Tag: Tennessee Titans vs. Detroit Lions

Look at these great photos from the Lions win over the Titans

The photographers inside Ford Field captured some great shots from the Detroit Lions 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 8

Week 8 saw the Detroit Lions top 50 points in a game for the first time in the 21st century. The Lions rampaged past the visiting Tennessee Titans by a 52-14 score, with Detroit posting the final 38 points of the game. The win advanced the Lions record to an NFC-best 6-1 and extended Detroit’s win streak to five games.

It was a glorious beatdown featuring loads of big plays and standout moments. Many of those were captured on film by the professional photographers inside Ford Field.

Here are some of the best photos of the action from the Lions’ Week 8 win over the Titans.

 

Kalif Raymond: ‘I’ve been ready’ for record-setting day vs. the Titans

Lions receiver and punt returner Kalif Raymond: ‘I’ve been ready’ for record-setting day vs. the Titans

Kalif Raymond put his name in the NFL record books on Sunday. Raymond ran back a punt 90 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter of Detroit’s 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans. The wideout then caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff later in the quarter.

That made Raymond the first player in NFL history to return a punt for a touchdown and catch a touchdown pass in the same game. The punt return TD was the first for Raymond since the 2022 season despite several close calls–including another one in this game.

After the victory, the high-energy wideout was brimming with excitement about the punt return TD.

 “I’ve been ready for that feeling too many times,” Raymond told reporters. “It’s kind of surreal, it’s kind of like, ‘Oh, oh, it’s happening, it’s happening,’ saying, ‘Don’t mess up, don’t mess up.’ But, no when you got guys like that – I’ve been saying it the past 30-45 minutes – when you got defensive guys who will go play three snaps, force a punt, and then go block on the punt, it’s incredible.”

Entering the Week 8 game, Raymond had 14 returns for 125 total yards in Detroit’s first six games. Against Tennessee, Raymond raced to 190 yards on five punt returns.

Lions set several team records, 2 NFL marks in runaway win over the Titans

Lions set several team records in runaway win over the Titans and also had a player break an NFL mark

Sunday’s 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans produced some history for the Detroit Lions. The Lions rolled to some team historical marks and also set a couple of records never before accomplished in the long history of the NFL.

As the FOX broadcast noted, the first half featured five different Lions scoring touchdowns. That’s the first time five Lions have reached the end zone in the same half in franchise history.

Kalif Raymond didn’t score in the first half, but the wideout and punt returner took care of that quickly in the third quarter. After nearly returning a punt for a touchdown in the second quarter, Raymond hit paydirt after the Titans first drive of the second half. That made some history:

Raymond wasn’t done, however. He caught a short touchdown pass from Jared Goff later in the third quarter, and that made him the first player in NFL history to score on a punt return and a receiving touchdown in the same game. Raymond accomplished that historical feat in less than seven minutes of game time.

Goff also made NFL history in this game, despite passing for just 85 yards by completing 12 of his 15 attempts, netting three touchdowns and zero giveaways. That makes No. 16 the first QB to ever throw at least two touchdowns while completing at least 72 percent of his passes and notch a QB Rating over 110.0 in five straight games

 

The 52 points also marked just the fourth time the Lions have topped 50 points in a regular season game, and they hadn’t done it since they beat the Bears 55-20 on Thanksgiving in 1997.

 

Lions roar past Titans in Week 8 blowout win

The Detroit Lions blew out the visiting Tennessee Titans in eek 8 thanks to defensive takeaways, special teams and opportunistic offense

The Detroit Lions were favored to beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 8 by the team’s largest margin since 1996. The 11.5-point line proved to be woefully inadequate.

The mighty Lions roared past the hapless Titans, 52-14, in a game that wasn’t competitive after the middle of the second quarter. After a strong start by the Tennessee offense caught the Detroit defense sleepwalking a little in the earlygoing, the Lions completely dominated all phases of the game. A 14-14 tie early in the second quarter morphed into a 35-14 rout at halftime.

Two quick Kalif Raymond touchdowns after the half, one on a punt return and another on a reception from Jared Goff, quickly opened up the margin even more. Garbage time saw the Lions tack on a Jake Bates 51-yard field goal to complete the scoring.

