Detroit Now Owns The City of Chicago

Look, we love and intensely respect Tom Izzo. But whoever made him wear this hype-beast button-down camo hoodie on national TV should be fired.

Just give the 67-year old a respectable quarter zip and call it a day.

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Playoff Hunting Lions (3-6) Continue Divisional Dominance In Comeback Road Win vs Bears

So maybe the headline is a bit aggressive, but it's our first back-to-back wins since 2020 so we're a little excited.

It took a Bears missed extra point and a 21-point fourth quarter for the Lions to claw out their first road victory in the Dan Campbell era on Sunday.

Justin Fields rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns and Detroit trailed by 14 points in the fourth quarter. Despite Fields' efforts, the Leos were able to string together their second straight divisional victory.

At 3-6, this is the first time since November of 2020 the Lions have not been in last place in the NFC North.

Holy shit, right?

After trading field goals and touchdowns in the first half, it was Fields and Chicago tight end, Cole Kmet, who took control in the third. The pair connected on 6 and 50 yard passes, respectively, to give the Bears a 24-10 lead.

Eight plays later, however, it would be a tie game.

The Lions took advantage of a short punt, taking over at their own 45, then promptly going 55-yards in under two minutes, capped by a 9-yard Swift TD run (made possible by a negated Goff interception).

From there it was former number-three overall pick, Jeff Okudah, who would make the play of his young career, intercepting a very regrettable throw from Fields, and taking it to the crib.

Fields and the Bears would respond almost instantly, scoring three plays later from their own 33 on a TD run that was Michael Vick-like.

Woof...but alas, in true Chicago fashion, kicker Cairo Santos would miss the succeeding extra point.

After trading punts, the Lions would get the ball back on their own nine with 5:23 to play. From here they would put together one of their most impressive drives of the season, going 91 yards in 8 plays in just over three minutes and capping it with a Jamaal Williams 1-yard TD run.

Chicago would get the ball back with 2:21 to play, but do nothing with it, documented here by the legend Dan Miller.

Lions sit at 3-6, third in the NFC North, and two games back of a Wild Card spot with eight games left to play. Just stating facts.

Next up: the New York Football Giants at MetLife Stadium, 1pm EST, Sunday.

Streaky Wings (7-5-4) Drop Four Straight, But Get Bertuzzi Back

Last time we spoke we were reminiscing about the Cups of yesteryear and basking in Detroit's three straight wins and taking seven of a possible eight points. This week will be a much different story.

The Wings got smoked at home on Sunday by the Rangers then proceeded to lose the first two games of their West Coast tour. Versus LA, the Wings at one point trailed 4-1. Two third period goals, one with Nedelijovic pulled, made the score respectable but ultimately ended with 4-3 loss.

Last night versus the Ducks, who were on a three-game skid of their own, it seemed as if the Wings were determined to get back on track.

After breaking his hand in the second game of the season, Tyler Bertuzzi finally made his return. The Wings would score first (something they had not done since November 5th) on Jonatan Berggren's first of his career.

Yes, that did go right off the defenseman's face. He's fine.

The Wings held a 2-1 lead until a tipped shot from John Klingberg with 46 seconds left in regulation tied the the game.

Then in overtime, this happened.

Welcome back, Tyler.

Up next:

Tigers Trade with San Fran, Add to 40-Man Roster Ahead of Rule-5 Draft

Scott Harris, Tigers newly hired President of Baseball Operations, is already making moves. Yesterday, working with his old boss, Farhan Zaidi of the Giants, Harris traded for Steele Walker in exchange for cash considerations.

Steele Walker, outside of having a name you'd expect from a movie character played by The Rock, was the number 46 overall pick in the 2018 draft. The 26-year-old left-handed outfielder will hopefully add organizational depth with upside. (Freep)

In addition to Walker, the Tigers added five players to their 40-man roster, according to Freep:

Tigers added outfielder Parker Meadows, infielder Wenceel Perez, infielder Andre Lipcius, right-handed starter Reese Olson and right-handed reliever Brendan White — before Tuesday's deadline to protect them from being selected in December's 2022 Rule 5 draft.

Olson is the Tigers' No. 9 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, followed by Perez at No. 14, Meadows at No. 16 and Lipcius at No. 22.

The most notable omission is 20-year-old outfielder Jose De La Cruz, the 27th-ranked prospect who signed for $1.85 million out of the Dominican Republic in July 2018. He struck out 132 times with in 92 games for Low-A Lakeland this season.

In order to make room for them, the Tigers designated for assignment Miguel Díaz and Kyle Funkhouser, left-handed reliever Sean Guenther, catcher Michael Papierski and outfielder Brendon Davis.

You can read all about what the Rule Five Draft is here.

Pistons (3-12) Banged Up & Losing. Yep, That's The Headline

Last week we wrote this:

11 games into the season fans are seeing that the excitement around this Detroit Pistons team is going to have to come in ways other than winning.

We'd like to make a slight update: 11 15 games into the season fans are seeing that the excitement around this Detroit Pistons team is going to have to come in ways other than winning.

Only this week we can add the thrill and excitement of injury updates!

The Pistons have lost four straight, dropping seven of their last eight, and will be without Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart.

