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2025 Detroit Lions: 4-2 Branch beats up JuJu, Lions lose to Chiefs. (111 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
- Start date
msudaisy26
Footballguy
That is reaching. Both quarterbacks were awful the entire time.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
If they had made this trade a week ago the Lions might have beaten Flacco two weeks in a row. But now he has a chance to repeat his only win this year vs the Packers.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
The 2025 version of the Honolulu Flu is more localized to QB populations
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
So if they beat KC this week will Reid bench Mahomes?
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
It's the only logical conclusion.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
He’s had his chance. Time to see what they have in Gardner Minshew
Starting safety Brian Branch was limited in practice and is getting an MRI on his ankle. The other starting safety, Kerby Joseph (knee) did not practice for the second straight day. He missed 2 days last week, had a limited practice last week and still played so hopefully he will again this week. Number 3 safety Avonte Maddox (hamstring) was limited in practice today. Starting cornerback Terrion Arnold is not expected to.play and the other starting cornerback D.J. Reed is on IR.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Yeah the front 7 is going to really have a game to overcome this. I just hope guys get healthy by the end of the year.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
KC still the favorite at -2.5 at home, seems logical considering the health situation.
Safeties Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, and their top backup Avonte Maddox will all be game time decisions (along with Taylor Decker).
People will soon realize how important Terrion Arnold is to the defense and how valuable he really is. That said the Lions defense has quietly become one of the best in the league. But Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph are critical pieces so if they are out it will hurt
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He hasn't been good in most games but he played great against the Bengals. Two penalties but one was a weak *** call.
Decker is out, Manu to IR, Skipper likely to start at left tackle. Backup safety Avonte Maddox ruled out, Branch and Joseph game time decisions.
2Young2BBald
Footbaldguy
Oy. What depth do we have at defensive backfield??? Can they roll a Teslaa out there on cloud on third and long.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
I though Joseph was done for the game early, he could not walk on his leg then came back in. Once again secondary injuries are taking a toll on the defense. Can`t win in this league with a bunch of practice squad DBs.
Another note, Really enjoy watching Campbell play, he is a clean but punishing tackler who gives a little extra every hit.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
I view last night's loss as mostly different from the Packers game. That one was more worrying in the moment, although I also suspected a lot of it may have been early-season issues that would be fixable, which has mostly turned out to be the case.
I think last night was a combination of a bunch of factors: the CB injuries were not just bad on their own terms, it also meant that the Lions couldn't play as much man, which is what you want to do against Mahomes. Add to that a few key mistakes (the Goff penalty, the ARSB drop on 4th down), an inability to generate mistakes on the other side of the ball and the fact that they were facing Patrick Freakin' Mahomes and it just wasn't their night.
The one part that does worry me is that, as in Week 1, this version of the offense really doesn't seem to play well from behind. Neutralize the running/play-action game and they don't seem nearly as effective. I suspect there are advanced stats that would back me up on Detroit being worse than league-average in those situations, but I'm just going off what I've seen with my own eyes.
Hopefully, that's something that can be addressed as well, especially with the toughest part of their schedule coming up
I think last night was a combination of a bunch of factors: the CB injuries were not just bad on their own terms, it also meant that the Lions couldn't play as much man, which is what you want to do against Mahomes. Add to that a few key mistakes (the Goff penalty, the ARSB drop on 4th down), an inability to generate mistakes on the other side of the ball and the fact that they were facing Patrick Freakin' Mahomes and it just wasn't their night.
The one part that does worry me is that, as in Week 1, this version of the offense really doesn't seem to play well from behind. Neutralize the running/play-action game and they don't seem nearly as effective. I suspect there are advanced stats that would back me up on Detroit being worse than league-average in those situations, but I'm just going off what I've seen with my own eyes.
Hopefully, that's something that can be addressed as well, especially with the toughest part of their schedule coming up
In addition, the Lions uncharacteristically missed a lot of tackles.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Yeah, my main takeaway was that it just wasn't their night. A little like the TB and Houston games last year (although they managed to pull out the latter). You're always going to have at least a couple of those every year
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
After all the sturm und drang about them waiting too long and losing out on him to Philly, maybe Holmes and Campbell just recognized he was D-U-N?
