SB Nation Detroit - Lions Vs. Raiders: Detroit Rallies To Down Oakland, 28-27https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2011-12-21T10:26:26-05:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24005782011-12-21T10:26:26-05:002011-12-21T10:26:26-05:00Calvin Johnson Named NFC Offensive Player Of The Week
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<p>In the wake of yet another memorable comeback by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> wide receiver <span>Calvin Johnson</span> has received the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week Award. Johnson caught Sunday's game-winning touchdown within the <a href="http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Calvin-Johnson-named-NFC-Offensive-Player-of-the-Week/5b471f89-6f94-4707-932f-ebfba7e7f291">final minute as part of a career day</a>:</p>
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<p>The Lions have earned four NFC Player of the Week Awards this year, the most since 2004.<br><br>"I coached defense for way too long in this league to take (Calvin’s ability) for granted," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said after the game Sunday. "He’s a playmaker and a difference-maker."</p>
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<p>Johnson had a career high 214 yards receiving on nine catches with two touchdowns against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a>. It was the best day for a Lions receiver since 1989 and the third highest yardage total in team history. Johnson will need to come up big again this week against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">Chargers</a>. If the Lions can win on Sunday at home they will clinch their first trip to the playoffs in 12 years.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/21/2651769/calvin-johnson-nfc-offensive-player-of-the-weekTravis Miller2011-12-18T19:56:26-05:002011-12-18T19:56:26-05:00VIDEO: Lions Block Last-Second Field Goal To Beat Raiders
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<p>After scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 39 seconds left, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> just needed to keep the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> from kicking a field goal and they would win the game. Since the Raiders have <span>Sebastian Janikowski</span>, who has insane range, there was no guarantee the Lions would win the game. Janikowski has made kicks from 63 yards out before, and with a few seconds left in the game, Oakland trotted him out to attempt an NFL record 65-yarder.</p>
<p>The Lions didn't want to even give Janikowski a chance to make it, and <span>Ndamukong Suh</span> made sure the kick was no good by getting a hand on it. The ball hit the ground well short of the goal posts, and after having a relatively quiet game in his return from a suspension, Suh turned out to make one of the biggest plays of the game, as he preserved Detroit's <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/18/2645248/detroit-lions-vs-oakland-raiders-final-score-late-calvin-johnson-touchdown">28-27 victory</a>. Video of the blocked kick is after the jump.</p>
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<p>With the win, the Lions are 9-5 and can clinch a playoff spot next week. Let that sink in for a second. The Detroit Lions, three years after going 0-16, are one win away from reaching the playoffs.</p>
<p>Ford Field should be rocking on Christmas Eve next week against San Diego.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/18/2645351/sebastian-janikowski-field-goal-blocked-lions-raiders-videoSean Yuille2011-12-18T19:36:23-05:002011-12-18T19:36:23-05:00Lions Vs. Raiders Final Score: Late Calvin Johnson Touchdown Secures 28-27 Win For Detroit
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> will leave the Bay Area Sunday evening with an improbable fourth-quarter comeback win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a>, 28-27 after Calvin Johnson capped off a monster game with a six-yard touchdown with less than a minute to play.</p>
<p>Things didn't look so promising earlier in the second half as the Raiders' defense found something to keep Lions quarterback <span>Matthew Stafford</span> under pressure and Detroit from moving the ball. Then in the fourth quarter it appeared that Oakland defense had put the game away.</p>
<p>Raiders defensive tackle <span>Tommy Kelly</span> grabbed ahold of Stafford at the Detroit 5-yard line then raked the ball out of his hands, leaving it free on the ground for linebacker <span>Aaron Curry</span> to scoop up and run into the end zone to put the Raiders in control 27-15 with just under eight minutes to play.</p>
