NFL STAR AMON-RA ST. BROWN DEMANDS CHANGE TO PLAYOFF FORMAT

Detroit Lions star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown clarified his feelings about the NFL's playoff format ahead of their showdown with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Both the Lions and Vikings are 14-2 and will compete for the NFC North Crown and the top seed in the conference.

As a result, the losing team will fall to the fifth seed with a top wild card spot despite having a 14-win season.

St. Brown talked about how the format needs revamping with his team in danger of losing the three games but not being at home on wild-card weekend.

'It's crazy. I think the rule should be changed,' St. Brown told reporters this week. 'Obviously, if you win the division, you should obviously make a playoff spot, but having a 14-win team having to go on the road is kind of crazy.

'But I guess I don't make the rules,' he added.

To add to the oddity of the playoff seeding, 7-9 teams who won divisions have automatically hosted playoff games.

The NFL and MLB have similar formats in which the top-seeded teams get a bye, and all divisional champions get home-field advantage in the first round.

Meanwhile, the NBA seeds based on conference standings regardless of divisions. On the other hand, the NHL considers both conference and division standings without bye weeks.

Despite the bizarre format of the league and his team getting the short straw, St. Brown is confident that the Lions have nothing to worry about come the postseason.

'Either way, I think we'll be fine,' he said. 'Whether it's going on the road or having a bye week and playing at home, we're built for either or.'

Last season, the Lions broke a seven-year playoff drought and made it to the NFC title game, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.

This year, the Lions have dominated, with their only losses coming against Tampa Bay in Week 2 and Buffalo in Week 15.

- LEOCCIANO CALLAO

LIONS EKE OUT WIN OVER BEARS TO END THANKSGIVING DAY DROUGHT

Detroit Lions win 10th straight match with Thanksgiving victory
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St Brown is tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith (Duane Burleson/AP)

DETROIT -- Thanksgiving Day in Dan Campbell's household wasn't the greatest experience the past few years.

After suffering three straight Thanksgiving losses as coach of the Detroit Lions, Campbell described himself as a "bear" to be around and said his wife, Holly, was praying for a victory over the Chicago Bears on Thursday.

"It'd be nice to feel good about it when you're with everybody because it's just not real fun. It's not real fun to be around," Campbell said beforehand. "Ask my wife, she'll tell you."

Campbell and the Lions delivered Thursday, halting a seven-game losing streak in the annual holiday game by narrowly topping the Bears, 23-20.

At 11-1, the Lions are off to their best start in franchise history.

Prior to Thursday, the Lions hadn't won on Thanksgiving since 2016. Although it came down to the wire, Campbell said he'll "take this W and I'm not going to lose sleep over it."

He described his mood as being "good" before heading home to his family.

"Listen, much better. Much better. I'll take a W. Look, that's division win No. 3, which is huge, especially in the race we're in right now and that's win 11 and it's another conference win," Campbell said. "So, I feel good. I'm going to take that W and I'm going to enjoy this Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and all your families and everybody out there. I'm gonna enjoy this."

Like Campbell, veteran quarterback Jared Goff had never experienced a Thanksgiving victory in Detroit. After leading the Lions to their 10th straight win, Goff enjoyed the traditional turkey leg as the 2024 Madden Thanksgiving MVP, alongside teammates David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Reader and Al-Quadin Muhammad in great spirits. Goff finished with 221 passing yards and two touchdown passes to tight end Sam LaPorta while going 21-for-34 with zero interceptions.

"It's kind of a bucket list for me was to win on Thanksgiving, and now we can start our new streak of winning," Goff said. "But yeah, it was big. And certainly the game came down to the wire there and you're worried about which way it's going to go, but to get the W in the way we did and to end that skid that we've been on and kind of put that to rest is another check off our list that we've been working on for the last handful of years and it feels good."

The Lions jumped out to a 16-0 halftime lead but, after having gone 12 straight quarters without surrendering a touchdown, allowed three second-half passing touchdowns by Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to receivers Keenan Allen and DJ Moore as Chicago pulled within three.

However, the Bears came up short as Williams overthrew receiver Rome Odunze as time expired. Prior to that, Williams was sacked at the Lions' 41 with 32 seconds left, and then the Bears let 26 seconds of clock run, despite having one timeout remaining.

Lions running backs Gibbs and Montgomery combined to rush for 175 yards off 30 carries but ended their 25-game streak of having a rushing touchdown, including the playoffs, which was the longest in NFL history.

