Tag: gameday

Sights and sounds from first half as Bills hold a 21-10 lead over Ravens in divisional round

Sights and sounds from first half as Bills hold a 21-10 lead over Ravens in divisional round

The first half appeared to be a reverse of Week 4, and two Lamar Jackson turnovers played a pivotal part in Baltimore trailing 21-10 after 30 minutes of football in Buffalo. The Bills held the Ravens to 73 yards rushing in the first half and 28 offensive plays. According to Next Gen Stats, Jackson has been under pressure on over half of his dropbacks (54.5%) for the first time since Week 4, 2023. He’s been pressured 6 times and sacked once on 11 dropbacks (as of Damar Hamlin’s strip sack).

With the second half underway, here are seven takeaways from the first 30 minutes.

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How to watch Lions vs Vikings today: Time, TV channel and streaming options for Week 18

It’s Lions vs. Vikings in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season. Here’s how to watch, including time, channel, TV schedule and streaming info.

The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will play in one of the most anticipated regular-season games in Lions franchise history on Sunday night. Both teams are 14-2 and are playing for the NFC North title, the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the playoffs and a Wild Card round bye.

Here’s how to watch the Lions game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

What channel is Lions vs Vikings game on today? Time, TV schedule

TV Channel: NBC

Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET

The Lions vs. Jaguars matchup is the national game on Sunday Night Football to close out the 2024 regular season. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call, with Melissa Stark providing sideline reporting.

The game will be on local NBC affiliates around the country.

 

Where to watch Lions vs Bills on livestream

Streaming options for the game include NFL+, Peacock and FUBO.

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How to listen to Lions vs. Vikings on the radio

The game will air the Lions call of Dan Miller and Lomas Brown on the Detroit Lions radio network, which has more than 30 affiliates across Michigan and NW Ohio.

On SiriusXM, the Lions feed will be on channel 226. The national broadcast is on Channel 88.

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How to watch Lions vs Bears today: Time, TV channel and streaming options for Week 16

It’s Lions vs. Bears in Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season. Here’s how to watch, including time, channel, TV schedule and streaming info.

The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears renew their NFC North rivalry on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago. The 12-2 Lions look to put a tough loss to the Bill behind them, while the Bears are looking for their first victory in over two months.

Here’s how to watch the Lions game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

What channel is Lions vs Bears game on today? Time, TV schedule

TV Channel: FOX

Start time: 1 p.m. ET

The Lions vs. Bears matchup is one of several regional games in the early broadcast window. Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma will have the game call.

Detroit versus Chicago will show on the local FOX affiliate in all the markets in blue in the map below (courtesy 506 Sports).

 

 

Where to watch Lions vs Bears on livestream

Streaming options for the game include NFL+, YouTube TV and FUBO.

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How to listen to Lions vs. Bears on the radio

The game will air the Lions call of Dan Miller and Lomas Brown on the Detroit Lions radio network, which has more than 30 affiliates across Michigan and NW Ohio.

On SiriusXM, the Lions feed will be on channel 226.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Lions inactives vs Packers: Colby Sorsdal active for Week 14

Lions inactives vs Packers: Colby Sorsdal active for Week 14

The Detroit inactive player list for the Week 14 home matchup with the Green Bay Packers didn’t hold a ton of drama. After all, four players were ruled out due to injury on the Wednesday injury status report.

That list includes starting left tackle Taylor Decker and three defensive linemen: Josh Paschal, DJ Reader and Levi Onwuzurike. All three of the defenders suffered injuries in the Week 13 Thanksgiving matchup against the Bears.

No players were listed as either questionable or doubtful on the final injury report, so the others are considered healthy scratches. They are:

CB Emmanuel Moseley
OL Kayode Awosika
OL Giovanni Manu

That means Colby Sorsdal will be active for the first time as a reserve tackle after being a healthy scratch for months. The Lions opted to not elevate Jamarco Jones from the practice squad, instead rolling with the second-year tackle in a reserve capacity.

Is ESPN College GameDay coming to Wisconsin vs. Penn State in Week 9?

Is ESPN College GameDay coming to Wisconsin vs. No. 3 Penn State in Week 9?

The Wisconsin Badgers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) exit Week 8 winners of three consecutive games — 52-6 over Purdue, 42-7 over Rutgers and a 23-3 triumph over Northwestern.

