DETROIT -- The offensive line insisted over the past three weeks that everything they were struggling with was fixable.
That any issues they had were just blips, really, and that they would be solved over time. On Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, the Lions actually gave their quarterback some more protection.
Matthew Stafford was sacked on 6.8 percent of his dropbacks Sunday against New Orleans, the first time since Week 3 he had been taken down on less than 10 percent of his attempts.
"There's been some technique issues we needed to clear up," Lions left guard Rob Sims said. "And we cleared it up."
It still isn't a great number, and at 24 sacks through seven games, Stafford has now been sacked more this season than he was in all of 2013, but there has been progress.
Pro Football Focus even graded out the Lions positively on protection for the most part, giving every lineman other than Larry Warford a positive grade. Warford gave up one of the sacks. Left tackle Riley Reiff was actually the highest-rated offensive player Sunday with a plus-4.5 rating.
This also helped at the end, when Stafford threw his 118th touchdown pass, tying Bobby Layne for the most in franchise history.
And now, a look around the Interwebs in search of Lions news:
A peek inside Detroit's game-winning touchdown reception. The Lions found a much-needed offensive spark in the win. Game balls video. Reggie Bush still nursing his ankle injury. Rapid reaction from the win. Glover Quin discusses his interception.
This week's Detroit Lions mailbag.
Jim Caldwell explains to me what it is like to coach Peyton Manning, who set the all-time touchdown record Sunday.
The Lions' win shows belief in their coach, writes Drew Sharp in the Detroit Free Press.
The Lions' defense shows it is for real once again, writes John Niyo in the Detroit News.
Golden Tate does not want to talk about what happened in Seattle, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.
Colleague Mike Triplett writes that Drew Brees has lost his killer instinct.