know, because then there's the question mark
You know, can you can you continue to get in shootouts?
Knowing that you know this defense who had been so good for the first half of the season
(24:32):
Battle through injuries had some bad games to know that they still have good games in there
And they're getting healthier again and Aaron Glenn, you know, Ken Ken, you know pivot and change his schemes up
It's just it makes me feel so much better about where this team can go in the playoffs
Yeah, we we talk of so much about this high-powered offense and and we've been you know knock on wood
We've been fortunate that they've been healthy, but this defense aside that's been so injured
(24:56):
How many times have we come on this this episode if you're a new listener again?
Welcome if you're a listener for a few months now you've been listening as well
For these grid of the weeks that we've been given out we'll get to ours in a second
We've given them to so many different guys
There was what like a three a three weeks ban in which Brian Branch was the best player and on this defense
He was playing out of his mind last week. We were talking about Kirby Joseph having an absolutely insane game this week
(25:19):
We're talking about a meek Robertson which we've talked about as a Darius Smith. Absolutely destroying teams when we first got him
I mean so many different guys are and it's just like what is I don't even know how it
Naturally happens that guys are just like oh, I guess it's my week to step up and be an absolute dog today
I mean, it's insane how balanced and how how these guys are still performing. So it's absolutely fantastic
(25:40):
To see them doing this. It's what championship teams do so
Let's get before we get into the injuries and rumors based off this game. Let's do let's go ahead and do that real quick
Let's do grid of the week
So again, if you're a new listener grid of the week, Keel and I just go through
Pick out a guy that performed above and beyond really what he's asked for just how to stand out game
(26:01):
Just the grittiest of gritty for the Detroit Lions
We try and go through and name one and then we'll as long as there is another game to preview
We'll give a predictive grid of the grid of the week
Try and come back and see how right and or how wrong we were again for the record show
I said last week's is area Smith was gonna be the grid of the week. He had a sack. He had one of our two sacks
I think that's semi worthy of it, but
(26:24):
Who is your grid of the week?
After the game against the yeah
Yeah, I think for me it's well
I'd say it's easy
It's not easy because I think there's so many guys that could probably get it
But there's one guy in particular for me and it's gotta be Jameer Gibbs
Really just answering the call
In the biggest game, of course, we know that David Montgomery has been out now for you know, three or so weeks
(26:48):
you know after getting injured in the Bills game and
Just to see Jameer. I mean time and time again when you know, he is called on
To get 20 touches to get 25 touches 30 touches in a game
As he I think he was almost at 30 in the Vikings and you know to four touchdowns 130 on the ground another
You know 30 through the air
It's just it's so exceptional for me to see a guy like that just blossom a guy who we know
(27:13):
Has just an incredible skill set and now you know on the biggest stage when you know
His his partner in crime is injured and can't be out there and it's all on him and he performs like that
I mean, that's just the epitome of grit to me
So for me, it's Jameer and with you know a very close second being a meek Robertson
Just absolutely locking down Justin Jefferson all night and really just balling and being one of the leaders on that defense
(27:37):
Yeah, it is this was a really difficult one for me
Because it's hard you got the guys who the guy who breaks Barry Sanders scoring records for the Lions
He literally is leading the NFL and Tush onson and Jameer Gibbs
At the same time and that was he was fantastic, but I had to give my grid of the week
I'm gonna give it to Aaron Glenn. I was so like hell. Yeah, I could not stop smiling
(28:00):
During the game. I was again furious with the offense
I was expecting as anyone would that that eventually the defense would make a mistake and like give up
You know, you don't ask so much for them
Especially defense that kind of we've shown for the last three weeks
So I wasn't happy during the game
but after the game like watching all watching the guys and and watching AG's
Pressors and all the defense guys like I couldn't stop smiling put together the most perfect game plan
(28:22):
So I got to give it to AG and I'm gonna do a little sprinkle of
Grid of the week on a meet Robertson as well. We've already covered him plenty
You mentioned it a guy who you know pulled up by his bootstraps came out of the the Raiders organization
I think he at one point said he wanted to be a raider for life
And we traded for him this offseason and he's just I mean taking on the role of Detroit has been fantastic
(28:43):
Especially at a time when when a lot of our defenses out. He was actually fantastic
So I'm gonna go Aaron Glenn with a sprinkle of a meet Robertson
With a little hints of junior Gibbs will give him a little bit there. So but majority we're gonna go to Aaron Glenn
Hell, yeah, love it. Love it. I tried to bury my boy. I mean, they can't bury him can't bear it. It comes with the fucking dirt
(29:04):
Okay, so
Let's get into before we get into the other segments. Let's get into some injuries and news
News rumors and reports. So we already mentioned it the Tarian Arnold injury. I
I have in my notes and I tweeted it out
I was going on a rampage on Twitter just because I mentioned I was so furious with the offensive line
It was right immediately after the offensive line. Essentially I what I would
(29:29):
Attribute to them as interception the defense goes right back on the field and then Terry and Arnold gets hurt almost immediately
Kind of hard to tell which one he flipped over had a tackle on the sideline kind of flipped over caught his his foot got a little hyper extended
Went down in some pretty serious pain and ended up being
Carded off the field. I think he might have had his leg and a
aircast or something
(29:51):
sideline on the
Emotion on the sideline, but Terry and Arnold is just an emotional guy. I think that's that's pretty safe to say
They talked to him after the game in which he was in a boot in the locker room. He was wearing a boot
but I think it was rigor who asked him like what's the update on the injury and Terry and Arnold was like, no, I'm gonna play
When we after our bye we come back. I'm gonna play
(30:11):
At the time you kind of take that I'll leave it Mason just a guy who doesn't he's just saying that
But then today in the Dan can't Dan Campbell presser. He did say
Terry and Arnold is the x-rays were negative. It's a day-to-day injury with the if we didn't have the buy
I think he probably would be out but with the buy
I think we actually can see Terry and Arnold suiting back up when we when it does come time to compete in the playoffs
(30:34):
That's huge. That's huge. Yeah, and we've seen obviously Terry and Arnold
improve a lot over over this year, you know, his campaign, of course
Of course up and down but he has been we've talked about it
He has been called upon to run a significant amount of man coverage actually more man covered than any other
Cornerback in this entire league. So yeah, so take take any numbers that he's putting up with a grain of salt
(30:57):
He's still you know a very very good rookie and it's great to see that that injury is not, you know
Super serious and that he could be back for the divisional round because they certainly need him. Yeah
Yeah, I think we beginning of season
We were a little fresher with him and then as he did get hurt for a few games
We had Bill Dorr get out there and a few other guys
We kind of were like I wins wins today coming back like we could really use him now. So super glad to see him back out there
(31:20):
I saw he was at the the Pistons game last night. I think it was or than it two nights ago
And I said what had it been last night last night and just got a standing ovation
So AG was also there AG got a legit standing ovation everyone sort of and clapped him so
Fantastic there few of the other injuries
Towards the end of the game. I mentioned it with Anzalone like
(31:40):
The game was pretty much put away and Anzalone was still out there a lot with same with a lot of the defenders and same with
Pretty much our entire offense. I kind of was a little bit surprised to see them out there for so long just based on like it
We knew I don't want anyone out there and you watch the chiefs. They got blown out police
They got their rest their starters. So as soon as we went up my two touchdowns, I wanted to see everyone get pulled and they didn't do that
(32:01):
Kind of as a result of that Kevin Zitler ended up coming up a little lame with a hamstring injury
Towards the end of the game. I'm not sure why he was still in I will say Dan Campbell
Is also said when he was talking about Terry and I don't know
They also mentioned Kevin Zitler is expected to be just fine his day-to-day should be fine by the time we do come back from the
(32:23):
bye but kind of just interesting and
strange that our starters were in there so long and
And and kind of that you can attribute this injury to that decision
Yeah, yeah, I'm certainly strange and I don't I have to look back and look at the tape to see if they were up by two scores
Or up by three scores when it happened
Certainly if they're up by three scores, I it's a bit of a head scratcher
(32:45):
I do get it if there was only you know that two score game
To still have that offense and even in the fourth quarter, you never know what's gonna happen. So yeah, I mean, it's just it's a mentality thing
That Dan Campbell has had I certainly don't agree with it when it's that late into a game, you know
Love the mentality, you know, even even talking about last week and you know the San Fran game having the starters in that makes sense to me
(33:06):
That's certainly a mentality thing. But yeah, if we're up three scores in the game is, you know, certainly out of reach
For you know, the Vikings to come back would love to see you know, the two is going especially, you know, offensive line
Which you know, it's extremely vital easy easy to have injuries on you know, any given play, right?