They return home to host No. 3 Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) in Week 9. The game, which is a primetime national broadcast on NBC, has quickly become one of the biggest of the sport’s Week 9 schedule.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 8: Wisconsin makes a charge

Other notable matchups include Nebraska at No. 4 Ohio State, No. 12 Notre Dame at No. 24 Navy, No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon, No. 21 Missouri at No. 16 Alabama, No. 5 Texas at No. 25 Vanderbilt and No. 8 LSU at No. 14 Texas A&M.

College GameDay will not be visiting any of the listed matchups. It also won’t be in Madison, Wisconsin for the Badgers’ big game against the Nittany Lions.

GameDay announced on Sunday that it would be traveling to Bloomington, Indiana for No. 13 Indiana (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) against Washington (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten).

Indiana enters off a statement 56-7 victory over Nebraska. Starting QB Kurtis Rourke was injured during the win, and is now expected to miss the Washington game. But that storyline won’t overshadow Indiana becoming the talk of the college football world.

Head coach Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers on the doorstep of College Football Playoff contention in only his first season on the job — that after taking over a program that went 3-9 in the final year under Tom Allen in 2023.

Wisconsin could potentially host GameDay in mid-November when No. 1 Oregon comes to town. The Badgers would need a win over Penn State or Iowa, or both, in order to generate sufficient hype before the matchup.

For now, the Badgers are still a step away from the national spotlight.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Tom Brady says Lions are ‘absolutely’ the best team he’s seen this year

FOX analyst and legendary NFL QB Tom Brady says Lions are ‘absolutely’ the best team he’s seen this year

Tom Brady got his first in-person look at the Detroit Lions in Week 6. The legendary NFL quarterback was part of the FOX broadcast crew along with Kevin Burkhardt, and the game in Dallas was Brady’s first time on the mic for a Lions game.

Brady witnessed one of the greatest games in Lions history. Detroit rolled to a 47-9 win over a Cowboys team that was missing some key players on defense but didn’t put up much of a fight. Detroit thoroughly outmatched Dallas in every phase of the game except kick returns, outgaining the Cowboys 492-251 and forcing five takeaways in the massive road win.

After the game, FOX analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long asked Brady if the Lions were the best team he’s seen so far this year.

Brady did not hesitate in responding, “absolutely.”

Then Brady continued to praise the Lions,

“I think their ability to play on offense with so many styles; they’ve got this two-headed monster at (running) back, creative playcalling. Everyone got involved–they got (Kalif) Raymond involved … they just have weapons, but it all starts with that offensive line. The way they dominate the line of scrimmage, you can’t get any pass rush on them. Goff back there, surveying the field, just seems like they’ve got everything rolling.”

Brady turned his attention to the defense.

“They’re up there challenging people. They’re playing aggressive man coverage, challenging every single play. It’s frustrating when you’re a quarterback and there’s no easy throws out there. They’re going to be tough to stop,” Brady concluded, noting the humility and team-centric attitude under head coach Dan Campbell.

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Lions and Cowboys: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions and Cowboys: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the Week 6 game in Dallas

It’s been a few Sundays since the Lions played, what with the bye week and a Monday night game. It’s nice to have the Sunday morning coffee to sip in the chilly Michigan autumn and conjure up some thoughts on Detroit’s game in Dallas later this afternoon.

It should be a good game. Lions fans get their first taste of Tom Brady calling a game, and it’s the featured matchup across the country in the late window. What a great opportunity for Dan Campbell’s Lions to show their mettle coming out of the bye and prove they belong among the NFL’s elite at this juncture of the 2024 season.

Why I think the Lions will win

This one is simple: the run game. The Lions are a top-10 run offense, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Only three teams run the ball more frequently than the Lions do (32.9 attempts per game) with the talented combo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. It’s a consistent attack built around one of the NFL’s best offensive lines–one that returns All-Pro center Frank Ragnow in the middle after missing Detroit’s last game.

That matches up against a Dallas run defense that has not been good. In fact, the Cowboys have the lowest PFF team grade in run defense, and they also rank near the bottom in tackling grade, too. Their linebackers are very speed-based, and they play behind a dilapidated line that doesn’t make many plays. This sets up as a game where both Montgomery and Gibbs can top 75 rushing yards and each score a touchdown.

