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- We saw a much different side of Ndamukong Suh after Sunday's game.
Suh later returned to finish the Q&A session, and he fielded questions about both the game and his future.A crying Suh steps away from the podium after answering three questions.
— Jennifer Hammond (@HammerFox2) January 5, 2015Suh calls the outcome "Sickening"
— Jennifer Hammond (@HammerFox2) January 5, 2015
Some have already tried to jump to conclusions about what this emotion may reveal about Suh's future plans, but there's really no point in trying to play mind reader. What's clear is that Sunday's game meant a lot to Suh, and he looked crushed by how it played out.Suh on how this season impacts his future: "I'm sorry I can't answer that."
— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) January 5, 2015
- The Detroit Lions dealt with numerous injuries on defense during Sunday's game. Rashean Mathis, for example, left for a significant portion of the game with a quad injury. This forced Cassius Vaughn into one of the starting cornerback spots. Don Carey took over in the nickel package, but he briefly exited the game with dehydration, as did Tahir Whitehead.
- On offense, the Lions lost yet another starting offensive lineman with Travis Swanson suffering a knee injury. Garrett Reynolds stepped in for him, meaning the Lions finished the game with their third-string right guard and third-string right tackle.
- Taking a more long-term view, Swanson's injury is apparently pretty serious.
Caldwell: Swanson's injury was "pretty significant"
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 5, 2015
- One other injury note: Brandon Pettigrew briefly left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. He returned shortly after, indicating that he passed the concussion tests.
- We've already talked plenty about the pass interference no-call, but here's what Jim Caldwell had to say about it after the game:
Caldwell on the explanation he got from officials following the waived off flag: "They didn't give me a good enough explanation."
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 5, 2015
- To say the no-call had a big effect on the game would be an understatement.
According to the @Adv_NFL_Stats WP calculator, the picked up flag cost the Lions 15% of win expectancy.
— Matt Snyder (@snyder_matthew) January 5, 2015
- Just how bad was the no-call? Well, George R.R. Martin (of Games of Thrones fame) felt compelled to write about how the Lions were robbed, and even Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church thought it was a bad call.
Barry Church of the Cowboys on the pass interference called back: "I would have called it if I was the ref."
— Ebenezer Samuel (@ebenezersamuel) January 5, 2015
- Speaking of Church, it appears that he and Golden Tate buried the hatchet after trading barbs in the media last week.
@BarryChurch42 class act bro. Embarrassed I let the media manipulate another story. Glad you and I had a chance to clear that up.
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) January 5, 2015
- The Lions made some history with their 99-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter on Sunday.
The Lions’ 99-yard drive was the first such drive in the playoffs since the 2001 postseason (Ravens, wild card game vs Dolphins)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 4, 2015
- Before the Lions departed for Dallas on Saturday, they invited season-ticket holders to their walkthrough. That was a nice gesture, and the season-ticket holders hand a chance to send the Lions off before the team flew to Dallas.