The Lions scored 52 points despite gaining just 225 net yards of offense; Detroit ran just 47 offensive plays. They didn’t need more, thanks to four defensive takeaways and three long special teams returns continually set up the Lions offense with short fields. Tennessee’s defense was competitive early but couldn’t keep up with the Lions’ bevy of offensive weapons and great field position.

With the win, the Lions improve to 6-1. Tennessee drops to 1-6.

Malcolm Rodriguez injury vs. Titans: Latest on the Lions LB

Lions injury update for linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, who left the Week 8 game against the Titans with an ankle injury

The Detroit Lions defense was already down several players with injuries entering the Week 8 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately, the Lions suffered another one on an early kickoff coverage play in Ford Field when LB Malcolm Rodriguez limped off.

Malcolm Rodriguez injury update

Rodriguez was taken off the Lions sideline on a cart. After initially being ruled questionable to return with an ankle injury, the Lions medical staff announced Rodriguez was out for the rest of the game.

Lions vs. Titans inactive players: Titans sitting some significant names

Lions vs. Titans inactive players: Titans sitting some significant names including their starting QB

There weren’t any surprises or big names for the Detroit Lions on their inactive player list for the Week 8 visit from the Tennessee Titans. It’s a different story for Tennessee, however…

The only Lions player on the active roster who was ruled out due to injury was DE Josh Paschal, who was ruled out for an illness related to a post-cancer medical screening.

That leaves four healthy scratches, and all were widely expected:

TE Parker Hesse

OL Giovanni Manu

OL Colby Sorsdal

S Loren Strickland

Hesse was effectively replaced by practice squad elevation Shane Zylstra for the second week in a row.

The Titans inactive player list features several more prominent players, including their regular starting quarterback, Will Levis.

 

Lions vs. Titans: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs. Titans: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the Week 8 matchup in Ford Field

It’s a wonderful football Sunday here in Michigan. The morning coffee cuts through the chilly air. It’s hoodie and hat weather, and I’m repping the Lions with each.

The Detroit Lions welcome the Titans from Tennessee to this beautiful fall day. Of course, playing in the dome in Ford Field sort of negates the autumnal charm of the Great Lakes. Then again, Dan Campbell’s 5-1 Lions aren’t looking to make the Titans trip enjoyable–nor should they.

Why I think the Lions will win

Tennessee enters the game with a 1-5 record, thanks in large part to a heretofore dreadful offense that is plagued by turnovers and awful quarterback play from Will Levis and (last week) Mason Rudolph. They’re dead last in passing yards per game despite having an impressive (on paper) receiving corps in Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Hopkins (now gone) and TE Chig Okonkwo, plus versatile RB Tony Pollard.

Quarterback play has been bad, but so has pass protection. Tennessee ranks 26th in sack percentage allowed and 27th in pass-blocking grades from PFF, with first-round rookie LT JC Latham really struggling early on. The new offense under rookie head coach Brian Callahan hasn’t clicked yet.

All that is to say — this is not an offense that can outscore Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions offense. Even without Jameson Williams, the Lions have more than enough firepower to win a shootout against Tennessee. And the Titans seem quite averse to trying to even try to get into a shootout with their offense.

Even with the banged-up Lions pass rush, this is not the kind of offense or team mindset that can effectively exploit the Detroit vulnerability. The Lions run defense remains very good, though they do remain somewhat susceptible to runners like Pollard who can cut back at full speed and read blocks well.

Back to that Lions offense. With Goff playing as well as any quarterback in the league right now, this should be a game where the Lions can score 30-plus points. Tennessee’s defense isn’t bad at all, but they also haven’t seen a precise, creative, balanced unit like the Lions yet. Goff’s unfailing willingness to take what the defense gives him and the diverse barrage of weapons at his disposal are capable of quickly frustrating the Titans defense.

What worries me about the Titans

Tennessee continues to sport an impressive defensive line, even with former coach Terrell Williams now in Detroit. Jeffery Simmons is as good as it gets on the interior. Massive rookie T’Vondre Sweat effectively and actively takes up a lot of space. Sweat is questionable for the game, but if he plays, the inside-out runs and delayed handoffs will not work well for Detroit’s offense. Their linebackers play well behind the duo, too–even without Ernest Jones. Any hesitation from the RBs will not end well for Gibbs or Montgomery.

Despite trading Hopkins, the Titans receivers still do have some real talent. Ridley is playing better than his stats would indicate, and Tyler Boyd is a tough matchup over the middle. Okonkwo and Pollard are both excellent receivers who can make the first tackler miss, so the Lions LBs and safeties will need to stay disciplined and alert.