Then there’s the flip side. Detroit’s defense against running backs remains the NFL’s best; the Lions still give up a lot of yards to opposing QBs that run, but no team allows a lower yards per carry to RBs on first downs (2.9) than the Lions run defense. They face a Dallas run offense that barely tries. The Cowboys run the ball less than all but one team, and one reason might be their anemic 3.5 YPC, also 31st in the league.

Without their top three pass rushers, notably Micah Parsons, the Dallas pass rush isn’t nearly as foreboding. They still have some talent, but this is a game where Jared Goff should have some opportunities down the field on play action. Old friend Amani Oruwariye figures to match up against Jameson Williams, and it could remind Lions fans why the team gave up on Oruwariye and have a much better secondary for it, too.

Aidan Hutchinson has a great matchup today, too. The Cowboys offensive line has been rebuilt, and it’s a lot better on the interior than at tackle. Hutchinson leads the NFL in sacks even though he’s played one fewer game than almost everyone, and his pressure rate and pass rush win rate are off the charts. Tackles Tyler Guyton and Terrence Steele are eminently beatable. As a bonus, the Dallas tight ends are among the worst in pass protection, too. If the Lions get anything at all from the other side opposite Hutchinson, it’s going to be a long day for Dak Prescott.

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What worries me about the Cowboys

We’ll start where we just left off: Dak Prescott. He’s a very good quarterback, one who has played very well against Detroit. Prescott is 5-0 against Detroit, completing over 67 percent of his passes and throwing 11 TDs against just one INT. His career QB Rating against Detroit (118.6) is higher than against any other team.

Even though Dallas can’t run the ball, it’s still a dangerous offense around Prescott, too. The Cowboys seem aware they can’t run and often eschew it, which puts a lot of pressure on the opposing secondary. CeeDee Lamb is an elite receiver who can win all over the field, and he and Prescott are in lockstep. Tight end Jake Ferguson is a good receiver, too. Their backs can catch and turn it up quickly, as well.

I’d be negligent if I didn’t bring up the officiating. Too many Lions-Cowboys games have been impacted by controversial (read: bad) officiating, including last year’s game, where referee Brad Allen decided Dallas should win.

In a close game, kicking matters. It’s hard to trust Lions greenhorn Jake Bates at this point; the track record just isn’t there. His Dallas counterpart, Brandon Aubrey, has already made a 65-yard FG this year and is 7-of-8 from beyond 50 yards this season. He’s quickly become the NFL’s best distance kicker, and that can be the difference in the game.

Final score prediction

It’s hard to forecast a win in Dallas, even with the Lions favored. Once bitten, twice shy is an apropos theme song. Still, Detroit has the better offense and the better defense as the two teams meet today. Barring some unexpected bye-week rust or OC Ben Johnson outsmarting himself, the Lions should be able to outscore the Cowboys in Dallas and run away with an impressive road win over a likely playoff foe.

Lions 30, Cowboys 24

 

 

 

Watch: Lions surge out to 14-0 lead on Monday Night Football

Watch: Lions surge out to 14-0 lead on Monday Night Football

The Detroit Lions broke out their brand new black uniforms and blue helmets on Monday Night Football. They rewarded the Ford Field faithful with an offensive outburst in the new uniforms.

The Lions raced out to a 14-0 lead on the Seattle Seahawks thanks to some ground and pound and a huge play from the defense.

First up, the Detroit offense capped off a successful drive with a David Montgomery touchdown plunge on 3rd and goal:

Then a big play from the Lions defense set up the second score. Jack Campbell extricated the ball from Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, with cornerback Carlton Davis scooping it up and returning into the red zone. This time it was Jahmyr Gibbs breaking the end zone and pushing the Lions lead to 14-0, with Jake Bates nailing the extra point.

Ravens vs. Raiders: Top photos from Week 2 matchup at M&T Bank Stadium

The Ravens have gone from a Super Bowl hopeful, to a team searching for answers after a shocking 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.

The loss dropped Baltimore to 0-2 on the season, while creating more discourse centered on the offensive line, secondary, run-pass ratios, and Lamar Jackson. The disappointing loss also creates something of a hotseat for head coach John Harbaugh with a difficult matchup against the Cowboys looming.

Here are the top photos from Week 2.

