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The Detroit Lions were the No. 1 rated game on multiple television broadcast networks in 2024.
Speaking at the annual league meetings, team president Rod Wood expressed he again expects the Lions to be featured in a plethora of primetime games in 2025.
"Other than the Cowboys Thanksgiving game on Fox, we were the No. 2 Fox game, the No. 1 CBS game, the No. 1 ABC game, the No. 1 Amazon game, the No. 1 NBC game," Wood said. "So we were the No.1-rated TV game on every network except for Fox. We were two. It's not just good for us, it's obviously good for the networks. I'm sure, because of that, we'll have more primetime games."
Wood expressed the team having a popular head coach and the hunger of the fans to finally win a Super Bowl has been fueling the organization's surging popularity.
"I think Dan is a big part of it. He's a beloved coach," said Wood. "I think fans can relate to him, want him to be the coach of their team. I think the fact that we're an exciting team on offense, score a lot of points, run an occasional trick play people like, all that feeds into it.
"And I just think our fans are so hungry because they've been rooting for this for so long," Wood commented further. "Let's just get to the next step and really put this over the top."
Lions could play on Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2025
NFL games played on Christmas have been a ratings success for the league.
With streaming services getting in the mix to broadcast games, the Lions may be asked to play in more than just the Thanksgiving Day Classic.
"You know, Christmas this year falls on a Thursday. I think there's probably going to be a full day of NFL games, including a couple on Netflix, like last year, and Thursday Night Football, maybe on Amazon."
Despite Detroit playing on Thanksgiving annually, Wood did not rule out the Lions being one of the teams scheduled to play on Christmas.
"I know we're a big TV draw, so I wouldn't rule out that they might ask us to do it," Wood said. "I do think, for our fans, asking them to give up Thanksgiving and Christmas to come to a (home) game is a big ask, so I've tried to avoid it, but we'll see what schedule comes out."
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Officiating Crew For Steelers-Browns Game Gives 1 Team Clear Advantage
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dominant against the Cleveland Browns under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. However, an AFC North contest coming off a bye week is never something Steelers fans overlook. With the Browns sitting at 1-4 and the Steelers at 3-1, a victory in this matchup is pivotal for Pittsburgh to start AFC North play on the right foot. The Steelers are looking to carry momentum from a strong start to the season, and continuing their winning ways against a divisional rival would set a positive tone for the months ahead. The Browns will be starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will be making just his second-ever NFL start. The Steelers' defense will look to make life extremely difficult for the rookie on Sunday. One area that is always important in these matchups is the officiating crew. According to NFL Ref Stats, the Steelers appear to have a significant advantage in this contest against the Browns. Historically, Pittsburgh has fared well under certain officiating crews, particularly those with tendencies that favor defensive schemes and physical play at the line of scrimmage. This statistical edge may not guarantee a win, but it certainly provides a subtle advantage that could tip critical calls in Pittsburgh’s favor during a tightly contested game. Beyond the numbers, the Steelers will need to execute clean football on both sides of the ball. Protecting the quarterback, establishing the run, and maintaining discipline on defense will be key to neutralizing Cleveland’s biggest playmakers. While the Browns are struggling this season, divisional games often bring out unexpected performances, making preparation and focus essential. If Pittsburgh can combine their historical dominance, officiating edge, and disciplined execution, they have a strong chance to assert control early in AFC North play and keep their division hopes alive. Ron Torbert will serve as the officiating head for this contest, and the numbers clearly favor the Steelers. In games Torbert has officiated, Pittsburgh has gone an impressive 10-1, showing a consistent trend of success under his oversight. Even more striking, the Steelers are a perfect 8-0 at home in games where Torbert is the head referee, highlighting a significant home-field advantage when he is on the crew. Steelers Should Have Edge In Week 6 Against Browns Expect the officials to focus heavily on offensive penalties, as Torbert has a reputation for calling more infractions on the offense than the defense. According to NFL Ref Stats, he assesses 52.5% of all penalties against the offense, ranking fourth in the league for offensive penalties per game. This suggests that both teams will need to maintain discipline, but it could particularly benefit Pittsburgh, a team built around physical play and disciplined execution. For the Steelers, this officiating angle could be an advantage they can capitalize on, especially early in the game. By staying sharp and minimizing mistakes, Pittsburgh can force Cleveland into difficult situations while maintaining momentum. With Torbert on the field, the historical trends and penalty tendencies both point to a scenario where the Steelers have an extra edge in controlling the pace and flow of this crucial AFC North matchup. The Steelers sit as -200 favorites in this contest and it seems like a lot is on their side.