I do have some concerns about the pass rush, or lack thereof. Al-Quadin Muhammad is Detroit’s top EDGE in this game, but he comes from the practice squad and hasn’t played in a game since 2022. If coordinator Aaron Glenn tries too hard to scheme up the rush, it does take away from the coverage but especially the tackling and containment after the catch, and that’s where these Titans receivers can win.

Then there’s the more abstract. It’s hard for a team to get such consistently bad play from players who do seem to have some real ability. That starts with Will Levis, who is effective in a Baker Mayfield kind of way until he makes truly ponderous decisions and terrible throws at the least opportune times. Their cornerbacks are solid but don’t always play to their potential. Perhaps missing L’Jarius Sneed will provide an opportunity for a heretofore unheralded defensive back to step up and make a name. Tennessee is overdue for something like that to happen.

And, of course, the history factor. The Lions have never beaten the Titans. Most of the games have been more about Detroit finding ways to lose than the Titans being that much better (2008 excepted). History must be respected before repeating it can be avoided.

Final score prediction

This is the “easiest” game left on the Lions schedule. Worry about a trap game if you will, but I believe that Dan Campbell and his staff will avoid falling victim to overconfidence. It might not result in the lopsided outcome that my Titans Wire colleagues all predicted, but the Lions should win comfortably.

Lions 26, Titans 13

Lions elevate 2 players for Week 8 matchup with the Titans

Lions elevate 2 players for Week 8 matchup with the Titans, including veteran pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad

Faced with an acute shortage of EDGEs thanks to injuries and illness, the Detroit Lions added one from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s Week 8 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.

The Lions elevated veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad for the game with the Titans. It will be Muhammad’s first time playing in a Lions uniform, though the 29-year-old has played in 84 NFL games and started 34, mostly with the Indianapolis Colts. Head coach Dan Campbell indicated on Friday that Muhammad would get called up for this game.

Detroit also elevated tight end Shane Zylstra for the second week in a row. No. 84 played three offensive snaps in the Week 7 win over the Vikings.

What uniforms are the Lions wearing in Week 8 vs the Titans?

The Lions revealed they will wear the blue-on-blue uniforms vs. the Titans in Week 8 in Ford Field

Detroit Lions uniform watch 2024 progresses to Week 8. With the Tennessee Titans coming to Ford Field, the Lions will be in blueberry mode for Sunday’s game.

Detroit is going to wear the blue jersey/blue pants combination with the traditional silver helmet. Fans know this combination as the “blueberries,” and it’s a popular kit with the newly designed blue tops.

Tennessee is going with white jerseys and a light blue pant combination on the road. The 1-5 Titans have dark blue helmets. The 5-1 Lions are looking for their first-ever win against the Titans, who have beaten Detroit in each of the six prior meetings.

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Lions vs Titans: Final injury report medical analysis

Lions vs Titans: Final injury report medical analysis for both teams ahead of their Week 8 matchup

The NFC-leading Detroit Lions active roster is mostly in good health as they take on the Tennessee Titans. During the week, the Lions lost Jameson Williams due to suspension and Josh Paschal due to an illness. The Titans lost DeAndre Hopkins and Ernest Jones due to trades. They also got downgrades to T’Vondre Sweat and Jarvis Brownlee, but an upgrade to Calvin Ridley.

For the Lions, the loss of Williams is cushioned by the fact that all the other offensive weapons are healthy. Elite stars like 2nd-team All-Pro Sam LaPorta have yet to have a breakout game this year, so there is plenty left in the arsenal.

For the Titans, whose record is 1-5, it’s understandable if the focus of the team is already shifting towards next season. Long-time Lions fans are nodding our heads in empathy.

Dan Campbell in his Friday press conference made comments on multiple players which I will include below.

DETROIT LIONS

Josh Paschal DE (NP NP NP – Out) illness

Paschal gave a positive update about his illness today. Here is the full article by Benjamin Raven of MLive. 

Paschal was treated for malignant melanoma in 2018 which is life-threatening due to its potential to metastasize. Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like the current issue is related.

Skin screenings are something I recommend during routine health physicals of almost all ages as melanomas can occur in otherwise young, healthy people.

