DECEMBER 26, 2021 • FREEP.COM
DETROIT LIONS 11-1 · 1ST IN NFC NORTH
11-1 · 1ST IN NFC NORTH
Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons: Best photos from Sunday's game The Detroit Lions travel to play the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 26, 2021.
Game Photos ' Week 16 Falcons vs Lions Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions during Week 16.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Arrival Photos ' Week 16 vs Lions The Falcons have arrived at Mercedes-Benz Stadium ahead of a Sunday afternoon game against the Detroit Lions in Week 16.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons 2021 Season Week 16 Postgame Show
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • YOUTUBE
Jonah Jackson - Will play Sunday Jackson (back) will play Sunday against the Falcons.
Impact Jackson missed the Lions' Week 15 win over the Cardinals, but is cleared to go Sunday. He should return to his role of starting left guard Sunday against the Falcons.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tim Boyle - Officially starting Sunday Boyle will start at quarterback in place of Jared Goff (illness) on Sunday in Atlanta, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Impact Goff was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last Monday and was unable to clear league protocols in time to suit up Week 16. His absence will give Boyle his second NFL start. The first one didn't exactly go swimmingly back in Week 11, when he was 15-for-23 passing for 77 yards and two interceptions in a 13-10 loss at Cleveland. At the very least, Boyle has capable running backs in the stable, with Jamaal Williams and Craig Reynolds on hand to ease the burden (D'Andre Swift again is out with an AC joint sprain).
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Julian Okwara - Out Sunday Okwara (ankle) is inactive for Sunday against the Falcons.
Impact Okwara will miss a third straight game for the Lions, after logging limited practices Thursday and Friday. In his absence, Jessie Lemonier will likely continue to see extra opportunity.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Brockers - Will play Sunday Brockers (knee) will play Sunday against the Falcons.
Impact Brockers was considered questionable coming into Sunday after logging limited practices all week. He should resume his role of starting on the edge of the defensive line Sunday against the Falcons.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jalen Reeves-Maybin - Ready to go Sunday Reeves-Maybin (shoulder) will play Sunday against the Falcons.
Impact Reeves-Maybin missed Weeks 13 and 14 with the injury but was able to return in Week 15 against the Cardinals, where he recorded three tackles and two passes defensed on 96 percent of the defensive snaps. He should continue to play a large role in the Lions' linebacker unit Sunday against the Falcons.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jermar Jefferson - Inactive Sunday Jefferson (coach's decision) will not play Sunday against the Falcons.
Impact Jefferson unexpectedly received very little work with D'Andre Swift (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams on the COVID list. With Williams' return and the emergence of Craig Reynolds, Jefferson will be the odd man out Sunday against the Falcons.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Craig Reynolds - Getting another chance with Swift out Reynolds and Jamaal Williams will serve as the Lions' primary running backs for Sunday's game in Atlanta, Tim Twentyman of the team's official site reports.
Impact Reynolds received a majority share of the running back reps over the last two games with Williams on the reserve/COVID-19 list and D'Andre Swift in recovery mode from an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Williams is back in action Sunday, while Swift will miss his fourth game in a row. It remains to be seen the breakdown of snaps between Reynolds and Williams, but the former notched 40 touches for 216 yards between Weeks 14 and 15.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kalif Raymond - Will play Sunday Raymond (shoulder) will play Sunday against the Falcons.
Impact Raymond was able to practice in a limited capacity all week, so his ability to suit up isn't unexpected. Raymond has had an inconsistent season with spiked weeks occasionally, but mostly producing subpar results. With Jared Goff on the COVID list and Tim Boyle drawing the start, Raymond's chances of a better than usual outing are reduced. Last time Boyle started in Week 11 against the Browns, Raymond played 70 percent of the snaps on offense and tallied one target with no receptions.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
The Latest: Washington brings benches, just as Cowboys did
Washington is using benches adorned with its logo for the game at the Cowboys after Dallas did the same thing when visiting its NFC East rival two weeks agoDECEMBER 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jamaal Williams - No Swift in return to lineup Williams and Craig Reynolds will serve as the Lions' primary running backs Sunday in Atlanta, Tim Twentyman of the team's official site reports.
