Lions Ain\’t Lyin

September 8, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

Happy Friday

The Lions beat the Chiefs. Joe Burrow is the highest-paid NFL player. Coco Gauff is in the U.S. Open finals. And Sabrina Ionescu broke the WNBA 3-point record. What year is it, again?

We’re watching the young phenoms turn into adult superstars. The kids are growing up. And I’m feeling old. At least it’s Friday.

Letter Rip!

NFL

These Lions Ain\’t Lyin\’

\"\"/ — *Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images*

Detroit Upsets Short-Handed Chiefs (21-20) to Kick Off 2023 NFL Season

What a start to the 2023 NFL season! The reigning champs got the honors of hosting the season-opener, but it wasn’t a happy occasion by evening’s end in Kansas City. The Lions went into Arrowhead and stunned the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football (21-20) thanks to a fearless game plan and a prolific offense. Here\’s how it went down.

TNF Recap: Detroit head coach Dan Campbell opted to fake punt from inside his own 20 in the first quarter, and got it. That bold decision sparked a 14-play, 81-yard, 8-minute drive that set the tone for a night of blue-collar Lions football. The short-handed Chiefs — without TE Travis Kelce and DL Chris Jones — put 14 points up in the second quarter to take a 14-7 halftime lead, but KC didn’t sniff the end zone again in the second half. The Chiefs’ didn’t have a wideout catch more than three passes, and Lions\’ rookie safety Brian Branch logged his first career interception for a 50-yard pick-six.

In the end, RB David Montgomery punched in the go-ahead touchdown with seven minutes left, and the Lions’ defense locked up Mahomes on his final two drives. It’s a 1-0 start for the boys from Detroit, and 0-1 for the champs. These Lions aren\’t lying…

Fun Fact: The Chiefs hadn’t lost a season-opener in eight years (2014). QB Alex Smith won his last three season-opening starts before Mahomes took over and won the last five.

QB Comparison

J. Goff (DET): 22/35, 253 yards, 1 TD

P. Mahomes (KC): 21/39, 271 total yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Other Top Performers

RB D. Montgomery (DET): 21 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD

WR A. St. Brown (DET): 6 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD

RB J. Gibbs (DET): 9 touches, 60 yards

Watch: Lions Stun Short-Handed Chiefs (21-20) in NFL Season-Opener

FOX Sports: Social Media Loves Dan Campbell for 1st-Quarter Fake Punt

AP: Lions Spoil Chiefs’ Celebration of Super Bowl Title With 4th-Quarter Rally

______________________________________________________________________________________

NFL

Joey B\’s Big Bag

\"\"/ — *Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images*

Bengals Make QB Joe Burrow the Highest-Paid Player in NFL History (5 Years, $275 Million)

In an NFL offseason of record-breaking contracts, it was only fitting that we’d see this on the night of the season opener. The Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow agreed to a 5-year, $275 million extension yesterday that makes him the highest-paid player (annual salary) in NFL history — $55 million per year. The deal features $219 million guaranteed.

The 26-year-old former No. 1 pick has certainly lived up to the hype coming out of LSU. He led the Bengals to Super Bowl 56 before losing to the Rams, and he had Cincy on the brink of Super Bowl 57 in the AFC Championship Game. Aside from a Year 1 season-ending injury, Burrow would likely be the league leader in every passing category since his arrival in the NFL. Now, it’s Lombardi Trophy aspirations for the foreseeable future in Cincinnati.

Joe Burrow’s Career (3 Years)

Record: 24-17-1

Stats: 11,774 yards, 82 TDs, 31 INTs, 100.4 Rating

Largest Annual NFL Contracts

QB J. Burrow (CIN): $55 Million / Year

QB J. Herbert (LAC): $52.5 Million / Year

QB L. Jackson (BAL): $52 Million / Year

QB J. Hurts (PHI): $51 Million / Year

QB R. Wilson (DEN): $48.5 Million / Year

Patrick Mahomes ($450M) and Josh Allen ($258M) own two of the largest total contracts, but they make $45M, annually.

CBS Sports: Bengals Make Star QB Highest-Paid Player in NFL History

______________________________________________________________________________________

US OPEN

Final Set: Gauff vs. Sabalenka

\"\"/ — *Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images*

Gritty Gauff, Spectacular Sabalenka Set Up Women’s U.S. Open Finale

Classic incoming! Thursday was a day of firsts and fortitude for #6 Coco Gauff and #2 Aryna Sabalenka at the U.S. Open. Gauff upended #10 Karolina Muchova in straight sets to continue the magic and reach her first grand slam final, all while managing a 45-minute protest that stopped play. The 19-year-old phenom notched crucial game points in the latter stages of each set, and she needs one more win to claim the first of (likely) many slams. In the nightcap, fellow American #17 Madison Keys started with a bang against Sabalenka, but the 2-seed wouldn’t go down easy. Keys won the first set in a runaway (6-0) before Sabalenka rallied for tiebreaker wins in both Set 2 (7-6 ^7-1) and Set 3 (7-6 ^10-5). That sets up a Gauff-Sabalenka title clash. Yes, please.

Gauff & Sabalenka

Head-to-Head: Gauff Leads (3-2)

Last Meeting: Indiana Wells QFs (2023)

*Sabalenka Won in Straight Sets (6-4, 6-0)

Majors: 1st Time Meeting in a Slam

Women’s Singles Highlights (Semifinals)

#2 A. Sabalenka def. #17 M. Keys (0-6, 7-6, 7-6)

#6 C. Gauff def. #10 K. Muchova (6-4, 7-5)

Tonight: It’s the top-3 seeds of the men’s draw alongside American underdog Ben Shelton to round out the finals. All signs point to another exciting Djokovic-Alcaraz showdown. Did we expect anything less?

Men’s Semifinal (Today)

#2 N. Djokovic vs. B. Shelton (Fri. 3:00 pm ET)

#1 C. Alcaraz vs. #3 D. Medvedev (Fri. 7:00 pm ET)

Women’s Final: Saturday

Men’s Final: Sunday

AP: Climate Protestor Glues Feet to Floor at US Open, Interrupts Coco Gauff’s Semifinal Win

______________________________________________________________________________________

HIGHLIGHTS

MLB

Luis Castillo (8 Ks) & Mariners’ Bullpen Shut Out Rays (1-0)

Pham (2 HRs), D-Backs Reclaim WC Spot With Big Win Over Cubs (8-2)

Dodgers Trample Marlins (10-0) to End Miami’s 6-Game Streak