Lions LB Alex Anzalone, who had surgery seven weeks ago for a fractured forearm, played 64 of 65 snaps last night, recording a team-high seven tackles, one quarterback hit, one pass defense, and earning one of three game balls…

Lions LB Alex Anzalone played 64 of 65 snaps last night, recorded a team-high seven tackles, one quarterback hit, one pass defense, and was given one of three game balls for his performance after suffering surgery for a fractured forearm seven weeks prior.

Alex Anzalone’s Amazing Comeback: A Revolutionary Performance Following Forearm Surgery

Last night, only seven weeks after having surgery for a fractured forearm, Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone made an incredible comeback to the field. Anzalone not only contributed significantly to the Lions’ defensive effort but also shown incredible tenacity and resolve in spite of the severity of his injury and a very brief recuperation period. He put on one of his greatest performances of his career and played 64 of the 65 snaps, which is remarkable given the situation.

Anzalone’s numbers demonstrate that he was a player who did not allow his injuries to limit his ability to contribute to the club. With a team-high seven tackles, he demonstrated his ability to read the game and make critical stops when they were most needed. Anzalone demonstrated his flexibility and ability to influence all aspects of the defense by recording one quarterback hit and one pass defense in addition to his tackles. In the passing game, his ability to cover and get after the quarterback was crucial in keeping the opposition’s attack in check.

His whole effort was not overlooked. For his exceptional effort, Anzalone received one of three game balls, a well-earned honor that demonstrated his leadership and dedication to the Lions’ triumph. The squad as a whole, along with head coach Dan Campbell, praised his bravery and tenacity for playing so well again in spite of the injury.

Anzalone’s performance demonstrates his resilience and commitment to the Lions’ goal. The squad has benefited greatly from his leadership on the field, and his performance last night cemented his place among the team’s defensive leaders. The Lions’ defense will surely benefit greatly from Anzalone’s return as they attempt to maintain their postseason run.

Six takeaways from the Detroit Lions’ clinching victory against the Minnesota Vikings

The regular season finale did not disappoint, unless you are from Minnesota.

In Week 18, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings had 14-2 records and shared the NFC North lead. The victor of this matchup would receive the #1 seed in the NFC and a much-needed bye week. The losing club would be relegated to fifth place as a Wild Card, facing the Los Angeles Rams away from home.

It was regarded as a possible shootout, but Detroit dominated in all phases. The offense scored 31 points against the Vikings defense for the second game this season, while the defense limited a powerful Vikings attack to 9 points. After a tight first half, the second half turned into an all-out beatdown.

With the division and conference titles locked up, the Lions will have some much-needed time to rest and prepare for a playoff run. Let’s wrap out the regular season with some key lessons.

Super Sonic Boom!

How else would you characterize Jahmyr Gibbs but electric?

Gibbs was unquestionably the offense’s standout, and Detroit would most certainly lose this game without his speed, vision, or tenacity. He broke off a 25-yard run to put Detroit on the board in the first quarter, dodging and weaving between blocks and potential tacklers. His second score came through the air on a classic Texas route, which is maybe the most dangerous play call in the Lions’ repertoire. He finished his hat trick in the fourth quarter with another big run, this time for 13 yards as he burst into the end zone. He then added a 47-yard rush (not a score) to get over 100 yards for the day. Not to be outdone, he capped up the night for the Vikings with a 4-yard touchdown, giving him a remarkable four-touchdown performance.

A play that particularly stuck out to me occurred early in the game. Andrew Van Ginkel blasted Gibbs over a rejected screenplay. He was shaken for a bit before receiving some assistance from the sidelines. Despite the heavy impact, Gibbs played hard the whole game and never missed a beat.

I’m running out of words to express how unique Gibbs is. He’s playing like the best running back in the NFL.

A defensive masterclass comes at a cost.

The Lions defense had had two of its worst performances in the previous three games, so there was legitimate concern that the strong Vikings offense would pick them apart. Instead, Detroit looked like an excellent defense.

Amik Robertson needs his own section. Since taking over for an injured Carlton Davis, Robertson has been outstanding. His performance peaked on Sunday night against Justin Jefferson, who was limited to three catches for 54 yards. Robertson plays with both toughness and grace, and he was unquestionably the finest Detroit defender.

Alex Anzalone returned with a shattered forearm, and that one move reenergized the defense. The linebackers, a previously evident weakness, performed admirably in coverage and run defense, with Anzalone leading the team in tackles. The front seven as a whole was quite efficient versus Minnesota. Sam Darnold was seeing ghosts all day, ending with only 18 completions on 41 attempts. Darnold was under constant pressure and flew several of his throws. Za’Darius Smith, Josh Paschal, and Al-Quadin Muhammad were creating havoc, while Levi Onwuzurike had one of his greatest performances yet.