Impact Detroit opted to keep D'Andre Swift on street clothes for a fourth consecutive contest as he continues his recovery from an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Williams is back in the lineup after missing two games on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and he'll split reps out of the backfield with Reynolds. Considering Reynolds reeled off 216 yards from scrimmage on 40 touches during Williams' absence, the former could be the early-down runner Sunday while the latter serves in a change-of-pace role.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Detroit Lions' D'Andre Swift inactive; Craig Reynolds, Jamaal Williams to play Swift ran for 136 yards on 14 carries in Tim Boyle's first career start in a Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • FREEP.COM
Josh Reynolds - Suiting up in Week 16 Reynolds (thigh) is listed active Sunday in Atlanta.
Impact As he did last week, Reynolds followed up three straight limited listings on injury reports and a questionable designation with active standing once game day arrived. Only this time, he'll be operating with Tim Boyle instead of Jared Goff (illness), who remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list. In his only NFL start back in Week 11 at Cleveland, Boyle mustered 77 yards on 23 pass attempts, so Reynolds and the rest of the Lions receivers may be in store for subdued performances.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
D'Andre Swift - Missing fourth straight game Swift (shoulder) is inactive for Sunday's game at Atlanta.
Impact Despite not being ruled out ahead of this contest, Swift will remain sidelined as he continues the later stages of his recovery from an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. That leaves the Lions backfield to Jamaal Williams and Craig Reynolds. Williams is coming off a two-game absence himself following a bout with COVID-19, which allowed Reynolds to serve as the lead back to the tune of 40 touches for 216 yards from scrimmage. In any case, the pair figure to be the team's key RBs in some way, shape and form.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
THE DAILY DRIVE: Lions' Amani Oruwariye placed on injured reserve, ending breakout season How Jared Goff's hot streak has impacted Detroit Lions' plans for his future (Subscription Required)
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • DETROITLIONS.COM
Live updates: Lions vs. Falcons Follow along for live updates from Detroit News contributor Nolan Bianchi as the Lions take on the Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • DETROITNEWS.COM
Trinity Benson - Not eligible to play Week 16 The Lions didn't reinstate Benson from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, making him ineligible to play Sunday against the Falcons.
Impact After being deactivated Thursday, Benson is one of four members of the Lions' roster who will remain on the list ahead of the team's Week 16 game. The wideout hasn't suited up for a game since Week 10, as he's either been out with a knee injury or a healthy inactive.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jared Goff - Officially out Week 16 Goff (illness) won't be available for Sunday's game against the Falcons after he wasn't activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Impact With Goff still in quarantine while he continues to test positive for the virus, Tim Boyle will pick up his second career start in Atlanta. The change from Goff to Boyle likely amounts to a significant downgrade for the Lions' skill-position players, as the latter signal-caller struggled mightily in his first start Week 10 against the Browns. He completed 15 of 23 attempts for 77 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions for a low-tempo Lions offense that ran only 46 plays in that game.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
5 things to watch: Lions at Falcons Tim Twentyman takes a look at five things to watch in Sunday’s Lions-Falcons matchup.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • DETROITLIONS.COM
O'HARA'S FINAL THOUGHTS: Boyle likely next man up with Goff on Reserve/COVID-19 Mike O’Hara shares his final thoughts heading into Sunday’s Lions-Falcons matchup.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • DETROITLIONS.COM
Detroit Lions predictions vs. Atlanta Falcons: Don't bet on a Honolulu Blue winning streak Predicting the Detroit Lions game vs. Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons in the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in NFL Week 16.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • FREEP.COM
Detroit Free Press Jared Goff has a 105.7 passer rating in 4 games since returning from an oblique injury; his first 9 starts this year, he had a passer rating of 84.03.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • FREEP.COM