You know, it can it can happen. It's the national football league. So yeah bit of a head scratcher there for me
(33:27):
Yeah, and the one thing I will say we got a I think it was
Last week or it might have been against the Bears Christian Mahogany the rookie behind him had a fantastic game
And that's who came in for for Zitler when he was
injured with with Mahogany so
In a way good to see the young buck go in there and still be able to perform
But yeah interesting and like I said, especially for other guys like Anseloni who I
(33:51):
We thought was gonna be on a snap count and really wasn't which was great
We needed him but like when we're up by at least to a guy like him
I'd want to see pulled so but nonetheless Terry and Arnold Kevin Zitler expected to be back when we returned from our
Bi week to start the playoffs the other one just named today
David Montgomery is set to return for the divisional round the Sonic and Knuckles duo will be back together once again
(34:15):
We talked about it. Yeah, we'll clap it up clap it up for the for David Montgomery coming back, but we talked about it and
previous weeks that like it gives us done absolutely fantastic. I mean in a way like
We would be totally fine. We just gives I'm confident in that
But having Montgomery maybe that does change our play call on those fourth and inches like we said
Maybe we're not trying to throw over the top
(34:36):
We're just handing it to to to date to Demont and send him up the middle when we're in the red zone
Maybe it's a little bit better. I mean just absolutely fantastic
And you got to assume it helps morality on the sideline. I mean that's that's you may or gives his brother out there
They they're one two tandem together. They are Sonic and Knuckles. I mean, they're fantastic. It's so happy to see him back
(34:57):
Absolutely, and really let's just clear the air for a second
You know David Montgomery is not just a down back that you can give to on fourth and one
I mean he is so much more
Dynamic than that. I mean we've seen just over the past two years since he's been at Detroit line
I mean how many how many tackles is he broken?
You know spin moves juke moves. I mean he's he's exceptional in space. He's exceptional between the tackles
(35:20):
So I mean he he adds so much to this offense, you know in the screen game
so I mean it's it's it's huge to get him back, but then also yeah to
You know take some take some touches away from Jameer Gibbs in a good way
I'm gonna go here is awesome if he's getting 15 to 20 touches a game
If he's getting 30 a game, you know, he's he's exceptional regardless, right?
But to but to you know mitigate, you know potentially
(35:43):
You know wear and tear injuries everything like that just to have two dynamic backs in there instead of one
I mean it's it's double the fun. Yeah, and we I mean Craig Reynolds we talked about him last week
Craig's such a locker room guy. Everyone loves Craig. He got a few good drives in
You know the other on Sunday night
But how many times have we seen this this year when we go to overtime against the Rams and we literally just run the ball
(36:05):
Run the ball run the ball run the ball and we can do that because we have two elite running backs
Like Craig is just Craig's a fantastic guy great a good running back
Not an elite running back when you have two elite running backs and suddenly the game is going into the fourth quarter
And you're still kind of battling it out having somebody that's like yeah
You're switching them off so they're not a hundred percent fresh
But they're still more fresh than then you know just having one back is is you know that is astronomical
(36:29):
So shout out to him
I'm kind of surprised honestly because what he said two different doctors had shut him down for the year
And then he went and found a third that said he could be back
So I was kind of thinking it was like a
NFC championship game at their earliest so I'm kind of surprised he's back this early, but you know NFL athletes
It they're built different than us. I guess
Yeah, there's there's just something in the water, you know these guys they probably heal about ten times faster than maybe you were me
(36:53):
But yeah, I mean it's exceptional to see you know, he might be in a snap count. We don't know
It's you know, it's of course two weeks away because we have that you know very vital first round by so we'll see but at any rate
It's it's great to hear that Montes back. Yeah, and I mean we didn't really touch on it on the buy
But just how important is that? I mean looking at the game the games that had to go on this week
(37:14):
We can just kind of sit back on our couch and and just let our voice get even more healthy. It's it's absolutely fantastic
I was I went from
Having real concerns that like this was our window and we might blow this just simply because of injuries and like now
I'm fully just back on that like shit this
What take one week at a time but like it is we needed this by week and we got it so
(37:34):
Yeah, I just I know we didn't touch on that real quick, but