Still, hardly anyone on the roster was unhappy leaving Ford Field as the team continues to overcome a laundry list of notable droughts amid a historic start for the franchise. Campbell wouldn't allow his players to lose sight of that moment.

"Look, I told the team, 'If you're not careful, you start grading your own wins.' And it's good because you have these standards and the way you think you should play by your own standards, by what you have. It has nothing to do with the opponent," Campbell said. "It's just you know yourselves and you know what you're capable of and so, if you're not careful, you start going too far down that thing then you start taking wins for granted and ultimately, that's a good win."

- Eric Woodyard, ESPN

SLEEPER PICKS TO SUPERSTARS: DAY 3'S TOP SUCCESS STORIES

Brock Purdy, the "Mr. Irrelevant" of the 2022 NFL Draft, has become the latest in a long line of stars picked on Day Three. Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports

 Every year, the NFL draft provides teams with blue-chip prospects that immediately make their mark in the league.

But the draft doesn't end Thursday night. Undervalued talent abounds in the later rounds, with smart teams picking up key players to little fanfare.

Here's a look at some of the best players selected on Day 3 -- Rounds 4 through 7 -- of the draft since the seven-round format was adopted in 1994.

Brock Purdy

Draft year: 2022

Pick No. 262

Few active NFL players have a story quite like Purdy, who was selected with the final pick of the 2022 draft. "Mr. Irrelevant" -- as the draft's last pick is dubbed each year -- quickly proved to be quite relevant for the San Francisco 49ers. Injuries caused the Iowa State Cyclones product to rise to a starting role, where he helped lead the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.

Purdy took over as full-time starter in his second season and rewarded the 49ers faith in him with a 12-4 regular-season record and a trip to the Super Bowl.

Amon-Ra St. Brown

Draft year: 2021

Pick No. 112

St. Brown has never shied away from his status as a player who slipped down draft boards, with the former USC Trojan once reciting all 16 wide receivers drafted ahead of him from memory.

Now part of the Detroit Lions, St. Brown's career has continually improved over the past three years. After emerging as a starter during his rookie season, St. Brown has caught 100-plus passes each of the past two seasons, earning an All-Pro nod this past fall.

George Kittle

Draft year: 2017

Pick No. 146

A product of the Iowa Hawkeyes' tight-end factory, Kittle's statistical résumé in college didn't turn heads -- 48 catches and 10 touchdowns, mostly across his final two seasons. But the eventual fifth-round pick did make a name for his stellar blocking.

The San Francisco 49ers got far more than quality blocking out of Kittle, as he developed into one of the best tight-ends in the league. He has made five Pro Bowls and caught 460 passes and 37 touchdowns across seven seasons in the league.

A fifth-round selection in 2017, George Kittle has emerged as one of the NFL's top tight ends in San Francisco. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Tyreek Hill

Draft year: 2016

Pick No. 165

Now one of the most electrifying receivers in the NFL, Hill played for three different colleges before eventually landing in the 2016 NFL draft. A fifth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, Hill's blazing speed helped him quickly carve out a role on one of the league's top teams.

Currently with the Miami Dolphins, Hill has made the Pro Bowl every year he's been in the NFL (though his selection in 2016 was as a return specialist, not a wide receiver) and was a key part in Kansas City's 2019 Super Bowl victory.

Stefon Diggs

Draft year: 2015

Pick No. 146

Diggs was a three-year standout with the Maryland Terrapins, catching 14 touchdowns during his career in College Park. The Minnesota Vikings picked him up in the fifth round, and it took Diggs less than a season to work his way into the team's receiving rotation. He'd ascend to an every-game starter and then star, eventually moving to the Buffalo Bills, where he'd string together four consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns. Diggs is now on the move once more, joining C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans this offseason with over 800 career receptions under his belt.

Richard Sherman

Draft year: 2011

Pick No. 154

One of the most feared defenses in NFL history was built in large part with Day Three selections. The "Legion of Boom" Seattle Seahawks were a nightmare for opposing offenses, helping the Seahawks lift the Lombardi Trophy in 2013. Among the most important members of the Legion was cornerback, who was the 24th cornerback taken in the 2011 draft out of Stanford.

Richard Sherman

Draft year: 2011

Pick No. 191

The recently retired Kelce leaves behind a long track record of stellar play with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former Cincinnati Bearcat rewarded the team that took him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. He had 193 career starts across a 13-year career that included six All-Pro nods and a Super Bowl in 2018.