Cade, who missed Friday's loss to the Knicks, Saturday's loss to Boston, and Monday's loss to Toronto, will miss at least two more games due to 'shin soreness'.

Additionally, Stewart sprained his big toe chasing down a ball in the first half versus Toronto, he's out two-to-three weeks.

Via Freep: With Stewart out, the Pistons will likely use Marvin Bagley III and rookie Jalen Duren at center. The injury will force Dwane Casey to abandon his two-big man lineups once again until Stewart returns. The Pistons went with a Bagley-Stewart frontcourt in their starting lineup against the Raptors on Monday, and Bagley and Duren played significant minutes with each other against the Boston Celtics on Saturday.

The Pistons begin a six-game road trip Thursday, starting in Los Angeles versus the Clippers.

Football: State (5-5) Handles Rutgers, Further Helping To Salvage Season

Moments of this season have been nightmarish. From an embarrassing blow-out loss to Washington on national TV to the tunnel skirmish in Ann Arbor, it hasn't necessarily been a rosy year for Sparty.

But with that being said, the latest win vs Rutgers, a 27-21 win in East Lansing, has propelled Michigan State to their third win in four games and provided an ember of hope in a season that all but looked like a dumpster fire after week six.

Versus Rutgers on Saturday Jalen Berger and Jarek Broussard combined for 165 of MSU’s conference-high 197 rushing yards. Quarterback Payton Thorne added 33 yards on the ground and another 256 through the air with a pair of touchdowns, making enough big plays with his arm to offset some erratic throws. He and his teammates orchestrated 453 yards of total offense, the Spartans’ most since Week 2 vs. Akron (496). (Freep)

Sparty needs one more victory to become bowl eligible. They close the year vs Indiana and @ Penn State.

Hoops: Spartans (2-1) Electric Start Includes Down-To-Wire Loss to #2 Gonzaga & Upset Win vs #4 Kentucky

Michigan State basketball usually likes to test their mettle early on with a tough schedule to open the year. This year, however, might take the cake.

Before entering conference play, State will have faced - #2 Gonzaga, #4 Kentucky, Villanova, #18 Alabama, and Notre Dame.

And after watching their efforts vs the Zags and Wildcats, it seems as if Sparty fans are in for an exciting year.

After losing on an air craft carrier by one point to Gonzaga, MSU followed up that performance Tuesday night with a thrilling double overtime victory over Kentucky. The team, lacking true star power, has shown all the signs of a true Tom Izzo coached team.

Grit, passion, effort. Via Freep:

Perhaps the signature show of strength came as the Spartans scrapped for loose balls, took elbows and charges and displayed the type of toughness, tenacity and resiliency Izzo has demanded for 28 years over the course of 70 hard-fought minutes of high-drama, elite competition at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Amongst many great highlights, Malik Hall had not one, but two game-tying dunks with seconds left in regulation and then the first overtime. The scores helped keep Sparty alive en route to a 86-77 double overtime victory vs Calipari and the Wildcats at the State Farm Champions Classic.

Up next:

Football: Michigan (10-0) Expectedly Handles Nebraska, Stays at #3 in College Football Playoff Ranking

Another week, another blowout Big Ten victory for the Wolverines, who have now made it 10 straight. Their first 10-0 start since 2006.

Michigan has been methodical, if not even boring, in their blowouts of Big Ten opponents. Utilizing long drives, spearheaded by their run game, to physically and emotionally drain their advisories. Couple that with a suffocating defense and your result is a #3 overall national ranking.

Michigan has outscored opponents 117-3 in the second half of their last five games.

At this time of year, however, it's not just your own record that matters.

Via Freep: Georgia (10-0, 7-0 SEC) remained in the top spot after thumping Mississippi State, 45-19; Ohio State (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) stayed steady at No. 2 on the heels of its 56-14 win over Indiana; and TCU (10-0, 7-0 Big 12) — after perhaps its most significant victory of the year, going to Austin and beating top-20 Texas, 17-10, to remain undefeated — rounds out the top four.

Next Up:

Hoops: Michigan (2-0) Handles First Two, Prepares For Legends Classic vs Pittsburgh

Michigan, as expected, has won their first two games of the season, beating Purdue Fort Wayne and Eastern Michigan... but not without some stress.

Former MSU Spartan commit, Emoni Bates, scored a career-high 30 points for EMU vs Michigan at Little Caesars Arena on Friday. The Eagles led 45-40 at halftime.

Via ESPN:

Hunter Dickinson had 31 points, Terrance Williams scored 18 and Jaelin Llewellyn added 12 points to lift the Wolverines to an 88-83 win over the Eagles on Friday night.

The Wolverines (2-0) went ahead on Llewellyn’s layup with 2:49 left in a game with 17 lead changes and 11 ties.

The Eagles (1-1) were up 45-40 at halftime and had an eight-point lead early in the second half, but ended up losing a 22nd straight game against a ranked opponent.

Up Next, the Legends Classic in Brooklyn.

Michigan is making its third Legends Classic appearance and is seeking its first title in the early-season tournament. … The Michigan-Pittsburgh winner will face the winner of Arizona State-VCU in the Legends Classic championship game at 9 p.m. Thursday. The losers will play in the consolation game at 7 p.m. … Pittsburgh is coming off an 81-56 home loss to West Virginia. (Detroit News)

Until next week team.