Okay, the other injury news that kind of came out of Dan Campbell's pressure presser today
less
Optimistic than the last ones we just went through so Dan Campbell and nothing is confirmed or anything
But he did come out today and say he essentially thinks that Derek Barnes
(37:55):
Carlton Davis and Aiden Hutchinson seasons are all done. They will not be coming back even if we do make the Super Bowl
I think it I
Say what you want about these guys and what they're you know talking about how they're gonna come back for the Super Bowl and stuff and I
Think it's fantastic. It gives the guys like something like I mean
I was one of them like saying like oh if only we make it to the Super Bowl like our team will be holy a healthy again
(38:18):
Like it really truly is like one more week until we're healthy
You know worth that much closer and so it did give us something to strive towards but I think at the end of the day
All of them coming back for the Super Bowl will be so
Extreme I mean Carlton Davis and Carlton Davis broke his jaw. I mean that's pretty extreme if Derek Barnes
It was a neck and back injury is pretty extreme Hutchinson. I mean he I mean it's insane injuries
(38:42):
And they are like I just said NFL athletes. They are superhuman. They are built differently than us
But like that would be crazy if they could now again nothing's been confirmed
Maybe Dan's just kind of trying to temper expectations a little bit if anyone can do it and will defy all doctors and in
Nature it's Aidan Hutchinson
But a little bit sombering from Dan Campbell's presser today
(39:05):
For sure for sure. Yeah, I think as far as Derek Barnes is concerned
I was not expecting him to come back at all and that seems like that's you know off of the season totally fine
Hutch of course. Yeah, he's been saying ready for the Super Bowl if there is even you know at a shred of risk of re-injury
I would say you know definitely don't do it
Only do it if you know that bone is a hundred percent healed and he's he's ready to go so still wouldn't count him out
(39:29):
I think the one that's probably most surprising to me is Carlton Davis just given that you know
We are still pretty thin at cornerback and he was just having such such an exceptional season
And we talked about it in previous pods that you know
We'd like to see him extended and you know stay with the Detroit Lions. Yeah, just he was having that good of a season
So yeah, I thought that maybe we would get him back for the playoffs so to hear that that's pretty disheartening for sure
(39:53):
Yep
But like I said, maybe they're just trying to temper expectations and I could still see a world in which the two of them
I could said not necessarily Derek Barnes, but I could see the other two
Making a surprise come back and we'll see so that wraps up the
The injury reports you got some other I'm in Ross and Brown stuff
(40:14):
Yeah, just just one more just Sun God, which I feel like we haven't really talked about him much this pod
You kind of a quiet game
Especially for his standards, but he did
After Sunday night's game, he did join Devonte Adams and Antonio Brown as the only receivers in NFL history to record
115 or more receptions and ten or more touchdowns in back-to-back seasons
(40:39):
So of course Tay a B. I mean two of the best ever do it
So our Sun God joins those two legends in the NFL history books
So I mean it's it says everything to you know, how much Sun God means to the Detroit Lions to this team
He's he's exceptional. I think he's a top five receiver in the league and he's you know proven it in back-to-back seasons now
(41:01):
Yeah, I mean you're right
We kind of did have a quiet game but quiet for him is still about 65 yards and and it's more important as to when those yards came
Just like I said in our review just mr. Reliable
If you're a new listener and we come at you with these stats if Kyle saying it that's usually means he's done some background
Into it and looked into it if I'm saying it that usually means I saw it on Twitter and wrote it down
(41:22):
And I'm bringing it to you with very little to none
No background check on that so gotta know that that was probably true
Yeah, it's true. I saw it on Instagram. So it has to be true. Okay, if it's Instagram has to be true. Absolutely
So again, if you're new and new listener here
What we kind of do we review or yeah review the last week's game
(41:45):
Going to grid of the week any injury news reports stuff like that
Into like a segment two of previewing the upcoming game. Obviously, we don't have an upcoming game for the Lions
We are lucky enough to go into that by
The Detroit Lions will be waiting to see who they play
Upcoming next week. We could either be playing the Los Angeles Rams again, Minnesota Vikings again
(42:06):
Washington Commanders or the Green Bay Packers again
So we have to wait and see who we'll play it be playing of those games either way
It will be in Detroit based on our win
Which is so so important
And it just like I said just kind of revitalize my my Super Bowl hope here and getting this by