Jason Kelce's long career with the Philadelphia Eagles started with the organization selecting him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Jahri Evans

Draft year: 2006

Pick No. 108

Evans entered the 2006 NFL draft with a low profile, having plied his trade at the collegiate level for Division II Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. However, he wasted no time establishing himself as a mainstay for the New Orleans Saints once joining the team, starting all 16 games as a rookie.

Evans would go on to start 169 games in New Orleans, including a stretch of six consecutive Pro Bowl seasons from 2009 to 2014. He also helped the Saints capture Super Bowl XLIV.

Jared Allen

Draft year: 2004

Pick No. 126

An Idaho State Bengals alum, Allen entered the draft on the back of a mammoth senior campaign that included 17.5 sacks and over 100 tackles.

Allen fell to the Chiefs in the fourth round and quickly carved out a role, including a prolific 2007 campaign that saw him record a league-high 15.5 sacks. Allen would join the Vikings that offseason, and followed the move up with six consecutive seasons with at least 10 sacks.

Tom Brady

Draft year: 2000

Pick No. 199

The greatest late round pick of them all, it's difficult to find an achievement Brady didn't compile over the course of a remarkable 23-year career. He had 15 Pro Bowls, three league MVPs, five Super Bowl MVPs and of course seven total rings, the most of any individual player in league history.

Brady is the league's all-time leader in passing yards, total completions and passing touchdowns, amassing the vast majority of his stats across two decades with the team that drafted him, the New England Patriots.

Zach Thomas

Draft year: 1996

Pick No. 154

Thomas made his name with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, and an average combine outing caused him to fall down draft boards. But Thomas' consistent college production proved more than translatable to professional ranks, as he was named defensive rookie of the year.

Thomas would go on to start 168 games for the Dolphins, earning seven Pro Bowl nods in the process. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Terrell Davis

Draft year: 1995

Pick No. 196

The 1998 NFL MVP wasn't selected until the sixth round of his draft. Davis made his mark quickly with the Denver Broncos, rushing for 1,117 yards and 7 touchdowns as a rookie.

He'd continually improve until he would reach the peak of his powers with his stellar 1998 campaign -- he'd become one of just eight players to rush for over 2,000 yards in a regular season, leading the Broncos to a second-straight Super Bowl victory.

Davis was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

- J.J. Post, ESPN

LIONS TAME BUCS, REACH FIRST NFC TITLE IN 32 YEARS

 

Jared Goff. USA TODAY Sports 

Jared Goff passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and the Detroit Lions advanced to the NFC Championship Game with a 31-23 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

Seeking their first Super Bowl berth, the Lions will travel to California to face the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday. Detroit will be playing in the conference title game for the first time since the 1991 season.

Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 74 yards, including the go-ahead 31-yard score in the fourth quarter. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Sam LaPorta had nine receptions for 65 yards for Detroit.

The Lions' second playoff win in as many weeks came three years to the day after Dan Campbell was introduced as the downtrodden franchise's new head coach.

NFL ROUNDUP: LIONS TOPPLE VIKINGS,

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Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns, and the Detroit Lions clinched their first division title in 30 years by defeating the Minnesota Vikings 30-24 on Sunday in Minneapolis.

Jared Goff completed 30 of 40 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown as the Lions (11-4) secured the NFC North Division title and a home game in the opening round of the playoffs. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 12 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-36 passing but was also intercepted four times. Justin Jefferson caught six passes for 141 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings (7-8).

Gibbs scored on a 3-yard run with 11:07 remaining as Detroit took a 30-21 lead. Vikings kicker Greg Joseph hit a 26-yard field goal with 5:19 left to cut the Lions' lead to six. Minnesota drove to the Detroit 30 on its last possession, but Ifeatu Melifonwu stepped in front of Jefferson near the goal line for the game-clinching interception.

Dolphins 22, Cowboys 20

Jason Sanders drilled a 29-yard field goal as time expired and Miami clinched an AFC playoff spot with a victory over Dallas in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Sanders kicked five field goals -- three of over 50 yards -- and Tua Tagovailoa was 24-of-37 passing for 293 yards and one touchdown for the Dolphins (11-4). Raheem Mostert caught a scoring pass and Tyreek Hill had nine catches for 99 yards for Miami.

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Dak Prescott threw two touchdown passes for Dallas, including an 8-yarder to Brandin Cooks with 3:27 remaining to give the Cowboys a one-point lead. But Miami answered by driving 64 yards on 12 plays to set up Sanders' decisive field goal. CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 118 yards and one touchdown for the Cowboys (10-5).