Cowboys list 18 players on their injury report but a couple of names steal the spotlight as their return appears very likely
The Dallas Cowboys just revealed their first injury report of Week 6 on Wednesday and it's a long one. The team listed 18 players on it ahead of their matchup against the Carolina Panthers, five of which were non-participants while 10 were limited. The remaining three players on the report were listed as full participants. Two of latter stole the spotlight amid the bitter updates as their "full" participation means they're close to making their 2025 debut very soon: Cornerback Caelen Carson and wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. Neither of the them are currently on the 53-man roster but the Cowboys activated their 21-day practice window last week. Carson and Mingo were limited participants in each of last week's practices. To be upgraded to full on the first practice of the week is a promising sign for their chances of playing against the Panthers. The coaching staff would need to open up roster spots to place them on the 53-man roster. Other notes on Cowboys' initial injury report for Week 6 CeeDee Lamb was a non-participant once again as his chances of playing Week 6 remain up in the air. KaVontae Turpin also missed practice and told reporters he wasn't expecting to play. Right guard Tyler Booker also missed practice. The new additions to the non-participants were LB Jack Sanborn (concussion) and S Donovan Wilson (elbow/knee). Safety is starting to look like a serious concern. Malik Hooker was placed on Injured Reserve last weekend and now Wilson missed practice while Juanyeh Thomas popped up on the injury report as a limited participant. Other starters that were limited participants: CB Trevon Diggs, CB DaRon Bland, OT Tyler Guyton, LG Tyler Smith. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer suggested Guyton will start at left tackle if cleared. Thursday's full Cowboys' injury report window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*');
Rangers must address these details after season-opening loss to Penguins
The New York Rangers started the 2025-26 season poorly, as the opening night at Madison Square Garden ended with a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This result overshadowed the official debut of Mike Sullivan as coach of the Rangers and the first game of J.T. Miller as captain of the franchise. That said, two empty net goals at the end masked a game that was closer than the score reflects. Justin Brazeau scored near the end of the first period, and then there were two empty netters in the final minutes, from Brazeau and Blake Lizotte. Igor Shesterkin saved 27 of 28, keeping the Rangers alive for a long period. The match was stuck and there were few clear chances, remaining at 1-0 for almost the entire game. Sullivan's team fell into the defensive pace proposed by the Penguins. What went wrong for the Rangers in their loss to the Penguins It was not a total tactical disaster for the Rangers, but there were specific details that can be linked to the result. There was a lack of offensive interiority from the Blueshirts. New York lived on the perimeter, without traffic, without second chances, and without backdoor runs. It became evident that a goaltender in rhythm, like Arturs Silovs, sees everything and shuts you down. Although Zibanejad and Lafreniere generated volume, the team did not produce the type of danger that moves the scoreboard. There were also misalignments in the defensive pair made up of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov. The idea of Gavrikov operating as a physical stabilizer to free up Fox did not materialize. Whenever the first breakout fails, the team plays uphill, and the offense becomes more predictable. On the power play, there was a lack of timing and triangulation in the slot. And although on the penalty kill, new rotations were shown that worked in stretches, the defensive zone at five-on-five offered second chances that Shesterkin saved until he could no more. Decision-making under pressure is also an area of opportunity for the Rangers. In the final minutes, the pinches without backup showed anxiety more than an organized aggressiveness. Brazeau's goal came as a result of a lost face-off that was managed poorly, without clear guidance and roles. An elite team cannot afford to have that lack of synchronization. The goal resulted from a disorderly collapse toward the puck carrier, which led to a lost coverage and an open man in the slot. Had there been communication, a high F3, a quick switch to the netfront, and active sticks, that same pattern would have died in an outside shot without danger. It was many small details together that led to this defeat.
NFL Legend Michael Irvin Announces Unfortunate Personal News
Michael Irvin became one of the greatest receivers in NFL history during his 12-year career with the Dallas Cowboys. The Hall of Famer recorded 750 catches for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns, once holding franchise records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, marks that have since been broken. Irvin also helped lead Dallas to three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s, setting the standard for all future Cowboys to wear No. 88. Irvin spent his career alongside his wife, Sandy, whom he married in 1990. The couple has three children together, Chelsea, Michael Jr. and Elijah, while Irvin also has a daughter, Myesha, from a previous relationship. Irvin is also a proud dog owner, recently sharing a video of his dog Zeus reacting to the Cowboys’ Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears. But on Monday, Irvin revealed on his Instagram Story that his second dog, Aurora, which appeared to be an American Bully, recently made a trip to the vet after suffering a left leg injury. The former Miami Hurricanes star drew a playful comparison to CeeDee Lamb, another No. 88 in Dallas, who sustained a high left ankle sprain in the Week 3 loss to Chicago and has missed the past two games. "Something wrong with that leg right there," Irvin said to the veterinarians. "But that leg right there, that same CeeDee Lamb ankle. That's what that is, that same CeeDee Lamb ankle right there. Something happened to her? What happened to that ankle? That CeeDee Lamb ankle... That's my baby right here, we are going to get you fixed up... My baby limping like CeeDee... We gotta get you back on the field so you can run some routes." On the bright side, no other issues appeared to be present for Irvin's dog, who is "eating and drinking okay." The pup should be back running routes soon. Meanwhile, the Cowboys will be back in action in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers, a game they hope Lamb, a three-time All-Pro, will be able to return.
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