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Why the Detroit Lions Were Thanksgiving’s Biggest Losers | Deadspin.com

Why the Detroit Lions Were Thanksgiving’s Biggest Losers | Deadspin.com

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Despite losing on Thanksgiving Day, the Kansas City Chiefs actually saw their likelihood of making the NFL Playoffs increase now that Patrick Mahomes understands his back is against the wall. While Baltimore also suffered an ugly divisional loss, the AFC North is a mess and the Ravens will have chances to rebound.

The same cannot be said for the Detroit Lions, who were the biggest losers on Thanksgiving after falling to the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions now sit in third place. The NFC North is crowded at the top, with the Chicago Bears and now the Packers ahead of them.

But worse than Dan Campbell’s Thanksgiving loss is the fact that Detroit has some serious issues heading into the back half of the season.

Amon-Ra St. Brown exited in the first half without a catch due to an ankle injury. After the game, Campbell told reporters the injury isn’t believed to be significant. Good news—but the Lions looked lifeless offensively without him.

Last year’s “Sonic and Knuckles” duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery has taken a step back behind an offensive line that simply isn’t as dominant as it was last season. Maybe bringing back previously retired center Frank Ragnow will help, but the 29-year-old will need time to get into game shape.

Outside of St. Brown, the Lions have too much talent to be this mediocre. Remember: Campbell took over play-calling duties from new offensive coordinator John Morton, who claimed he supported the move. Of course he did—when your boss takes your job, you’re not going to disagree. But the reality is the offense hasn’t been where it needs to be.

Had the Lions not beaten the lowly New York Giants in overtime in Week 12, they’d be entering December as one of the coldest teams in football.

And December needs to be the turnaround month. The Philadelphia Eagles appear to be figuring things out, and the Los Angeles Rams look like the NFC favorites.

As quickly as Detroit fans fell in love with the Campbell–Jared Goff pairing, the duo won’t survive if expectations aren’t met.

After Thursday’s loss, Campbell’s fourth-down aggressiveness came under fire again. Detroit failed to convert a critical opportunity in the fourth quarter. Those gutsy calls made him a beloved figure early on—but they could be his downfall if results don’t come.

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Deadspin | Red Sox recall LHP Jake Bennett to make MLB debut vs. Astros Worcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park. Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros. The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday. Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday. “Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.” The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings. Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. “He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #AstrosWorcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park.

Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros.

The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday.

Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday.

“Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.”


The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings.

Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #Astros">Deadspin | Red Sox recall LHP Jake Bennett to make MLB debut vs. Astros Worcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park. Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros. The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday. Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday. “Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.” The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings. Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. “He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #Astros

Deadspin | Buckle up: Cup Series ‘roller coaster’ travels to Texas May 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend. With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime. In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10. “It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule. Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself. In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies. While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama. On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap. Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team. Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start. He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway. It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level. Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not. He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago. The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him. The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24. Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020. Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #TexasMay 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend.

With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime.

In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10.

“It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule.

Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself.

In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies.

While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama.

On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap.

Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team.


Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start.

He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway.

It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level.

Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not.

He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago.

The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him.

The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24.

Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020.

Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #Texas">Deadspin | Buckle up: Cup Series ‘roller coaster’ travels to Texas May 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend. With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime. In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10. “It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule. Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself. In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies. While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama. On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap. Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team. Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start. He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway. It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level. Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not. He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago. The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him. The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24. Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020. Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #Texas

Deadspin | Padres reinstate RHP Jeremiah Estrada from 15-day IL Mar 27, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada (56) throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres reinstated right-hander Jeremiah Estrada from the 15-day injured list on Friday. The 27-year-old reliever has been sidelined for the past three weeks with right elbow tendinitis. Estrada is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in seven games this season with eight strikeouts and five walks in seven innings. The Padres cleared room on the roster by optioning right-hander David Morgan to Triple-A El Paso. Morgan, 26, is 2-0 with a 6.08 ERA in 11 appearances, striking out 15 and walking 11 in 13 1/3 innings. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Padres #reinstate #RHP #Jeremiah #Estrada #15dayMar 27, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada (56) throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres reinstated right-hander Jeremiah Estrada from the 15-day injured list on Friday.

The 27-year-old reliever has been sidelined for the past three weeks with right elbow tendinitis.


Estrada is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in seven games this season with eight strikeouts and five walks in seven innings.

The Padres cleared room on the roster by optioning right-hander David Morgan to Triple-A El Paso.

Morgan, 26, is 2-0 with a 6.08 ERA in 11 appearances, striking out 15 and walking 11 in 13 1/3 innings.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Padres #reinstate #RHP #Jeremiah #Estrada #15day">Deadspin | Padres reinstate RHP Jeremiah Estrada from 15-day IL Mar 27, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada (56) throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres reinstated right-hander Jeremiah Estrada from the 15-day injured list on Friday. The 27-year-old reliever has been sidelined for the past three weeks with right elbow tendinitis. Estrada is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in seven games this season with eight strikeouts and five walks in seven innings. The Padres cleared room on the roster by optioning right-hander David Morgan to Triple-A El Paso. Morgan, 26, is 2-0 with a 6.08 ERA in 11 appearances, striking out 15 and walking 11 in 13 1/3 innings. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Padres #reinstate #RHP #Jeremiah #Estrada #15day

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