Smith only had 1.5 sacks for the Eagles. Meanwhile, Al-Quadin Muhammad is in the top 10 in sacks with 4.5.
swabs
Footballguy
They dont play from behind often, so its gonna be tough to analyze that. Also, did you see that with your eyes or hear Collinsworth say it during the game?
msudaisy26
Footballguy
It is kind of a trend over the last few years, but you are also usually behind because you played poorly to begin with.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Ironic that a TB team without any of its WRs is preparing to play a Lions team without any of its CBs. The resistible force meets the movable object.
The Lions made too many mistakes at critical times to win. The botched trick play, St. Brown's drop, Hutchinson's stupid roughing the passer penalty, a bunch of missed tackles, and the dumb back-to-back screen passes in the flat.
After a 10 minute drive, I'm giving the ball to Montgomery against a tired defense or going play action rather than getting too cute. Line up and make them stop us. If they do, good on them.
The St. Brown drop (his first drop all year) changed the whole complexion of the game. If he catches it, we likely get at least a field goal if not a TD and the Chiefs don't get the ball back.
The Lions didn't play their best and made too many mistakes but it was a joke that the Chiefs did have any penalties. Kelce had a blatant hold on a 3rd and long run that set up 4th and short. Juju had a blindsided block on Branch not called. And how does mahomes taunt Branch after his TD run and not get a taunting penalty?
I'm not making excuses and the Lions didn't play good enough to win, but it's unreal how the Chiefs get away with things that other teams don't.
After a 10 minute drive, I'm giving the ball to Montgomery against a tired defense or going play action rather than getting too cute. Line up and make them stop us. If they do, good on them.
The St. Brown drop (his first drop all year) changed the whole complexion of the game. If he catches it, we likely get at least a field goal if not a TD and the Chiefs don't get the ball back.
The Lions didn't play their best and made too many mistakes but it was a joke that the Chiefs did have any penalties. Kelce had a blatant hold on a 3rd and long run that set up 4th and short. Juju had a blindsided block on Branch not called. And how does mahomes taunt Branch after his TD run and not get a taunting penalty?
I'm not making excuses and the Lions didn't play good enough to win, but it's unreal how the Chiefs get away with things that other teams don't.
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Fair enough. Gives him a little time to get healthy.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Bye week can't arrive fast enough. It's getting to where I'm concerned about the injuries in a game more than the final score.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
Hilarious. Ha ha
Mike Evans might start practicing this week.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
As a huge fan of Evan's Quest for 1000 I sure hope he does.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Evans could enter Week 18 with one yard and they would force feed him all game until he got the remaining 999
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Sounds like he was pissed at both Mahomes (for the uncalled taunting penalty after his rushing TD) and JuJu (for the uncalled block in the back). Mahomes went to shake his hand postgame and he refused, then JuJu went over and said something to him and he punched him.
I understand why he was pissed, but he needs to have more self control. They're already bleeding DBs as it is
fightingillini
Footballguy
Also what doesn't make sense is why DET doesn't try and get Gibbs in space more often. Seemed like he ran up the gut for most of the game. And I don't understand why they can't get Gibbs and Montgomery on the field at the same time.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Another Alim update, sounds good.
www.cbssports.com
Lions DT Alim McNeill to return from ACL injury, make 2025 season debut vs. Bucs
McNeill has been sidelined with an ACL injury since December of last season
www.cbssports.com
Link
The Detroit Lions announced a slew of roster moves to shake up their secondary in preparation for their Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The full list of transactions is as follows:
Signed to practice squad:
Fuller was cut by the Dolphins in February in a move that saved nearly $3 million in cap space. It’s worth noting, too, that Fuller dealt with a pair of concussions in 2024.
At 5-foot-11, 198 pounds, Fuller has mostly played outside cornerback in his career. There, he can provide the Lions with some immediate relief, given that D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Avonte Maddox are all expected to miss this week’s game against the Buccaneers.
As for the other moves, Eguakun and Smith were waived on Saturday to create room for safety Erick Hallett, defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson, and cornerback Nick Whiteside. After clearing waivers, they’re back.
The waiving of Strickland is a little surprising, given the Lions are shorthanded at safety with Brian Branch suspended for a game and Kerby Joseph battling a knee injury. It would not be surprising to see Strickland return to the team’s practice squad. However, he’ll have to clear waivers first.
The Detroit Lions announced a slew of roster moves to shake up their secondary in preparation for their Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The full list of transactions is as follows:
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Kendall Fuller
- OL Kingsley Eguakun
- DT Chris Smith
- S Loren Strickland
Fuller was cut by the Dolphins in February in a move that saved nearly $3 million in cap space. It’s worth noting, too, that Fuller dealt with a pair of concussions in 2024.