Yeah, yeah, absolutely and I think kind of a hand up if this is a safe space Tyler
(42:31):
I was either not aware or just completely forgot that the NFL playoffs
They're not locked in and you basically, you know, the one seed's gonna play
So I when I saw the bracket, I'm like, oh my god, there's gonna be a Vikings rematch
And yeah, that might happen, but it also very much might not happen
So depending on other upsets that that go into play. So yeah, I just wanted to
(42:52):
Uh, to put my hand up on that one. Yeah, do you see what Dan Campbell said when they went to midfield and congratulated
You know Kevin O'Connell and talked about the game
Dan Campbell said I'll see you in two weeks. So Dan Campbell is fully expecting the Vikings to somehow make their way back to Detroit
Um, and I I don't really know how I feel about that
We will you know, we'll obviously have next week's episode to talk pretty much primarily about the upcoming game
(43:16):
So we'll you know, whoever it is. We'll break them down
But uh playing a team three times as we would for obviously the Vikings or the Packers
That is that difficult to do. So um, we'll see
It's hard to beat a team three times, but you know, it's it's in Detroit
Um, and so I would have the utmost confidence regardless. Yep. Yep. Um, so then I like I said normally we do a preview of the upcoming game
(43:39):
We'll get into like a segment three
We would touch on the other Detroit sports the pistons tigers and redwings
Uh, and then sort of wrap up. We have a live voicemail set up 313 306 7 9 39
You can call that number. Uh, leave a voicemail for us. Uh, it can be about sports
It can be about life. It could be about really anything
As long as it's semi appropriate
We will play it live here on the show and and just kind of talk and chat about it and
(44:03):
Use it as a good way to connect with with all your listeners and stuff. So that's usually segment four that we'll get into
But let's just jump back to segment three with the the the pistons and tigers and redwings
For this one, we don't jump into a game breakdowns like we do with the lions
Uh, but if it's notable noteworthy enough, uh, we know we'll definitely jump into it
And what is noteworthy enough the or the Detroit pistons win again? They are now a 500 team sitting at 18 and 18
(44:29):
uh, they obviously
Play their games in weird ways. This is like the eighth game in a row in which we've been down by 20 points
And then slowly chisel our way back
Um, but they did it again. We're 18 and 18 after beating the trailblazers last night on Chauncey billops night, which is fantastic
Yeah, yeah, I mean they should probably stop doing that. They should not stop winning
(44:50):
They should keep winning they should stop digging themselves these like enormous holes
And then you know claw the way back out of it would love to see just just a wire to wire win
But yeah, I mean another pistons win like you said, they're they're above or they're at 500 now 18 and 18
Chance to get above 500 in their next game and they're playing really well and kade is uh solidifying himself as an all-star
(45:11):
I think you know the two of us and pretty much everyone in detroit has seen it since since his rookie year that he has shown
that he can be
Um a very good player in this league if not a great player in this league
And and finally he's getting the recognition that he deserves from I think you know the media and from from the rest of the league
And he's he's just taking it just another step further
(45:32):
Um and just having just having a really incredible season. So shout out kade cunningham. You're the absolute dog
Yeah, if you haven't gone out and voted him to be in the all-star game, please go out and do that
He is absolutely deserving. So I mean he's averaging like 30 plus or something in the last two weeks
He's playing phenomenally last night. We had tim hardaway jr. Finally come alive had a season high. I think 26 points
(45:53):
it's really uh enlightening and
Fun to watch who kind of similar to this this lion's defense like who's gonna step up in this game
Last night. It was tim hardaway jr. Over the last few weeks. It's been kade and milk beasley who's been absolutely fantastic and really giving
You know a name for himself in out there for the six man of the year
um, you know, you got uh
(46:14):
Ron holland who's slowly coming along and really showing his confidence and stuff. So a sardar thompson getting back
It's absolutely fantastic. If you haven't caught a pistons game, um, you know this season or as of late
And it was really hard to watch them just because the NBA loves to try and outdo the mlb and becoming irrelevant
Um, so if you can find a way to watch them, please do they're so fun kade is absolutely elite
(46:35):
The young guys are playing really really well right now. So shout out to the pistons
Shout out john c billips who was in the house. We were representing him
And uh being inducted in the nice myth hall of fame last night. So shout out him