<p>But the Raiders' aggressive defense seemed to exhale after coming up with the big play, and the Lions quickly responded to remain in the game. Stafford went to work out of the shotgun and directed the down the field on an efficient 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive, hitting receiver <span>Titus Young</span> for a three-yard touchdown to draw within six points with five minutes to play.</p>
<p>The Raiders and Carson Palmere tried to put the game away for good on their next possession. Facing third and three around mid-field, Palmer just missed the knock out punch when his pass to an open Chaz Schillens was slightly overthrown and bounced off the receiver's outstretched hands.</p>
<p>The Raiders were forced to give the Lions another chance to win the game but made things difficult after a <span>Shane Lechler</span> punt pinned the Lions down at the two-yard line. But quarterback Matthew Stafford went to work, leaning on <span>Calvin Johnson</span> to make big plays down the field.</p>
<p>Megatron caught two passes starting with a 21-yard reception to move the Lions out to the 39-yard line. Then Stafford launched a deep ball that Johnson hauled in among Raider defenders for a 48-yard gain to put Detroit in the red zone. Johnson drew a pass interference penalty which moved the ball to the six-yard line then two plays later caught a Stafford rope in the back of the end zone to tie the score. </p>
<p><span>Jason Hanson</span> tacked on the game-winning PAT which held up after the Raiders scrambled to get <span>Sebastian Janikowski</span> a 65-yard field goal attempt. The kick never had a chance and once again the Lions secured a win to move to 9-5 on the season.</p>
<p>Stafford aired it out in the comeback win, completing 29 of 52 passes for 391 yards while Johnson ended the game with nine receptions for 214 yards and two touchdowns.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/18/2645248/detroit-lions-vs-oakland-raiders-final-score-late-calvin-johnson-touchdownTom Lewis2011-12-18T18:28:15-05:002011-12-18T18:28:15-05:00Lions Vs. Raiders Score Update: Oakland Maintains 17-14 Lead After Three Quarters
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<p>Defensive adjustments showed up after halftime for both the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> as both teams struggled to mount a strong offensive drive in the third quarter which ended with the Raiders still leading 17-14.</p>
<p>The Raiders defense brought pressure from various angels to disrupt <span>Matthew Stafford's</span> passing rhythm. Late in the third quarter, the Lions appeared to find something, digging their way out of their own territory by utilizing a no-huddle offense. But the drive stalled at the Oakland 39 after the Lions were denied on a 4th and one rushing attempt and forced to turn the ball over on downs. </p>
<p>The Raiders were held down by poor field position on their first two possessions starting drives on their own 5 and 8-yard line. After the Lions failed fourth down, the Raiders had some breathing room and <span>Carson Palmer</span> connected with <span>Darrius Heyward-Bey</span> to move the Raiders into the red zone on the final play of the third quarter, but fumbled while running after the catch giving the ball to the Lions to start the fourth quarter.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/18/2645190/detroit-lions-vs-oakland-raiders-score-updateTom Lewis2011-12-18T17:40:36-05:002011-12-18T17:40:36-05:00Lions Vs. Raiders Score Update: Oakland Leads Detroit 17-14 At Halftime
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> continue to trade blows with the Raiders taking a 17-14 lead to the half.</p>
<p>The Raiders reclaimed the lead on their first possession in the second quarter in style, going 96 yards in seven plays to take a 14-7 advantage. <span>Carson Palmer</span> connected twice with <span>Darrius Heyward-Bey</span> on big plays during the drive. The first play came on a 35-yard reception to dig the Raiders out of a hole deep in their own territory. Then the two connected on the 43-yard scoring play after Palmer dropped off a short pass to Bey and the speedy receiver did the rest with his legs.</p>
<p>After the teams swapped possessions, the Lions put together a key scoring drive late in the second quarter to tie up the score before the half. Once again, quarterback <span>Matthew Stafford</span> found his target on a deep pass, this time hitting <span>Nate Burleson</span> for 39 yards down the left side allowing Burleson to run into the end zone and tie up the game.</p>