At 5-foot-11, 198 pounds, Fuller has mostly played outside cornerback in his career. There, he can provide the Lions with some immediate relief, given that D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Avonte Maddox are all expected to miss this week’s game against the Buccaneers.
As for the other moves, Eguakun and Smith were waived on Saturday to create room for safety Erick Hallett, defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson, and cornerback Nick Whiteside. After clearing waivers, they’re back.
The waiving of Strickland is a little surprising, given the Lions are shorthanded at safety with Brian Branch suspended for a game and Kerby Joseph battling a knee injury. It would not be surprising to see Strickland return to the team’s practice squad. However, he’ll have to clear waivers first.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I am surprised this thread was on page 2 after the talk today and it was revealed the ref who did the Det-KC game lied about the Goff pass reception play. He said the crew on the field made that call themselves and what do you know, it's now come out NFL HQ called in and told them to call the penalty. Which let's face it we all knew.
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What are you saying…this has happened before on Sunday night games…the correct call was made right?
Yes but with replay assist that play is not reviewable.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
The head ref lied about it after the game
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Branch's suspension appeal rejected ... by Jordy Nelson: https://www.nbcsports.com/fantasy/f...erNewsId=00000199-ea62-dd4c-afb9-efe39e980000
(I'm totally joking BTW. I fully suspected it would be upheld, regardless of who heard the case. Still, it's pretty funny that the decision came from a former Packers WR)
(I'm totally joking BTW. I fully suspected it would be upheld, regardless of who heard the case. Still, it's pretty funny that the decision came from a former Packers WR)
Link ESPN Trade Ideas
Lions get: Edge Trey Hendrickson, 2026 fourth-round pick
Bengals get: 2026 second-round pick
Let's see the Lions make their all-in move. General manager Brad Holmes comes from Los Angeles, where the Rams sent second- and third-round picks to the Broncos to add Von Miller in 2021, paying extra to get Denver to eat virtually all of Miller's remaining salary. The eight-time Pro Bowler had four sacks and six knockdowns during the Rams' push to the Super Bowl. Holmes had already made his way to Detroit by the time that all happened, but I don't think he'll be naive to the impact of adding a second great pass rusher to a roster.
The Lions have one superstar up front in Aidan Hutchinson, but they've never really landed that second one. Alim McNeill has been a solid disruptor on the interior, but the defensive tackle is still recovering from a torn ACL and just returned to practice last week. Marcus Davenport is on injured reserve with a chest issue. Al-Quadin Muhammad has 4.5 sacks, but the well-traveled veteran had just 15 sacks in his first seven pro seasons -- and 2.5 of his sacks in 2025 were on plays where he was either unblocked or cleaned up as part of a coverage sack. Muhammad's a useful player, but I think the Lions could upgrade across from Hutchinson.
Furthermore, the Lions are dealing with a secondary that's already battered by injuries. Free agent addition D.J. Reed (hamstring) is on injured reserve, while Terrion Arnold narrowly avoided a multimonth shoulder injury. Arnold, a 2024 first-round pick, was struggling even before he went down hurt. One way to help that secondary is to have a more efficient pass rush, especially without needing to blitz.
If the Lions are ever going to make that all-in swing, this is the year. Holmes has more than $25 million in cap space and a bevy of players coming up for contracts after this season. Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta and Jack Campbell are all likely to sign extensions over the next 12 months, which will eat up significant cash and cap space. Trading for a player on a short-term contract such as Hendrickson is a luxury the Lions can afford now. It will be much more difficult in the years to come. And while Holmes and coach Dan Campbell are very careful about establishing a culture in Detroit, Campbell would have crossed paths with the talented defensive end when he and Hendrickson were both in New Orleans. This wouldn't be as risky as it seems.
I've pitched a Hendrickson to the Lions trade before, and it's come with more draft capital going to the Bengals. This wouldn't be as lucrative of a deal. Why? Timing. If the Lions were going to acquire Hendrickson during the offseason, it would have been as part of a move to sign the star pass rusher to an extension. Now, with Hendrickson in the final year of his deal, this would be a pure rental. The Bengals are closer to losing Hendrickson for nothing in free agency.
The Bengals have to be realistic about their chances of competing for a title without Joe Burrow, who is out indefinitely with a toe injury. They've lost four straight without their star quarterback and by an average of more than 21 points per contest. The Bengals have a three-game homestand against the Steelers, Jets and Bears to come before their Week 10 bye, but the chances that they'll hold on with Joe Flacco at quarterback well enough to stay in the playoff race by the time Burrow comes back are slim.
If they're going to lose Hendrickson this offseason, trading him now could lock in a second-round pick in the 2026 draft as opposed to landing a potential compensatory pick in 2027. It also saves the Bengals nearly $11 million in cash. And while I could be cynical and say that it's money the Bengals would be in position to pocket, that's real money the Bengals could push toward making the 2026 team better as opposed to wasting it on a 2025 team that's dead on arrival without Burrow at quarterback. And in a division where the Packers added Micah Parsons and promptly blew out the Lions, would Hendrickson shift the balance of power back toward Detroit?
Lions land another big-time pass rusher
Lions get: Edge Jaelan Phillips, 2026 seventh-round pick
Dolphins get: 2026 fourth-round pick
Sorry, I should have clarified: I'm arguing that the Lions should go all-in. This team experienced what it was like to lose Hutchinson and virtually every one of its other ambulatory pass rushers last season. Its secondary is battling injuries. No team has ever made it into January and complained that it had too many pass rushers. Detroit ranks 27th in quick pressure rate when it rushes four or fewer at the quarterback, per NFL Next Gen Stats. So the Lions could very comfortably stand to add two impactful pass rushers to their roster between now and the trade deadline.
Phillips' stats aren't overwhelming, as the 2021 first-round pick has just one sack and three knockdowns through five games, but there's a lot more to like under the hood. His 14.5% pressure rate and 6.8% quick pressure rate, both per Next Gen Stats, are well above league average for edge rushers with 100 or more snaps this season. Phillips' average pressure comes after just 2.6 seconds, the seventh-fastest rate among that cohort. He has battled a series of injuries, including an Achilles tear and a pair of ACL tears, but he has been healthy this season.
Adding Phillips would give defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard more depth at edge rusher and the ability to present some exotic looks and real problems for guards on passing downs. Watch the highlight of Ladd McConkey's 42-yard catch late in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins last week, and you'll see the 26-year-old immediately roast Mekhi Becton on the interior, blowing up the play. Justin Herbert does a great job of shrugging off Phillips to find McConkey, but creating pressure is the best indicator of future sacks. With Hutchinson and Hendrickson on the outside, Phillips would be a terrifying matchup for guards alongside McNeill.
It would hurt the Lions to trade multiple draft picks for Hendrickson and Phillips on short-term contracts, but they would likely be in position to recoup some of those selections later on. Given the amount of money they'll need to spend over the next 12 months to keep their young talent around on new contracts, it would be a surprise if the Lions were heavy spenders in free agency this upcoming offseason. Hendrickson and Phillips should both be in position to garner Detroit compensatory picks in the 2027 draft. Those picks won't make the trade free, but if the Lions send second- and fourth-round picks out in 2026 and get fourth- and seventh-rounders in 2026 to go with fourth- and fifth-round compensatory picks in 2027, that's not an arduous price to pay to add two talented pass rushers to a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Lions get: Edge Trey Hendrickson, 2026 fourth-round pick
Bengals get: 2026 second-round pick
Let's see the Lions make their all-in move. General manager Brad Holmes comes from Los Angeles, where the Rams sent second- and third-round picks to the Broncos to add Von Miller in 2021, paying extra to get Denver to eat virtually all of Miller's remaining salary. The eight-time Pro Bowler had four sacks and six knockdowns during the Rams' push to the Super Bowl. Holmes had already made his way to Detroit by the time that all happened, but I don't think he'll be naive to the impact of adding a second great pass rusher to a roster.
The Lions have one superstar up front in Aidan Hutchinson, but they've never really landed that second one. Alim McNeill has been a solid disruptor on the interior, but the defensive tackle is still recovering from a torn ACL and just returned to practice last week. Marcus Davenport is on injured reserve with a chest issue. Al-Quadin Muhammad has 4.5 sacks, but the well-traveled veteran had just 15 sacks in his first seven pro seasons -- and 2.5 of his sacks in 2025 were on plays where he was either unblocked or cleaned up as part of a coverage sack. Muhammad's a useful player, but I think the Lions could upgrade across from Hutchinson.
Furthermore, the Lions are dealing with a secondary that's already battered by injuries. Free agent addition D.J. Reed (hamstring) is on injured reserve, while Terrion Arnold narrowly avoided a multimonth shoulder injury. Arnold, a 2024 first-round pick, was struggling even before he went down hurt. One way to help that secondary is to have a more efficient pass rush, especially without needing to blitz.
If the Lions are ever going to make that all-in swing, this is the year. Holmes has more than $25 million in cap space and a bevy of players coming up for contracts after this season. Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta and Jack Campbell are all likely to sign extensions over the next 12 months, which will eat up significant cash and cap space. Trading for a player on a short-term contract such as Hendrickson is a luxury the Lions can afford now. It will be much more difficult in the years to come. And while Holmes and coach Dan Campbell are very careful about establishing a culture in Detroit, Campbell would have crossed paths with the talented defensive end when he and Hendrickson were both in New Orleans. This wouldn't be as risky as it seems.
I've pitched a Hendrickson to the Lions trade before, and it's come with more draft capital going to the Bengals. This wouldn't be as lucrative of a deal. Why? Timing. If the Lions were going to acquire Hendrickson during the offseason, it would have been as part of a move to sign the star pass rusher to an extension. Now, with Hendrickson in the final year of his deal, this would be a pure rental. The Bengals are closer to losing Hendrickson for nothing in free agency.
The Bengals have to be realistic about their chances of competing for a title without Joe Burrow, who is out indefinitely with a toe injury. They've lost four straight without their star quarterback and by an average of more than 21 points per contest. The Bengals have a three-game homestand against the Steelers, Jets and Bears to come before their Week 10 bye, but the chances that they'll hold on with Joe Flacco at quarterback well enough to stay in the playoff race by the time Burrow comes back are slim.
If they're going to lose Hendrickson this offseason, trading him now could lock in a second-round pick in the 2026 draft as opposed to landing a potential compensatory pick in 2027. It also saves the Bengals nearly $11 million in cash. And while I could be cynical and say that it's money the Bengals would be in position to pocket, that's real money the Bengals could push toward making the 2026 team better as opposed to wasting it on a 2025 team that's dead on arrival without Burrow at quarterback. And in a division where the Packers added Micah Parsons and promptly blew out the Lions, would Hendrickson shift the balance of power back toward Detroit?
Lions land another big-time pass rusher
Lions get: Edge Jaelan Phillips, 2026 seventh-round pick
Dolphins get: 2026 fourth-round pick
Sorry, I should have clarified: I'm arguing that the Lions should go all-in. This team experienced what it was like to lose Hutchinson and virtually every one of its other ambulatory pass rushers last season. Its secondary is battling injuries. No team has ever made it into January and complained that it had too many pass rushers. Detroit ranks 27th in quick pressure rate when it rushes four or fewer at the quarterback, per NFL Next Gen Stats. So the Lions could very comfortably stand to add two impactful pass rushers to their roster between now and the trade deadline.
Phillips' stats aren't overwhelming, as the 2021 first-round pick has just one sack and three knockdowns through five games, but there's a lot more to like under the hood. His 14.5% pressure rate and 6.8% quick pressure rate, both per Next Gen Stats, are well above league average for edge rushers with 100 or more snaps this season. Phillips' average pressure comes after just 2.6 seconds, the seventh-fastest rate among that cohort. He has battled a series of injuries, including an Achilles tear and a pair of ACL tears, but he has been healthy this season.
Adding Phillips would give defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard more depth at edge rusher and the ability to present some exotic looks and real problems for guards on passing downs. Watch the highlight of Ladd McConkey's 42-yard catch late in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins last week, and you'll see the 26-year-old immediately roast Mekhi Becton on the interior, blowing up the play. Justin Herbert does a great job of shrugging off Phillips to find McConkey, but creating pressure is the best indicator of future sacks. With Hutchinson and Hendrickson on the outside, Phillips would be a terrifying matchup for guards alongside McNeill.
It would hurt the Lions to trade multiple draft picks for Hendrickson and Phillips on short-term contracts, but they would likely be in position to recoup some of those selections later on. Given the amount of money they'll need to spend over the next 12 months to keep their young talent around on new contracts, it would be a surprise if the Lions were heavy spenders in free agency this upcoming offseason. Hendrickson and Phillips should both be in position to garner Detroit compensatory picks in the 2027 draft. Those picks won't make the trade free, but if the Lions send second- and fourth-round picks out in 2026 and get fourth- and seventh-rounders in 2026 to go with fourth- and fifth-round compensatory picks in 2027, that's not an arduous price to pay to add two talented pass rushers to a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
"And while I'm at it, let's throw in an additional suspension for Week 13"
