🏈 There's Life In Detroit

It's been seven years since the Lions made the playoffs, 32 years since they won a playoff game and infinite years since they won the NFC North. Year 3 of the Dan Campbell regime kicks off tonight vs. the defending champs, who might be missing a few key pieces. But they still have Patrick Mahomes, so we'll see if it matters 🏆 (2 min read)

Author

Justin Schnell
September 07, 2023

Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images

Thursday Night Football

It’s been a long 207 days since the Chiefs beat the Eagles in last season’s Super Bowl. I think we’ve said something like “dog days of summer” over ten times minimum during these summer months of newsletters. But the day has officially arrived, and we should be in for a treat tonight when the Lions head to Arrowhead Stadium 🏹

There’s a bunch of intriguing storylines around this game…are the Lions for real? Will Travis Kelce play? Will Chris Jones sign? Can Goff build off an impressive 2022 campaign? Honestly, outside of fantasy football implications, these questions are pretty mute. We get to watch football 🤝

Let’s start with the defending champs. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Orlando Brown Jr. are gone. Chris Jones is holding out. Kelce’s injury isn’t serious, but he’s questionable for Week 1. Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney are the top WRs. Still, the Chiefs are -180 to win the AFC West and have a win o/u of 11.5. The Mahomes affect 🏆

As for the Lions, after a 1-6 start last season, they finished 9-8 with a Week 18 win at Lambeau that knocked the Packers out of the playoffs and Rodgers out of the division. Heading into Week 1, the Lions are favored to win the NFC North for the first time at +145, and -170 to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. There’s officially life in Detroit 👀

The Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown connection is real, and rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs had enough hype to send D’Andre Swift to the Eagles for a 4th round pick. Goff finished the season hot, and actually has a chance to make history in the first few weeks of the season. He’s thrown 324 consecutive passes without an INT - the record is 402 (Rodgers in 2018) 💨

Tonight’s line originally opened a few points higher, but with Kelce’s injury and Brown’s holdout, it’s gotten a little tighter. Take a look and let me know who you’re betting on 👇

  • Spread: Chiefs -5.5

  • Moneyline: Chiefs -235, Lions +194

  • O/U: 52.5

  • When: 8:20PM EST on NBC

Who are you taking tonight?

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Trivia Question: The last time the Lions won a playoff game was in 1991, who was their starting QB?

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus

I like the Chiefs at home tonight, regardless of the lack of weapons. Mahomes makes everyone better, and whoever you don’t start of Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney or MVS will have a big game. I still think the Lions cover, and I’ll take the under considering how big the line is, Week 1 can be a little sloppy. Check it out 💰

  • Lions +5.5 @ Chiefs: -115

  • Under 52.5 Total Points: -108

$100 on this bet would win you $239 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: The Lions beat the Cowboys in the 1991 playoffs, led by Erik Kramer’s 341 passing yards and 3 TDs (box score)

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