Detroit News

With the steady need to add bodies to the roster the past month due to mounting injuries and COVID cases, the Detroit Lions were running out of cap space. To address the issue and create some much-needed funds, the team recently made a small adjustment to offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s contract. Vaitai, who is in the second

The Detroit Lions are the worst red-zone team in the NFL. After being kept out of the end zone on four trips inside the 20-yard line against the Atlanta Falcons, the Lions are translating just 43.2% of their opportunities into touchdowns. The road split is particularly brutal, sitting at 23.8% through eight games. And it’s not

Brett Martel  |  AP Sports Writer New Orleans — A Dolphins defense that intercepted Saints rookie Ian Book twice and sacked him eight times was probably enough to push Miami’s winning streak to seven games. Miami also got a big lift from rookie sensation Jaylen Waddle to outclass New Orleans on both sides of the

Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell has made quick and clear progress as an offensive play-caller since taking over duties last month, but he’ll be the first to tell you he’s still learning on the job. After the Lions exploded for 30 points against the Arizona Cardinals a week ago, the team barely

Allen Park — After a week on the COVID/reserve list, Detroit Lions starting quarterback Jared Goff has cleared protocols and will rejoin the team this week. Unfortunately, Goff likely will be without one of his top targets, as coach Dan Campbell noted wide receiver Josh Reynolds, as well as practice-squad quarterback Steven Montez, have tested

Atlanta — Here are four observations after having a night to ponder the Detroit Lions’ 20-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. First down During the second half of the game, a colleague pointed out the Lions were on the cusp of setting the NFL record for fourth-down attempts in a single season. And by the end of the

Atlanta — What happened Sunday to the Lions at Mercedes-Benz Field was a metaphor for the past 60-plus years of pro football in Detroit. Effort? Nothing but salutes for how a team tussled and sweated and nearly ambushed the Falcons before losing in, of course, the final minute, 20-16. Coaching? Who’s upset with head man

Atlanta — Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is on a remarkable run of production, so much so that it’s probably time to label it a pattern. In Detroit’s loss to Atlanta, St. Brown caught nine passes for 91 yards and a touchdown, while adding another 19 yards on two carries. He finishes December

Atlanta — The Detroit Lions’ defense couldn’t get a stop and the offense couldn’t finish in the red zone. One unit reversed course down the stretch of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, when linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin forced a turnover with a little more than two minutes remaining. But Detroit’s offense couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity

Atlanta — Justin Rogers grades the Detroit Lions’ performance in their 20-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback In his second start, Tim Boyle was far sharper, giving the Lions a chance to win the game. But his lack of experience showed with his patience in the most critical situations, as he rushed throws in both

Backup quarterback Tim Boyle made some big throws for the Detroit Lions on Sunday in Atlanta, but his biggest throw of the day was intercepted at the goal line with just over 30 seconds left in the game to seal the Lions’ fate in a 20-16 loss to the Falcons. Lions head coach Dan Campbell

Atlanta — Due to a lingering shoulder injury, the Detroit Lions will be without running back D’Andre Swift for a fourth consecutive game after the team made him inactive for Sunday’s contest with the Atlanta Falcons Swift, the team’s leader in yards from scrimmage, has been sidelined since reaggravating the injury in the first half of

Allen Park — Amani Oruwariye’s stellar season has come to a premature end. The Detroit Lions placed the third-year cornerback on injured reserve Saturday with the thumb injury he suffered in the closing minutes of last week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Lions coach Dan Campbell described the injury as both a bone and ligament issue

Allen Park — As of Friday morning, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was still testing positive for the COVID-19 virus, all but eliminating hope he’ll be medically cleared to play in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. “Yeah, I would say highly unlikely with where we’re at right now,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “He didn’t

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions didn’t have anyone selected to the Pro Bowl this season, but a handful of players were chosen as alternates for the league’s annual all-star game. Among them was guard Jonah Jackson, who in his second season, was named a second alternate for the NFC squad. Jackson wasn’t among the top-10

James Hawkins, John Niyo, Justin Rogers and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News offer predictions for Sunday’s Lions-Falcons game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (1 p.m., Fox/97.1). ► James Hawkins: Don’t look now, but the Lions have won two of three. And don’t look past Detroit in this one. The reeling Falcons are giving up the second-most points

If recent history is any indication, we’re in for a memorable finish when the Detroit Lions travel to Atlanta for a post-Christmas matchup with the Falcons. The last three times the two franchises have met, dating back to 2014, the closing sequences have been anything but standard fare. Let’s take a quick trip down memory

Allen Park — It’s been quite a month for Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. With at least eight receptions in the past three games, he’s already has surpassed running back Jahvid Best to become the franchise’s record holder for receptions in a rookie season. And on Wednesday, St. Brown got some lofty praise from offensive coordinator

Allen Park — If last year was a breakout season for Detroit Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye, he’s spent the 2021 campaign stacking plenty of bricks upon that foundation. With his sixth interception of the season last Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, the third-year defensive back out of Penn State now ranks third in the NFL, behind

Justin Rogers, James Hawkins, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News offer their predictions for Week 16 of the NFL season. All picks made against the spread. Detroit +6.5 at Atlanta Rogers: Atlanta Hawkins: Detroit Niyo: Atlanta Wojnowski: Detroit San Francisco PK at Tennessee Rogers: Tennessee Hawkins: San Francisco Niyo: Tennessee Wojnowski: Tennessee