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Lions vs. Buccaneers: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs. Buccaneers: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the Week 2 matchup in Ford Field

It’s Week 2 of the NFL season, yet it still feels very much like summer around the upper Midwest. As I sit with my Sunday morning coffee just before 7 a.m., it’s already 62 degrees on the way to near 90.

The unseasonably hot weather reminds many folks around Michigan of Florida. That’s a fitting sentiment as the Detroit Lions welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Ford Field later this afternoon. The fans packing the rafters in the home of the Lions will not give the visitors from Florida a warm welcome as the two teams renew a rekindling rivalry.

Detroit beat the Bucs in the NFC Divisional Round, 31-23. Both teams are gunning to go 2-0 and maintain their supremacy in their respective NFC divisions. It’s a big game for the early season.

Why I think the Lions will win

It’s normally considered trite to lead with injuries to the opponent, but the loss of safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in the middle of the Buccaneers defense cannot be overstated. He’s their best player and Winfield plays a position that is hypercritical to stopping Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta from exploiting the middle of the field in the passing game.

Pair that with injuries at outside cornerback, where the Bucs will be quite shorthanded even if Zyon McCollum is cleared from his brain injury to play. Tampa’s secondary might remind some Lions fans of Detroit’s own inadequate patchwork in the early Dan Campbell years. Tyrek Funderburk and Tavierre Thomas each playing significant roles against a Lions passing attack that is looking to bounce back from a subpar overall Week 1 is a recipe for Goff and St. Brown to get right quickly.

I also like the scheduling quirk. After playing the Rams last week, the Lions draw a Bucs team with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. He’s a progeny of the Sean McVay/Rams offensive system. A familiar system, one the Lions played against just last week.

Tampa Bay is very talented, no doubt about it. But the basic scheme and style of play the Bucs bring isn’t much different from what the Lions played in Week 1. No radical changes of approach, no real divergent attack. Both offenses are based on having two very skilled primary outside wide receivers, a quarterback who makes quick, good decisions, and a run game that is meant to be a good complementary weapon, not a feature. Game prep for Aaron Glenn and the Lions defense was fairly easy this week.

Contrast that with Tampa Bay. Last week the Bucs played Washington, a team led by rookie QB Jayden Daniels operating Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Daniels was a bigger threat with his legs, taking off 16 times out of the pocket and almost topping 100 yards on the ground. He only threw for 184. Washington’s leading receiver amongst wide receivers was rookie Luke McCaffrey, who caught three passes for 18 yards.

Now they’ve got to play Goff, St. Brown, LaPorta, Week 1 star Jameson Williams and an offensive line that shines in pass protection. That’s not even bringing the lethal power ground game of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs into the equation. Tampa Bay is a very well-coached defense between head coach Todd Bowles and co-DCs in Kacy Rogers and Larry Foote, but having to uproot everything they did in Week 1 to prep for Week 2, and doing it without several key pieces, yeah–that’s a very difficult assignment.

What worries me about the Bucs

Let’s go back to the Bucs offense. Baker Mayfield leads the NFL in touchdown passes, and he looked very sharp last Sunday. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are as good of a 1-2 wideout tandem as the Lions will see all year, and that includes Kupp and Nacua. It’s great that Lions CB Carlton Davis has years of experience practicing against those guys, but there’s only so much that can help.

The Lions pass rush has to impact Mayfield. He’s more mobile than Matthew Stafford last week, but he’s also prone to lapses of judgment when he’s pressured. Losing Marcus Davenport is a rough break for the Lions, and someone else must step up to help Aidan Hutchinson, who draws perhaps his toughest assignment of the year in Tristan Wirfs. Mayfield, with those receivers, with a more promising run game that the Bucs showed in Week 1, that’s an offense that can win this game.

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The middle-of-the-field defense in Tampa Bay is designed to stuff the run. Nose Vita Vea is one of the best at it, and LB Lavonte David is still great. Even without Winfield, David and his fellow LBs are swift and savvy in the middle of the field and can complicate the intermediate passing game like the Rams did so effectively against the Lions in Week 1.

Final thought and score prediction

During the week, I predicted the Lions to win 31-25. I still like that basic margin of victory, but I do see how the score could wind up being a little lower–even with the defensive injuries on both teams.

Lions 27, Buccaneers 21