<p>The Lions defense couldn't hold down the Raiders to end the half though, allowing Carson Palmer to direct the Raiders into field goal range, where kicker <span>Sebastian Janikowski</span> made good on the effort by the offense, knocking in a 46-yard field goal at the end of the half.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/18/2645088/detroit-lions-vs-oakland-raiders-score-updateTom Lewis2011-12-18T17:05:21-05:002011-12-18T17:05:21-05:00Lions Vs. Raiders Score Update: Lions Tie Game On Johnson Touchdown Catch 7-7
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<p>The Detroit Lions tied up the score with the Oakland Raiders at 7-7 late in the first quarter when quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with receiver Calving Johnson on a 51-yard scoring strike.</p>
<p>The Lions came up empty on their first two possessions which ended with punts before they put together an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended with the big play from Johnson. The score answered a touchdown scored by the Raiders on their second possession. The Raiders struck quickly, covering 76 yards in just five plays with the big play coming on first down after Oakland moved into Lions territory. Marcel Reese took a short pass and advanced it 24 yards followed by a Stephen Tulloch personal foul which moved the ball to the 12 yard line.</p>
<p>Speedy receiver Louis Murphy then took the ball around the end for a 12-yard touchdown to get the home crowd going early. Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer is 8 for 10, delivering an efficient passing game so far for the Raiders.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/18/2645041/detroit-lions-vs-oakland-raiders-score-update-calvin-johnsonTom Lewis2011-12-18T17:01:00-05:002011-12-18T17:01:00-05:00VIDEO: Calvin Johnson Catches 51-Yard Touchdown From Matthew Stafford
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<p>After starting the season with 11 touchdowns in the first eight games, <span>Calvin Johnson</span> had been pretty quiet for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> in the last month or so. He only had one touchdown in the Lions' previous five games going into Sunday, but already he has one against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a>. It came on a bomb of a pass in the first quarter from <span>Matthew Stafford</span>. You can check out the play after the jump.</p>
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<p>The 51-yard pass from Stafford to Johnson tied the game up at 7-7 and gave Stafford his 30th touchdown of the season.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/18/2645036/calvin-johnson-touchdown-catch-matthew-stafford-videoSean Yuille2011-12-18T15:09:16-05:002011-12-18T15:09:16-05:00Oakland Raiders Injury Report And Inactives, Week 15: Denarius Moore Active Vs. Lions
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a>' wide receiver <span>Denarius Moore</span>, who was questionable all week with a foot injury, is active and will start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> depleted secondary on Sunday. </p>
<p>As expected, <span>Darren McFadden</span> is out and may <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/12/18/2644441/darren-mcfadden-oakland-raiders-foot-injury-out-for-season" target="_blank">miss the rest of the season</a>. That's obviously a big blow to a team that's still very much alive in the AFC playoff picture. </p>
<p>Here is the full inactives list for the Raiders:</p>
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<p><span class="metadata"><span class="author"><a href="http://twitter.com/ttwentyman"><img src="http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1644520242/timmug_normal.png"></a><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/ttwentyman">@ttwentyman</a></strong><br>Tim Twentyman</span></span> Oakland inactives: QB Campbell, WR Jacoby Ford, RB Darren McFadden, RB Taiwan Jones, S <span>Michael Huff</span>, G <span>Bruce Campbell</span>, DT John Henderson<br><span class="embedly_timestamp"><a href="http://twitter.com/ttwentyman/status/148491365519589377" title="Sun Dec 18 19:54:35 +0000 2011">Dec 18</a> via <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tweetdeck.com">TweetDeck</a></span><span class="tweet-actions"><a title="Favorite" class="favorite-action" href="https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=148491365519589377"><span><i></i><b>Favorite</b></span></a><a title="Retweet" class="retweet-action" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=148491365519589377"><span><i></i><b>Retweet</b></span></a><a title="Reply" class="reply-action" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=148491365519589377"><span><i></i><b>Reply</b></span></a></span></p>
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https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/12/18/2644802/nfl-injury-report-week-15-inactives-oakland-raiders-mcfaddenPackey