Um, yeah, yeah, absolutely. I definitely echo that. I mean, they're so fun. They they have guys that can just jump through the roof
So definitely give them a watch if you can. Yep
Uh, nothing on the front of the tigers one thing former tiger just before we started recording
(47:00):
Just in verlander signs for the san francisco giants
Um, I did not see I think it was a one year deal
I don't know if you had the numbers in front of you just something to note former line or former tiger
Excuse me. I know some people were talking about a possible reunion in his future just to try and retire here in detroit
Um, doesn't sound like it's going to be this year is I think I think I said I think it was a one year
So if he's planning on maybe going two more he still could do his
(47:22):
Uh, you know fried out the sunset here in detroit, but next year he will be pitching for the san francisco giants
Yes, sir. Yeah. Yeah, that's huge for jv
You know, he had a very very down season in houston last year. Um, I think a lot of it can probably be
credited to credit to injuries
But yeah, he just he wasn't quite himself. I think he does have a lot left in the tank
(47:43):
You know, he had an exceptional season the year before so
Yeah, I wish him the best of luck and hopefully, uh, I would definitely like to see him in a detroit uniform before he retires
So yeah, hopefully they can make that happen eventually
And then the other the other team here in detroit. That's also
Randomly also on fire the detroit redbrings
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Absolutely. So they're actually playing right now. They are currently playing the ottawa senators
(48:07):
At home at lca. Uh, they are looking to make it four straight wins. Um, they're up. They're up one nothing right now
I don't have the game on in front of me. I'll probably you know turn it on after we're done recording here, but uh one one zip
That's better than being down one zip. So
Um, yeah, hopefully they can keep it going. Uh, detroit sports in the uh month of january in the year 2025
(48:27):
They are seven and oh so hopefully making it eight and oh
After this redwings game, but yeah, they're skating well, um with their with their new head coach
Yeah, you said I mean detroit fans
Enjoy this because I tweeted this out the the lions enter the playoffs as super bowl favorites
I think they're like plus 250 or plus 350 kade cunning am
Uh is now I think I could be wrong if not up there leading the way for most improved player of the year
(48:51):
Um, you had like I said the pistons who are 500 and actually I forgot to mention this with the pistons
They have a very winnable next four games. So there's a chance we could be coming out next week and maybe
Um, you know four games above 500. Yeah, the redwings who obviously had to fire
Lalonde and has been playing ever really well ever since under Todd
Um, so yeah, I really we're on the up and up detroit. Let everyone know that we're back
(49:13):
Um, enjoy this detroit fans while we can because uh
We never know how long we we're in the the basement for so long with all these teams. Uh, let's enjoy it while we got it. So
Um, we are back, baby
We are so that is it for the rest of the league as we move into the all season
We'll you know, whatever team is kind of on the forefront
We'll dive more into that and kind of do what we can to to discuss those as you know
(49:37):
Dead lions come up with these teams no matter what season it is
We'll be jumping into those as well
Um, it's at this point we jump into kind of our final segment and the going through the the listener voice mails
Um, we don't have any at the moment. So make sure to call into that again
The phone number there is 313 306 79 at 39. Um, you don't need to leave your name or nothing
Whatever you want to do just you know, let's just talk give us something to talk about sports life anything
(50:01):
We'll we'll play it live on the on the show at least one of us will probably
Filter it or and listen to it the other one will probably be listening it to it live on the podcast
So you get our um, you know unfiltered response to there. So um, that is essentially it for our episode
Again, sort of this new beginning of the not being on twitter spaces being available
(50:22):
Wherever you find your podcast. So if you are a longtime listener, thank you so much for sticking with us
If you are new to listening to our shows, thank you for joining us
Thank you for putting up with us keel and ire start still trying to figure out all this stuff how
How podcasts work and you know the best softwares everything to use so we appreciate
Everyone just sticking with us and as we kind of work through all these we'll just you know continue to bring you
(50:45):
Detroit sports things like I said try and bring out some
Some takes and stuff that maybe are right. Maybe could not be more wrong
So we'll do our best at each and every week. So thank you everyone for joining us. We will talk to you all next week
Thanks y'all restore the roar
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.