COVID-19 has struck the Detroit Lions organization and that means that means that when they take the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, they ll be doing so with a hodge-podge coaching staff.
Interim head coach Darrell Bevell, defensive coordinator Cory Undlin, defensive line coach Bo Davis, defensive backs coach Steve Gregory and linebackers coach Ty McKenzie will not be able to coach Saturday due to COVID-19 protocols.
Instead, the Lions head coach for Saturday will be wide receivers coach Robert Prince. Quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan will serve as the offensive play caller, and head coach assistant/research & analysis guru Even Rothstein will be the defensive play caller.
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports No Patriots pass rusher enters Monday s Bills rematch with four sacks or 10 QB hits. While Bill Belichick continued to form elite bend-don t-break defenses after edge rusher departures of recent note: the Chandler Jones trade and Trey Flowers free agency exit the exits of Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins and Dont a Hightower s opt-out have created a slight issue. Somehow, the Patriots (6-9) rank fifth against the pass despite just 21 sacks (28th). Their 128 pressures rank 16th. But the team could stand to acquire a bit more assistance on the outside during what will be a busy offseason.
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QB Tom Brady: At 43 years old, Brady just put together maybe the greatest four quarters of football in NFL history. In the second half of last week’s come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Falcons, and the first half of Saturday’s game, Brady completed 43 of 56 passes (76.8%) for 668 yards and six touchdowns. He had his way with a shorthanded Lions defense Saturday, and in his first year in a new system, he has the Bucs looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
KR/PR Jamal Agnew: Agnew came close to breaking return touchdowns each of the last two weeks, and on Saturday he finally hit paydirt, taking a punt 74 yards for the Lions’ only score, early in the third quarter. Agnew got good blocks on the play from jammers Justin Coleman and Mike Ford, and he also made two nice tackles in punt coverage. He’s worth keeping around in 2021 as a special teams ace.