The primary negative of the night might be a significant one. Terrion Arnold had an ankle injury in the second half and was soon taken to the locker room.The severity is still unknown—although x-rays were negative, according to Dan Campbell in his postgame news conference—and the recently won postseason bye week may assist, but no team should lose another starting cornerback. If Arnold is out and Davis is out with a jaw ailment, Kindle Vildor and Morice Norris will be the only healthy cornerbacks besides Robertson. There is a chance youngster Ennis Rakestraw will return from the injured reserve, but Vildor is the most likely starter.

Jamo 1k

What an impressive season for Jameson Williams. Following a rocky start to his NFL career, the former first-round receiver gained some skeptics and detractors. Williams basically redshirted his first season, and his second year in the NFL was marred by a gambling suspension that left him in a tough spot. He concluded the season with only 354 yards in 12 games as a tertiary option.

With Josh Reynolds moving in free agency and a full training camp to create some camaraderie, Williams’ status as WR2 was his to lose. Williams’ patience paid off as he finished a 1000-yard receiving season alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown—despite serving a two-game suspension this year.

What truly sticks out is how his position has expanded. He is no longer only a potential deep danger. Instead, he is deployed across the field like a chess piece. Williams is able to withstand some severe strikes despite his diminutive physique. He is trusted by Goff and the coaching staff.

Elite cadence.

This has been a theme throughout the season, but I wanted to emphasize it in the regular season finale: the Lions are masters of dragging defenses offside.

Every team has attempted to pull their opponent offside by rushing up to the line of scrimmage and faking the snap. Typically, this results in a clear non-play that fools no one on defense. The offense then takes a timeout or a delay of game penalty before continuing with their real play call. Drawing a defender offside is essentially a Hail Mary play for a free set of downs.

The Lions have perfected this method. For starters, Jared Goff has a fantastic cadence that sends even seasoned veterans offside. It’s difficult to explain what constitutes a good cadence, but Goff has it, clear and simple. The Lions’ ability to take risks on fourth down adds to their effectiveness. Most offenses would fold on fourth-and-3. Detroit is both courageous and talented enough to pull it off. That means defenses cannot assume a nothing play is coming—they must remain alert throughout the game. This creates advantageous scenarios in which Detroit may draw Minnesota offsides with no intention of ever snapping it.

Jared Goff confirmed the plan was to draw the Vikings offsides on fourth down, not run a play.

— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) January 6, 2025

Who needs a tush push? Goff’s cadence is now the finest fourth-and-short play in the NFL.

Delay in game shenanigans

It still surprises me that this is an issue in the NFL. The 40-second play clock is clearly defined: you have 40 seconds to snap the ball or face a penalty. However, on Sunday night, that punishment appeared optional. The Vikings appeared to get away with many missed delay-of-game penalties, snapping the ball with complete zeroes on the clock on several occasions. On one of these plays, Cam Akers ran 58 yards for Minnesota’s largest play of the game. The Vikings were penalized for the appropriate penalty only twice, both times when the game was out of reach for Minnesota.

The televised play clock might have been somewhat ahead of the on-field time, but considering how frequently close calls occurred, it seems more probable that the referees were sluggish to blow the whistle. What it all comes down to is the absurdity of the NFL rulebook. The play clock is unquestionable—once it reaches 0, the game should be done. Instead, the referees allow for a little period of time before tossing the flag. Previously, officials had to glance at the clock first, then at the ball to check if it had been snapped. This usually slight split-second delay became a substantial full-second delay on several shoots. It is just ludicrous because determining whether or not the play clock expired is a matter of judgment. The NFL has a variety of cameras and clocks, so why can’t they use a play clock official on the field or in a booth?

Name a better waste of $2 million dollars.

The Vikings believed they were being clever. What’s the plan? Purchase tickets for the game at Ford Field and fill them with Vikings supporters. What about the budget? Around $2 million. What’s the outcome? A boost for the Lions and a waste of money for the Vikings.

For starters, the Vikings neglected to distribute the tickets to Vikings supporters.According to rumors, tickets were either resold at a markup or acquired directly by… Michigan citizens. Even if a few Vikings supporters were able to make the trek to Ford Field, they were entirely drowned out by an overpowering home crowd—I definitely did not hear an outcry when the Lions were on offense, except from the rare applause for an eligible Dan Skipper. Aside from the noise, Vikings supporters in attendance had little to rejoice about. The Vikings were unable to reach the end zone, and had to settle with three field goals. The Lions provided the only highlights in what turned out to be a rout for the home club. The Vikings paid to give their supporters a beating.

Perhaps the Vikings should have saved their money for a journey to Los Angeles.