To help replace Paschal, Dan Campbell stated “we’ll use Isaiah Thomas”. The Lions signed this DE off the Bengals practice squad two weeks ago, so one of the newest members of the team might see his first action vs the Titans.

Christian Mahogany OG (FP FP FP – Out) illness

Dan Campbell on Friday stated “he’s made strides every week”. Mahogany’s  mono illness should be long-resolved and the multi-week string of FP’s corroborates this.

His 21-day practice window is ending next week. If the Lions don’t put him on the roster at the end of his practice window, he is ineligible to return the rest of the year. It wouldn’t make sense for the Lions to have started his practice window this early in the season if they weren’t planning to put him on the roster. Thus, expect to see him on the roster on Monday or Tuesday next week.

Kevin Zeitler OG (FP FP FP – In) groin

Zeitler missed last game due to the groin, but he is ready to go on Sunday. The typically reliable Kayode Awosika had a rough game vs the Vikings so it’s good to get Zeitler back.

Taylor Decker OT (NP FP FP – In) rest

In the offseason, Decker had ankle/foot surgeries including a sesamoidectomy, bone spur removal, and deltoid ligament repair. This warrior played through all those issues last year. The sesamoidectomy and bone spurs can be signs of chronic issues that would benefit from regular rest days as he battles through them during a season.

Graham Glasgow OG (NP FP FP – In) rest

Glasgow had a minor knee issue in week two but has otherwise been healthy.

Frank Ragnow C (NP FP FP – In) rest

Ragnow is now 4.5 weeks removed from his left pec strain and has looked like his usual All-Pro self in the past two games.

Levi Onwuzurike DT (NP FP FP – In) rest

Onwuzurike had a minor right knee issue in week three but otherwise has been healthy this year. He does have a significant history of a remarkable recovery from an L5-S1 lumbar fusion in 2022.

NOTABLES

Jameson Williams

Williams is out due to a two-game suspension for stimulants or diuretics (masking agents). He’ll also miss next game vs the Packers but will be back vs the Texans on Sunday Night Football.

Ifeatu Melifonwu

On Friday, Dan Campbell said, “he’s better than when we put him on injured reserve… he’s progressed nicely”. Melifonwu hurt his ankle area around August 17 and has yet to play this season. There were some scattered reports that the injury might actually be an Achilles.

An Achilles tendonitis would explain the uncertain, longer-than-anticipated timeline for Melifonwu as neither player nor medical want to take any chances it could lead to an Achilles rupture. We are seeing a similar situation play out with Christian McCaffrey, who has yet to play this year due to bilateral Achilles tendonitis.

Melifonwu is eligible to return from IR next week vs the Packers.

 

TENNESSEE TITANS

Will Levis QB (LP LP LP – Questionable) right shoulder

Levis missed last game with a right AC joint sprain and reports strongly suggest he’s out against the Lions with Mason Rudolph making another start. His status may be more of a coach’s decision than a medical decision.

L’Jarius Snead CB (NP NP NP – Out) quad

Snead is a starting CB who missed last game and is out again this Sunday. This is a big loss for the Titans.

Jarvis Brownlee DB (UL UL LP – Questionable) ankle

This 5th-round rookie starting CB has played 100% of snaps the past two games. The Titans could be missing both starting CB’s if Brownlee can’t go.

Calvin Ridley WR (NP NP FP – IN) foot

This starting WR has 12 receptions for 183 yards on the year.

T’Vondre Sweat DT (UL LP NP- Questionable) hip

With an NP on Friday, he’s likely out. This 2nd-round rookie has played around 75% of snaps in every game this year so he could be a big loss.

Jerome Baker (UL NP LP – Questionable) rest

Baker joined the team this week in the Ernest Jones trade.

Tyjae Spears RB (LP LP LP – Questionable) hamstring

Spears has 33 carries for 114 yards this year.

Cedric Gray LB (FP FP FP – Out) shoulder

Gray is a 4th-round rookie who has yet to play this year due to injury.

Jaelyn Duncan OT (NP NP NP – Out) hamstring

Duncan plays limited snaps on offense.

NOTABLES

DeAndre Hopkins WR

Hopkins, who has 15 receptions for 173 yards this year, was traded this week for a pick.

Ernest Jones LB

This starting LB, who has played close to 100% of snaps this year, was traded this week to the Seahawks in exchange for Jerome Baker and a 4th-round pick.

Here’s the full report: